Watercolor Painting

Watercolor Painting for Beginners & All
This class is an opportunity for the beginner who has some prior experience in drawing to participate in individualized instruction with an emphasis on technique, elements of composition, and color theory. See materials list below. Taught by Sally Aldrich, a painter and clay sculptor who exhibits extensively with the Katonah Museum Artists Association, the Clay Art Center, and the Elaine Bensen Gallery in the Hamptons. She headed the art department at Pleasantville High School in New York for 24 years. See watercolor supply list below. Class limit 12. Sign up fast.
8 Sessions $128 (Ridgefield Sr./Disab. $64)
Thur., 2/25; 3/4, 11, 18, 25; 4/1, 8 & 15 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.; Venus Bldg.
Thur., 4/29; 5/6, 13, 20, 27; 6/3, 10 & 17 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.; Venus Bldg.

Watercolor Painting for Experienced ~ Daytime
This class is an opportunity for the experienced watercolorist to participate in individualized instruction with an emphasis on technique, elements of composition, and color theory. See materials list below. Taught by Sally Aldrich, a painter and clay sculptor who exhibits extensively with the Katonah Museum Artists Association, the Clay Art Center, and the Elaine Bensen Gallery in the Hamptons. She headed the art department at Pleasantville High School in New York for 24 years. Class limit 12. Sign up fast. See watercolor supply list below. Class limit 12. Sign up fast.

7 Sessions $130 (Ridgefield Sr./Disab. $65) 145 73
Thur., 11/19; 12/3, 10, 17; 1/7, 14 & 21; 12:00 to 2:30 p.m.; Venus Bldg. NOTE: Start date is 11/19 instead of 11/12. Make up for 11/12 is 1/21.

7 Sessions $145 (Ridgefield Sr./Disab. $73)
Thur., 2/18, 25; 3/4, 11, 18, 25; 4/1 & 8 from 12:00 to 12:30 p.m.; Venus Bldg NOTE: New Start Date. Add class 2/18. Drop class 4/15..
Thur., 4/29; 5/6, 13, 20, 27; 6/3, 10 & 17 from 12:00 to 2:30 p.m.; Venus Bldg.

Watercolor Supply List for Sally Aldrich's Classes:
Please bring the following materials to the first class: Your best results are achieved with good quality paints, such as Windsor Newton, and paper, preferably a 140 lb. cold pressed Arches block. Beginners should buy a few good quality watercolor brushes of varying sizes, flat and round, a large white mixing tray, and the following paints - cadmium red, alizarin crimson, ultramarine blue, cadmium yellow, and burnt sienna. With these you will create a color wheel and learn color theory. A sketch book and a few 2B pencils are also good to have. As they advance, painters will add to their paints warm and cool tones for each color.

Painting ~ Pastels & Acrylic

Explore the Mediums
Trying to decide which medium is for you? This course is the perfect answer. Students will explore pen and ink, pastel, charcoal, oil paint and watercolor by spending a two hour class on each medium. No experience is necessary. Call (203) 431-9995 for suppies or provide us your email. Taught by Laura McCormick. Laura McCormick is a freelance artist specializing in charcoal and pastel portraiture. She has been teaching drawing for several years.
6 Sessions $108 (Ridgefield Sr./Disab. $54)
Mon., 2/22; 3/1, 8, 22, 29 & 4/5 from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m.; Venus Bldg.
Mon., 4/26; 5/3, 10, 17, 24 & 6/7 from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m.; Venus Bldg.

Chinese Brush Painting

Chinese Brush Painting
Students learn traditional Chinese Brush Painting by working with ink and watercolor on rice paper and using bamboo brushes. Subject matter includes red plums, orchids, bamboo, mountain and rocks, chrysanthemums, lotus, and climbing wisteria. Discover the serenity and timelessness of an art form that is characteristically spontaneous and yet precise. Finished work can be framed or hung as scroll. Taught by Aihua Zhu Shea, a professional painter and graduate of the China Shanghai Art School, who has exhibited locally and abroad. She is a member of the Oriental Brush Artist Guild of the Hammond Museum and has taught in our program for several years.Supplies may be purchased from the instructor at the first class for $ 35 (mixing palette, one brush, rice paper, ink). An additional fee will be collected for Chinese watercolors and additional brushes that are used in later classes for those who need them. Bring any supplies you already have.
6 Sessions $108 (Ridgefield Sr./Disab. $81) + $ Mtls.
Mon., 4/12, 26; 5/3, 10, 17 & 24 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.; ERMS

