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.

Painting Intensive: Landscapes from Photographs in Oil or Acrylic

Working in oil or acrylic paint, students will explore value divisions in landscapes and the basics of brush sketching and massing. With these skills students will learn how to relate color to value and will gain a better understanding of identifying spatial cues in a landscape. Using foundational skills students can then explore under-painting, glazing and dry-brushing techniques.

Saturday and Sunday, January 27 and 28
9 am – 2 pm

Instructor: Daniel Helzer
Ages: Adult (15+) | All Levels

  • Supply list: Show email confirmation at Nevada Fine Arts for a 10% discount.

    • 5 – 7 Canvas Boards 16×12 or smaller
    • Palette Knife
    • Palette
    • Paper Towels
    • Selection of bristle brushes (small, med and large)
    • Assortment of brushes.
    • Palette knife, paper towels and a few canvas boards, 8×10 or bigger.

    Paint Colors:

    • Cobalt Blue
    • Ultramarine Blue
    • Alizarin Crimson
    • Black
    • Cadmium Red Light
    • Cadmium Yellow or Hansa Yellow
    • Burnt Sienna
    • Titanium White

    For Oils: Gamsol, turpentine or walnut oil for use as a brush medium or cleaner.

Mastering the Elements of the Landscape: Seascapes in Oil

To paint the landscape well, the artist must master the various elements of it. This class will focus on the painting a variety of seascapes and the unique lighting situations, rhythmic movement of the water and drama that the ocean presents. Students who have taken the Landscape Basics class will benefit, but it is not a prerequisite. Students will complete three or four seascape projects in this class.

Tuesdays, February 6 – 27
9 am – noon

Instructor: Mike Callahan
Ages: Adult (15+) | All Levels

Supply list: Show email confirmation at Nevada Fine Arts for 10% discount.  

  • Paint: M. Graham brand Titanium White (37ml) Hansa Yellow (37ml), Quinacridone Rose (37 ml), Phthalocyanine Blue (37ml)
  • Thinner: Weber Turpenoid (pint) or similar artist’s grade odorless mineral spirits 
  • Medium: M. Graham Walnut Oil (4oz), Silicoil cleaning jar or other small glass jar with sealable lid (for thinner), Small can such as olive can (for medium) 
  • Brushes: Synthetic Brights OR 
  • Filberts: Silverbrush Bristlon #2, #4, and #10 Or Connoisseur Pure Synthetic, #2, #4, and #10 Or any quality hog bristle in those sizes if the student already owns their own brushes.
  • Painting or Palette knife: (steel, NOT plastic)
  • Disposable Palette: New Wave Disposable Palette (grey) or similar,
  • Brush Cleaner: The Masters Brush Cleaner and Preserver
  •  Canvas or Panels: 4-canvas panels or stretched canvases 9”x12”, 11”x14” OR 12”x16”,
  • Paper towels (i.e. Viva or Blue Shop Towels)
  • Nitrile gloves.

Beginning Oil Painting – A Simple Approach for Rapid Success

Quickly gain basic oil painting skills with this simple approach – start creating your own original art with confidence. This course simplifies the complexities of oil painting alleviating the fears and frustrations experienced by many beginners. This course is designed to equip you with the skills and know-how to create your very own, original painting and to begin your artistic journey painting many more! By the end of the course, you’ll have painted your very own, original oil painting. You’ll be learning how to gather and compose your own references and how to use a simple, repeatable process to execute a painting from start to finish.

Tuesdays, January 9 – 30
9 am – noon

Instructor: Mike Callahan
Ages: Adult (15+) | All Levels

Supply list: Show email confirmation at Nevada Fine Arts for a 10% discount. 

  • Paint: M. Graham brand Titanium White (37ml) Hansa Yellow (37ml), Quinacridone Rose (37 ml), Phthalocyanine Blue (37ml)
  • Thinner: Weber Turpenoid (pint) or similar artist’s grade odorless mineral spirits 
  • Medium: M. Graham Walnut Oil (4oz), Silicoil cleaning jar or other small glass jar with sealable lid (for thinner), Small can such as olive can (for medium) 
  • Brushes: Synthetic Brights OR 
  • Filberts: Silverbrush Bristlon #2, #4, and #10 Or Connoisseur Pure Synthetic, #2, #4, and #10 Or any quality hog bristle in those sizes if the student already owns their own brushes.
  • Painting or Palette knife: (steel, NOT plastic)
  • Disposable Palette: New Wave Disposable Palette (grey) or similar,
  • Brush Cleaner: The Masters Brush Cleaner and Preserver
  •  Canvas or Panels: 4-canvas panels or stretched canvases 9”x12”, 11”x14” OR 12”x16”,
  • Paper towels (i.e. Viva or Blue Shop Towels)
  • Nitrile gloves.

