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.

Watercolor for Beginners: Lavender Fields

Monday – Wednesday, August 27 – 29 / 1:30 – 4:30 pm

This three-session course will focus on the importance of value and depth in landscape paintings. The subject of lavender fields will first be explored in a monochromatic painting, focusing on value as well as wet-on-wet and wet-on-dry watercolor techniques. In the following sessions students will explore color mixing and will apply the value lessons learned from monochromatic study to full color spectrum paintings.

Instructor: Iva Neveux
Ages: Adult (15+) / Beginners welcome!

Supply list:
 

  • Watercolor paper: 140 lb, cold press (professional grade such as Arches or Daler-Rowney Langton Prestige suggested)
  • Brushes: 1/2 or 1 flat brush, round brushes # 4 and 10 (or any smaller and larger round brush with a point)
  • Palette that includes Cerulean Blue, Permanent Rose, Cadmium Yellow, Cadmium Red, Sap Green, Burned Sienna, Indigo
  • HB pencil
  • Kneaded eraser
  • Paper towels
  • 2 containers for water
  • Old ice cube tray or small containers for mixing colors

Introduction to Watercolors

Sunday, August 5 / 10 am – 2 pm

This class is designed for anyone who would like to explore the medium of watercolor without the commitment.  Learn techniques such as washes, glazing, wet on wet and much more.  Find out if watercolor is for you.  The class is great for beginners who would like to experiment with watercolor techniques in an instructive setting. No experience necessary. All materials included with registration.

Instructor: Iva Neveux
Ages: Adult (15+) / Beginners

Modern Animals in Acrylic

Tuesday – Thursday, August 7 – 9 / 9 am – 12 pm

Using bold colors, modern patterns and engaging compositions, students will use acrylic paint combined with colored pencil to create inspired portraits of animals. In this three-day intensive, student will work with basic drawing skills, contouring lines, loose gridding and blocking techniques to layout the portraits on wooden panels. Final pieces will be completed in acrylic. Each student can expect to complete two 18” x 24” wooden panels in this workshop.

All materials are provided with registration.  Students may work from a selection of provided photos or are welcome to bring their own photos for reference.  

Instructor: Emily Reid
Ages: Adults (15+) All levels

Natural Illustration: Summer Sea Shells in Watercolor and Colored Pencil

Saturday, June 16 / 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

Painting Clinic: Anatomy and Facial Structure

Sunday, June 3 / 10 am – 12:30 pm

Painting clinics are designed to offer specific instruction on a variety of techniques and painting challenges. This series is ideal for Painting: Open Studio students looking for additional instruction and help with specific topics. 

Join us this month as we go over the anatomy and structure of the face, eyes, nose, ears and mouth.

Students may use acrylic or oil paint. Dry media is also welcome.

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

Suggested Supply List:

Color recommendations are as follows though all mediums are welcome for this open studio class:

Titanium White 

Ultramarine Blue 

Cadmium Red Medium or Light

Lemon or Cadmium Yellow 

Light Yellow Ochre 

Burnt Sienna

Selection of brushes

Pallet

Palette knife

Painting Board or Canvas

Container/jar water and brushes

Paper towels

Cheap Plastic Ruler

Gamsol mineral spirits (if working in Oil)

Acrylic Painting Techniques: Abstracting the Landscape

Monday – Friday, July 23 – 27 / 9 am – 12 pm

Explore abstraction through guided exercises designed to break boundaries and expand your creative language. Working with acrylic paint students will create landscapes using color, form and texture. Emphasis will be on risk taking and experimentation. Development of individual vision will be encouraged. Beginner to advanced painters welcome!

Supply list: 

Acrylic Paint (4 oz. tubes, Basic Brand is fine!):
Black
White
Yellow (two hues of your choosing)
Blue (two hues of your choosing)
Red (two hues of your choosing)
Additional colors (**OPTIONAL!!!)
Other:
(5) Plastic cups (yogurt containers,cottage cheese, other empty food containers, etc..)
Artists Tape
X-acto Knife
Surfaces:
(10) 8″x8″ Canvas board
(3) 12″ x 12″ Canvas or Canvas Board
(2) 14″ x 14″ Canvas or Canvas Board
(3) 18″ x 18″ Canvas or Canvas Board (*Optional: Dimension is your choice, but be sure all three are the SAME size)
(1-3) Your Choice (Canvas or Canvas Board)
Variety of Synthetic Brushes

Instructor: Rachel Stiff
Ages: Adults (15+) / All levels

Acrylic Painting Techniques: Back to Basics

Thursdays, April 19 – May 24 / 1 – 4 pm

Students of all skill level will enjoy this course designed to teach basic acrylic painting techniques including blending, impasto, and dry brush. Individually tailored challenges are offered to the more experienced painter. Students will paint from still life installations, paint landscapes, and create abstract compositions combining various techniques. Each class will approach acrylic paint differently to provide an introduction as to how the medium can be utilized for different styles and subject matter. 

Supply list: TBA

Instructor: Rachel Stiff
Ages: Adults (15+) / Beginners Welcome!

Botanical Illustration: Sunflowers

Thursday, August 30 / 10 am – 2 pm

Using the late summer colors of blooming sunflowers, as subject matter, this class will explore the world of botanical illustration. Explore basic drawing, ink and watercolor techniques to capture the beauty of the season. This class welcomes beginners and students from previous botanical workshops.

Instructor: Carroll Charlet
Ages: Adult (15+) / All Levels

Required Supplies: 

  • Basic watercolor kit
  • No 8 or No 6 pointed watercolor brush
  • 140 lb tablet of cold press watercolor paper (hot press for more advanced students)
  • Micron black ink pens 005 and 01
  • Sketch pad, pencil and eraser

For questions regarding supplies, please contact carrollcharlet@sbcglobal.net   

 *Materials available at Nevada Fine Arts (mention registration for 10% discount)

Botanical Illustration: Sunflowers

Saturday, August 18 / 10 am – 2 pm

Using the late summer colors of blooming sunflowers, as subject matter, this class will explore the world of botanical illustration. Explore basic drawing, ink and watercolor techniques to capture the beauty of the season. This class welcomes beginners and students from previous botanical workshops.

Instructor: Carroll Charlet
Ages: Adult (15+) / All Levels

Required Supplies: 

  • Basic watercolor kit
  • No 8 or No 6 pointed watercolor brush
  • 140 lb tablet of cold press watercolor paper (hot press for more advanced students)
  • Micron black ink pens 005 and 01
  • Sketch pad, pencil and eraser

For questions regarding supplies, please contact carrollcharlet@sbcglobal.net 

 *Materials available at Nevada Fine Arts (mention registration for 10% discount)

Watercolor Techniques: Lake Tahoe in Watercolor

Wednesday, August 15 / 10 am – 3 pm

This one-day workshop will present lessons and demos on water, granite, mountains and sky that are the hallmarks of Lake Tahoe.  Learn to layer watercolor washes to capture the deeply saturated colors of Tahoe.

Instructor: Carroll Charlet
Ages: Adult (15+) All levels

Supply list: 

  • Watercolor pallet including your favorite blues (email instructor for suggestions)
  • Watercolor brushes including a 1” OR ½” flat and a #6 OR # 8 round brushes 
  • Graphite or mechanical pencil
  • Rubber eraser
  • 2 plastic water containers
  • Tablet of Arches cold press 140 lb watercolor paper (9”x12” or larger) *
  • * Single sheets of watercolor paper may be purchased during class ($2.00)
  • Roll of paper towels
  • For questions about the supply, please email Carroll Charlet at carrollcharlet@sbcglobal.net