Adult Classes

Programs for Adults
(16+ years)

At A Glance

Fall 2022

Trees and Forests in Mixed Media
Susan Sawyer
3 Tues: September 13, 20, & 27
1-4PM

Expressive Fall Landscapes in Pastel
Aline Ordman
Thurs: September 29
9:30AM-4:30PM

SPA Excursion: Fall Season at the Quarries
plein air painting – all painting media
Tracey J. Hambleton
Fri: September 30
9:30AM-1PM

Color Pencil from Basic to Brilliant
Mary Reardon
4 Wed: Oct. 5; 12; 19 & 26
4:30-6:30PM

Picturing Stone Art
Susan Sawyer
Fri: Oct. 7
11AM – 4PM

Japanese Bookbinding
Ellissa Campbell
Mon/Tues: Oct. 17 & 18
5:30-7:30PM

Political Cartooning: Election Year 2022!
(ages 16 years +)
Robert Waldo Brunelle, Jr.
Sat: Oct. 22
10AM – 4PM (with ½ hr break)

Transforming Loss
A creative workshop to inspire hope and connection
For Mental Health Workers
Michelle Lesnak
Sun., Oct. 23
Noon-5PM

3D Star & Tunnel Books
Elissa Campbell
Mon/Tues: Oct. 24 & 25
5-7:30PM

Transforming Loss
A creative workshop to inspire hope and connection
For a general audience
Michelle Lesnak
Thurs, Oct. 27
Noon-5PM

Drawing with Pen & Ink
Robert Waldo Brunelle JR
Fri: Oct. 28
Noon-4PM

Botanical Art
Susan Sawyer
5 Sun: Nov. 6; 13; 20; 27; & Dec. 4
1-4PM

Face It: Beginning Portraiture
August Burns
Fri: Nov 11
9:30AM-4PM

Paste Paper Gift Wrap
Elissa Campbell
Mon/Tues: Nov. 14 & 15
6:30 – 8:30PM

Make Sculptural Clay Whistles
(ages 14 yrs – adults)
Robert W. Brunelle, Jr.
Sat: Nov. 19
1-3:30PM

We invite you to become inspired and learn new ways to create at Studio Place Arts (SPA)! Let us know if you would like additional information about these classes and workshops. In addition, please let us know if there are topics you would like us to consider for future classes.

Help Keep our Art Classes Healthy!
Students and instructors are working in proximity in our Classroom and we want to keep everyone in good health.

For that reason, we require immunization against COVID by those in our educational programs, including instructors, and ask that participants bring and wear masks for physically close working situations.
Please bring your vaccination card to the first class.
Additionally, we ask participants to stay home if they are not feeling well; payment for the class will held for a future class.

Please call us at (802) 479-7069 if you have questions. We look forward to seeing you at SPA!

Fall 2022 Classes

Trees and Forests in Mixed Media
Susan Sawyer
3 Tues: September 13, 20, & 27
1-4PM
Trees are remarkably varied and expressive individually and in groups. Working from life or photographs, using graphite, ink, and watercolor in any combination, we’ll try to capture the personalities and spirits of the trees we live with. This will be a plein air class at various sites in Montpelier (unless there’s rain, in which case we’ll meet in the SPA classroom.) Montpelier has wooded natural areas and some magnificent street trees, and we’ll have no lack of subjects.

Materials: sketchbook, drawing pencils and eraser, portable watercolor kit, easy-to-carry foldup stool or chair, hat, water, snacks as needed. (More detailed list to come.)

Members $95/Non-Members $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.

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Expressive Fall Landscapes in Pastel
Aline Ordman
Thurs: September 29
9:30AM-4:30PM
Join Aline in this enjoyable and informative, one-day fall workshop designed for you to learn ways to significantly loosen up, create beautiful color, strong design and expressive mark making with the aim of substantially strengthening the visual impact of your pastel paintings. Focus will be on achieving the "sensation" of the fall foliage season rather than exacting details, an overall expressive look to the finish of the painting, using value as the organizer and color as bold statement. Work from your photos or sketches. The day includes demonstrations, critiques and plenty of painting time. Materials list, all levels from beginner through advanced are welcome. (SPA has some pastels for loan, if interested.)

Members $90/Non-Members $100

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/

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SPA Excursion: Fall Season at the Quarries
plein air painting – all painting media
Tracey J. Hambleton
Fri: September 30
9:30AM-1PM
Take your oil, acrylic or watercolor painting gear outdoors to capture the majestic beauty of the local granite quarries during autumn. Tracey will share techniques for getting energy and movement into paintings and will emphasize a looser, on the spot approach. All painting media; participants should have familiarity with their selected media. All levels welcome. SPA has some portable easels for loaning to participants. (We will send a map to the meeting location via email and tips on materials for the excursion.)

