Beginning and advanced students will enjoy this five-day technique-based class focused on creating dramatic landscapes with special attention paid to the sky. Working from photo reference, students will explore the use of sensitive and effective strokes to manipulate paint with a brush and pallet knife. Students will explore texture and depth while creating dramatic landscape paintings.

Monday – Friday, December 3 – 7 
9 am – noon

Ages: Adult (15+) / Some oil painting experience reccomended
Instructor: David McCamant

SUPPLY LIST:  

SUPPORTS 
Inexpensive canvas boards or panels. Students who wish to do the homework will need to double the number of panels. 
1 – 11″ x 14” (OPTIONAL – add one more for homework*)
2 – 8″ x 10″ (OPTIONAL – add two more for homework*)
3 – 6″ x 8″ (OPTIONAL – add three more for homework*)
 
OIL PAINT – 1 – 37 ml tube of oil paint in the following colors:   
 
WHITE: Titanium White (2 tubes are suggested)   
YELLOW:Cadmium Lemon, Windsor Yellow, Hansa Yellow, Medium or Cadmium Yellow Light  
RED:Cadmium Red Hue, Cadmium Red Medium or Cadmium Berium Red (not deep) 
BLUE: French Ultramarine Blue or Ultramarine Blue
BLACK: Ivory Black
MAGENTA (OPTIONAL*): Permanent Rose or Quinacridone Red 
CYAN (OPTIONAL*):  Thalo Blue or Phthalo Blue
 
You may bring whatever paint you have as long as they are the correct hues or colors. An inexpensive option is Windsor Newton Winton student colors. ‘Artist Grade’ paints will produce better results in color mixing.
 
PAINTING MEDIUM: Neo MeGilp Medium 2oz or Larger
 
BRUSHES – Recommend Connoisseur brand #2106 pure synthetic oil paint brushes or any artist quality manufacturer VERY IMPORTANT. 1 each #6 and #8 Long-Handled Filberts
 
PALETTE – Gray Matters, palette paper or equivalent
 
CLEANING JAR – Silicoil cleaning jar or other small jar with lid
 
CLEANING SOLUTION – 1 – 8oz bottle of artist grade Walnut oil
 
BRUSH CLEANER – 2.5 OZ small cake of The Masters Brush Cleaner
 
PAPER TOWELS – 1 roll of BLUE shop paper towels (OPTIONAL – add one more for homework*)
 
WET PANEL CARRIER – inexpensive cookie sheet covered in aluminum foil or aluminum roasting pan for wet painting transport
 
Approximate Materials Cost $100. With OPTIONAL ITEMS $130.

Monday – Friday, October 29 – November 2 / 9 am – noon

Students will enjoy learning how to paint small color sketches or studies (“pochades”) using oils. This class will focus on how to capture light in the landscape quickly while working with oil paint. Hands-on instruction will take students from basic setup to finish a quick study in oil. This course is designed to introduce you to plein air landscape painting techniques in a classroom setting. Students should have some experience painting with oils.

Instructor: David McCamant
Ages: Adults (15+) / Some experience working in oils

Supply List: 
(2) 11” x 14”, (4) 8” x 10”, and (6) 6” x 8” inexpensive canvas boards
Choose ONE 37 ml tube of the brand of your choice from the colors below and a larger tube or 2 tubes of white. Recommended brands are Winsor & Newton, Grumbacher or Gamblin. 
RED
– Cadmium Red by Winsor & Newton 
– Cadmium Red Medium by Gamblin 
– Cadmium Berium Red (not deep) by Grumbacher 
MAGENTA 
– Permanent Rose by Winsor & Newton 
– Quinacradone Red by Gamblin 
– Quinacradone Red by Grumbacher 
YELLOW
– Winsor Yellow by Winsor & Newton 
– Hansa Yellow Medium by Gamblin 
– Cadmium Yellow Light by Grumbacher 
BLUE 
– French Ultramarine Blue by Winsor & Newton
-,French Ultramarine Blue by Grumbacher -Ultramarine Blue by Gamblin 
CYAN 
– Thalo Blue by Grumbacher 
– Pthalo Blue by Gamblin
BLACK 
– Ivory Black by Winsor & Newton 
– Ivory Black by Gamblin 
– Ivory Black by Grumbacher 
WHITE
(2) 37 ml tubes OR (1)150 ml 
– Titanium White by Winsor & Newton 
– Titanium White by Gamblin 
– Titanium White by Grumbacher
2 oz. bottle or larger of Neo-Megilp oil painting medium (by GAMBLIN)
1 – palette – recommended either tempered glass with edges taped or ground, wood or Plexiglas. Cover wood or Plexiglas with Contact plastic shelf liner. 
1 – Silcoil cleaning jar or other small jar with lid 
1 – 8 oz. bottle of artist grade walnut oil (not salad type) 
1 – 2.5 oz. small cake of Masters brush cleaner 
1 each of the following long-handled 2106 CONNOISSEUR pure synthetic brushes (OR any artist quality manufacturer): 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 Filberts. 
4 – Rolls of BLUE shop paper towels 
1 – Wet panel carrier – inexpensive cookie sheet covered in foil or aluminum roasting pan (dollar stores are a good resource for this) for wet painting transport.

