Adult Classes

Programs for Adults
(16+ years)

At A Glance

Introduction to Drawing
Robert Waldo Brunelle, Jr.
Sat, March 1
9:30AM-4PM

Color Pencil from Basic to Brilliant
Mary Reardon
Fri: March 7; 14; 21 & 28
4-6PM

Mixing and Using Color for the Watercolorist
This class is full
Susan Sawyer
Sat: March 8 & 15
12:30PM – 3:30PM

Pop-Up Basics: The Movable Book
Elissa Campbell
Mon & Tues: March 17 & 18
5:30-8PM

March Printmaking Open Studio
Chelsea Clarke Sawyer
Fri., March 21
Noon-3PM

Spring Season Blossoms
(Creating with Pastels)
CLASS FULL - contact SPA to be placed on waiting list.
Aline Ordman
Sat., April 12
9:30AM-4:30PM

Piano Play
Elissa Campbell
Mon & Tues: April 14 & 15
4:30-7PM

Portraiture Workshop
CLASS FULL - contact SPA to be placed on waiting list.
August Burns
Sat: May 3
9:30AM – 4PM (bring a lunch/snack)

Re-Imagining Loss and Transitions
Michele Lesnak
NEW DATE:
Sunday, May 4 (not March 16)
11:30AM-4:30PM

Part 2: Mixing and Using Color for the Watercolorist
Susan Sawyer
Sundays: May 11 & 18
1 – 4PM

May Printmaking Open Studio
Chelsea Clarke Sawyer
Fri., May 16
1-4PM

Explore Acrylics:
Celebrate the Arrival of Spring
Robert W. Brunelle, Jr.
Sat, May 17, 9:30-4PM AND
Sat. May 24, 9:30-4PM

Photography & Videos with Cell Phones (iPhone focus)
Orah Moore
Saturday, May 31
10AM-1PM

Outsmarting Watercolor for Beginners
(and not-so-beginners)
Mary Reardon
Tuesdays: June 3; 10; 17 & 24
4-6PMPM

Calligraphy Intensive
Lydia Batten
Fri. & Sat., June 5 & 6: 9:30AM-12:30PM and
Sun., June 7: 11AM-2PM

Make Sculptural Clay Whistles
(ages 14 yrs – adults)
Robert W. Brunelle, Jr.
Sat., June 14
1-3:30PM

The Art of Paper
Marisa Green, SPA Artist in Residence
Adults aged 16+
Thursday, June 26, 2025
3:00pm-5:00pm

Mixed Media Abstraction
Kate Arslambakova
Saturday, June 28
10AM-4PM (with a short mid-day break – bring a snack/lunch)

Drawing the Ferns
Susan Sawyer
Sundays: July 6; 13 & 20
1-4PM

Political Cartooning
(ages 16 years +)
Robert Waldo Brunelle, Jr.
Saturday, August 2
10AM – 4PM (with ½ hr break)

The upcoming winter season is a perfect time to gather together and learn at SPA! We are pleased to offer the following classes and workshops.

Please do not hesitate to call us for more information. You may enroll over the telephone, send us an email about your interest in a class, and you may enroll using our on-line option.

Thank you for your interest and we look forward to your participation at SPA!

CLASS DETAILS

Introduction to Drawing
Robert Waldo Brunelle, Jr.
Sat, March 1
9:30AM-4PM

In the first part of this class students will learn how to use One Point and Two Point Perspective techniques to create the illusion of depth and dimension on a flat surface. Students will learn how to use horizon lines and vanishing points correctly to draw the interiors and exteriors of houses and buildings.

In the second part of this class students will learn how to draw the human face in front, profile and ¾ views. Students will learn the proportions of the face, and how to draw faces.

Materials: Paper, pencil, eraser, and a straight-edge (ruler or triangle)

Members $50/Non-Members $60

Robert Waldo Brunelle is a painter, kinetic sculptor, book illustrator, art educator and political cartoonist. He was the art teacher at the Browns River Middle School from 1981 to 2012. He served as the president of the Northern Vermont Artist Association from 1995 to 2012, and now serves as the NVAA’s Vice President. He has been exhibiting his paintings in the region since 1978. He is a founding member of the Vermont Comic Creator’s Group, and his cartoon strip Mr. Brunelle Explains It All appears monthly in Funny Times. To see more of his work, visit www.mrbrunelle.com

Register Online:

To register by phone, call: 802-479-7069.
Please note, enrollment is not finalized until tuition payment is received.

