Be in a class of your own (almost)
Small groups and big ideas on offer with spring art lineup
Art you ready to learn something new? A fresh season of arts learning opportunities at the Newport Visual Arts Center kicks off on Wednesday, April 9. Courses include drawing, painting with watercolors and oils, clay flute creation and gyotaku. Tuition for each class includes all materials.
Introductory watercolor
Wednesdays April 9 through 30
Led by Robin Berry, the four-week course will take place Wednesdays from 10 am to noon. Students will get to know the beautiful effects and colorful possibilities that can be achieved using watercolor, and explore various techniques, brushes and materials designed for the beginning painter. The course is for adults and kids aged 16 and older with an accompanying adult. Tuition is $225.
Cloud painting in oils
Saturday, April 19
Led by Khara Ledonne, the one-day Saturday class will take place from noon to 4 pm. Students will use brushes loaded with paint to explore the lush and smeary process of layering oils wet-on-wet, and the project of focus will be a small cloud seascape on panel. The class is for adults and kids aged 16 and older with an accompanying adult. Tuition is $85.
Clay ocarina flutes
Wednesdays, April 24 and May 1
Led by Rena Ekmanis, the two-afternoon class will take place on Wednesdays from 4 to 6:30 pm. Both sessions will focus on refining and completing at least one clay flute per student, including a single coat of glaze. After the second class, the clay will be bisque-fired to completion and available for pick up. The class is for adults and kids aged 12 and older with an accompanying adult. Tuition is $125.
Drawing and painting the figure
Tuesdays, April 29 through June 17
Led by Jordan Essoe, the eight-week course will take place on Tuesdays from 6 to 9 pm. Participants will create complementary sets of pencil drawings and watercolor paintings and explore the dynamics of the two mediums. Students will practice many drawing and painting techniques, try multiple methods of transferring images and eventually pursue mixed media experiments. The course is for adults only. Tuition is $475.
Gyotaku printmaking
Saturday, May 10
Led by Jill Marks, the one-day Saturday class will take place from 1 to 4 pm. Students will explore the Japanese style of printmaking called gyotaku and make cards using an octopus specimen. The course is for adults and kids aged 12 and older with an accompanying adult. Tuition is $100.
Mandala drawing and painting
Thursday & Friday, May 22 & 23
Led by Rena Ekmanis, the two-afternoon class will take place Thursday and Friday from 1 to 4 pm. This class will introduce students to the relaxing process of creating a mandala, first learning drawing techniques and then adding color using watercolor to complete a personal design. The course is for adults and kids aged 12 and older with an accompanying adult. Tuition is $125.
After-school art day drop-In
From 3 to 5 pm on Wednesday afternoons the center gives kids in grades 2 through 8 the opportunity to get creative. A rotating list of instructors lead art activities so students can experience something different in each class including: drawing, painting, printmaking, ceramics, cyanotypes, sculpture and music.
The Newport Visual Arts Center is located at 777 NW Beach Drive. If funds are a barrier to learning, scholarships might be available through Oregon Coast Council for the Arts. For more information, go to coastarts.org or call 541-265-6540.