Monday – Friday, October 8 – 12 / 9 am – 12 pm

This course is intended to introduce students to traditional  painting techniques using oils. Students will gain a good foundational working knowledge of how to setup subjects, blocking, brushwork, mixing color and the use of Neo Megilp medium. The “ala prima” (in one sitting) also called “direct painting” technique will be taught in making still life paintings. Each lesson begins with the concepts to be covered, demonstration of the techniques, hands on experience and ends with suggested homework to be critiqued at the next lesson.

Instructor: David McCamant
Ages: Adult (15+) / Beginners welcome!

SUPPLY LIST:

SUPPORTS 
Inexpensive canvas boards or panels. Students who wish to do the homework will need to double the number of panels. 
1 – 11″ x 14” (OPTIONAL – add one more for homework*)
2 – 8″ x 10″ (OPTIONAL – add two more for homework*)
3 – 6″ x 8″ (OPTIONAL – add three more for homework*)
 
OIL PAINT – 1 – 37 ml tube of oil paint in the following colors:   
 
WHITE: Titanium White (2 tubes are suggested)   
YELLOW:Cadmium Lemon, Windsor Yellow, Hansa Yellow, Medium or Cadmium Yellow Light  
RED:Cadmium Red Hue, Cadmium Red Medium or Cadmium Berium Red (not deep) 
BLUE: French Ultramarine Blue or Ultramarine Blue
BLACK: Ivory Black
MAGENTA (OPTIONAL*): Permanent Rose or Quinacridone Red 
CYAN (OPTIONAL*):  Thalo Blue or Phthalo Blue
 
You may bring whatever paint you have as long as they are the correct hues or colors. An inexpensive option is Windsor Newton Winton student colors. ‘Artist Grade’ paints will produce better results in color mixing.
 
PAINTING MEDIUM: Neo MeGilp Medium 2oz or Larger
 
BRUSHES – Recommend Connoisseur brand #2106 pure synthetic oil paint brushes or any artist quality manufacturer VERY IMPORTANT. 1 each #6 and #8 Long-Handled Filberts
 
PALETTE – Gray Matters, palette paper or equivalent
 
CLEANING JAR – Silicoil cleaning jar or other small jar with lid
 
CLEANING SOLUTION – 1 – 8oz bottle of artist grade Walnut oil
 
BRUSH CLEANER – 2.5 OZ small cake of The Masters Brush Cleaner
 
PAPER TOWELS – 1 roll of BLUE shop paper towels (OPTIONAL – add one more for homework*)
 
WET PANEL CARRIER – inexpensive cookie sheet covered in aluminum foil or aluminum roasting pan for wet painting transport
 
Approximate Materials Cost $100. With OPTIONAL ITEMS $130.

Tuesday – Thursday, October 2 – 4 / 6 – 9 pm

Students new to Adobe Photoshop will be introduced to the basic features and concepts of the program. Students will learn how to organize and open files, gain a basic understanding of image editing and will explore the basic tools and functions of the program, including working with layers and color modes, adjusting image size and resolution, and will be introduced to basic retouching and image manipulation. 

Instructor: MD Welch
Ages: Adult (15+) / All levels

Supply list: Students need to have a laptop with Photoshop CC already installed on the computer before class starts. Files for the class will take up 6-8 GB of space, and students should have that amount of space free on their computers if they want to work along with the instructor. 

