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, April 6 and 7
9 am – 2 pm

Instructor: Daniel Helzer
Ages: Adult (16+) | 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.

Clay for Beginners

Learn about the basics of working with clay for producing decorative and functional pottery. Students will learn the process and various techniques for going from an idea to a 3 dimensional completed glazed piece. The class will cover slab and coil construction as well as an introduction to throwing pieces on the wheel. An overview of decorating and glazing techniques for completing the piece will be presented.  All firings will be done by the museum in an electric kiln and all materials will be provided.

Wednesdays, April 24 – May 29
5:30 – 8:30 pm

Instructor: Jeff Hardcastle
Ages: Adult (15+) | Beginners 

CANCELLED: 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, May 7 – 28
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.

Mastering the Elements of the Landscape: Skyscapes in Oil

In order to paint the landscape well, the artist must understand the light that fills it and how it affects the appearance of it.  This class will focus on the painting various types of skies and clouds, the source of that light. Students who have taken the Landscape Basics class will benefit, but it is not a prerequisite. Students will learn why the sky is blue and why that matters when painting the landscape, how to paint different types of clouds in a variety of lighting situations and how clouds affect light and add drama and interest to an otherwise ordinary scene.

Tuesdays, April 2 – 23 
9 am – noon

Instructor: Mike Callahan
Ages: Adult (16+) | All Levels

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

  • Paint: M. Graham brand, Zinc White (37ml), 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.

Mastering the Elements of the Landscape: How to Paint Running Water in Oils

Paint the landscape with more confidence by mastering the elements of it. This class is part of the Mastering the Elements of the Landscape Series. This course will focus on painting realistic running water, from the slower moving water of a river to the fast moving waterfall. Mike will lead students through four projects discussing and demonstrating all aspects of running water.

Tuesdays, March 5 – 26 
9 am – noon

Instructor: Mike Callahan
Ages: Adult (16+) | All Levels

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

  • Paint: M. Graham brand, Zinc White (37ml), 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.

Introduction to Western Paper Marbling

In this introductory class, student will gain a basic understanding of history, techniques, tools and styles of Western marbling. Students will get hands on experience of all aspects of marbling from paper priming and preparatory mixing of water medium and paints, to the creation of classic patterns. Specific attention will be given to learning how to obtain particular designs using a diverse array of rakes and combs. Students will have ample time for experimentation with guidance from the instructor.

Saturday, May 4 
10 am – 5 pm

Instructor: Pietro Accardi
Age: Adult (15+) | All levels

Textile Marbling on Scarves

Witness this magical process that transfers the paint from the surface of the water to a silk scarf. In this one-day workshop, Pietro will show students how to print on silk scarves using an array of different patterns and colors that you can choose from.  After some guided practice with some of your favorite colors, students will have the opportunity to paint 2 beautiful scarves.

Saturday, April 6
10 am – 5 pm

Instructor: Pietro Accardi
Ages: Adult (15+) | All levels

Ceramics: Creating with Clay

Intermediate and advanced level students will enjoy developing their hand building and/or wheel throwing projects in this class. The instructor will introduce students to new techniques such as lidded, forms, vases, and image transfer. Students are encouraged to come to class with ideas for their own projects while the instructor will encourage experimentation and assist students as needed.

Sundays, April 21 – May 26
10 am – 1 pm

Instructor: Jeff Hardcastle
Age: Adult (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, March 16 and 17
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. 

    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.

The Art of Mindful Writing

Writing can be an important part of mindfulness practice, whether we are talking about meditation, personal development, experiential learning, or exploring the world around us. Mindfulness – paying attention, being aware – can enrich writing for aspiring writers, students, and more practiced authors. In this class, students will have an opportunity to try out a variety of writing tools and experiences to see what resonates. Students will also leave this class with several starts in their journals, several ideas to help move writing forward, and several ways to be as mindful as possible as one writes, which will help writing be more rewarding and rich. All supplies will be provided along with a journal for each student.

Tuesdays, January 30 – February 20
5:30 – 8:30 pm

Instructor: Dr. William J. Macauley, Jr.
Age: Adult (15+) | All Levels