Classes

Cottonwood Classes

Cottonwood Artists' School Registration Policy

Chris Alvarez
Expressive Figure Drawing
Tuesdays, 9:00 -12:00 pm
January 17 - February 21
$195 ($170 Members)

The human figure, the most complex and beautiful entity we know, contains all the aspects that we, as artists, struggle to learn. We will explore the body from line, form, values, and planes, to gesture and anatomy. We will learn to focus on drawing from visual experience rather than from mental images. Students will discover how to work from simple to complex through the use of quick gestures and longer, sustained, studies. Interested students should have experience working with the figure or have taken a beginning drawing course.
Register Now: Tuition & Fees ($195)
Register Now: Members Tuition & Fees ($170)

Kay Beaubien: Monotype
Tuesdays, 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
February 14 - March 6
April 3 - April 24
May 1 - May 22
$155 ($135 Members)

Sign up for one session, consecutive sessions or whichever one(s) fit your schedule. In these sessions we will cover the basics of monoprinting using a variety of materials and methods. These sessions are for beginners or continuing printers. Materials fee included (except paper - you can bring your own or buy from the studio).
Register Now: Tuition & Fees ($155)
Register Now: Members Tuition & Fees ($135)

Tim Diebler
Seeing and Using Values
Thursdays, 11:30 - 2:30
February 16 - March 8
$200 ($175 members)

Through the use of projected images and only black and white paint, you will explore and learn to use values to strengthen your paintings. This course will cover a broad range of subjects including old master paintings, portraits, wildlife, still life and landscapes.
Register Now: Tuition & Fees ($200)
Register Now: Members Tuition & Fees ($175)

Tracy Miller
"Demystifying Mediums"
Basic Acrylic Painting Techniques
Saturday, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
February 18
$125 ($100 Members)

Explore the sometimes mysterious, sometimes frustrating medium known as Acrylic with local artist Tracy Miller. The quick drying properties of acrylic lend itself to amazing glazing and layering techniques to enhance your work. In this workshop we will experiment with basic a la prima, sgraffito, blending, staining and many more.
Register Now: Tuition & Fees ($125)
Register Now: Members Tuition & Fees ($100)

Gail Nelson
Art Journals from Altered Books
Saturday, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
February 25
$75 ($50 members)

Art Journaling is a way for creative explorer to catch thoughts, save dreams and let ideas blossom. Bring an old book to class to transform with acrylic paint, stamps and markers into an artistic journal. Materials included in class fee.
Register Now: Tuition & Fees ($75)
Register Now: Members Tuition & Fees ($50)

Gail Nelson
Illustrating Children's Books
Saturday, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
March 10
$75 ($50 Members)

Have fun rediscovering well-loved children's books and explore what makes each uniquely special. The workshop includes developing a storyboard from a manuscript and how to draw sketches to scale in preparation for the final illustrations. Begin a storyboard layout in class from your own manuscript or select a children's book from the public domain to illustrate.
Register Now: Tuition & Fees ($75)
Register Now: Members Tuition & Fees ($50)

Roger Carlson
Painting Water
Saturday & Sunday
March 17 & 18
9:00 am - 3:00 pm
$175 ($150 Members)

Explore landscape painting with one of Colorado Springs' premier contemporary impressionists. Learn the secrets of painting water features, streams, rivers, still life water reflections and swiftly moving water through rapids and over rocks. You will complete at least one 16 x 20 art piece, have short discussions of student problem areas and have a demo by the instructor. This class is open to all media.
Register Now: Tuition & Fees ($175)
Register Now: Members Tuition & Fees ($150)

Susan Hinton
Light and Shadows in Watercolor
Tuesdays, April 3 - April 24
10:00 am - 1:00 pm
$200 ($175 Members)

Discover the beauty of light and shadow. Asses value ranges, reflected ight and learn means of forming volume, depth and luminosity in yuor art. Susan, an NWS signature member whose artwork was featured in the 2011 Summer issue of Watercolor, will show you how to breathe life into your work on paper or canvas. This is a class designed to help you create depth in your painting through color, value and composition regardless of subject. All levels are welcome but it would be advantageous to have some watercolor experience.
Register Now: Tuition & Fees ($200)
Register Now: Members Tuition & Fees ($175)

Lisa Hewett
Revolutionize Your Pencil Drawings
Saturday & Sunday
March 24 & 25
9:30 am - 3:30 pm
$150(Members $125)

Bring your pencil drawings skills to a whole new level with step guaranteed to take your work from ordinary pencil drawings to extraordinary photo-realistic pencil drawings.
Register Now: Tuition & Fees ($150)
Register Now: Members Tuition & Fees ($125)

Chris Alvarez
Plein Air Painting Quick Sketch
Thursdays, April 5 - April 26
9:00 am - 12:00 pm
$195 ( $170 Members)