Color Pencil from Basic to Brilliant
Mary Reardon
Fri: March 7; 14; 21 & 28
4-6PM

The unassuming low-tech color pencil is well suited for a range of applications, from quick, rough sketches, to eye-popping photorealism. Participants will learn simple tricks for solid coverage, beyond-the-basics color theory for more accurate color mixing, and a variety of techniques from working on colored papers to creating burnished color layers useful for photorealistic effects. A materials list will be provided prior to the class.

Members $90/Non-Members $100

Mary Reardon is a native Vermonter who became an artist because everyone in the second grade said she would. She attended the Art Institute of Boston before the school was swallowed up by Lesley University, and earned her teaching degree from Johnson State College. She has taught high school art for 15 years, and contrary to her elementary school classmates, firmly believes that drawing, or any art form, is a learnable skill--not a gift magically bestowed at birth to a chosen few. When not teaching, eating, sleeping, etc. she occasionally finds time to make art herself and has exhibited around the state. If you take her class, she apologizes in advance for her warped sense of humor.

Register Online:

To register by phone, call: 802-479-7069.
Please note, enrollment is not finalized until tuition payment is received.

Mixing and Using Color for the Watercolorist
(CLASS FULL - contact SPA to be placed on waiting list)
Susan Sawyer
Sat: March 8 & 15
12:30PM – 3:30PM

The average person can distinguish about a million different colors. A good watercolor palette might have about fifteen different pigments. How to get the right colors for a leaf in the sun, and a leaf in the shade, for the blue of forget-me-nots, or a winter sky, or a cedar waxwing? It helps to know your pigments, and what they can do, and to have a strategy. This workshop will use a series of exercises and steps to build familiarity, confidence and a useable reference.

Materials, including paints, will be provided. Students should bring their own paper; a 9x12 watercolor pad would be preferred.

Members $50/Non-Members $60

Susan Sawyer is an artist-naturalist from South Woodbury with many years of experience teaching, mostly adults in college and non-formal settings. After starting life as a printmaker and decades of making art quilts, her current practice consists of drawing, painting, and biological illustration, in graphite, ink, watercolor, and silverpoint. She believes in an experimental and experiential approach to all kinds of education, as well as careful observation of worlds without and within.

Register Online:

To register by phone, call: 802-479-7069.
Please note, enrollment is not finalized until tuition payment is received.

Pop-Up Basics: The Movable Book
Elissa Campbell
Mon & Tues: March 17 & 18
5:30-8PM

Creating pop-up paper tricks - or paper engineering - offers a set of skills that may be used for artist books and cards. Using cut paper and folds, you'll learn the basics of pop-up construction, including box supports, props, and platforms. Come and see the magic behind the motion!

In this workshop, each participant will leave class with a set of pop-up cards to keep as a reference for each mechanism. You will receive a detailed handout and resource list for all materials we use. No previous experience is required – this is a great class for a beginner. You'll feel more comfortable in the workshop if you have experience using an X-Acto knife.

Materials fee to the instructor: $12.

Materials are included in the materials fee, but feel free to bring materials for use in creating your cards. Several ideas are:

Collage materials (paper)
Photographs
Rubber stamps and pads
Markers, pens, colored pencils, etc.
Decorative scissors/punches

Supplies: Bone folder, ruler, X-Acto knife, cutting mat, scissors, pencil. Note: Bring the supplies if you have them – don’t feel obligated to buy anything. I'll have extras available.

Members $50/Non-Members $60

Elissa Campbell has been making books for the past 29 years and sells her work professionally under the business name of Blue Roof Designs. She is a big believer in the power of using books for self-expression. Elissa is currently chair of the Book Arts Guild of Vermont, is on the board of the Vermont Crafts Council, and is on the Vermont Arts Council's Teaching Artist Roster.

Register Online:

To register by phone, call: 802-479-7069.
Please note, enrollment is not finalized until tuition payment is received.

March Printmaking Open Studio
Chelsea Clarke Sawyer
Fri., March 21
Noon-3PM

SPA is offering an open studio session with Chelsea, studio host and printmaking coach, using SPA’s Wheelen X-Press in the Classroom. Some materials are provided (e.g., black ink, blotting paper, and other basic tools). Bring your own plate(s), or work in progress, and your own water-based ink(s) and paper. Some printmaking experience is needed. We are planning to offer Printmaking Open Studio sessions on a regular basis.

