In this workshop, I will share with you some really great tips, tricks and techniques I have learned along the way, either through my own experimentation or from some pretty amazing artists including Carl Purcell, Karen Frey, the late, great, Charles Reid, and John Salminen. You don’t need to be an expert for this class; I’ll show you how a lot of special effects are accomplished, and how to get those really great darks that make your paintings exceptional!No middle-value blah paintings here!

Saturday, November 2
10 – 3 pm

Instructor: Ronnie Rector
Ages: Adult (15+) / All Levels

Supply List:

Bring your own watercolor painting kit, but be sure to have the following:
•    One full sheet (22×30) of Arches 140 lb cold press, which you will tear into eight 5.5×7.5 pieces, or a watercolor sketchbook*.
•    Pen and pencil, to sketch with and take notes.
•    Watercolor** brushes: A #6 and #10 round, and a 1” flat, will be adequate. I recommend Silver’s Black Velvet brushes or Richeson’s “Quiller” 7000 series brushes as an excellent, not-too-expensive choice.
•    Watercolor paints of your choice. “Artist grade” paint, please – colors are stronger and more vivid.  My favorite colors are listed at the end of this, if you’re interested.
•    Watercolor palette. I recommend something like Cheap Joe’s Original palette or the Robert Wood palette, which both have bigger wells for your paints and large mixing areas. The tiny travel palettes are okay but bring a white plate or metal butcher’s tray (RESCO) to make good puddles of paint in.
•    Roll of 2” masking tape (NOT blue or green painter’s tape or white “artist’s” tape).
•    Wide mouth water container – the plastic “Folgers Coffee”-style tubs are great!
•    Small container of salt
•    Spray bottle for water
•    Sea sponge if you have one. If not, you can watch the demonstrated techniques and see if you like them.
•    Paper Towels (Viva are best for watercolors!)
•    Blow Dryer

*Be sure your sketchbook is made with (at a minimum) 140 lb. watercolor paper, which can hold up to applications of water and paint without shredding like sketch paper.

**Brushes used for acrylics will not provide the results you want to see when working in watercolor. 

If buying supplies at NV Fine Arts, tell them you’re taking my class and they’ll give you a 10% discount.

Questions? Send me an email!  ronnierector@yahoo.com
 

Buy what YOU like, though; don’t limit yourself to my choices!

Buy what YOU like, though; don’t limit yourself to my choices!

If you don’t already have watercolors of some sort, here’s a good place to start:

Source – Nevada Fine Arts:
1 full sheet of Arches 140 lb cold press watercolor paper (~$10)
1 size 8(ish) round watercolor paint brush – Richeson 7000 “Quiller” series (~$15)
3 tubes of Daniel Smith watercolors, a blue, a red and a yellow; each are from $9 to $12. I suggest:
Cobalt or Ultramarine Blue
Carmine or Pyrrol Red
Azo Yellow or Hansa Yellow Medium
A plastic palette with a few good sized wells ($5-$15) or butcher tray for mixing paints
And a good-sized container for water, a roll of plain ol’ masking tape, and some Viva paper towels.
Email me if you have any questions about your watercolor kit – ronnierector@yahoo.com!

Learn to throw basic forms and then how to alter them into something extraordinary! Planters into hedgehogs, mugs into foxes, there are endless possibilities. Return to glaze you pieces and bring them to life on the 31st. All pottery will be fired and ready to be picked up two weeks after the class.

Instructor: Amy Lawrence
Ages: Adult (15+) / All Levels

Saturdays, August 24 and 31
9:00 am – noon

Supply List:

All supplies will be provided but feel free to bring any of your own throwing or altering tools that you would like to use.

Bubble glazing is quirky twist on traditional glazing. We will be making “bubble glaze” out of different glazes and applying them to vases and bowls to create unique designs. It is easy to learn and creates fun and unique marbled patterns every time. All pottery will be clear coated, fired and ready to be picked up two weeks after the class.

