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• Pay online with a click on the "Register here" button
• Send a check to FVAC, 25 Arts Center Lane, Avon, CT 06001
• Phone registration 860-678-1867

Art lovers, explore your creative side in this contemporary beginner acrylic painting class. Learn a few easy painting techniques, composition and color and how to use them effectively. Very different from “Traditional painting” this class is very loose and geared to learn to create works that are not intended for accuracy but for an emotional punch. We will discuss artists like Richard Diebenkorn (see image), Frank Auerbach, Leon Gottlieb, and their works. Please be advised, this class might discuss paintings that contain imagery of the nude body. Download materials list here.
Instructor: Maurice Casas
Level: Beginners and Intermediates
Location: Classroom 3A
Tuition: $145 Non-Members / 130.50 Members

6 Mondays, January 20 - February 24, 2020, 7:00 – 9:00 PM

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A watercolor class for students who have completed the 6 week Watercolor Fundamentals session and wish to greater enhance their skills. Students will focus on working from a mix of intricate still lives and personal projects they wish to complete. Mo will guide each student on their individual watercolor journey and help them reach their artistic goals. Download materials list here.
Instructor: Mo Myra Giannola
Level: Advanced and students looking to enhance their skills
Location: Classroom 3A
Tuition: $145 Non-Members / 130.50 Members

6 Tuesdays, February 11 - March 17, 2020, 7-9 PM

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Learn the fundamentals of exploring and playing with watercolors. Students will watch informative demonstrations, learn how to set up a painting from start to finish, and work from still life. Mo will also walk students through drawing challenges and show you how to check for accuracy before turning your work into a watercolor. Download materials list here.
Instructor: Mo Myra Giannola
Level: Beginners and students looking to enhance their skills
Location: Classroom 3A
Tuition: $145 Non-Members / 130.50 Members

6 Thursdays, January 9 - February 20, 2020, 7-9 PM (no class 1/30/20)

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6 Thursdays, March 5 - April 9, 2020, 7-9 PM

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Learn how to dispel the myths and mysteries of pastel. This course will teach you how to design and plan your painting, visualizing shapes of light and shadow. Learn a variety of block-in techniques including watercolor, charcoal and the direct use of pastel. We will also learn how to vary strokes, render texture and reflections, and how to maintain freshness and vibrancy throughout the painting. Color and form interpretation from photographs will also be taught. The instructor’s demonstration and specific individual instruction will provide the student with the understanding to become a confident pastelist. Download materials list here.
Instructor: Karen Israel
Level: All levels welcome
Location: Classroom 3A
Tuition: $180 Non-Members / $162 Members

5 Fridays, January 3 - January 31, 2020, 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM

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Students wishing to work in Acrylic, Watercolor or Pastel are welcome. The basics of painting including: color mixing, paint application, drawing, and composition, will be addressed in this course. Subject matter will include landscape, still life, and portraiture. Students are encouraged to express creativity and personal vision. Min. 3 / Max. 9 students. Download material list here.
Instructor: Paul Iezzi
Level: All
Location: Classroom 3A
Tuition: $285 Non-Members / 256.50 Members

8 Saturdays, December 14 - February 8, 2020 2-5 PM (no class 12/28)

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8 Saturdays, February 22 - April 18, 2020, 2-5 PM (no class 4/11)

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This class will introduce students to some of the basics of creating handmade architectural drawings. Students will learn about the principles and elements of design, perspective, how to work with the tools and the importance of observation. Download materials list here.
Instructor: Maurice Casas
Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Location: Classroom 3A
Tuition: $145 Non-Members / 130.50 Members

6 Mondays, January 20 - February 24, 2020, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

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Learn to draw the human figure using a variety of media including charcoal, pastels, ink, and pencil. Hone or find your ability to "see" through an artist's eye working with a new live model each week. Personal growth and self-expression are developed through this beginner-friendly series of classes focused on lessons such as gesture, contour, and proportion. Please be advised: live nude art models are the focus of this drawing class. Download materials list here.
Instructor: Paul Iezzi
Level: All
Location: Classroom 3A
Tuition including $35 model fee: $180 Non-Members / 165.50 Members

4 Wednesdays, January 8 - January 29, 2020, 7-10 PM

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4 Wednesdays, February 12 - March 4, 2020, 7-10 PM

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Experience an awareness of the necessary components needed to draw a successful three-dimensional, representational drawing using graphite, pen and ink, charcoal and/or pastels. Generate confidence in your drawing by having exciting interactive creative exercises each week. Working from still life, exploring the landscape, the human figure and capturing intriguing composition. Empower your abilities to create by working alongside others encountering the same discoveries. Bring a sketchbook and draw with us! Min. 3 / Max. 10 students. Download materials list here.
Instructor: Carolann Dvorak-Brewer
Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Location: Classroom 3A
Tuition: $145 Non-Members / 130.50 Members