Members $25/Non-Members $35

Register Online:

To register by phone, call: 802-479-7069.
Please note, enrollment is not finalized until tuition payment is received.

Spring Season Blossoms
(Creating with Pastels)
CLASS FULL - contact SPA to be placed on waiting list.Aline Ordman
Sat., April 12
9:30AM-4:30PM

Working from a still life of flowers in a vase, Aline will discuss how to approach complicated imagery simplifying it into abstract shapes of value and color. She will create the demo in its stages of value, color fields and final details. Students are welcome to use the same still life, bring their own or work from a photo to create their own images. She will give lots of individual attention, and work with students at whatever level they are at (introductory knowledge of the materials needed; all levels welcome). Contact SPA for a suggested materials list.

Members $95/Non-Members $110

Aline received her BFA at Cornell University and continued her training the Academy of Art College in San Francisco, earning a degree in illustration. Aline is a Master Pastelist with the Pastel Society of America, a Signature Member of the American Impressionist Society, a Signature Member of the Oil Painters of America and a Master Circle Pastelist with the International Assn. of Pastel Societies. She has juried the Pastel Society of America’s National Juried Show; The Pastel Journal’s top 100 Animal and Wildlife Competition, the Pastel Society of New Mexico’s Annual Juried Show and the Adirondack Plein Air Festival Awards. For more information, https://www.alineordman.com/

Register Online:

To register by phone, call: 802-479-7069.
Please note, enrollment is not finalized until tuition payment is received.

Piano Play
Elissa Campbell
Mon & Tues: April 14 & 15
4:30-7PM

The spine of the intriguing Piano Hinge binding is one that is woven instead of glued or sewn – it is held together using dowels or sticks. This structure, invented by Hedi Kyle, was named because of its resemblance to the hinge of a piano lid.

In this workshop, you’ll learn how to construct both the basic Piano Hinge book and the Piano Hinge Album (it’s got storage pockets!).

In this workshop, each participant will leave class with two books to keep as a reference for each structure. You will receive a detailed handout and resource list for all materials we use. No previous experience is required. You'll feel more comfortable in the workshop if you have experience using an X-Acto knife.

Participants are encouraged to bring small photos, paper ephemera, and/or other flat items to put in the pockets.

Supplies: Bonefolder, metal ruler, X-Acto knife, cutting mat, scissors, pencil. Note: Bring the supplies if you have them – don’t feel obligated to buy anything. I'll have extras available.

Materials fee to the instructor: $22

Members $50/Non-Members $60

Elissa Campbell has been making books for the past 27 years and sells her work professionally under the business name of Blue Roof Designs. She is a big believer in the power of using books for self-expression. Elissa is currently chair of the Book Arts Guild of Vermont, is on the board of the Vermont Crafts Council, and is on the Vermont Arts Council's Teaching Artist Roster.

Register Online:

To register by phone, call: 802-479-7069.
Please note, enrollment is not finalized until tuition payment is received.

Drawing the Portrait: Capturing a Likeness
CLASS FULL - contact SPA to be placed on waiting list.
August Burns
Sat: May 3
9:30AM – 4PM (bring a lunch/snack)

If you have ever wanted to draw people, this workshop is for you. In this one-day class for students who have some previous experience in drawing, we will review the basic proportions of the head, the placement of facial features, how to render them in convincing ways, and how placement and perspective changes when viewed from different angles. Students will be using charcoal and chalk with toned and untoned papers. Students will work from a reference photo (provided by the instructor) in the morning to practice basic skills, and from a sitting model for several hours in the afternoon.

Member $95/Non-Member $105 (includes fee for model)

August Burns is an award-winning figurative painter who seeks to capture the character and essence of her subjects through her art. She was selected to paint the official portrait of Governor Peter Shumlin, which now hangs in the Vermont State House in Montpelier. August works out of her studio in Middlesex, Vermont. For info: www.augustburns.com

Register Online

To register by phone, call: 802-479-7069.
Please note, enrollment is not finalized until tuition payment is received.

Re-Imagining Loss and Transitions
Michele Lesnak
NEW DATE:
Sunday, May 4
11:30AM-4:30PM

This is the second of 2 workshops Michelle is leading this winter intended to assist participants with moving through life’s challenges with grace, imagination, creativity and community. These workshops will use art to look at the ways that loss and transitions change us. Through the use of collage or assemblage, participants will take their personal stories and turn them into a piece of artwork. The process helps people find meaning from their experience. Sharing this with others affirms our humanity when facing life’s challenges and helps us feel less alone.

