The Café will be closed for remodel from Aug 12 through Sept 5, 2024. | Due to construction, Museum parking may be limited at the time of your visit. Look for additional parking in free or metered spaces along nearby streets.

Drawing the Female Form: Inspired by the Photography of Anne Brigman

This week-long intensive drawing class will focus on the foundational drawing techniques for rendering the female figure, inspired by the photographs in the exhibition “Anne Brigman: A Visionary in Modern Photography”. Students will draw the model in a variety of poses exploring the influences of Brigman’s art, such as the PreRaphaelites and the Arts and Craft philosophy. Attention will be given to the importance of line, tonal value, contrast and texture to express life and atmosphere. The class will start with short poses and get longer towards the end of the week so as to enable students to work in more depth on a final project.

Monday – Friday, December 10 – 14
9 am – 12 pm

Instructor: Zoe Bray
Ages: Adult (15+) / All levels

Supply list: 

  • Charcoal Pencils or Sticks 2B-6B Soft & Medium, 1 White Charcoal Pencil
  • Graphite Pencils HB, B, 2B, 4B, 6B, 8B
  • Pencil Sharpener  
  • Kneaded Eraser, Pink Eraser 
  • Paper Blending Dowels (Various Sizes)
  • Newsprint Pad
  • Heavyweight White Drawing Paper 14×17″
  • Optional: Drawing Board

Drawing Fundamentals

Students will enjoy this week-long intensive course designed to introduce basic drawing techniques including line, tonal value, contrast, form and texture.  The course is designed to provide a foundation for drawing, teaching students how to realistically draw objects and the human figure. Each class will focus on different drawing techniques, beginning with rendering and shading objects in perspective to drawing a live model. 

Monday – Friday, November 26 – 30
9 am – 12 pm

Instructor: Zoe Bray
Ages:  Adult (15+) / All levels

Supply list: 

• Graphite Pencils HB, B, 2B, 4B, 6B, 8B

• Pencil Sharpener  

• Charcoal Sticks Soft & Medium, 

• 1 White Piece of Chalk

• Kneaded Eraser

• Paper Blending Dowels (Various Sizes)

• Heavyweight White Drawing Paper 14×17″

• Optional: Drawing Board

Natural Illustration: Summer Succulents in Watercolor and Colored Pencil

Sunday, September 9 / 10 am – 3 pm

In this intermediate to advanced level class, students will learn the basics of natural illustration drawing with a focus on summer succulents and mixed media (watercolor and prismacolor). Students will learn about many types of succulents, their natural habitats, and creatures whom interact or co-habitate with succulents. Students will create a final drawing of a chosen succulent in a natural environment. Succulent specimens will be provided to draw from life along with photo reference materials. *Basic understanding of watercolor and/or colored pencils techniques advised.  

Instructor: Sophie Banspach
Ages: Adult (15+) / Intermediate or Advanced levels

Supply List:

  • Watercolors: Cadmium Red, Cobalt or Ultramarine Blue, Cadmium Yellow Light, Yellow Ochre, Alizarin Crimson, Sap Green, Chromium Oxide Green, Raw Sienna, Burnt Umber, Pro White. (Cotman or Van Gogh is fine; Windsor Newton is excellent)
  • Your personal watercolor pallet
  • 2 HB Pencils
  • Watercolor Brushes: #0 or 1 with good point, #3, #7, #10 Round
  • 9 x 12” 140lb cold press watercolor paper
  • Roll of paper towels
  • 2 Plastic water containers
  • Prismacolor Pencils
  • 12 or 24 Prismacolor set, or: Light Peach, Crimson Red, Spring Green, Grass Green, Indigo Blue, Sunburst Yellow, Orange, Violet, Light Umber, Dark Brown, White
  • White eraser
  • Magnifying glass 
  • Optional: Specimens or reference images from your own collection

Natural Illustration: Summer Sea Shells in Watercolor and Colored Pencil

Saturday, August 26 / 10 am – 3 pm

In this intermediate to advanced class, students will learn the basics of natural illustration drawing with a focus on sea shells and mixed media (watercolor and prismacolor). Students will learn about many types of sea shells, creating a final detailed drawing of sea shell. Shell specimens will be provided to draw from life, along with photo reference materials. *Basic understanding of drawing and/or watercolor techniques advised. 