6 Thursdays, February 13 - March 19, 2020, 12:30PM - 2:30PM

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This class is about learning the importance of knowing and understanding the difference between looking and observing to create and draw with accuracy. Students will learn some techniques absolutely necessary to observe and draw with almost perfect accuracy. Students will learn about the importance of understanding their subject and how to perceive it; how to make the fundamental mental shift vital to unleashing their creative side; how to stay in creative mode, connected and fully engaged with their subject. Students will also learn about the importance of measuring and how to do it. Download materials list here.
Instructor: Maurice Casas
Level: Beginners to Intermediates and painters in need of sharpening their drawing skills and improve structure.
Location: Classroom 9A
Tuition: $145 Non-Members / 130.50 Members

6 Thursdays, February 13 - March 19, 2020, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

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This class is about learning the importance of knowing and understanding the difference between looking and observing to create and draw with great accuracy. Students will learn some techniques absolutely necessary to observe and draw with almost perfect accuracy. Students will learn about the importance of understanding their subject and how to perceive it; how to make the fundamental mental shift vital to unleashing their creative side; how to stay in creative mode, connected and fully engaged with their subject. Students will also learn about the importance of measuring and how to do it. Download materials list here.
Instructor: Maurice Casas
Level: Beginners to Intermediates and painters in need of sharpening their drawing skills and improve structure.
Location: Classroom 3A
Tuition: $145 Non-Members / 130.50 Members

6 Saturdays, January 25 - February 29, 2020, 10AM - 12PM

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Give the gift of "visual" knowledge for the holidays! You may know how to take good photos with your iPhone and/or iPad but now you can turn those photos into awe-inspiring photo paintings with photo apps! Your friends and family will say “How did you do that?”

Students are required to have an iPhone 6/6S or later &/or an iPad with the option to purchase photo apps for a few dollars (average $2-7) for your devices. Bring your iPhone and/or iPad (batteries charged and remember your Apple id/passwords for downloading apps).

Instructor: Andy Mars
Location: Studio 1B
Tuition: $145 Non-Members / $130.50 Members

6 Saturdays, January 25 - February 29, 2020, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

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Are you Digital Photography Challenged (DPC)? Take the test: Do you take cockeyed and boring photos? Are your photos off-center like some of your dearest friends? Are you clueless about how to edit a photo? Do you think shutter speed refers to how fast your window treatments close? If you have answered yes to any of these symptoms of DPC take this class! Is your camera (DSLR, Point & Shoot &/or Mirrorless) still in the box or you tried using it a few times and it ended up in the closet? Well, it’s time to blow off the dust! You will learn tips on photo composition and what the buttons do on your camera. You will get better quality images by learning about shutter speed, aperture, and ISO settings. Discover simple editing techniques for the best exposure and how to pick out the most successful photos in your collection.

Instructor: Andy Mars
Location: Studio 1B
Tuition: $145 Non-Members / $130.50 Members

6 Saturdays, January 25 - February 29, 2020, 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

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Explore and enjoy the contemporary world of collage and mixed media. In this creative and supportive class, we will explore a series of ways to combine collage and painting. We’ll use a wide range of materials, including photos, fabrics, old books, pieces of discarded artwork, text and so on. We will combine these with ink, acrylic markers, spray paint and traditional painting and drawing to create a series of art pieces. These works could turn out to be figurative, abstract or somewhere in-between. We will then take a quick look at how to develop these works into new pieces of art. This class is designed for all levels, from beginners to experienced painters who want to try a new approach to their work.
Åke will provide collage material but you are welcome to bring your own material such as discarded paintings, fabric, texts etc. Please bring the following materials: acrylic paint and a medium-sized brush and paper appropriate for acrylic paint.

Instructor: Åke Arnerdal
Location: Classroom 3A (Building 27)
Tuition: $125 Non-Members / $112.50 Members

Sunday, March 8, 2020, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

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Explore the fascinating technique of needle felting and create a realistic bunny figure. You will learn how to transform sheep wool with a special barbed needle into a firm (3-4") felted sculpture with detailed features. In addition, a wet felting technique will be applied to further enhance the shape and firmness of the figure. Glass eyes will be provided to complete the look.

