PH-2 Basic Camera Operations

With Dave Fulghum

 Saturday, 1 Session

Sept. 14th

Learn the basics of you DSLR or Mirrorless camera. We will discuss operating the camera in Manual mode and become well versed in the exposure triangle. If time allows we will also discuss photographic composition.

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

P-2 Immersive Watercolor Intensive

with Jenni Bateman  

Mondays, 2 Sessions

Sept. 16,23;

Over the 2 weeks, we’ll build your existing working knowledge of GLAZING, further define elements of design like VALUE, explore how simple thumbnails help “map out” your paintings, and devote much of each class in solving your individual problem areas (like “muddy” paintings). We’ll mix it up and have fun learning how to add objective critique to your completed paintings!

Join us and grow your skills!

TRYitOUT!

MATERIALS:Please bring your favorite watercolor supplies(paint, brushes, papers). Using materials you know and love will bring you the best results. 

Assorted papers, brushes, and paint will be provided for experimenting. You may just find a new favorite! Additional materials will be available for experimenting.

Questions? jennidesigns@gmail.com

This six-session course will provide beginning students with a basic foundation in the art of enameling.  Vitreous enamels are ground glass powders that are applied to metal and fused permanently in a kiln.  Designs are built up in layers, each one fired separately.  Enameling is an exciting medium, colorful, durable and rich in design opportunities!  It’s great for 2-D or ceramic artists who want to expand their media horizons, and for anyone who wants to learn about this ancient method of combining glass with metal.  Students will work with both opaque and transparent enamels, learn sifting, stenciling, sgraffito, stoning and kiln-firing techniques, and how to embellish their creations with glass threads and beads.  Students can create pieces such as earrings, pendants, charms or two-dimensional tiles. 

All tools and materials provided. 

It is strongly recommended that students be able to attend the first two sessions without absences.

P-3 Tuesday Evening Painting 

with Jeremy Langston

   Tuesdays, 6 sessions

  Sept. 17, 24, Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22;

6:30-9pm

Fee:$150

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, palette knives, etc. 

P-4 Wednesday Evening Painting

with Amy Yeager

   Wednesdays, 6 sessions

Sept. 18, 25, Oct. 2, 9, 16, 23;

6:30-9 pm

Fee: $150 (non members)

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 or drawing?

Then this is the class you want! 

Join artists of all levels for an evening of self-paced painting and drawing.  You bring in photos that you'd like to paint or set up a still life in person and our instructor Amy Yeager 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 and drawing skills with us at the McLean Co. Arts Center.

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

Liquid form enamels are colored glass powders that are ground finely enough to suspend in a medium, allowing them to be used in ways similar to paints.  As with sifted enamels, they are fired onto metal in a kiln to produce vibrant, color-fast, durable art or jewelry pieces.  In this 4-week class, we will explore the basics of liquid form enamels and learn dipping, brushwork, sgraffito, stoning, printing and marbling techniques.  Students will create small, two-dimensional enameled steel tiles which can be mounted as wall art or used with magnets to adorn refrigerators and/or bodies! 

All tools and materials provided.

It is strongly recommended that students not miss the first session!

P-5 Foundations of Urban Sketching Intensive

with Jenni Bateman  

Sundays, 2 Sessions

Sept. 22, 29;

Calling all doodlers, drawers, painters, and sketchers! This class is designed to merge your travels and life’s mundane into “documentary drawings”. We’ll sketch out preliminary shapes, then add detail with both pens and glazes of watercolor.

At the end of your 2 weeks, you’ll have a “working journal” of your line work, doodles, and sketches, and LOTS of notes to help in your Urban Sketching. Together we’ll explore those hard artist’s decisions: WHAT TO PUT IN and WHAT TO LEAVE OUT! 

NOTE: Previous foundations of drawing, sketching, and watercolors will highlight personal success.

TRYitOUT!

MATERIALS: Please bring black and white inspirational photos of places you’ve been: perhaps your own backyard, summer in the mountains, or winter by the shore. 

NOTE: Please bring your watercolor supplies (paint, brushes, fine liner pens, papers).

Questions? jennidesigns@gmail.com

-C-12 Mask Workshop with Guinevere Chapin

Wednesdays, 2 sessions

Sept. 25 & Oct. 9;

6:30- 9:00 pm

Fee: $65 for non members

Masks are objects that for centuries now have been used as disguises, as protection, in religious rituals, and in performance as entertainment. The word conjures up the smell of rubber and plastic Halloween costumes, the glamour of Venetian carnival, and the mystery of an egyptian sarcophagus. In this two session workshop, we will make our own decorative ceremonial masks that, when complete, can be hung on the wall.
The first session will be dedicated to the construction of the mask. The following week, we will glaze the bisqued masks.

