This is a beginners course in painting, using acrylics. Students will learn what goes into setting up a quality composition, prepping the canvas, and planning their paintings—and other techniques that can be used across various paint mediums. It’s a great way to kick off the Artist’s Weekend and get a jump start on planning your painting, or learn some basics if you’ve ever been intimidated by acrylic paints.

Workshop Summary; Participants will learn how to design and execute a 2x2’ barn quilt under the leadership of artist Margie Boesch. On Thursday morning, technique and design will be discussed and participants will then be given Friday to finalize patterns and colors on their own. Saturday morning will include transferring patterns to boards and painting experience so barn quilts can be finished by students at home.

This is a perfect opportunity to discover your skill and interest in pottery. The workshop provides experience throwing on a wheel as well as hand built pottery, information about clay characteristics, and glazing options. Participants will produce completed works in both techniques. The materials cost includes up to 10 lb. of clay, use of molds, wheels, tools, and a variety of glazing colors. Workshop will begin with demonstration and instruction on wheel thrown and hand built pottery.

Whether a beginner or experienced basket weaver, you will learn techniques from this experienced basket artist and create at least one basket of your own design.

Students will learn the history of broomcorn and broommaking.  Tools and materials will be discussed, as well as the unique quality of broomcorn as a broommaking material. Each student will have an opportunity to make at least one cobweb broom, one round Shaker broom, one round hand broom, and one turkey wing style broom.

Learn how to ecoprint (also known as botanical printing) on assorted papers using the tannins from the leaves to imprint beautiful designs onto the natural fibers. Ecoprinting involves collecting leaves, plants and flowers to imprint their images directly upon fabrics and papers using a water bath process.  Students will learn techniques to create beautiful, natural designs with colors drawn directly from nature on paper.

In this class, make your own exposed stitch journal using a traditional Coptic stitch (thought to have been developed in 2nd Century AD by Egyptian “Copts”). You will learn how to prepare unique cover designs (If you take the Ecoprinting on Paper workshop on September 16th – bring your finished papers; they make GREAT journal covers!), prepare folded paper signatures suitable for binding, and use the basic Coptic stitch method of binding to create your own one-of-a-kind journal.

Learn how to ecoprint on silk naturally! Ecoprinting (also known as botanical printing) involves collecting leaves, plants and flowers to imprint their images directly upon protein fibers using a water bath process. Students will learn techniques to create beautiful, natural designs with colors drawn directly from Nature on silk.

A review of camera and composition basics, field work in the beautiful fall foliage of Highland County, with a show and critique of photographs taken in the field as a culminating activity. Time and weather permitting, we can experiment with the advanced techniques of HDR, panoramics, slow shutter, and perhaps even some astrophotography.