Do you like the idea of being able to paint whatever subject matter you like but have a professional artist on hand to answer any questions that come up while you're painting? Then this is the class you want!  Join painters of all levels for an evening of self-paced painting.  You bring in photos that you'd like to paint or set up a still life in person and our instructor Jeremy Langston will guide you with techniques, skills & tips catered to what you're working on. Your subject matter, your pace, no stress, just fun!  Come improve your painting skills with us at the McLean Co. Arts Center.

*All materials are provided: paints, brushes, painting surfaces, palettes, knives, etc.  

*All materials are provided: paints, brushes, painting surfaces, palettes, knives, etc.  

Join instructor Alanna Veitch for this six-week ceramics course. Get ready to be intricate! Using ceramic paper clay, we will be sculpting organic flower-like forms to experiment with the material, creating many things from smaller intricate work to bigger flowing forms. We will also experiment with different techniques to create textures by stamping, carving, and accentuating the forms of the object with different finishing/glazing techniques. This is a sculpting class for intermediate to advanced students. Also this is Paper Clay that our instructors mix and create that has to be fired in a kiln.  

Intimidated by the manual setting on your camera? Manual is where the magic happens! Join MCAC instructor, Dave Fulghum for an afternoon exploring all the photographic possibilities in the manual settings of your camera. We will spend the majority of our time discussing the exposure triangle and manual operations of your camera. Once you gain a good understanding of how to operate in manual mode the creative world of photography becomes far more accessible. We will also spend a little time on composition and a brief talk about post production (editing). 

This will be primarily targeted at DSLR and Film camera users. Many aspects of the class may be applied to any type of camera where you have control over ISO, f stop and shutter speed. 

*Please bring your camera with you to class, it's not necessary to have a camera for the workshop but it will be helpful.

Mondays, February 6th - 27th, 2023

The MCAC will have an open studio option during the winter for our advanced ceramic students. This session on Monday nights is open to ceramic students with at least a year of classes at the McLean Co. Arts Center and at least one advanced class with one of our instructors. This time will be proctored by our Ceramic Assistant Marjorie Hauge. This is not an instructed time but you will have access to supplies, recources and the wonderful advanced community of ceramicists at the MCAC.

The $125 fee includes access to firing, glazes, 10 lbs of clay, a shelf at the MCAC and access to open studio during our open hours. No guest registration allowed for this option.

Join local artist Rhoq in this four-week drawing session suitable for artists of any experience level. The session presents a simple drawing method which emphasizes consistent proportion. For the beginner, this class will jump-start the artist's ability to accurately capture the shape and detail of a subject. Experienced artists will be encouraged to explore observation bias and refine the accuracy of existing skills. Class activities will focus primarily on linework, with basic shading used where it assists in clarifying the image.

This class is recommended for any artist (Jr. High to Adult) with interest in developing realistic drawing skills and provides a foundation that can be extended into other styles and mediums of representational artwork. Paper and pencils will be provided. Experienced artists are welcome to bring other drawing media, if they prefer to use their own tools.

Capture a child's life and memories in a very special journal!  Vintage children’s hardbound books and various other ephemera will be used to create unique, ring-bound journals. Even in these days of digital record keeping, leafing through a book filled with photos, and handwritten notes will provide a special joy for the years to come.

This six-week course will give you plenty of time to create your book. MCAC Instructor, Liz Lathrop will demonstrate a variety of techniques for page creating, pocket making, tag and booklet making. All materials are provided but students are encouraged to bring their own treasured items to add to the books, and all skill levels are welcome. 

Do you like the idea of being able to paint whatever subject matter you like but have a professional artist on hand to answer any questions that come up while you're painting? Then this is the class you want!  Join painters of all levels for an evening of self-paced painting.  You bring in photos that you'd like to paint or set up a still life in person and our instructor Jeremy Langston will guide you with techniques, skills & tips catered to what you're working on. Your subject matter, your pace, no stress, just fun!  Come improve your painting skills with us at the McLean Co. Arts Center.

*All materials are provided: paints, brushes, painting surfaces, palettes, knives, etc.  