Sunday, September 23 / 10 am – 3 pm

Students will learn the basics of mosaics, including techniques, design and grouting. Using various materials, students will work towards a 10” x 10” mosaic mirror or 6 x 12 plaque project. All materials provided but students may bring other objects (stones, jewels, beads, etc.) to incorporate into their piece. This class is intended for those unfamiliar or new to mosaics but all skill levels are welcome. At the end of the workshop, students will be given a grouting demo and take home grout kit. Students can take the grout home or may choose to complete the project with guidance at a later date at Copper Cat Studios in Sparks.

Instructor: Katie Packham
Ages: Adults (15+) / All Levels

Tuesday – Thursday, November 13 – 15 / 6 – 9 pm

Students will learn tips for posing subjects and will work on composition techniques for both individual portraits and group photography. Students will enjoy classroom demonstrations, will address best techniques and use of natural versus artificial light and will learn shooting techniques. The second half of the class will allow students work with subjects and apply the techniques learned to their own creative vision.

Instructor: M.D. Welch

Ages: Adult (15+)
Prerequisite is our DSLR Camera Basics class or a good working knowledge of camera functions.

Supply list: DSLR Camera or Mirrorless Camera with charged battery and any lenses you own. If you have the manual to your camera, please bring that to class as well. Optional: Lighting Gear you already own (instructor will provide shared supply)

Saturdays, November 10 and 17 / 10 am – 2 pm

Take your photographs to the next level by learning proper composition and photography techniques. Students will learn the different ways to compose landscapes, still lifes and people, while also learning different techniques such as High Dynamic Range (HDR), panoramic stitching, long exposures, proper posing for people, working with photo filters and lighting terminology.

Instructor: MD Welch

Ages: Adult (15+)
Prerequisite is our DSLR Camera Basics class or a good working knowledge of camera functions.

Supply List:
A DSLR or mirrorless camera, as well as their camera’s manual and any lenses that students own should also be brought to class. A fully charged battery and memory card are also necessary for class. A tripod and shutter release cable are highly recommended.

Wednesday and Thursday, November 7 and 8 / 6 – 9 pm

On day one, students will gain an understanding of retouching techniques to enhance both portraits and landscape photographs. Students will retouch by improving textures, fixing “problem areas,” and will gain a better understanding of the Photoshop toolbox. On day two, students will learn the secrets to color correcting, including color calibration, color profiles and color modes to create more dynamic images. Learn how to avoid common mistakes in taking your images from the camera to the computer to the printer.

Supply list: Basic knowledge of Photoshop is required for this course. Students need to have a laptop with Photoshop CC already installed on the computer before class starts. Files for the class will take up 6-8 GB of space, and students should have that amount of space free on their computers if they want to work along with the instructor. 

Instructor: MD Welch
Ages: Adult (15+) / Basic knowledge with Photoshop is required for this course. 

Saturdays, October 13 and 20 / 10 am – 2 pm

Adobe Lightroom Classic CC is quickly becoming the go to application for photographers of any experience level, but so many photographers are not using the application to the fullest potential. There are also features of Lightroom Classic CC that are best left to other applications, and those work arounds will be shown in class. From tethered shooting to advanced Develop module techniques, this class with get new Lightroom Classic CC users up and running, and advanced users taking advantage of features that will save time, and reduce frustration.

Instructor: MD Welch
Ages: Adult (15+) / All Levels

Supply list: Students need to have a laptop with Lightroom Classic CC already install on the computer before class starts. Older versions of Lightroom will work, Lightroom 5 & 6, but some new features will not be available to students. Due be aware that there are two versions of Lightroom currently offered by Adobe, Lightroom CC, and Lightroom Classic CC. This class will be taught using the Classic CC version. If you have any questions please do not hesitate in asking. Files for the class will take up 6-8 GB of space, and students should have that amount of space free on their computers if they want to work along with the instructor.

Saturdays, September 22 and 29 / 10 am – 2 pm

This class is designed for beginning to intermediate photographers who have purchased a digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera or a mirrorless camera. Course participants will explore the specific features of DSLR or mirrorless cameras, as well as general photographic skills and techniques to make great pictures.

Required Supplies: Students are required to bring have a DSLR camera or mirrorless camera as well as their camera’s manual. A fully charged battery and memory card are also necessary for class. Any lenses that they own should also be brought to class.

Instructor: MD Welch
Ages: Adults (15+) / All levels