Painting: Open Studio

In this open studio course, students are free to paint any subject matter and work in any style. Bring in a current piece you are working on or create a new one! The instructor will roam during the class, giving students tips and instruction throughout the 3 hours of class. The instructor will provide subject matter for students who want to paint but may not have anything specific in mind. 

*Note: This painting class will be with oil paints. Bring in any supplies you are currently using and some materials can be provided if needed. 

Tuesdays, December 5 – 19
9 am – noon

Instructor: Mike Callahan
Age: Adult (15+) | All Levels

Beginning Oil Painting: A Simple Approach for Rapid Success

This class simplifies the complexities of landscape and gives the beginner a solid foundation upon which to begin painting representational landscapes in oil. To many people, painting the landscape in oil is an overwhelming undertaking. It doesn’t have to be if approached systematically. Landscape basics in oil class is just that – a systematic approach to understanding and representing the landscape in oil. The student will gain a solid understanding of atmospheric perspective and the nature of light and form in the landscape. The student will then apply this understanding to painting skies, mountains, trees, rocks, water and other elements of the landscape with a particular emphasis on the Sierra landscape. During the second half of the course, the student will have the option to work on personal landscape projects under the guidance of the instructor.

Tuesdays, November 7 – 28
9 am – noon

Instructor: Mike Callahan
Ages: Adult (15+) | All Levels

Supply list: Show email confirmation at Nevada Fine Arts for a 10% discount. 

  • Paint: M. Graham brand Titanium White (37ml) Hansa Yellow (37ml), Quinacridone Rose (37 ml), Phthalocyanine Blue (37ml)
  • Thinner: Weber Turpenoid (pint) or similar artist’s grade odorless mineral spirits 
  • Medium: M. Graham Walnut Oil (4oz), Silicoil cleaning jar or other small glass jar with sealable lid (for thinner), Small can such as olive can (for medium) 
  • Brushes: Synthetic Brights OR 
  • Filberts: Silverbrush Bristlon #2, #4, and #10 Or Connoisseur Pure Synthetic, #2, #4, and #10 Or any quality hog bristle in those sizes if the student already owns their own brushes.
  • Painting or Palette knife: (steel, NOT plastic)
  • Disposable Palette: New Wave Disposable Palette (grey) or similar,
  • Brush Cleaner: The Masters Brush Cleaner and Preserver
  •  Canvas or Panels: 4-canvas panels or stretched canvases 9”x12”, 11”x14” OR 12”x16”,
  • Paper towels (i.e. Viva or Blue Shop Towels)
  • Nitrile gloves.

Holiday Cards in Watercolor: Winter Landscapes

Join this class to create festive cards for the winter season. Under the guidance of the instructor, students will be using ‘wet on wet’ and ‘wet on dry’ watercolor techniques. There will be a variety of card designs to choose from or feel free to create your own using personal inspiration.

Wednesday, December 6 
5 – 9 pm

Instructor: Iva Neveux
Ages: 15 and Up | All Levels

Supply List: Show confirmation receipt at Nevada Fine Arts for a 10% discount.

  • Watercolor Pallet including your preferred reds, yellows, blues
  • Variety of watercolor brushes including a 1” flat, #1 or 2, #4, # 8 round brushes and a rigger brush   
  • Pad of Arches cold press 140 lb watercolor paper (9”x12” or larger), other 100% cotton brands will also work (Daler Rowney, Bee Paper, Winsor Newton)
  • Graphite or mechanical pencil
  • Spray bottle or mister
  • Kneaded eraser
  • Two plastic water containers
  • Roll of paper towels
  • (optional) Ruler
  • (optional) Black watercolor paper (optional)   

Holiday Cards in Watercolor: Still Life

Join this class to create festive cards for the winter season. Under the guidance of the instructor, students will be using ‘wet on wet’ and ‘wet on dry’ watercolor techniques. There will be a variety of card designs to choose from or feel free to create your own using personal inspiration.