$10 per participant (register by Wed. September 28th)

Tracey is completing her 1-year Studio Residency Program at SPA, during which time she worked on a major plein air painting project involving historic buildings and iconic places in a show of oil paintings called “Brushwork Barre” (on view July 6-August 20, 2022).

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Color Pencil from Basic to Brilliant
Mary Reardon
4 Wed: Oct. 5; 12; 19 & 26
4:30-6:30PM
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 $80/Non-Members $90

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.

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Picturing Stone Art
Susan Sawyer
Fri: Oct. 7
11AM – 4PM
Sketching sculptures in a gallery, museum, or outdoors is fun and instructive: the model holds still forever, can be viewed from many angles, and can be caught in a few lines or turned into a deep study of value and texture. We’ll honor the works in the annual stone show by interpreting them in two dimensions. We’ll draw in the SPA gallery and depending on the weather, in other Barre locations.

Materials: sketchbook, drawing pencils and eraser, easy-to-carry foldup stool or chair, hat, water, bag lunch & drinks. (More detailed list to come.)

Members $30/Non-Members $40

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.

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Japanese Bookbinding
Elissa Campbell
Mon/Tues: Oct. 17 & 18
5:30-7:30PM
Would you like to take a trip to Asia without getting on a plane? In this workshop, you'll try your hand at Watoji or Japanese bookbinding.

You'll start off by learning the Yamato Toji, a binding which uses strips of paper instead of sewing thread. Next, four more traditional binding styles will be explored - Yotsume Toji (Four-hole Binding), Koki Toji/Kangxi (Noble Binding), Asa-No-Ha Toji (Hemp Leaf Binding) and Kikko Toji (Tortoise Shell Binding). Time permitting, you'll also create an account book known as Daifuku Cho.

In this workshop, each participant will leave class with 5-6 books and a basic knowledge of bookbinding technique. You will receive a detailed handout and resource list for all materials we use.

No previous experience required – this is a great class for a beginner. Materials fee to the instructor: $15.

Supplies (Bring them if you have them – don’t feel obligated buy anything):

Bone folder
Scissors
X-Acto Knife
Ruler
Awl
Cutting Mat
Needle

Members $45/Non-Members $55

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.

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Political Cartooning: Election Year 2022!
(ages 16 years +)
Robert Waldo Brunelle, Jr.
Sat: Oct. 22
10AM – 4PM (with ½ hr break)
The Election Season is here, and 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).

Members $45/Non-Members $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 [brunelles3@aol.com]

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Transforming Loss
A creative workshop to inspire hope and connection
For Mental Health Workers
Michelle Lesnak
Sun: Oct. 23
Noon-5PM

This art workshop is offered to create a place for connection with personal loss during the pandemic. The workshop consists of gathering to learn how art can help in the grieving process. This is not a therapy group, but rather an opportunity for you to use the art making process to express your feelings about the loss of a loved one. There will be a morning workshop session, break for lunch and an afternoon session for sharing art and talking about your loss. Michelle will demonstrate the use of one technique -- collage -- and offer ways to use collage in a single piece of artwork or a simple booklet. Light refreshments served; materials provided. These are small sessions; space is limited. Pre-registration is needed.

Participant Fee: $10 ea.

Michelle Lesnak is offering the workshop as part of her Artist in Residency Program at SPA. Michelle is a licensed mental health counselor in Vermont and nationally registered art therapist, and she has a private practice in Montpelier in which she primarily works with adults. She turned to art making to help her through loss she experienced during the pandemic, as she is an artist as well as an art therapist. She is interested in reaching out to others and sharing something that might be helpful.

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3D Star & Tunnel Books
Elissa Campbell
Mon/Tues: Oct. 24 & 25
5-7:30PM
These beautiful, three-dimensional books are sure to capture the imagination! Don’t let the appearance of these books fool you – they’re much easier to create than it looks.

Participants will create the books from layers of paper and collage materials. The star book opens up completely to form a star shape when the covers are held back-to-back. You can use the attached ribbon ties to secure the book when open or closed. The tunnel book has pages suspended between two, thin folded accordions. Openings in the pages allow you to see through the book to the back, creating layers of depth.

In this workshop, each participant will leave class with a completed book and the basic knowledge of bookbinding technique. You will receive a detailed handout and resource list for all materials we use. You might feel more comfortable having some previous bookbinding experience in this workshop, but it is not required.

