Spring 2012 Art Classes!

Beginning Metalsmithing & Jewelry
Instructor: Lori Martin-Price
Explore the basic techniques for fabricating jewelry and decorative pieces through demonstrations and hands-on projects. You will learn about soldering, texturizing and other metal techniques while creating your own jewelry and wearable art. Learn basic ring fabrication, bracelet and necklace linkage, texturized pendants or rings, bezel stone set.
Thursdays, March 1–April 5; 5:30–7:30 pm
$55 Registration Fee
Plus materials purchased from the instructor


Ceramics I & Wheel-Throwing

Instructor: Leanne Kilmer
Wheel-thrown forms, from conceptualization to the fired finished product, will be explored. Students will develop possibilities for an individualized style. Learn both basic hand-building and wheel throwing skills and make a variety of pottery shapes such as open, enclosed, organic, and sculptural forms. Learn various methods of making and attaching handles to pottery. Join separate wheel thrown and hand built forms into composite pots with pleasing proportions. Learn methods of glazing and or decorating pottery. Learn about the care of a studio how to avoid health concerns and the importance of keeping the facility as clean as possible.
Mondays, March 5–April 2; 5:30–8:30 pm

$55 Registration Fee
Plus materials purchased from the instructor

Spirit Assemblages
Instructor: Nancy Masterson

You will learn the diversity of assemblage art past and present; discover your creative spirit through group and personal experiences; explore the potential of music and the written word; express the above in your personal “spirit assemblages” and create a journal of inspirations. The class is designed for individual development in exploring relationships between found objects and their arrangement or assemblage. Learn about assemblage history, materials, contemporaries, the instructor’s work and influences. Discover their creative spirit through body tracing collage” and cigar box self-portraits and group and individual creative activities. Share “self-portraits.” Begin assemblage process with collected boxes and objects. Share insights and discoveries. Continue the explorations. Share the process and emerging possibilities. Some assemblages are never finished with a life of their own. Possible exhibit.
Thursdays, April 5, 12, 19, 26, and May 3, 6–9 pm
$55 Registration Fee
A supply list will be sent to each participant

Add Pizazz to Your Photos

Instructor: Dale Cole, Salina
Discover the photographer you are while you explore art made with a camera. Spend an evening with Photographer Dale K. Cole as you explore skills that will add pizzazz to your photographs. Learn how to compose your photograph, how to use lighting and filters for better pictures, and how photograph difficult images such as moving objects, vertical images, waterfalls and reflections and much, much more.
Tuesday, April 17; 7:00–8:30 pm
$15 Registration Fee

Intro to Block Printing

Instructor: David Brock

Block printing is the process of using an object to make an inked impression upon a plain surface. It is one of the oldest and most enjoyable of all the crafts and has given color and pattern to paper, cloth, and other surfaces for nearly 4,000 years. The process is simple and inexpensive, making it an ideal hobby or art form for the beginner. Yet its possibilities can be numerous and complex enough to challenge the most experienced. Learn to design, produce and print images using several block techniques. Have fun as you create unique greeting cards and other projects.
Saturdays, April 14 & 21; 1:00–4:00 pm
$55 Registration Fee (includes all materials)
$45 for adults - $35 for youths (ages 12–17)

All classes are held in the Mary Anderson Art Center

of the McPherson Opera House

Sign up today!

Just stop in the VAAM gallery, 223 S. Main, McPherson

Can't stop in? Just call 620-241-6131