This workshop works with assemblage, and will focus on objects, with personal items brought in to include in the artwork to re-imagine a place or a way that our experience can be captured. It will include the ideas and teachings of Surrealism.

Sliding Scale Enrollment:
Level A: $25 - $40
Level B: $41 - $55
Level C: $55 - $75 (Extra Support for Flood Recovery)

Michelle Lesnak is a licensed mental health counselor and art therapist with over 30 years of experience working in the field of mental health. She is also a visual artist. Currently, she is enrolled with the Portland Institute of Loss and Transition and working towards certification for Grief Therapy as Meaning Reconstruction.

Register Online:

To register by phone, call: 802-479-7069.
Please note, enrollment is not finalized until tuition payment is received.

Part 2:
Mixing and Using Color for the Watercolorist
Susan Sawyer
Sundays: May 11 & 18
1 – 4PM

This 2-part workshop is designed for those who have either taken “Part 1” with Susan Sawyer or those who have experience using watercolor paints.

The average person can distinguish about a million different colors. A good watercolor palette might have about fifteen different pigments. How to get the right colors for a leaf in the sun, and a leaf in the shade, for the blue of forget-me-nots, or a winter sky, or a cedar waxwing? It helps to know your pigments, and what they can do, and to have a strategy. This workshop will use a series of exercises and steps to build familiarity, confidence and a useable reference.

Materials, including paints, will be provided. Students should bring their own paper; a 9x12 watercolor pad would be preferred.

Members $50/Non-Members $60

Susan Sawyer is an artist-naturalist from South Woodbury with many years of experience teaching, mostly adults in college and non-formal settings. After starting life as a printmaker and decades of making art quilts, her current practice consists of drawing, painting, and biological illustration, in graphite, ink, watercolor, and silverpoint. She believes in an experimental and experiential approach to all kinds of education, as well as careful observation of worlds without and within.

Register Online:

To register by phone, call: 802-479-7069.
Please note, enrollment is not finalized until tuition payment is received.

May Printmaking Open Studio
Chelsea Clarke Sawyer
Fri., May 16
1-4PM

SPA is offering an open studio session with Chelsea, studio host and printmaking coach, using SPA’s Wheelen X-Press in the Classroom. Some materials are provided (e.g., black ink, blotting paper, and other basic tools). Bring your own plate(s), or work in progress, and your own water-based ink(s) and paper. Some printmaking experience is needed. We are planning to offer Printmaking Open Studio sessions on a regular basis.

Members $25/Non-Members $35

Register Online:

To register by phone, call: 802-479-7069.
Please note, enrollment is not finalized until tuition payment is received.

Explore Acrylics:
Celebrate the Arrival of Spring
Robert W. Brunelle, Jr.
Sat, May 17, 9:30-4PM AND
Sat., May 24, 9:30-4PM

The spectacular beauty of early spring is coming soon and you’ll be ready for it! Learn about the advantages of using acrylic paints in your creative repertoire (Robert used oils for years and never looked back after he started using acrylics). During this two-day class students will learn all they need to know about working with acrylic paints. The class is open to students at all skill levels.

Among the topics covered will be: Color mixing, adding additives to make the paints thicker or thinner, slowing drying time, using acrylics as washes, sculpting with acrylics, brushstrokes for creating various effects, using fast drying time to your advantage, and how to control blending colors. We will also talk about composing your picture, stretching canvases, transferring drawings to canvas, various surfaces to paint on, as well as some useful hints on drawing, shading and shadows, and creating the illusion of depth on a flat surface.

A materials list will be provided to students prior to the class. (SPA has a wide selection of acrylic paints that you may use during the class.) If you have any questions, feel free to email Robert Waldo Brunelle, Jr. at [email protected]. Visit his website at www.mrbrunelle.com to see examples of his acrylic paintings.

Members $100/Non-Members $120

Robert Waldo Brunelle is a painter, kinetic sculptor, book illustrator, art educator and political cartoonist. He was the art teacher at the Browns River Middle School from 1981 to 2012. He served as the president of the Northern Vermont Artist Association from 1995 to 2012, and now serves as the NVAA’s Vice President. He has been exhibiting his paintings in the region since 1978. He is a founding member of the Vermont Comic Creator’s Group, and his cartoon strip Mr. Brunelle Explains It All appears monthly in Funny Times. To see more of his work, visit www.mrbrunelle.com

Register Online:

To register by phone, call: 802-479-7069.
Please note, enrollment is not finalized until tuition payment is received.