Instructor: Elena Gibson
Location: Classroom 3A (Building 27)
Tuition: $45 Non-Members / $40.50 Members
Material Fee: $20 payable to the instructor

Sunday, March 22, 2020, 12-3 PM

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Got the end of winter blues? It’s time to have some creative fun! Andy Mars will demonstrate different artistic techniques that you can experiment with on your own photos. This Mixed Media Photography Workshop will offer endless possibilities of combining photographs with watercolor paint, pastel chalk and pencils, and other drawing materials such as ink and/or markers. Learn how to create unique hand-colored and surprising mixed-media artworks that can be as realistic or exaggerated as you like. The materials students will use in hand-coloring an image depends on the subject matter. For example, shooting flowers using a slow shutter speed or shallow depth of field to create blurred soft images can become a one-of-a-kind piece of artwork using pastel chalk and watercolor. Outlining a sharp image with a marker will define the image and add contrast, thus creating an interesting effect in the outcome.

Requirement: Please bring to the workshop a few of your own photos (b&w and/or color) preferably printed on any type of matte or textured photo paper. The maximum print size is 11x14”.

Instructor: Andy Mars
Location: Studio 1B
Tuition: $45 Non-Members / $40.50 Members
Material Fee: $5 payable to the instructor
Optional: Contact Andy if you would like her to make your prints a few days before the workshop starts. Price List for each textured matte archival print:
5x7" $10
8x10” $15
11x14” $25

Saturday, March 14, 2020, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

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Have you wondered how a realistic watercolor artist creates atmospheric perspective? In addition, do you desire to learn how to layer washes to create more realistic and intense colors and values? J. M. Littleton will reveal her process of how she begins with a preliminary drawing and light washes to develop them into realistic images. Students will enjoy learning these concepts through discussion and demonstration and they will practice executing flat and graduated washes. In addition, students will learn the meaning and use of color theory to enhance the depth of field in their paintings. Further, participants will bring in images (with a strong light source) of subject matter that interests them, to develop a painting. Though Ms. Littleton focuses on wildlife painting in her own work, the realistic techniques she teaches are applicable for all subject matter including still life, landscape, figure, portrait, and marine painting.

Ms. Littleton attracts amateurs and professions alike as she guides numerous pupils on how to build a portfolio for art colleges as well as Signatures Memberships in Watercolor Associations. Other professionals have utilized her demos for teaching as well as looked for critiques to further their work for galleries or acceptance into juried exhibitions. She completed the MAT program at MICA as well as has taught at the college level for 25 years, Juried National Exhibitions & Won Awards at International Shows and Exhibited with the American Watercolor Society & the National Watercolor Society.

Download Materials List
Instructor: Jennifer Littleton
Level: Beginning-Advanced watercolor students/professionals
Location: Classroom 9A (Building 27)
Tuition: $250 Non-Members / $225 Members
Cancellation Policy: No refunds can be issued after March 7, 2020

Saturday, March 14, and Sunday, March 15, 2020, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

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This workshop is for students who want to loosen up and work with less restraint. Using personal photographs, as reference students will work on several fast paintings. Guided towards discovering and trusting their mark/painting statement and developing a critical eye. This is not a “how-to” class. You will be encouraged to experiment and embrace spontaneity. By combining fast, bold, loose strokes, students will engage in the “process” of the painting in the “present” rather than concentrating on the result. Fast paintings will be analyzed for their unique painterly style to transfer the best qualities to larger canvases (36x36 or larger).
In the words of the artist, KiKi Smith, “Making art is a lot about seeing what happens.”
Bring several canvases and reference photos. Also, bring your lunch.

Download suggested materials list here.

Instructor: Souby Boski
Location: Classroom 9A (Building 27)
Tuition: $125 Non-Members / $112.50 Members

Saturday, March 28, 2020, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

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FVAC studio artist Sandi Johnston of Art Glass Alchemy is teaching the art of stained glass. You will learn the basics of stained glass cutting, foiling, techniques of pattern design, the importance of glass selection, and soldering. This is a perfect class for students with no experience as well as intermediate students with some experience who may want a refresher course. Create one or two beautiful glass projects to decorate your home or give as a gift!

Instructor: Sandi Johnston of Glass Alchemy and FVAC studio artist
Location: Classroom 9A (Building 27)
Tuition: $125 tuition includes the following materials: 1x 6x12 sheet of clear glass, 3x 12x12 sheets of glass, material bucket, 2 brushes, use of flux, patina, and cutting oil, breaking/grozer pliers, bandaids, copper wire, glass patterns

Student material list to bring to first class. All materials available at Hobby Lobby in Bristol:
• Safety Glasses ($4.47)
• Glass Cutter ($4.99-$19.99)
• 1/4” Copper Foil Tape ($6.99)
• 60/40 Solder ($14.99)
• 100-Watt Soldering Iron ($14.99)
• Your Signed Forms (Photo, Safety Guidelines, Release Form)

Tuesdays, March 10, 17, 24, 2020, 6:30-8:30 PM