Healing Cards

Healing Cards
Why buy ready made cards. Making them yourself is more personal and, in the case of this workshop, even therapeutic, an active meditation. It will focus your activity, increase your life energy, center yourself, dissolve stress, relax and enhance your health. And this effect will occur in everyone who looks at your card. This workshop will teach you how to use watercolors and pastels and how to frame your cards. A $10 materials fee is payable at class. Brigitte Pohl-Knijff’s bio is on page 6 & 8.
1 Session $17 (Ridgefield Sr./Disab. $13) + $ Mtls.
Tue., 4/6 from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m.; Veterans Park

Faux Finishing and Decorative Painting

Faux Finishing
Paint is a marvelously versatile substance and can be manipulated different ways to create interesting textures and looks. Come learn how to make walls look like old stucco, sandstone, or aged aged paint. We will work with paint and glaze to learn the techniques of ragging, sponging, and layering, and will also experiment with tissuing, marbling, and combing. A materials fee of approximately $15-20 is payable to the instructor at class. Taught by Nancy Maxwell, an experienced teacher, who has been working with gold leafing and a variety of finishes for a number of years.
1 Session $19 (Ridgefield Sr./Disab. $14) + $ mtls.
Tue., 5/4 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.; Venus Bldg.

Applying Composition - Gold Leafing
An introduction to the basic steps in applying metallic leaf to surfaces. Students will prepare a surface with gesso and size and apply composition leaf. Final finishes will be explained. Please bring one wooden object (small, ideally with no finish applied), another piece will be provided by the instructor. A materials fee is payable to the instructor at class. Taught by Nancy Maxwell, an experienced teacher, who has been working with gold leafing and a variety of finishes for a number of years.
1 Session $19 (Ridgefield Sr./Disab. $14) + $ mtls.
Tue., 5/11 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.; Venus Bldg.

Furniture Painting

Painted Children’s Furniture
Decorative painted furniture, popular in today’s decor, is particularly suitable for children. Students will be introduced to a variety of techniques that may be used to achieve whimsical and useful works of art for the children’s rooms. The possibilities are endless: tables, chairs, dressers, etc. can be transformed with stenciling, graining, combing, sponging, the use of numerous patterns and color combinations, or even imagery from favorite children’s books, such as Beatrix Potter or Harry Potter. The instructor will contact students prior to class with information on how to prepare their furniture for painting. Visit www.ridgefieldschools.org/artcraft.htm for materials fee info. Taught by Virginia Teichner. Virginia Teichner has taught art for many years at the Brookfield Craft Center and Fletcher Farm in Vermont.
2 Sessions $46 (Ridgefield Sr./Disab. $23) + $mtls.
Mon., 2/1 & 8 from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m.; ERMS

Stencils

Designing and Decorating with Stencils
Often associated with early American decoration, stenciling is an very flexible and economical technique for home decoration in any style, of any period. In this class, students will learn how to design and cut stencils for use on walls, floors, furniture, and fabric suitable for any type of decor. Also covered will be the effective matching of design and space, and the harmonious combination of designs. Designs may be derived from nature, images in books and magazines, or patterns on fabric or wallpaper. Work will be done on practice boards. Instructor Virginia Teichner will supply all materials for a fee collected at the first class. Virginia Teichner has taught art for many years at the Brookfield Craft Center and Fletcher Farm in Vermont.
2 Sessions $46 (Ridgefield Sr./Disab. $23) + $ mtls.
Mon., 3/1 & 8 from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m.; ERMS

Trompe L’oeil

Trompe L’oeil for Beginners
Trompe l’oeil, the art of painting images that trick the eye into believing they are 3-dimensional will be taught by Virginia Teichner. More details to follow. Virginia Teichner has taught art for many years at the Brookfield Craft Center and Fletcher Farm in Vermont.
4 Sessions $72 (Ridgefield Sr./Disab. $36) + $ mtls.
Mon., 5/3, 10, 17 & 24 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.; ERMS