Sketching with Watercolors
Join illustrator Lena Shiffman for a fun and relaxing watercolor workshop. Learn how to sketch with your watercolors, forgetting about pencil lines and instead becoming loose and free with your paint. Students will be painting different objects from life, creating work that appears fresh and effortless. Some knowledge about watercolor will be helpful, but not necessary. All levels welcome.
All Levels Drawing & Painting
This is a fun and relaxed class designed for students of all levels. There’s no need to be afraid if you are a beginner. All students can work at their own pace and will receive individual instruction. This course will introduce and build upon fundamental drawing concepts that translate across mediums, as well as basic through advanced techniques to take your talents to a whole new level. We will be working from a still-life or photos and if weather permits, we will go outside and paint on the beautiful museum patio overlooking the river.
Please note: This hybrid class provides students the freedom to attend their session either in-person or via Zoom. Lena Shiffman will be in-person interacting with students in-person and virtual alike.
Paint the Modern Landscape
We will be working on learning how to see differently, understand what's important (this may surprise you), simplify what's there, and understand color and how it creates depth and drama. This workshop will take place outdoors, rain or shine, under a covered tent on the Museum's terrace.
Please bring a minimum of 1-2 canvases, small to medium 8 x 10, 10 x 10, 11 x 14, 16 x 20, 12 x 20, or whatever what you feel comfortable with.
If you would like to paint large, please email 4 jps of your work to [email protected] and include your phone number. And PLEASE PLEASE bring images that you want to paint or that inspire you.
Fundamentals of Painting Session A
Spring 2024
Fundamentals of Painting Session B
Spring 2024
Artistic Expressions Session A
Spring 2024
Artistic Expressions Session B
Spring 2024
Drawing 101 Workshop
with Lena Shiffman
The Fun of Art: Beginner Painting
Winter 25
Oil Painting Skills
Winter 25
Drawing Fundamentals
Drawing is the essential foundation for painting and other art forms. In this class, you’ll learn fundamental techniques that will give you the tools to confidently draw or paint any subject matter. Whether you’re a complete beginner or an experienced artist looking to refine your skills, this course offers valuable instruction to help you grow.
Working primarily with graphite pencil or charcoal (students can choose), students will:
- Learn how light and shadow define form
- Become comfortable using essential drawing materials
- Understand and apply values in your work
- Develop greater accuracy in your drawing
This course focuses on observation, technique, and developing your artistic eye. Students of all ages and skill levels are welcome.
Open Studio for Adults
Open studio classes provide a space for artists of all skill levels to create work independently. It's an opportunity for adult artists to continue their art practice in communty with others. There will not be an instructor, rather artists will work on their self-guided projects at their own pace. Please bring your own materials and supplies. To participate, register for each day you plan to attend. And please leave the studio as you found it.
Beyond Art: Mark-making, Emotion, and Meaning
Creative Alchemy is a unique art class for adults that blends expressive art-making with emotional insight and soulful reflection. Each session introduces a new artistic technique-such as linocut, ink & bleach painting, crochet, mono prints and oil sticks-and pairs it with inspirational readings, poetry, and prompts that delve into the deeper symbolism and emotional resonance of each method. Participants will explore how different materials and approaches can mirror personal journeys, unlock inner stories, and offer new ways of seeing themselves and the world around them.
This is not just a class about how to make art-it's a space to connect with your own creative voice, process feelings through visual expression, and find inspiration in both ancient wisdom and modern insight. All levels are welcome, and no previous art experience is necessary-just a willingness to explore, reflect, and play.
Silkscreen Monotypes
In this hands-on workshop, participants will draw and paint directly onto the screen using water-soluble materials—crayons, watercolors, and markers—to create vibrant, expressive imagery. Once complete, the image is transferred onto paper with a transparent base and a squeegee, revealing its first, singular impression.
Each print leaves behind a delicate afterimage—an echo, a ghost—that invites further transformation. Layer by layer, artists will explore gesture, transparency, and the beauty of impermanence through monotype screenprinting, experimenting with stencils, frottage, and stamps to create luminous, one-of-a-kind prints.