Upcoming classes at Arts at Canal Place

Are you stuck in a creative rut and want to dig out? Would you like to “brush up” your art skills—or simply discover your inner artist? This summer, Arts at Canal Place, an artists’ cooperative gallery, brings you three opportunities to flex your art muscles. The Artist’s Way, Drawing Class for Beginners, and Monotype Workshop will be taught by accomplished artist Jean Barnes Downs and are designed for adults with or without prior art experience. Class sizes are limited, so register early!

The Artist’s Way is a ten-week workshop using the exercises in The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. Whether you are a writer, visual artist, or musician—or simply someone who wants to explore the world through artistic eyes—you will be inspired by these exercises and the camaraderie of others who believe, like Cameron, that “creativity is our true nature.” Jean Barnes Downs says she will “facilitate” the course rather than teach it, since participants will do many of the activities at home and share what they learn with others in the class.

Participants should bring a copy of The Artist’s Way (also available for purchase the first night) and a journal/notebook to the first session on June 15. The course will be held Monday nights from 7-8 p.m. until August 17. The minimum age for the 12 participants is 16, and tuition is $60.

If you have always wished you could draw like an artist but felt you “can’t even draw a straight line,” Drawing Class for Beginners is for you. Students with no drawing experience, as well as those who would like to improve their skills, will benefit. In a supportive atmosphere, students will experience what it means to really see the world around them through a series of guided exercises and drawing techniques. Exercises will begin with simple contour and progress through seeing and drawing negative space, light, and shade, using erasers as drawing tools, portraiture and the copying of master drawings.

Drawing Class for Beginners will run from July 15 through August 12 (five sessions) on Wednesday evenings from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuition is $50 plus a $10 materials fee. Class size is 10, with a minimum age of 14.

“Monotype is perhaps the most creative expressive means for an artist to work with few written restrictive rules . . . the possibilities are endless,” says Julia Ayers about this “most painterly of fine art printing techniques.” Without the use of a printing press, participants will explore this medium using non-toxic water-miscible oil paints and a gelatin plate to create monotypes with luminous layers of color. Clean-up requires only soap and water.

The Monotype Workshop will present a brief history of the medium, demonstrations of techniques for printing monotypes, as well as instruction on the construction and use of a gelatin plate. With payment of the supply fee of $20 plus tuition of $80, materials and tools will be provided. The class will limited to 6 participants, with a minimum age of 14.

To register, complete a registration form and return it with your tuition and materials fees made payable to Arts at Canal Place on or before the enrollment deadline. Participation cannot be reserved without payment. Registration forms are available at Arts at Canal Place at 16 Howard Street (at the Shops at Canal Place next to the Scenic Railroad Station) or at the Allegany Arts Council at 9 N. Centre Street, both in Cumberland, Maryland 21502. Arts at Canal Place reserves the right to cancel a workshop due to insufficient enrollments, in which case tuition and fees will be returned in full. Call 301-777-8199 with questions or to check availability. Remember that class sizes are limited, so register today!