Instructor: Sophie Banspach
Ages: Adult (15+) / Intermediate or Advanced levels

Supply List:

  • Watercolors: Cadmium Red, Cobalt or Ultramarine Blue, Cadmium Yellow Light, Yellow Ochre, Alizarin Crimson, Sap Green, Chromium Oxide Green, Raw Sienna, Burnt Umber, Pro White. (Cotman or Van Gogh is fine; Windsor Newton is excellent)
  • Your personal watercolor pallet
  • 2 HB Pencils
  • Watercolor Brushes: #0 or 1 with good point, #3, #7, #10 Round
  • 9 x 12” 140lb cold press watercolor paper
  • Roll of paper towels
  • 2 Plastic water containers
  • Prismacolor Pencils
  • 12 or 24 Prismacolor set, or: Light Peach, Crimson Red, Ultramarine, Grass Green, Sunburst Yellow, Orange, Violet, Light Umber, Dark Brown, White
  • White eraser
  • Magnifying glass
  • Optional: Specimens or reference images from your own collection

Drawing the Portrait in Charcoal

Tuesdays, August 7 – September 4 / 6 – 9 pm

Students will be introduced to a variety of techniques to help improve their portrait drawing skills. Topics covered will include the divisions of the head, two-value block-in, rhythm lines, lost edges and much more. The first two classes will be based in instruction while the remaining three classes will be dedicated to drawing from a live model.    

Instructor: Daniel Helzer
Ages: Adult (15+) / all levels

Supply List: 

  • Charcoal pencils (recommendations: General’s Charcoal, Ritmo, Conte)
  • Soft compressed charcoal sticks
  • White charcoal stick (optional)
  • Blending stump
  • Kneaded eraser
  • Newsprint drawing pad 14”x17” or 18“x24” (smooth or rough depending on your preference)
  • Box of Kleenex for smudging

Portrait Drawing: Open Studio

Tuesdays, October 2 – 30 / 1 – 4 pm

Improve your portrait drawing skills and explore a variety of media in this fun and encouraging open studio class. The instructor will be present to coordinate class and offer individualized instruction upon request. Weekly brief demonstrations will encourage individuals to work through drawing challenges and explore media of choice in this open studio format class.   Both male and female clothed models will be posed and drawn in this five-week portrait series.  

Instructor: Jerry Stinson
Ages: Adults (15+) / All Levels

Suggested Supplies: The following are suggested basic supplies – all media are welcome, so please bring whatever supplies you need for whichever media you are using.

– Drawing board – 20”x 26” or larger (light-weight masonite works best)
– Newsprint pad – 18”x 24” – rough surface recommended
– Bull dog clamps or similar to attach pad to board
– Medium and Support Items: Vine charcoal, thin and fat pieces, choice of conte crayon, 6B graphite pencil or sticks, china marker, compressed charcoal, carbon pencils, or any suitable medium for drawing on newsprint
– Large kneaded eraser
– Pink pearl eraser
– Portable pencil sharpener or utility knife (best for soft/medium pencils)
– Clean small rags
– Sandpaper pad for sharpening drawing mediums

Life Drawing: Open Studio

Improve your life drawing skills and explore a variety of media while working freely from a nude model in this popular open studio class. The instructor will be present to coordinate class and offer instruction upon request. Both male and female models will be posed and drawn.

