Weekend Workshop – Santa Cruz Art League

(LIVE ONLINE) Draw Anything 5 Ways: Ink Illustrations!

The better you can draw and render with a pencil, the better you can with your paint. So, enhance your drawing skills 5 different ways and with 5 different ink illustrations via freehand, grids, proportional division, guided draw, and stacked sketching. Plus, learn about master illustrators J. Tenniel, R. Bull, & C. D. Gibson while drawing a Gibson Girl, Bull Castle, & Tenniel characters in this fun, info-dense class! So park your brushes here and let the epic drawing adventures begin! Suitable for beginning to advanced artists. Students download the syllabus pdf for sketch refs and class supplies (& prep a grid in advance).

How do LIVE ONLINE classes work?

Taught through YouTube Livestream–students just need a phone, tablet, or computer with an internet connection to watch live.
The morning of the class, Hajra will email a private YouTube livestream link to all students enrolled (who will have their supplies and refs prepped at home in advance).
Students click the livestream link to access live class and wait till 12 NOON PST for the class to go live online.
Students will follow along with Hajra and have live Q&A via Youtube chat box–you do need a Youtube/Google/gmail account to type live, real-time questions/comments during the livestream.
Enjoy and learn!
After class, students are also welcome to email Hajra questions or images of their work for feedback.
A private video of the class will be available shortly after the livestream to rewatch for students who signed up with free gmail/google/YouTube email accounts.

(LIVE ONLINE) Hajra Meeks FOUR CLASSES

4/25/2020 – Emotive Color Schemes: Lighthouses & Seascapes

Color Theory can be intimidating and tedious, but not anymore! Learn more about various emotive color schemes (complementary, analogous, triads, old masters, Zorn) and apply them to various fun study scapes to compare similar subjects with different color moods in this info-dense class. So park your brushes here and let the epic color adventures begin! Suitable for beginning to advanced artists. Students can download the materials list and image refs to prep sketches in advance.

5/2/2020 – Draw Anything 5 Ways III: Fish

Drafting skills are essential to traditional art—the better you can draw and render with a pencil, the better you can do so with your paint. So, enhance your drawing skills 5 different ways and with 5 different studies (a fish, seahorse, jellyfish, seashell, and starfish) in this latest live online drawing class—via freehand, grids, proportional division, guided draw, and stacked sketching. So park your brushes here and let the epic drawing adventures begin! Suitable for beginning to advanced artists. Students can download the materials list and image refs, but need only prep one 8″ x 10″ grid in advance.

5/9/2020 – Opaque Tiling Method: Leyendecker Medieval Lady

Learn the historical Tiling technique, while also developing wet-on-dry, dry brush, and gradient painting techniques in this info-dense class that doubles as a Leyendecker Masters Study! While Grisaille was the Old Masters glazing method, Tiling was their method of creating opaque work. From Impressionist masterpieces to romantic realism, tiling is your golden ticket to rendering opaquely in any medium. So park your brushes here and discover Tiling, an amazing Old Master’s technique that will enhance your rendering in any medium! Suitable for beginning to advanced artists. Students can download the materials list and image refs to prep sketch in advance.

5/16/2020 – Brunaille Value Underpainting: Mucha Regency Lady

Class Description:

Learn the historical grisaille value underpainting method, while also developing wet-in-wet, wet-on-dry, and glazing painting techniques in this info-dense class. Continue to a more advanced project with an Alphonse Mucha Regency lady study in a complementary color scheme over a Brunaille underpainting. So park your brushes here and discover the Value of Grisaille, an amazing Old Master’s technique that will enhance your rendering in any glazing medium! Suitable for beginning to advanced artists. Students can download the materials list and image refs to prep sketch in advance.

(LIVE ONLINE) Brunaille Value Underpainting: Mucha Regency Lady

How does it work?

This Class is taught through YouTube Livestream–you do not need a Youtube/Google/gmail account to watch it live (just a phone, tablet, or computer with an internet connection).
Before class starts, students will set up their work areas comfortably at home in front of their device.
At 11:30 am, Hajra will email a private YouTube livestream link to all students enrolled.
Students click the provided link to be connected to the live workshop and wait till 12 NOON PST for the class to go live online.
Students will follow along with Hajra and have live Q&A via Youtube chat box–you do need a Youtube/Google/gmail account to type live, real-time questions and/or comments during the livestream.
Enjoy and learn!
After class, students are welcome to email Hajra images of their work and/or ask questions to receive feedback via email!