Join MCAC instructor Deana Moore Schoolcraft for an introduction to basic painting techniques, processes, materials and color principles for those who have limited painting experience.  In this six week class your will use water-soluble oils, and students will create a simple still life or landscape painting using a limited palette. 

This is a great class for those who have taken Deana's Beginning Oil Painting Class or whom have some basic knowledge of oil painting techniques and materials. Great class for adults or teens. All materials are provided: paints, brushes, painting surfaces, palettes, knives, etc.  

Join instructor Claire Hedden for this three-week ceramics intensive. This class is geared towards students with one full year of ceramic classes at the MCAC and at least two classes that involve wheel work. In this three week intensive Claire will work with you so that you can refine your throwing techniques and create advanced work on the wheel. 

Join instructor Kirsten Heteji for this four-week springtime ceramics course. You will work on and create two large projects just in time for the birds & berries! Multilevel Birdfeeders & Berry Bowls. The first two weeks will be focused on handbuilding the items and getting them ready for the kiln, the third & fourth sessions will be spent finishing up any glazing or last minute details to complete your two items. This is a great class for beginners or advanced students, all levels are welcome. 

Love to draw with graphite but struggle getting those darks dark enough without a heavy shine?  MCAC Instructor, Jeremy Langston will guide you with techniques and tips on how to take your graphite art to the next level in this one day workshop.  Bring photos to draw or set up a still life for direct observation practice. The fee includes all supplies needed for the workshop.

Mondays, March 6th-27th, 2023

The MCAC will have an open studio option during the winter for our advanced ceramic students. This session on Monday nights is open to ceramic students with at least a year of classes at the McLean Co. Arts Center and at least one advanced class with one of our instructors. This time will be proctored by our Ceramic Assistant Marjorie Hauge. This is not an instructed time but you will have access to supplies, recources and the wonderful advanced community of ceramicists at the MCAC.

The $125 fee includes access to firing, glazes, 10 lbs of clay, a shelf at the MCAC and access to open studio during our open hours. No guest registration allowed for this option.

Join MCAC Instructor Dave Fulghum for a night learning about a true creative form. Using long exposures in darkness combined with alternate light sources this class will teach techniques to enhance the existing subject matter or create a new reality. Using flashlights, spotlights, fiber optic light brushes, light wands, sparklers and even fire we will delve into the creative aspects of using light and light sensitive surfaces (film and sensor plates) to alter your images in a spectacular way. 

*We will meet at the SW corner of Ireland Grove Road & Hershey Road so we can avoid light polution and have plenty of dark sky for the photo experimentation. CLICK HERE to see where we will meet, there is parking available.

Requirements: A camera capable of minimum exposure times of 30 seconds and a tripod. Please wear dark non-reflective clothing.

Understanding value is absolutely crucial for the success of any artistic work and one of the most important and salient variables of any two-dimensional piece. In this two and a half hour workshop with MCAC instructor Billie Jean Hill, you will learn about the visual relationship between light and dark, practice various exercises to help you better understand subtle gradients of light, and complete a final still life project. Artists may complete work in the medium of their choice (acrylic, watermixable oils, pastels, watercolor) as long as you have worked in that medium before. All necessary supplies will be provided by the McLean Co. Arts Center.

Continue to grow in your knowledge of Paper Clay with session II. Join instructor Alanna Veitch for this six-week ceramics course and learn new techniques to take your sculpting to the next level. This is a sculpting class for intermediate to advanced students. 

Join MCAC Instructor Marjorie Hauge for a beautiful Saturday morning making delicate ceramic flowers! These flowers can be made to adorn a ceramic vessel or make them on a larger scale so they can shine alone. Made with low fire clay body and paper clay, Marjorie will instruct you on how to form petals and piece together your work. Lastly, Marjorie will show you how to apply your underglaze so youcan  achieve a gradient change in color on the petals.

This is a technique-based workshop, and it's best for intermediate and advanced ceramic students. (Please note that if this is the only workshop you are taking you will only leave with skills & new techniques, any flowers that you work on will be fired and available for pick up two weeks after the workshop.)