Materials fee to the instructor: $15. All materials are included in the workshop fee, but feel free to bring materials for use in creating a theme/concept for your books. Several ideas are: collage materials (handmade paper, fibers, fabric); photographs (sized at least 12” wide x 5” tall. Bring multiples of each image); rubber stamps and pads; markers, pens and colored pencils; and decorative scissors/punches.

Members $45/Non-Members $55

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.

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Transforming Loss
A creative workshop to inspire hope and connection
For a general audience
Michelle Lesnak
Thurs: Oct. 27
Noon-5PM

This art workshop is offered to create a place for connection with personal loss during the pandemic. The workshop consists of gathering to learn how art can help in the grieving process. This is not a therapy group, but rather an opportunity for you to use the art making process to express your feelings about the loss of a loved one. There will be a morning workshop session, break for lunch and an afternoon session for sharing art and talking about your loss. Michelle will demonstrate the use of one technique -- collage -- and offer ways to use collage in a single piece of artwork or a simple booklet. Light refreshments served; materials provided. These are small sessions; space is limited. Pre-registration is needed.

Participant Fee: $10 ea.

Michelle Lesnak is offering the workshop as part of her Artist in Residency Program at SPA. Michelle is a licensed mental health counselor in Vermont and nationally registered art therapist, and she has a private practice in Montpelier in which she primarily works with adults. She turned to art making to help her through loss she experienced during the pandemic, as she is an artist as well as an art therapist. She is interested in reaching out to others and sharing something that might be helpful.

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Drawing with Pen & Ink
Robert Waldo Brunelle JR
Fri: Oct. 28
Noon-4PM
In this class students will learn the basics of drawing with dip pens and ink. Topics covered will include: Using various pen nibs to create different line widths, cross hatching and stippling to create shadows, using ink wash to add grey tones, drawing with a brush, and the basics of sumi-e brush painting.

Materials: paper (either smooth watercolor paper, or paper made specifically for pen and ink drawing) pencils, water-based ink, and dip pens. (Robert Brunelle will bring along some dip pens and sumi-e brushes for students to borrow, but it will be helpful if students have some of their own to use.)

Members $50/Non-Members $60

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 [brunelles3@aol.com]

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Botanical Art
Susan Sawyer
5 Sun: Nov. 6; 13; 20; 27; and Dec. 4
1-4PM

Even after the flowers fade and the leaves fall, there’s plenty of plant life to paint and draw, including seeds, berries, twigs, fallen leaves, and fruits and vegetables from the market. With watercolor paints, we’ll use a realistic approach, with an emphasis on both accuracy and beauty. Skills we’ll work on include drawing, brush handling, color mixing, and understanding how plants work. All levels welcome, though some drawing experience is helpful.

Members: $145/Non-Members: $165

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.

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Face It: Beginning Portraiture
August Burns
Fri, Nov 11
9:30AM-4PM (1/2 hr. break for lunch)
It’s easier than you think! This one-day class for beginners involves the use of dry media (pencil, some pastel), and it is divided into 2 parts: getting to know and drawing the head and applying basics to drawing from photos. There will be a short demonstration at the beginning of each session. This is an ideal first class for all levels. Contact SPA for a suggested materials list.

Members $80/Non-Members $90

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

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Paste Paper Gift Wrap
Elissa Campbell
Mon/Tues: Nov. 14 & 15
6:30 – 8:30PM
Tired of the same old gift wrap? Then this class is for you! Paste papers are made by applying a mixture of paint and pigment to damp paper and then using tools to create pattern and texture on the surface. Different methods will be demonstrated to guide you as you create your own paste papers with vibrant colors. We’ll use methyl cellulose in a paste recipe that’s easy to recreate on your own. We’ll be working with acid-free paper, so you can even use the papers in your bookmaking or other craft projects.

Each participant will leave class with a collection of paste papers and a basic knowledge of paste paper technique. 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.

Supplies: Apron, old credit cards or gift cards that can be cut into and used as design tools, plastic utensils, wood grain or other tools to create marks. NOTE: Bring the supplies if you have them – don’t feel obligated to buy anything.

Materials fee: $20
Members $45/Non-Members $55

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.

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Make Sculptural Clay Whistles
(ages 14 yrs – adults)
Robert W. Brunelle, Jr.
Sat: Nov. 19
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 $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 [brunelles3@aol.com]

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REGISTER ONLINE:

Send us an email with the participant's name, address and phone number.

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.