Masks will be available for pick-up after glaze firing

All mask making materials will be supplied and all skill levels are welcome.

This workshop does not include a shelf at the MCAC or access to open studio hours.

P-6 Sky's the Limit (Watercolors)

with Dale Evans

   Saturday, 1 session

   Sept. 28;

12:30-4 pm

Fee: $25 (non members)

Join Dale Evans, MCAC Painting and Watercolor Instructor, in taking traditional watercolor in different directions. This workshop will focus on painting sky and clouds and is open to intermediate to advanced water colorists, previous experience is recommended.

*All materials are supplied for this class. Please feel free to bring your own drinks and snacks to this workshop.

The MCAC will have an open studio option for Advanced Ceramic MEMBERS 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 is not an instructed time but you will have access to supplies and resources at the MCAC.

P-7 Watercolor Workshop

with Jenni Bateman  

Monday, 1 Session

Sept. 30;

Ready for an introduction to the BASICS of WATERCOLOR?

This 3 hour workshop will help you understand this medium, and how to use the basic Elements of Design in your painting. Clear the mystery of painting methods such as ‘wet-on-wet’, ‘wet-on-dry’, and ‘dry-on-dry’. Lots of class time will be devoted for you to experiment, practice with various paints and papers, and complete several paintings. Chances are you’ll be ready to set up your own studio. 

TRYitOUT!

C-14 Gnome Intensive 

with Marjorie Hauge

   Wednesdays, 3 sessions

Oct. 2, 9, 23;

2:30-5pm

Fee: $97.50  for non members

Join MCAC instructor, Marjorie Hauge, for this 3-session intensive where you will get to design and create your own garden gnome. This workshop is for all levels, no prior clay experience is needed.  Students will leave with a fully glazed sculpture .  (skips oct. 13th)

  

Does not include a shelf at the MCAC and access to open studio hours. Guest registration allowed for this option.

C-15 Ceramics Open Studio 

with Alanna Veitch

   Fridays, 4 sessions

Oct. 4, 11, 18, 25;

6:30-9 pm

Fee: $130 for non members

This is for advanced ceramic students only. This session on Friday nights is open to ceramic students with at least a year of classes at the McLean County Art Center AND at least one advanced class with one of our instructors. This time will be proctored by our Ceramic Assistant, Alanna Veitch. This is not an instructed time but gives you access to supplies, resources, and the wonderful, advanced community of ceramicists at the MCAC. 

Student work is fired on-site by our ceramics studio assistant, allowing everyone to take home finished pieces. 

Enrollment in this class provides access to MCAC's kilns and our full range of ceramic glazes, plus tools and 10lbs of clay, a shelf, and access to open studio hours.

P-8 Immersive Watercolor Intensive

with Jenni Bateman  

Mondays, 2 Sessions

Oct. 12, 19;

Over the 2 weeks, we’ll build your existing working knowledge of GLAZING, further define elements of design like VALUE, explore how simple thumbnails help “map out” your paintings, and devote much of each class in solving your individual problem areas (like “muddy” paintings). We’ll mix it up and have fun learning how to add objective critique to your completed paintings!

Join us and grow your skills!

TRYitOUT!

MATERIALS:Please bring your favorite watercolor supplies(paint, brushes, papers). Using materials you know and love will bring you the best results. 

Assorted papers, brushes, and paint will be provided for experimenting. You may just find a new favorite! Additional materials will be available for experimenting.

Questions? jennidesigns@gmail.com

C-16 Intro to Throwing A

with Sarah Hurley

   Saturdays, 4 sessions

   Oct. 12, 19, 26, Nov. 2;

9-11:30 am

Fee: $130 for non members

 

Join us to explore the wonderful world of wheel thrown ceramics. This is a class for beginners to experience our MCAC community, the facility, and the wonder of creating a piece on the wheel. Learn the basics of creating a piece from beginning to end in the 4-week introductory course. No experience is necessary. No Open Studio

The fee includes access to firing, glazes, & 10 lbs of clay, Includes a shelf at the MCAC.

Does not include access to open studio hours.

Guest registration allowed for this option.

