Class Overview

Indigo dyeing is one of the most widely used natural dyeing techniques for thousands of years. The use of indigo dye in China began in the Xia Dynasty about 3000 years ago.

In this course, learn all about dyeing and printing techniques that you can easily do today, inspired by the Chinese indigo dyeing tradition, including tie-dye and stitch-dye. We will use chemical indigo dye instead of the natural plant dyes for convenience.

You can dye fabrics such as table runners, coasters and pillowcases to decorate your home. This process can be great for adding some color and artistic style to your home environment, or it can be used for making gifts and handicrafts. 

Supplies Needed

• 1 yard of white fabric 100% cotton or muslin
• Rit liquid dye – indigo 8oz
• Non-iodized salt
• Liquid dish soap
• Distilled white vinegar
• Basting thread, 100% cotton & needles
• scissors
• Precision Craft Knife
• 10 Popsicle sticks
• 4-6 small or medium binder clips
• 10 Rubber bands

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to: 

• Develop essential skills for the dyeing and printing process.
• Design a pattern by applying tie-dye and stich-dye techniques.
• Apply indigo dyeing fabric to your home decoration such as a table runner, coasters and pillowcases.
• Be familiar with history of Chinese indigo dyeing

Who Should Take This Class?

• Anyone interested in learning modern indigo dyeing techniques
• Artists who would like to learn to use new materials and approaches
• People interested in Chinese culture and history
• All levels are welcome!

Class Overview

Take a plain paper lantern and make it unique and beautiful with your own design, while learning the basics of Chinese brush painting. Enjoy the creative and meditative art of Chinese brush painting, while learning about Chinese visual arts, culture and aesthetics. 

This workshop is designed for anyone interested in basic Chinese brush painting and applying those techniques to a 3D object. Let your creativity soar as you create something special for your home, a gift, or to show off at your next summer picnic!

Supplies Needed

• 3 Chinese painting brushes: sheep or goat hair (1 size large), wolf or weasel hair (1 size medium and 1 size small)
• White blank Xuan rice papers: white half raw Xuan paper is recommended for beginners. 5+ sheets of 13.8" x 16" or larger
• Chinese color paints set: Look for Chinese watercolor paint. The paint that we need for the class is different from regular watercolor paints.
• A water jug/bowl for brushes cleaning and dipping
• A Chinese calligraphy desk felt mat: at least 25"x30" to prevent ink stains on your desk
• A ceramic flower shaped palette for color mixing. (5+ small ceramic soy sauce dishes could be used too)
• A bottle of liquid ink 
• One or two Chinese white lanterns: blank, size : 10" or 12"  

* Find these online or at art supply stores. The instructor will discuss details in class.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

• practice essential skills for basic Chinese painting skills. 
• understand the key elements of Chinese visual arts in culture. 
• complete Chinese lantern painting and be confident to do art works in the Chinese style.

Who Should Take This Class?

• Anyone (age 18+) interested in Chinese painting -- no experience needed!
• People who have some basic Chinese painting skills.
• Anyone who would like to learn how to apply Chinese painting techniques on 3D objects.

Class Overview

Color can be your most powerful design element if you learn to use it effectively. In this class, learn all about color and how to use it in art, design, fashion or simply to bring joy and harmony to your life.

We will demystify color theory with the use of the color wheel and learn how color combinations can set a mood, attract attention or make a statement. Examine how the perception of color changes in different contexts. Explore the psychology and marketability of various color combinations.

By selecting the right color schemes in design or fine art, you can convey a dramatic or playful tone or create an ambience of elegance, warmth and tranquility.

Supplies Needed

1. Any color wheel – from the Color Wheel Company, Artist’s Supply Source or Jerry’s Artarama: Color Wheel 9 1/4”  diameter - $8.35 or Pocket Color Wheel 5 1/8” diameter - $5.50. 
2. Bring several examples of color samples that you like or find interesting, from ads, paintings, websites etc. Please have your examples in a digital format that you will be able to share on Zoom. (Hint: you can take pictures of your color samples, and screenshots, and we'll use 'screensharing' with the whole class. You can use just images that can be shared, or put them in a doc file to share, or make a pdf to share.)