Instructor: Amy Lawrence
Ages: Adult (15+) / All Levels

Saturday, August 3
9:00 am – noon

Supply List:

Teacher will supply forms to practice bubble glazing techniques on. Students will be able to keep all work that is created in the class.

The Young Artist Series is for kids ages 11 – 15*

Want to learn some of the secrets behind your favorite characters design and even create your own? This class will teach you some basic techniques used by character designers to help make your characters stand out and through their design. If you love comic’s, video games, or just love characters this is the class for you. This is an open studio course designed to teach students how to ask questions and design your own character! From charismatic hero’s to dastardly villains and all the weirdness in-between come join artist C.J. Norris as he introduces you to the wonderful world of character design.

Wednesdays, July 10 – 31
3:30 pm – 5:30 pm

Instructor: C.J. Norris
Ages: 11 and Up

*Younger students may register with instructor approval.

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. Open to all levels, beginners welcome.

Thursday, August 15 

10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Instructor: Iva Neveux
Ages 15 and Up / All Levels

Supply list: All materials included.

Please bring a sack lunch or snack.

Inspired by the artwork and lifestyle of Georgia O’Keeffe this class explores the color palette of the high desert through the intersection of plants and natural dyes. Working with Brooke Walshaw of Terrior Herbals, students will learn about regional dye plants and how to ethically harvest them. After harvesting the plants, Sarah Lillegard will take students through the natural dye process for silk, linen and wool textiles. By the end of the two-day workshop, students will have a dyed fabric swatches and a primer to working with natural dyes of the Great Basin. Class includes a guided walk through the Living Modern, Georgia O’Keeffe show.

Saturday and Sunday, September 14 – 15 (*September 14 includes an on-site visit to a nearby farm to harvest plant material.)
9 am – 1 pm

Instructor: Sarah Lillegard
Ages:  Adult (15+) / All levels

Supply list:

All supplies supplied by instructor. 

CANCELED: Please see class listing page for alternative classes.

Intermediate and advanced level students will enjoy developing their hand building and/or wheel throwing techniques in this open studio ceramics class. Instructor will introduce students to new techniques, will encourage experimentation and will assist students with independent challenges.  Studio, clay and glazes are provided.

Tuesdays, October 15 – November 19
9:30 am – 12:30 pm

Instructor: Amy Lawrence
Ages: Adult (15+) / Intermediate levels – Some experience and familiarity with hand building and wheel throwing techniques.

Intermediate and advanced level students will enjoy developing their hand building and/or wheel throwing techniques in this open studio ceramics class. Instructor will introduce students to new techniques, will encourage experimentation and will assist students with independent challenges.  Studio, clay and glazes are provided.

Tuesdays, August 13 – September 17 
9:30 am – 12:30 pm

Instructor: Amy Lawrence
Ages: Adult (15+) / Intermediate levels – Some experience and familiarity with hand building and wheel throwing techniques.

Have fun and learn the skills to create wheel thrown or hand built pottery in this six-week class designed for the beginner or those hoping to improve their ceramic skills. Stoneware clay will be used and cone 6 glazes will be available.  All firings will be done by the museum in an electric kiln. All materials are provided.

Wednesdays, October 16 – November 20
6 – 9 pm

Instructor: Amy Lawrence
Ages: Adult (15+) / All Levels

Create decorative and functional pottery in this six-week class designed for the beginner as well as those who have taken intermediate pottery classes in the past.  Students will learn how to work with clay in both hand building, and wheel-throwing techniques. Finishing methods such as decorating, stamping, painting, and staining will be introduced as well as the discussion and practice of firing and glazing of clay works. Stoneware clay will be used and cone 6 and cone 06 glazes will be available.  All firings will be done by the museum in an electric kiln. All materials are provided.

Tuesdays, October 15 – November 19
6 – 9 pm

Instructor: Karen Vetter
Ages: Adult (15+) / All Levels

Nevada K-12 Educators: Please note, this course has been approved by the Nevada Department of Education for 1.0 in-service credit. Please contact Jen.henry@nevadaart.org if you wish to receive in-service credit.