These classes get the stamp of approval
Passport to Art series on offer in Newport
Throughout 2023, Oregon Coast Council for the Arts and the Newport Visual Arts Center are inviting people on an artistic journey to intriguing new creative destinations.
The new Passport to Art educational event series debuts in January. Each month will feature a new instructor and technique, with two opportunities to explore — a Saturday afternoon class welcoming adults and kids in grades six and up, and a Tuesday evening class for adults aged 21 and older.
On Tuesday evenings, beverage options will include wine, beer and gluten-free cider. On Saturdays, non-alcoholic beverages will be served. Kids younger than 18 must be joined by an adult.
“Much like a passport provides access to places outside our realm of familiarity, this series was designed to provide a point of entry for exploring art forms and techniques,” OCCA Arts Education Manager Sara Siggelkow said. “It’s a chance to try your hand at something new. Perhaps you’ll create just one art piece and move on to the next medium, or maybe you’ll discover a new passion! That’s the beauty of exploration — it can lead us in exciting new directions.”
No experience or skill is required. The series was crafted for absolute beginners, but seasoned artists are welcome to join in too. Everyone attending will walk away with something to show for it — an art piece created with their own hands.
Stamp Carving and Clay Printing
Tuesday, Jan. 17, and Saturday, Jan. 21
Led by Liz Fox, participants in the class will carve stamps from a soft rubber block and stamp them into a small clay dish. Once the dish is fired it makes a perfect little catch-all. Carving technique and stamps can be used with multiple media.
Fox has lived on the Oregon Coast for most of her life and has had myriad careers since graduating with a soil science degree from OSU in 1980. Since retiring from the job of high school librarian in 2020, she has been a full-time potter, pursuing an interest she dabbled in for more than 40 years. She is the current artist in the COVAS Showcase at the Newport Visual Arts Center, showing a selection of embellishment techniques on clay sample tiles. The tiles include examples of sgraffito, stamping, carving, block printing, mishima, stenciling, sprigging, piercing, resists, underglaze transfers, cuerda seca, mocha diffusion and majolica.
Gel Plate Printing
Tuesday, Feb. 21, and Saturday, Feb. 25
Wendy Schwarz will lead a class in mono printing using squishy gel plates that make printing without a press easy and fun. Acrylic paint, stencils, masks and mark-making are combined to produce amazing papers.
Schwartz recently retired and relocated to Newport from Washington, where she owned Stampadoodle, a paper crafting and art store in Bellingham, for 29 years. She has a master’s degree in education from San Diego University and more than 30 years’ experience teaching a variety of art and craft classes, including bookbinding, mono printing, collage, paper making, stamp carving and card making.
The series continues in the spring with an opportunity to learn alcohol ink painting with Jocelyn Stoody on March 14 and 18, and Jordan Essoe will teach colored pencil techniques on April 18 and 22. More opportunities will follow in May and beyond.
Adult-only classes are Tuesdays from 5 to 8 pm and grade-6-and-older classes are Saturday, from 1 to 4 pm. Fees are $35 per class, with materials and light refreshments included. Possible financial assistance might be available. The Newport Visual Arts Center is located at 777 NW Beach Drive. For more information and registration, go to coastarts.org or call 541-574-3364.