This class is designed to introduce hobbyists to the basic skills and fundamental processes of working with copper, brass and silver on a jewelry scale. Via demonstration, hands-on practice and individual instruction, participants will learn sawing, filing, stamping, hammering, riveting and soldering. Participants will be given a variety of project ideas and can expect to complete one. Possible projects include pendant, ring, bracelet, earrings or brooch. No prior jewelry experience necessary.

This intermediate-level darkroom course emphasizes the craft of printing in black and white. Through one-on-one instruction and group critique students will learn how to better use variable-contrast paper, how to optimize negatives through exposure and development and the ins and outs of printing on fiber-based paper. Students will also look at images by other photographers, the work of their classmates and reaffirm traditional photography’s role in this increasingly digital climate. Each student will complete a portfolio of prints for the end of the quarter.

In this workshop, participants will create a series of five small collages, each with a Muse/object as the focal point. Creative people visually benefit from stretching their ‘writing legs.’ Likewise, for writers to confront visual material enhances their own process. After the completion of each collage, a short paragraph based on a writing prompt/exercise will be completed that ties into the particular piece of artwork like “Is this Muse/object trying to tell you something?”

Psychologist Carl Jung introduced mandalas to the western world and concluded from his experience creating mandalas that the Self, the wholeness of the personality, is reflected in the mandala, or circular drawing. Jung felt that the mandala that a person spontaneously drew in any given moment was a gentle reminder, or urge to live out that person’s potential, something he called the person’s total personality. Jung felt that attention to the symbols the unconscious gave in response to queries for deeper meaning could enhance and speed personal growth and understanding. Come prepared to express your Self by creating mandalas guided by a registered art therapist. The course will explore individual self-expression through art medium as you create mandalas. NO ART MAKING EXPERIENCE OR “TALENT” NECESSARY. The focus is freedom of artistic self-expression and not technique. The instructor will provide art materials and the environment to assist students to unleash their creativity. Time will be given to share the art and the process by which it was created providing opportunity for reflection. Bring to class a sense of fun and exploration and wear clothes that can get messy.

Have you always wanted to draw, or are you looking for a way to express your creativity? Right brain drawing could open doors for you! This class emphasizes the use of the “right” hemisphere of the brain, which can speed up the learning process. Learn right-brain drawing exercises outlined in Betty Edwards’ book, The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain. In class:

• Gain confidence in your drawing ability
• Experience the joy of seeing and being more visually oriented
• Understand how an artist sees with a pen or pencil

Bring a soft pencil (4B is good), an eraser and a sketch pad no smaller than 8” x 11” to class.

If a machine can be thought of as elegant, then the bandsaw is such a machine. In skillful hands this powerful and versatile tool can perform a greater variety of tasks than any other in the wood shop. Students in this intensive workshop will learn to properly set up, tune and maintain this essential machine and will fully explore its capabilities as a furniture making, boat building and general woodworking tool.

Recording the human figure requires great attention and several skills to capture its unique energy and movement. You will learn to draw quickly from the movement of the model (gesture), more slowly, using line (contour) and the use of the important elements of drawing: value, form, line, volume, plus the most challenging – the weight or mass, which produces the dynamic in every drawing. With this combination, students achieve the fluidity crucial to capturing the human form with all of its mystery and dramatic essence. Charcoal, conte, then pastel and oil bar all offer their own validity to drawing, giving you greater command of the results.

The delicate and beautiful forms of traditional Japanese wood and paper lanterns speak particularly well to the design of modern light fixtures. Students in this hands-on course will engage in adapting this ancient design form to the construction of their own lamps, lanterns and sconces.

This class is an opportunity for those with previous metalworking experience to further develop their proficiency, learn new processes, and explore related areas of their own interest. Principles of design, structure and comprehensive planning will be employed in the development of individual project ideas. Work will be accomplished using more advanced techniques in oxy-acetylene, MIG and TIG, forging, finishing, and others - to be determined in part by the projects themselves. Completion of Introduction to Metalworking or comparable previous experience is required for this class.