Wednesday, November 29
5 – 9 pm

Instructor: Iva Neveux
Ages: 15 and Up | All Levels

Supply List: Show confirmation receipt at Nevada Fine Arts for a 10% discount.

  • Watercolor Pallet including your preferred reds, yellows, blues
  • Variety of watercolor brushes including a 1” flat, #1 or 2, #4, # 8 round brushes and a rigger brush   
  • Pad of Arches cold press 140 lb watercolor paper (9”x12” or larger), other 100% cotton brands will also work (Daler Rowney, Bee Paper, Winsor Newton)
  • Graphite or mechanical pencil
  • Spray bottle or mister
  • Kneaded eraser
  • Two plastic water containers
  • Roll of paper towels
  • (optional) Ruler
  • (optional) Black watercolor paper (optional)   

Water Reflections in Watercolors

Water and water reflections have always been a fascinating subject for painters, photographers, and observers. In this class students will learn how to capture the beauty of water reflections with watercolors. First, students will explore the anatomy of waves and how the appearance of waves changes within the context of linear perspective. Then, students will look at how waves interact with light, and finally how reflections interact with the entire composition. The wet in wet approach will mostly be used in this class. 

Note*: 100% cotton paper is highly recommended.

Wednesdays, November 1 – 15
5 – 9 pm

Instructor: Iva Neveux
Ages: Adult (15+) | All Levels

Supply List: Show a confirmation email at Nevada Fine Arts for a 10% discount.

  • Watercolor pallet including a variety of blues including indigo, cerulean blue, phthalo blue and ultramarine blue, or similar types of blue (Prussian, Antwerp, Verditer, Manganese); your preferred yellows and reds, viridian or phthalocyanine green
  •  Variety of watercolor brushes including mop brush or any large brush to wet your paper quickly, 1” flat, #6 or # 8 round, #12 or #14 round and a rigger brush
  • Several sheets of 100% cotton cold press 140 lb watercolor paper (9”x12” or larger); any 100% cotton brands will work (Arches, Bockingford, Daler Rowney, Bee Paper, Winsor Newton)
  • Graphite or mechanical pencil
  • Kneaded eraser
  • Tracing paper
  • Two plastic water containers
  • Spray or mister bottle
  • Roll of paper towels
  • Masking fluid, rubber cement, color shaper/rubber brush/graphics incredible nib or some other tool to apply making fluid

Hand Painted Ornaments

Inspired by her Czechoslovakian heritage, instructor Iva Neveux will introduce student to basic painting techniques to create beautiful holiday ornaments. Each student will create two hand-painted ornaments using combinations of dots, lines, dashes and curves.  All materials included with registration.

Monday, November 27
5 – 8 pm

Instructor: Iva Neveux
Ages: Adults (15+) | All levels

Painting Intensive: Landscapes from Photographs in Oil or Acrylic

Working in oil or acrylic paint, students will explore value divisions in landscapes and the basics of brush sketching and massing. With these skills students will learn how to relate color to value and will gain a better understanding of identifying spatial cues in a landscape. Using foundational skills students can then explore under-painting, glazing and dry-brushing techniques.

Saturday and Sunday, November 18 and 19
9 am – 2 pm

Instructor: Daniel Helzer
Ages: Adult (15+) | All Levels

  • Supply list: Show email confirmation at Nevada Fine Arts for a 10% discount.

    • Canvas Board 16×12 or smaller
    • Palette Knife
    • Palette
    • Paper Towels
    • Selection of bristle brushes (small, med and large)
    • Assortment of brushes.
    • Palette knife, paper towels and a few canvas boards, 8×10 or bigger.

    Paint Colors:

    • Cobalt Blue
    • Ultramarine Blue
    • Thalo Blue
    • Dioxazine Purple
    • Cadmium Red Light
    • Cadmium Yellow or Hansa Yellow
    • Burnt Sienna
    • Titanium White

    For Oils: Gamsol, turpentine or walnut oil for use as a brush medium or cleaner.