Time to go big in any medium
Get some right-brain workouts this winter when Oregon Coast Council for the Arts presents new learning opportunities in a variety of mediums, including clay, watercolor, charcoal, acrylics, oils and even wire.
Thursday evenings beginning Jan. 25, award-winning artist Jordan Essoe will lead the six-week course, “Drawing the Figure from Life: Anatomy, Form, and Light.” Students will learn the basics of depicting the human figure in charcoal, including proportion, surface anatomy, muscle and skeletal landmarks, rendering shadows on form and quality of mark making. Class instruction will include demonstrations, warm-up exercises and group critiques, but the central two hours of each class will be dedicated to drawing from a live nude model. Open to students aged 18 or older.
Wednesday afternoons beginning Jan. 31, renowned artist Sandy Roumagoux is offering an Open Studio opportunity for intermediate to advanced painters aged 18 and older to work in oils or acrylics. Start new paintings, finish old paintings, try different painting techniques and benefit from one-on-one guidance from Roumagoux. Focus will be on the process of painting, handling paint, mixing colors, brush techniques, exploring painting styles and having fun with the creative process.
On two consecutive Friday afternoons, Feb. 2 and 9, kids in grades four through six are invited to participate in a new, two-part wire-drawing class led by Marcy Kenyon and inspired by Alexander Calder and local artist Michael Guirerro. In “Go With The Flow: Line Drawing of Figures and Faces with Wire,” students will learn about contour drawing, then use one drawing as inspiration for a unique portrait crafted from wire.
On Saturday and Sunday afternoons, Feb. 3 and 4, popular instructor and ceramics artist Liz Fox will offer a two-day clay-making course for people aged 16 and older. "Clay Critters" offers participants an opportunity to spend the weekend making a custom creature while learning about the techniques of clay sculpture — how to shape the clay, then add features and textures to bring out details and personality.
Last, but certainly not least, artist Robin L. Berry will offer a six-week beginning watercolor course on Tuesday afternoons, Feb. 13 through March 19. In “Introductory Watercolor Painting,” students aged 16 and older will get to know the beautiful effects and colorful possibilities of watercolor, learn the lingo of the medium, practice the use of various brushes and materials and gain confidence and understanding in this sometimes fickle medium.
Tuition for these classes ranges from $35 to $325. If funds are a barrier to learning, scholarships are available through Oregon Coast Council for the Arts. Inquire by contacting Arts Engagement Manager Sara Siggelkow at ssiggelkow@coastarts.org or 541-574-3364.
The Newport Visual Arts Center is located at 777 NW Beach Drive. For more information, go to coastarts.org or call 541-265-6540.