LEARN FROM THE BEST
by Laurel Meny
Painting parties have become one of the most popular – and enjoyable – ways to spend an evening with friends while tapping into your creative side. There are several businesses that offer this service right here in Naples. Some allow you to paint a holiday-inspired canvas or door hanging, and some even include wine.
According to the Huffington Post, “The experience known as social painting is seeing explosive growth in cities across the country as people seek to imbibe and relax while rediscovering their creative side.”
As the area’s oldest and most respected nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing arts education, the Naples Art Association (NAA) has been offering a huge selection of classes of this type and more for years.
The Naples Art Association is the foremost expert in arts education and offers courses for all levels taught by local artists who demonstrate how to explore your own imaginative influences in creating art, rather than the paint-by-number approach.
There truly is something for every level of artist at the Naples Art Association!
If you are new to the arts, we suggest Kim Vanlandingham’s Joy of Painting Workshop. One of the NAA’s most requested classes, Vanlandingham designed it for beginners who may never have touched a brush before and also for those who want to get back into painting. All of your supplies will be provided and you will leave with an original oil painting of a landscape, floral, or seascape.
If you have a bit of painting experience, try Mary Winn’s A Painting a Day workshop. In this class, you will create a small painting each day which will increase your skills and speed progress. You will improve your color mixing and observational skills by learning to paint one-session oil paintings using the still life format. The importance of value, color harmony, and drawing will be emphasized in a supportive and relaxed environment with plenty of individual encouragement.
Winn will also demonstrate and answer questions during the session.
Artist Jane Mjolsness offers several exciting opportunities to ignite your creative spirit, including jewelry and calligraphy classes. In her Statement Jewelry Workshop, you will actually create a stunning piece of wearable art with natural gemstones, crystals, glass and wood beads! And, with calligraphy seeing a resurgence, Mjolsness’ Calligraphy Class, will teach students the lost art of Copperplate Calligraphy which dates back to the 1600’s. You will learn how to put the pen together, create pen strokes that make up all letterforms, and practice writing the alphabet.
Were you holding out for a class that involves wine? If so, Anne Chaddock’s Wine & Dezine class is for you. In just three hours, not only will you and your friends enjoy each other’s company in a relaxed atmosphere with a glass or two of wine, you will leave with a beautiful masterpiece. Did we mention that the Naples Art Association caters to artists of all levels? We meant it! Gina Rose’s Clay for Kids workshop will introduce your little Michelangelo to the wonderful potential of clay. Students will learn to express themselves artistically while creating both functional and nonfunctional pottery.
And, registration is currently open for the NAA’s ever-popular ARTScool program. This exciting program immerses local children in the arts throughout the summer months. This program provides students ages five to 14 years old with creative applications intertwined with math, science, language, history, technology, art, and design from accredited art instructors. ARTScool projects include designing and constructing buildings, creating kaleidoscopes, and building robots – to name just a few. ARTScool 2016 runs weekly from June 13 through August 12, and offers two class times daily – one in the morning from 9:00 a.m. to noon and one in the afternoon from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
In short, dive in. Try something new. You might just awaken your inner artist. And, we promise you’ll have fun along the way.
Registration is currently open for all session five classes, which take place from Monday, March 28 through Saturday, April 23, 2016.
To register, please visit www.NaplesArt.org/create-art/classes-workshops or call 239.262.6517.
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