Photography & Videos with Cell Phones
(iPhone Focus)
Orah Moore
Sat., May 31
10AM-1PM

This class focuses on getting the most from your iPhones and will cover basic photo composition and light awareness. Instructor Orah Moore views cell phone photography as very fun, freeing and spontaneous.

First, we will go over straight photography vs. manipulating photo imagery. Orah will have a few assignments and even a photo treasure hunt to be completed before the end of the class. Her hope is that participants will create a personal gallery presentation by the end of the class.

Besides learning more about your cell phone photographic options, the class will include instruction on using iMovie.

What to bring:

An iPhone cell phone fully charged that has photo capability, a charger for later in the day, a laptop and cables for downloading cell phone photos to your laptop. (Don’t have a laptop? You can share with Orah or others who do.) Bring a thumb drive. Be familiar with the workings of your phone camera before the class. (The emphasis of this class is on iPhones.)

Bring a lunch so we can be in the field! We will take a break both morning and PM sessions to return to SPA for restroom and downloading.

If you have a favorite editing ap, Orah would like to know it ahead. (Please send information in an email to SPA in advance.)

Members $30/Non-Members $40

Orah Moore, life-long art and commercial photographer, MA, Cal State Fullerton, CA, owner of Orah Moore Photography since 1977, Haymaker Press, since 1987, publishing her work as cards and books. Studied with Ansel Adams and Ruth Bernhard. Producing and showing in galleries over 40 years. www.orahmooreartist.com Her newest book, titled, A Single Branch- Una Sola Rama, Photographs and Haiku (in English and Spanish) is a print-on-demand book sold on Amazon and consists entirely of images photographed on her iPhone and using cell phone creative layout apps.

Register Online:

To register by phone, call: 802-479-7069.
Please note, enrollment is not finalized until tuition payment is received.

Outsmarting Watercolor for Beginners
(and not-so-beginners)
Mary Reardon
Tuesdays: June 3; 10; 17 & 24
4-6PMPM

Watercolor can seem like an intimidating and unpredictable material for beginners and even for those with more experience. In this course we will outsmart watercolor with the knowledge of what it will do in any given situation. When we know what to expect from watercolor, we can better get the results we want. This course will cover basic wash techniques and work up to more advanced skills, tips and tricks (find out what you can do with a Magic Eraser!); plus, lots of additional resources will be provided so you can further explore more advanced materials and techniques as you desire. Because the quality of watercolor paper is crucial to success (sometimes even more than the paint itself!), a materials fee will cover the cost of the paper to be provided for the course. In addition to the papers used in class, each student will get a small sampler-pack of papers to experiment with. A list of other materials needed for the course will be provided.

Materials fee to the instructor (for paper) $18.

Members $90/Non-Members $100
(On-line Registration will be added to our website shortly.)

Mary Reardon is a native Vermonter who became an artist because everyone in the second grade said she would. She attended the Art Institute of Boston before the school was swallowed up by Lesley University, and earned her teaching degree from Johnson State College. After teaching a class at SPA in 2014, she realized the joy of teaching adults, and eventually retired after 20 years of teaching high school art. Contrary to her elementary school classmates, she firmly believes that drawing, painting or any art form, is a learnable skill--not a gift magically bestowed at birth to a chosen few. When not teaching, gardening or finding multiple ways to procrastinate, she occasionally finds time to make art herself and has exhibited around the state. If you take her class, she apologizes in advance for her warped sense of humor.

Calligraphy Intensive
Lydia Batten
Fri. & Sat., June 5 & 6: 9:30AM-12:30PM and
Sun., June 7: 11AM-2PM

Dive into a hands-on intensive investigation and exploration of what is involved in the art of Calligraphy. Learn how to hold the tools and use the media to create Italic style lettering. We will begin with lower case letters, add the capitals, and play with some basic layout options for creating small final pieces. The pace will be brisk and geared towards those who want to be immersed and challenged. This would be great for anyone who has had a bit of prior exposure, either with a book, you tube video, or another class a while ago! (The instructor will bring an additional alphabet for people who attended a previous SPA workshop to try.) If time and energy allow, use of color and/or other calligraphic styles can be introduced.

