By Crystal Harrell
Looking for a way to beat the heat this summer? Registration for Youth Summer Art Camp and adult four-week classes from June through mid-August are going to be announced very soon at the Old Town Artisan Studios website. Classes will be grouped by medium and released on specific days, starting at 10 a.m. each day. Please allow a few minutes for all classes to appear online the day of their scheduled release.
Camps for participants ages 7 to 10 and 11 to 15 offer students the chance to work with a wide variety of mediums, such as ceramics, fused glass, watercolor, acrylic painting, sewing, theatre, and more. Multiple, week-long sessions will be offered throughout the summer. Each session takes place Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Each day, students will have 2 classes with an hour lunch break in between.
Adult pottery wheel classes are also available, where participants can discover how the pottery wheel is a rather exciting and challenging tool in the world of ceramics. Students can explore the art of throwing clay on the pottery wheel as they learn to craft one-of-a-kind pieces from start to finish. Students will learn the basics and beyond, including clay preparation, proper body positioning, centering, pulling walls, shaping, trimming, and glazing. No experience required.
Class size is limited to 8.
Ceramics I is an introductory hand-building class in which students learn all about techniques and tools. Students will be creating, by hand, functional ceramic pieces from start to finish with the guidance of an instructor. Learning to build with tools in the studio other than the wheel is key to understanding the art of clay. Students will get to explore the various capabilities of the slab roller, extruder, and numerous hand tools, all of which provide an excellent foundation for the art of sculpture and pottery wheel. No previous experience required.
Ceramics II is an intermediate level hand-building class in which students will build on the skills learned in the introductory course. Students will have the opportunity to expand their thinking and drive their own creative ideas for class projects. Completion of Ceramics I is not required, but is highly recommended.
Ceramics III enables students to come together with other experienced artists to challenge themselves and strengthen their skills in a more fast-paced and independently driven environment. Students will have access to all studio tools, including the pottery wheel. Previous experience and instructor permission is required.
Fused Glass I is an introductory level class in which students will learn safety and basic fusing concepts such as how glass behaves at different temperatures in a kiln, cutting and shaping sheet glass, and the various types of glass that are available to the kiln glass artist. The class will focus initially on arranging glass for flat fusing―the first step towards many more advanced techniques, including bowl making. Students will work on specific projects designed by the instructor to master each of the basic skills. No previous experience required.
Fused Glass II is designed to build on the skills learned in this introductory class. With a solid foundation of knowledge and technique, this intermediate class will spark students’ creativity and imagination to help them see what is possible when you begin to unlock the “artist within”. In this course students will create and design unique projects of varying size and shape. Students will learn how to incorporate different materials such as metals, enamels, and decals into their work. It is encouraged that students bring in their inspiration photos and create their own one-of-a-kind piece. Completion of Fused Glass 1 or instructor approval is required.
The Transparent Watercolor adult class is tailored for beginning to intermediate students with some drawing skills. Advanced level artists are also welcomed. Students will learn and practice basic techniques of transparent watercolor and become familiar with the concept of creating art (not copying nature). Students will review the basic principles to creating good art and share ideas and tricks of the trade with each other.
The Interpreting the Landscape in Watercolor adult class lets students explore the concepts of expressing the feeling of a subject and how not to paint “in the lines”. Learn to paint free, loose and fun, as instructor Dave Howell shares his philosophy, techniques and theory of this expressive medium. Students will work on landscape, seascape and cityscape. Their own paintings will be based on “how they see it” by interpreting nature, not copying it. Basic design fundamentals will be stressed. Some watercolor experience is recommended. A suggested list of supplies will be provided.
All classes, workshops and private events require full payment upon registration. If you miss a class, there are no make-up classes available. When an item/class is in your cart online, the spot is not yours until payment is completed.
Cancellations must be done at least 2 weeks prior to the first day of class in order to receive a full refund. If cancellations are made less than 2 weeks before the start of class, refunds will only be issued if the seat is filled. Once classes are in session, all fees are non-refundable.
For more information, please call the Old Town Artisan Studios front desk at 760-777-1444, or visit the website at www.oldtownartisanstudios.org.
