Online Classes   

This beginner level course will cover painting various subjects and themes in acrylics such as still life, landscape, floral, seascape, and many more. Students will learn skills such as loose brushstrokes, underpainting, layering, composition basics and mixing a strong color palette - all skills which they will be able to add to their own painting practice. Students will also learn to understand color values and temperature and to create depth and dimension in their acrylic paintings. Lessons on color mixing, compositional fundamentals and brush techniques will be covered.

Join me and explore 3,000 years of ancient Egyptian culture, society, religion, art, and architecture. See how they interacted with their neighboring nations. We will travel to the cities of Abydos, the cult center of the god Osiris; the ancient capital of Memphis; Thebes, where we find Karnak Temple and the royal tombs in the Valley of the kings; the workmen's village Deir el-Medina; and Amarna, capital city built by Akhenaten and the birthplace of Tutankhamun.

In this course, participants will read and discuss 40 recently published short stories that demonstrate how much can be accomplished in 1,000 words or fewer. These works, often described as flash fiction, explore life in all its complexity - its ambiguities, contradictions, and unexpected turns - through language that is precise and intentional. Because of their extreme brevity, such stories require exceptional discipline from their writers, with every word carrying weight. As participants engage with these texts, they will develop an appreciation for flash fiction as a distinct literary form, learn to recognize how skilled writers achieve depth and meaning without excess, and gain insight into what distinguishes the strongest short stories from those that feel like condensed novels. All readings for the course are freely available online.

The U.S. Constitution is at the center of so many conversations today—but how well do we really know it? This course offers a lively introduction to the nation's founding document, exploring what it is, how it was created, and why it continues to shape our daily lives. Often described as a "living document," we'll explore how the constitution has adapted and evolved. Designed as an accessible primer, this course will give students useful background and fresh perspective on one of the most influential documents in history—helping us all better understand its enduring role in American democracy today.

Painting Seasonal Blooms is a watercolor painting course inspired by the favorite blooms of each season, offering a perfect way to appreciate the beauty of change and color in nature. With step-by-step instructions and lots of drawing exercises, you'll learn to draw and paint from your reference (image or a real flower). This course will also explore the basics of watercolor painting, starting with the types of materials and tools that you can use, and moving on to techniques in handling the medium. You'll learn about value, basic composition, color mixing, blending, and the mechanics of watercolor. Approaches such as wet-in-wet and working in layers will be introduced. With demonstrations and ongoing individual guidance, you'll develop your own artwork at your own pace. By the end of the course, you'll gain a solid foundation in watercolor and feel comfortable to pursue your passion for watercolor!

Your camera and your knowledge of how to use it certainly matter when it comes to making memorable photographs. But your knowledge of the principles of composition and when to apply them - and when not to! - matter even more. Explore the key principles one by one with weekly assignments practicing each to share for feedback the following week. Meet the challenge to practice each principle in turn. For all skill levels using any camera, smart phone to mirrorless. All you need is a passion for photography and a wish to make photographs your friends and family will admire.

This participative discussion class looks at national and international current affairs each week. Discussions include politics and other topic matters suggested by the group. Events are considered based on their effects today and into the future, historical context and leadership.

This participative discussion class looks at national and international current affairs each week. Discussions include politics and other topic matters suggested by the group. Events are considered based on their effects today and into the future, historical context and leadership.

Step into the world of storytelling with a journey through 100 years of short fiction published in The New Yorker. In this course, students will read and discuss 32 unforgettable short stories – works that have shaped literary history and captured the imagination of generations. Together, we'll explore how short fiction has evolved over the past century, noticing shifts in style, themes and voices. Each story will open a window into the emotional and social issues of its time, from questions of identity and family to broader concerns of culture, politics and human connection.

This is a chance to experience the art of the short story at its very best, while engaging in lively conversations about what makes these works timeless, surprising and powerful. Whether you are a lifelong reader or new to short fiction, this course offers both a celebration of the form and an opportunity to see how stories help us understand ourselves and the world around us.

Have you ever wondered how ancient Rome inspired the design of our state capitol, the institution of the Senate, Shakespeare's Roman plays, or even modern engineering innovations? This class explores Italy from c. 1000 BCE to 500 CE. Students will explore the "mysterious" Etruscans, why the Greeks "colonized" south Italy and Sicily, and how Rome turned from a Tibur village to become ruler of much of the ancient world. This class will delve into archaeological remains, selections from ancient literature and philosophy, and modern scholarship, all within the context of social political and cultural history to address those and other questions.

The beauty and distinctiveness of ancient Egyptian art and architecture are among this great civilization's most lasting legacies. Join us as we explore the iconography, style, materials and techniques of their architecture, works of art, and jewelry within the broader context of their cultural significance over the 4,000 years of ancient Egyptian society.

Explore the fascinating geology of Washington state as we climb the high Cascades, explore the deserts, and unravel the geologic story behind the beautiful landscapes of our state. Topics include historic earthquakes, great ice age floods, and dangers posed by the Cascade volcanoes. Discover the patchwork of geologic landscapes from which our state was built.

The U.S. Constitution is at the center of so many conversations today—but how well do we really know it? This course offers a lively introduction to the nation's founding document, exploring what it is, how it was created, and why it continues to shape our daily lives. Often described as a "living document," we'll explore how the constitution has adapted and evolved. Designed as an accessible primer, this course will give students useful background and fresh perspective on one of the most influential documents in history—helping us all better understand its enduring role in American democracy today.

For many, the world of black and white photography is another world. The rarified world of masters like Ansel Adams, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Dorothea Lange and Imogen Cunningham. A time past, a time of film, not digital capture. Yes, another world, but not one out of reach for any photographer using any camera. Come explore the potential of black and white for your own photography. Gain inspiration by discussing the work of different masters in each class. Photograph weekly assignments in color, converting to black and white, and posting on Flickr.com for feedback. This class is hybrid, meeting on Zoom with two sessions in person on location for a photography shoot. For all skill levels using phones to mirrorless cameras.

This participative discussion class looks at national and international current affairs each week. Discussions include politics and other topic matters suggested by the group. Events are considered based on their effects today and into the future, historical context and leadership.