Besides enthusiasm, everyone should bring a sharp pencil, a good art eraser, a ruler, a pad of good quality layout bond or sketch paper, and something for taking notes.

There will be a $20 supply fee to the instructor for materials. This fee will cover handouts, a 3-pak of various-sized calligraphy markers, sample art papers to experiment with. If interested, students can opt to purchase at an additional cost some ink and metal nibs + holder after they have had a chance to experiment with them in class (instructor will have some for students to try out).

Please indicate if you are left-handed when registering; the instructor will provide some tools and instructions for left-handed people.

Members $90/ Non-Members $100

Lydia lives in Jericho VT with her husband. She has been studying and practicing (always the practicing!) calligraphy through workshops, classes, and conferences since her college days when she received her first pen set as a Christmas gift. She works from her studio in her home on wedding invitations and envelopes, on both personal and commissioned art pieces. For more information, go to: lydiabatten.com

Register Online:

To register by phone, call: 802-479-7069.
Please note, enrollment is not finalized until tuition payment is received.

Make Sculptural Clay Whistles
(ages 14 yrs – adults)
Robert W. Brunelle, Jr.
Sat., June 14
1-3:30PM

Students will learn how to make single or multi-tone, sculptural whistles out of clay. The whistles can be made into a wide variety of whimsical shapes, such as animals, monsters, people, aliens, cartoon characters, etc. The whistles can be made into two tone or ocharenas by adding more holes. We will be using air dry clay, so students can bring them home the same day. Once the clay is dry, students will have the option of painting their whistles at home. There should be time for students to make 2-4 whistles in this workshop, depending on how elaborate. (Materials are included in the class fee.)

Members $40/Non-Members $50

Robert Waldo Brunelle is a painter, kinetic sculptor, book illustrator, art educator and political cartoonist. He was the art teacher at the Browns River Middle School from 1981 to 2012. He served as the president of the Northern Vermont Artist Association from 1995 to 2012, and now serves as the NVAA’s Vice President. He has been exhibiting his paintings in the region since 1978. He is a founding member of the Vermont Comic Creator’s Group, and his cartoon strip Mr. Brunelle Explains It All appears monthly in Funny Times. To see more of his work, visit www.mrbrunelle.com

Register Online:

To register by phone, call: 802-479-7069.
Please note, enrollment is not finalized until tuition payment is received.

The Art of Paper
Marisa Green, SPA Artist in Residence
Adults aged 16+
Thursday, June 26, 2025
3:00pm-5:00pm

Unfold your creativity in The Art of Paper, a hands-on workshop exploring the foundations of paper art. Through discussion, live demos, and guided practice, you'll discover various techniques for cutting, layering, painting, and folding paper to bring depth and dimension to your work. Experiment with these methods as you create three unique small pieces, building confidence and skill in this versatile medium. Whether you're a beginner or looking to refine your craft, this workshop will open up new creative possibilities with paper.
*All participants should be comfortable working with an X-acto knife. Safety tips will be covered.

Materials List
Students to Bring/Purchase

X-Acto Knife with 2 extra blades
Cutting Mat 8.5x11" Ruler
Ruler 12" (must have a cork backing)
3 colors of Acrylic Gouache
Small or Medium Tipped Paint Brushes (1-2)
Neutral PH Clear Drying Glue Stick
Paper will be provided

Marisa Green is a mixed media artist and graphic designer specializing in cut paper and installation. She is the current Artist in Residence at Studio Place Arts, where she explores mathematics, connections, and meditation through geometric shapes, intricate patterns, and the art of physical repetition.

Tuition Details Coming Soon...

Register Online:

To register by phone, call: 802-479-7069.
Please note, enrollment is not finalized until tuition payment is received.

Mixed Media Abstraction
Kate Arslambakova
Saturday, June 28
10AM-4PM (with a short mid-day break – bring a snack/lunch)

Discover how to start your own abstract painting using acrylics. We will explore how to use mixed media techniques using found objects (sticks, bubble wrap, tissue paper, string), as well as traditional art tools (pallet knives, brushes, layering and collage). We will work on composition, balance, and movement. Students will be encouraged to balance each composition in terms of abstract art elements on each layer of the painting. Experimentation and boldness are highly encouraged!

Students will experience:

Abstract painting, composition, movement;
Surface treatment, creating depth with color and mark-making;
Use of textures – like string, tissue paper, bubble wrap, tearing, crumpling, rollers, plexiglass.