C-17 Monday Evening Ceramics Open Studio 

with Marjorie Hauge

   Mondays, 4 sessions

   Oct. 14, 21, 28, Nov. 4;

6:30-9pm

Fee: $130 for non members

This is for advanced ceramic students only. This session on Monday nights is open to ceramic students with at least a year of classes at the McLean County Art 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 gives you access to supplies, resources, and the wonderful, advanced community of ceramicists at the MCAC. 

Enrollment in this class provides access to MCAC's kilns and our full range of ceramic glazes, plus tools and 10lbs of clay, a shelf, and access to open studio hours.

No guest registration allowed for this option.

PH-3 Fall Color Photo Hike

Wednesday, 1 session

Oct. 16th

Join photographer Dave Fulghum on an enjoyable day capturing the beautiful fall colors found in nature. This hike should spark new ideas and you may just learn a few new techniques along the way. 

Minimal Needs: DSLR or Mirrorless camera and Tripod

Completion of either the 6-week Beginning  Enameling class

OR

the 4-week Beginning Liquid Enamels class at MCAC is required for enrollment.

This six-week class will provide supervised work time for students of enameling as we continue to build our supportive, enthusiastic community of enamelists here at MCAC! Students will work on their own projects using any enameling techniques and materials in which they have been trained.

Nisa will be present each night for guidance and problem-solving, but no formal instruction or lectures will be scheduled except for orientation on the first night.

Enrollment in this class gives students access to all basic enameling tools, the kiln, shelf space and our library of enamels. Some copper sheet/shapes and pre-enameled steel sheet will be provided.

Students are encouraged to begin building their own palette of enamels and the instructor will be happy to guide them in making their first purchases of enamels and or copper &  steel.

C-18 Ceramic Studio Procedures

with Marjorie Hauge

   Sundays, 1 session

Oct. 20;

12-2pm

Fee: FREE!  

Familiar with clay but haven’t taken any classes at MCAC?

You are an experienced ceramicist but not knowledgeable about this studio?

Maybe you need a refresher on our updated space.

Join us for a 2-hour introduction to the ceramic studio at MCAC. At the end of the session, after you pass a short quiz, you will be eligible to take any of our advanced courses except Open Studio. That requires 1 advanced class.

Repeats on the first Sunday of each month*

C-19 Intro to Handbuilding

with Sarah Hurley

   Sundays, 5 sessions

   Oct. 20, 27, Nov. 3, 10, 17;

3-5:30 pm

Fee: $162.50 for non members

 

If you can center the clay on the wheel and pull up the sides, but need more beginner level instruction, this class is for you. Learn to throw various shapes and play with assorted surface techniques as you improve your throwing skills. At the end of the course, you will have the opportunity to take the procedural test where you can go on to any of our advanced classes.

The fee includes access to firing, glazes, & 10 lbs of clay, Includes a shelf at the MCAC.

Does not include access to open studio hours.

Guest registration allowed for this option.

-D1 - Beginning Drawing

with Dave Templeton

   Tuesdays, 4 sessions

  Oct. 22, 29, Nov. 5, 12;

12:30-3pm

C-20 Sugar Skull Banks Workshop with Kirsten Heteji

   Wednesday, 1 session

Oct. 23;

6:30-9pm

Fee: $25 for non members

In the spirit of Halloween and Dia de los Muertos, we will be decorating skull banks with repeating colors and patterns in the traditional folk art form from southern Mexico. Pick up will be the following week.

All Levels welcome

Student work is fired on-site by our ceramics studio assistant, allowing everyone to take home finished pieces. 

Enrollment in this class does not come with access to a shelf or  open studio hours.

-D2- Advanced Drawing

with Dave Templeton

   Thursdays, 4 sessions

  Oct. 24, 31, Nov. 7, 11;  

12:30-3pm

Join instructor Dave Templeton for this four-week advanced drawing class. There’s a very specific process to drawing well. If you use all necessary stages in your drawing process, you’ll have control over the entire drawing, which means you’ll be able to produce a finished work that's close to achieving the effect you want. This is what Dave will teach in our class and you will practice these vital skills throughout the advanced drawing course refining your ability to discern the basic shapes in any object and to accurately render the play of light and shadow on the objects you draw.

This class is for students who have taken at least one full class (four sessions) from Dave or another instructor at the MCAC. Students will be asked to complete simple homework assignments in a sketchbook that is provided by the MCAC.