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to: 

• Use a color wheel to understand basic color theory principles and terminology.
• Understand how to use color combinations that harmonize.
• Be familiar with color psychology and the effects different color schemes can have on people's moods.
• Appreciate how colors affect perceptions and behaviors.
• Understand how colors impact consumers’ impressions of a brand.

Who Should Take This Class?

• Anyone, including interior designers, wishing to enhance a home environment 
• Graphic designers, illustrators or anyone creating web and print products 
• Fine artists wishing to improve their use of colors or create a specific mood in their art
• People interested in making a well-coordinated fashion statement
• Anyone with an interest in using color to create an image or mood

Class Overview

Have you ever had a friend or family member say you should do more with your art? Have you ever imagined doing business with your art? Explore one of the simplest, least expensive, safest ways to make some return on your investment of time and money in your art: turning your art into greeting cards. 

Learn about what types of art makes the best greeting cards and how to assemble a greeting card - what you need and where to buy it. Discuss how to photograph your artwork, if it is not photography, to prepare it and duplicate it.

In this class we will explore pricing, selling online, working with stores and even licensing your art to third parties. The emphasis will be on removing hurdles so you can be making your own cards by the second session. This class is timed to prepare you in plenty of time for the best time of year for greeting cards, the holiday season. Greeting cards can work well for all art mediums, in two dimensions and three, from photography to painting, ceramics to wood working. Please bring 10 examples of your art to share for the first session.

Supplies Needed

1. At least 10 small copies (not original art, but photographs or photocopies) of your art - 5x7 inches or smaller
2. 10 scored, blank sheets of card stock
3. 10 matching envelopes (get them when you shop for the paper)
4. 2-sided tape applicator
5. Internet access for uploading photos to Flickr and joining class by Zoom videoconferencing
6. A device with webcam and microphone for joining Zoom sessions 
7. Optional materials (not required for attending the class): plastic enclosures, 10 adhesive labels with © copyright notice

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to: 

• Select the pieces of your art that are the most suitable for greeting cards
• Make a finished greeting card with your art
• Set an appropriate price for your greeting cards
• Contact a store to have them sell your greeting cards
• Approach

Who Should Take This Class?

• Anyone making art in any medium
• Artists who want to make some return on your investment of time and money in your art
• Anyone who wants to share their art with friends or loved ones
• Artists who love seeing their art out in the world, being enjoyed by and having an impact on others

Create a beautiful wooden spoon in one sitting! In this workshop, learn the basics of carving a simple kitchen spoon. You will also acquire basic knowledge and techniques of wood carving such as wood selection, carving characteristics, preparing blanks, basic carving techniques, and traditional oil finish. These skills will help you become prepared for future word carving projects. Stir up your creativity and curiosity with carving your own one of a kind wooden spoon! No previous wood carving experience required.

Supplies Needed

• Sweep gouge No. 7 or any carving straight or bent gouge No. 7 between 10 – 12 mm width with a short or long handle (recommended: PFEIL Swiss Made 10 mm Gouge No 7)
• Whittler’s detail knife / sharpen carving knife (recommended: KN13 Flexcut knife)
• Thumb guard
• Sand paper 120 – 220 grit and 320 grit
• F-Clamp (recommended: Yost Tools F112 12”FClamp)
• Blank wood (recommended: Basswood Carving Spoon Blank 2-pack for Whittling Craft)
• Pencil
• Paper towel
• Blue tape (recommended: ScotchBlue Original Multi-Surface Painter’s Tape)
• Mineral food safe oil (recommended: Howard Products BBB012 Cutting Board Oil, 12 oz)
• Slip strop Sharpening Kit  -- this is optional (recommended: Flexcut Slipstrop)

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Know how to select wood depending on your wood carving project
• Be confident to handle wood carving knives for a small project
• Know the basic knowledge of wood carving
• Be familiar with how to design and carve a spoon

Who Should Take This Class

• Anyone curious and interested in trying wood carving and whittling
• People who love hand crafting, especially craft with wood
• Anyone who would like to do a small project with like-minded people