Materials are provided. However, students are welcome to bring materials with them if they would like. (SPA will share a list of key items on request.)

Members $45/Non-Members $55

Kate Arslambakova is a Russian-American painter. Working primarily with oils, collage on paper, and mixed media, her current abstract work responds directly to surrounding environments and seeks to find balance between shapes and colors, calm and unrest, while she also attempts to do so in her everyday life. Arslambakova received the annual Studio Residency at SPA in 2022-23.

Register Online:

To register by phone, call: 802-479-7069.
Please note, enrollment is not finalized until tuition payment is received.

Drawing the Ferns
Susan Sawyer
Sundays: July 6; 13 & 20
1-4PM

Nothing beats the ferns for grace and fractals. Our native ferns, from evergreen Christmas ferns of the woods to grand ostrich ferns and bracken out in the sun, are both fun and challenging subjects, rewarding our patience. We'll be drawing with artist's graphite pencils and getting a good look at some of our many species.

Students should bring:

Good quality 9x12 sketchbook. Canson XL multimedia is a good option.
Artist's grade pencils: Staedtler Lumograph preferred, 4H, 2H, HB, and 2B.
Lead Pointer (a little pad of sandpaper with a handle)
White vinyl eraser
Kneaded eraser

Member $95/Non-Member $105

Susan Sawyer is an artist-naturalist from South Woodbury with many years of experience teaching, mostly adults in college and non-formal settings. After starting life as a printmaker and decades of making art quilts, her current practice consists of drawing, painting, and biological illustration, in graphite, ink, watercolor, and silverpoint. She believes in an experimental and experiential approach to all kinds of education, as well as careful observation of worlds without and within.

Register Online:

To register by phone, call: 802-479-7069.
Please note, enrollment is not finalized until tuition payment is received.

Political Cartooning
(ages 16 years +)
Robert Waldo Brunelle, Jr.
Saturday, August 2
10AM – 4PM (with ½ hr break)

This 1-day workshop will provide a focused setting for learning about political cartoons, caricaturing politicians, and a good deal more. The workshop covers: (1) How to design a character, and draw it various poses; (2) How to set up a page or comic strip using panels; (3) Writing and designing speech balloons, narration boxes and sound effect words; (4) Hints on how to write a story, or set up a gag with a punch line; (5) A brief overview of the history of cartoons and a short slide show about famous political cartoonists; (6) Tips on drawing faces correctly; and (7) How to use 1-point and 2-point perspective to create the illusion of 3D.

Students will provide their own materials, which include: drawing paper, pencils, pens, rulers, erasers, and color media of their choice (colored pencils, markers, water colors, etc.) A comprehensive handout will be provided in advance (digital copy).

Member $45/Non-Member $55

Robert Waldo Brunelle is a painter, book illustrator, retired art teacher and political cartoonist. He taught cartooning and computer animation techniques at the Browns River Middle School for 31 years, and has taught cartooning workshops for adults at the Fletcher Farm School for Arts and Crafts. In 2007 he was one of the Vermont cartoonists featured in the "Drawn Here" series produced by WCAX Channel 3 T.V. He created a weekly cartoon for Seven Days for several years. His political cartoon strip "Mr. Brunelle Explains It All" appears monthly in the humor magazine "Funny Times", and weekly on the website of the humor magazine "Humor Times", at [www.humortimes.com]. To see more of Mr. Brunelle's art and cartoons, visit his website at [www.mrbrunelle.com], or email him at [[email protected]]

Register Online:

To register by phone, call: 802-479-7069.
Please note, enrollment is not finalized until tuition payment is received.

REGISTERING FOR A CLASS:
Please be sure to include an updated email address and phone number with your online registration to ensure we are able to contact you. If you do not hear from us within 3 business days of your enrollment, please contact us directly.

For inquiries, contact us directly at 802-479-7069 or email [email protected]

SPA REFUND POLICY:
Cancellations at least 9 days before first class: Refund for full paid amount minus $10 registration fee OR 100% credit towards a future class.

Cancellations that occur within 8 days before the first class: 50% refund minus $10 registration fee OR 50% credit towards a future class.

Cancellations after the first class, but before second class: 50% refund of remaining class tuition OR 75% credit towards future class.

Full refund if SPA cancels. Credits towards future classes must be used within 12 months of date of cancellation.