Working plein air is the best way to capture the character of place on canvas. In this workshop you will focus on eliminating the unnecessary and focusing on the interesting aspects of a particular scene. In addition, you'll find out how to take that information and simplify it so as to interpret it quickly and accurately. This class will cover draftsmanship, composition, values, temperature and more. Although not required, drawing and painting experience would be helpful.
Register Now: Tuition & Fees ($195)
Register Now: Members Tuition & Fees ($170)

Michael Pach
Photoshop/Photoshop Elements
Thursdays, April 5 - May 3
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
$175 ($150 Members)

This 5 week course begins with learning the basics of these programs from opening, saving and organizing files to utilizing the menus and customizing the workplace. Students will learn how to use a wide variety of editing tools, correct exposures, create black-and-white and colorized photos, remove unwanted objects, work with layers, perform actions, merge photos into panoramas and prepare files for print. Students will need a laptop with Photoshop CS3 or Photoshop Elements 8 or higher. Use of a mouse is recommended.
Register Now: Tuition & Fees ($175)
Register Now: Members Tuition & Fees ($150)

Karen Standridge
From Mess to Magic: Improving Your Watercolors
Saturday, April 21
10 am to 5pm
$150($125 members)

$10 materials fee(paid to instructor)

Learn to add the WOW factor to your watercolors. Practice several methods to improve those "ho-hum" paintings that you have stashed away. You'll go home with some paintings that at least won't be boring! All skill levels welcome. You bring your sad paintings and your watercolor paints along with whatever other paints or inks you normally use.
Register Now: Tuition & Fees ($150)
Register Now: Members Tuition & Fees ($125)

Jennifer Hanson
Music Rattles
Saturday & Sunday
April 14 & 15
9:30 am - 3:30 pm
$150 ($135 Members)

This weekend workshop will teach you how to make pinch pots to create rattles. The fun filled class will take you from mud to music in a few simple steps. On day one you will make the rattles. The second day will be spent learning to use underglazes and carving to decorate them. All levels are welcome. No clay experience is needed and all materials are included.
Register Now: Tuition & Fees ($150)
Register Now: Members Tuition & Fees ($135)

Jude Silva
The Wonders of Solar Etching
Saturday and Sunday
April 28 & 29
10am to 4pm
($150) ($125 Members)

Class is appropriate for novice or experienced printmakers. Producing a solar etching plate is a safe, non-toxic process that can be used for producing relif and intaglio printing plates. Workshop participants will explore both ways of producing each type of plate and the wide variety of ways to prepare images for a solar plate.
Register Now: Tuition & Fees ($150)
Register Now: Members Tuition & Fees ($125)

Randy Pijoan
From Line to Aquatint
May 18 - May 20
9:30 am - 4:30 pm
$235 ($210 Members)

Reexamine your work through the methods, materials and professional benefits of the ever advancing world of Etching. Students and professionals of printmaking will be able to push their ideas and understanding of the Etching process through knowing when to combine the method of Intaglio, to better poetically place the right method with the right image idea. This 3-day workshop will help you "brush up" on the basics with new materials and techniques as well as other print shop standards.
Register Now: Tuition & Fees ($235)
Register Now: Members Tuition & Fees ($210)

Jennifer Hanson
Pebble Pots
Saturday & Sunday
May 12 & 13
9:30 am to 3:30 pm
$150 ($125 Members)

Learn an innovative hand-building technique to create bases, garden art and other decorative forms. With just a couple of smooth rocks and some clay, you will be able to express your creativity in a unique way. All materials provide and all levels are welcome. No previous clay experience is needed.
Register Now: Tuition & Fees ($150)
Register Now: Members Tuition & Fees ($125)

Open Studios

Life Drawing: $10.00 ($5.00 Members)
Friday 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Saturday 10:00 am - 1:00 pm

Facilitated by Chris Alvarez and Trevor Thomas. Join us weekly for life drawing with a live model. Short, long and portrait poses.
No reservations needed.

Open Metalsmithing Studio: $35.00
Saturdays 10:00 am - 1:00 pm

Sandy Murphy will be hosting a facilitated open metalsmithing studio for Cottonwood students and members. Bring your metals and stones to this fully equipped open studio.

Email Darlene@cottonwoodcenterforthearts.com for reservations.

Open Printmaking Studio
Wednesdays 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
$15.00 for the 1st hour,
($5.00 each additional hour)
($10.00 materials fee if using Cottonwood's inks)

The printmaking studio will be open for printmakers to come in and use the facilities. There will be no instruction but Kay Beaubien will be working and available to get you set up and help with the press or technical questions. Open to printmaking students, former students and those that can provide a portfolio demonstrating experience in a printmaking environment. You supply your own paper and cleanup materials.

Email Darlene@cottonwoodcenterforthearts.com for reservations.