Thursdays, December 6 – 20
1 – 4 pm

Instructor: Jerry Stinson 
Ages: Adults (18+) / All Levels

The following are suggested basic supplies – all media are welcome, so please bring whatever supplies you need for whichever media you are using. 
– Drawing board – 20”x 26” or larger (light-weight masonite works best) 
– Newsprint pad – 18”x 24” – rough surface recommended 
– Bull dog clamps or similar to attach pad to board 
– Medium and Support Items: 
– Vine charcoal, thin and fat pieces
– Choice of conte crayon, 6B graphite pencil or sticks, china marker, compressed charcoal, carbon pencils, or any suitable medium for drawing on newsprint 
– Large kneaded eraser 
– Pink pearl eraser
– Portable pencil sharpener or utility knife (best for soft/medium pencils)
– Clean small rags 
– Sandpaper pad for sharpening drawing mediums 
– Stumps for blending (optional)

Life Drawing: Open Studio

Improve your life drawing skills and explore a variety of media while working freely from a nude model in this popular open studio class. The instructor will be present to coordinate class and offer instruction upon request. Both male and female models will be posed and drawn.

Wednesdays, December 5 – 19
6 – 9 pm

Instructor: Jerry Stinson 
Ages: Adults (18+) / All Levels

The following are suggested basic supplies – all media are welcome, so please bring whatever supplies you need for whichever media you are using. 
– Drawing board – 20”x 26” or larger (light-weight masonite works best) 
– Newsprint pad – 18”x 24” – rough surface recommended 
– Bull dog clamps or similar to attach pad to board 
– Medium and Support Items: 
– Vine charcoal, thin and fat pieces
– Choice of conte crayon, 6B graphite pencil or sticks, china marker, compressed charcoal, carbon pencils, or any suitable medium for drawing on newsprint 
– Large kneaded eraser 
– Pink pearl eraser
– Portable pencil sharpener or utility knife (best for soft/medium pencils)
– Clean small rags 
– Sandpaper pad for sharpening drawing mediums 
– Stumps for blending (optional)

Life Drawing: Open Studio

Thursdays, November 1 – 29* / 1 – 4 pm
NOTE: Class does not meet on Thursday, November 22. 

Improve your life drawing skills and explore a variety of media while working freely from a nude model in this popular open studio class. The instructor will be present to coordinate class and offer instruction upon request. Both male and female models will be posed and drawn.

Instructor: Jerry Stinson 
Ages: Adults (18+) / All Levels

The following are suggested basic supplies – all media are welcome, so please bring whatever supplies you need for whichever media you are using. 
– Drawing board – 20”x 26” or larger (light-weight masonite works best) 
– Newsprint pad – 18”x 24” – rough surface recommended 
– Bull dog clamps or similar to attach pad to board 
– Medium and Support Items: 
– Vine charcoal, thin and fat pieces
– Choice of conte crayon, 6B graphite pencil or sticks, china marker, compressed charcoal, carbon pencils, or any suitable medium for drawing on newsprint 
– Large kneaded eraser 
– Pink pearl eraser
– Portable pencil sharpener or utility knife (best for soft/medium pencils)
– Clean small rags 
– Sandpaper pad for sharpening drawing mediums 
– Stumps for blending (optional)

Life Drawing: Open Studio

Wednesdays, November 7 – 28* / 6 – 9 pm
NOTE: Class does not meet on Wednesday, November 21. This is a three-week class.

Improve your life drawing skills and explore a variety of media while working freely from a nude model in this popular open studio class. The instructor will be present to coordinate class and offer instruction upon request. Both male and female models will be posed and drawn.

Instructor: Jerry Stinson 
Ages: Adults (18+) / All Levels

The following are suggested basic supplies – all media are welcome, so please bring whatever supplies you need for whichever media you are using. 
– Drawing board – 20”x 26” or larger (light-weight masonite works best) 
– Newsprint pad – 18”x 24” – rough surface recommended 
– Bull dog clamps or similar to attach pad to board 
– Medium and Support Items: 
– Vine charcoal, thin and fat pieces
– Choice of conte crayon, 6B graphite pencil or sticks, china marker, compressed charcoal, carbon pencils, or any suitable medium for drawing on newsprint 
– Large kneaded eraser 
– Pink pearl eraser
– Portable pencil sharpener or utility knife (best for soft/medium pencils)
– Clean small rags 
– Sandpaper pad for sharpening drawing mediums 
– Stumps for blending (optional)