Hajra Meeks is an Author-Illustrator, fine artist, and Lecturer from the Bay Area. She has a BSc in Physics from the Univ. of San Francisco, an MSc in International History from the London School of Economics & Political Science, and a Picture Book Certificate from the MA program at the Vermont College of Fine Arts. She was a Lecturer in Art History, International History, and Calculus at UC Merced for 4 years, and has taught watercolor, gouache, and ink in-person and online for a decade. Her Youtube channel currently has 1.5 million views, her art has been in exhibitions in Union City, Mariposa, Vermont, Santa Clara, Berkeley, Santa Cruz, and Merced (where it was viewed by First Lady Michelle Obama), and she had a successfully funded online Kickstarter campaign for an environmentalist picture book about the real wolf OR-7. She also collaborates on digital, interactive Data Visualization projects that combine art and information. Currently, she’s teaching at SCAL, SCMNH, and via Patreon. You can learn more about her artwork and instruction at http://hajrameeks.com

(LIVE ONLINE) Emotive Color Schemes: Lighthouses & Seascapes

How does it work?

This Class is taught through YouTube Livestream–you do not need a Youtube/Google/gmail account to watch it live (just a phone, tablet, or computer with an internet connection).
Before class starts, students will set up their work areas comfortably at home in front of their device.
At 11:30 am, Hajra will email a private YouTube livestream link to all students enrolled.
Students click the provided link to be connected to the live workshop and wait till 12 NOON PST for the class to go live online.
Students will follow along with Hajra and have live Q&A via Youtube chat box–you do need a Youtube/Google/gmail account to type live, real-time questions and/or comments during the livestream.
Enjoy and learn!
After class, students are welcome to email Hajra images of their work and/or ask questions to receive feedback via email!

POSTPONED Building Blocks of Scratch Board

In this two day workshop, students will be introduced to the fundamentals of scratchboard such as, what it is, how to make marks on the scratchboard, and how to develop a vocabulary of patterns and mark-making. We will explore how to create gray values, contrasts, and atmospheric perspective. Students of all levels are encouraged to attend as this will be a chance to focus on honing your skills as well as working towards a finished piece of scratchboard art. At the end of the workshop, students will leave with the confidence and “tool box” of skills to continue exploring scratchboard on their own.

All materials will be provided to students for a materials fee of $15.00 due at the beginning of class

Logan Parsons is a freelance artist and illustrator living in Santa Cruz. She graduated from the Science Illustration program at UCSC in 2007, and since then has been creating illustrations focused on science and nature while also working as a seasonal park ranger, environmental educator, and high school art teacher. She loves teaching all ages, and is excited to share her knowledge and experience with

Beginning Floral Oil Painting

Working with the accomplished artist Thalia Stratton, students will be learning valuable fundamentals in the beautiful art of floral oil painting. She will cover important processes and techniques to help students in their understanding of crucial subjects such as, canvas preparation and composition of floral design and back ground. Thalia will also focus on educating students in the portrayal of light sources, defining values, color mixing, use of materials, and framing of their artwork. No drawing experience is required for this workshop.

Thalia will be providing all materials needed to students for a $35 materials fee, you are free to just come to class! Detailed list available by clicking blue“Materials List” link below.

If you do not need to purchase a kit, please notify the SCAL Education Coordinator, BEFORE 4/20/20

Thalia Stratton graduated with Honors & Distinction from the University of San Francisco/Academy of Art University 1989 with a Bachelor’s of Fine Art Degree in Fashion Illustration. She received a Master’s of Fine Arts in Painting from the Academy of Art University in 2010. She has taught at the college level since her graduation . Professional projects include illustrating for Givenchy-Paris, Neiman Marcus, Playboy Enterprises, the San Francisco Ballet and I. Magnin and Co. She has also developed product lines for the Wine Industry of Sonoma and Napa Valley.

Thalia works have been sold throughout the U.S and have been published in Gentry Magazine, the San Francisco Chronicle, the San Jose Mercury News, American Art Collector, Southwest Art and Fine Art Connoisseur. She has won numerous awards and published two books, The Art of Dining and The Art of Dining :Epicurean Delights. She is a current member of the California Art Club in Pasadena, California and the Salmagundi Club in New York City, where she has also exhibited, and is a member of Oil Painters of America, where she has exhibited in both the National and Western Regional Juried exhibitions.

Assembly Required: Assemblage/Mixed Media Workshop

Learn to create unusual art pieces using recycled, found and reuse materials.

Day 1 (4/5/20, 10:00am-2:00pm): In-class discussion of process, design and construction. This class will also include a guided visit to a thrift store and hardware store in Capitola to search for materials, suitable for creating student’s assemblage pieces.

Day 2 (4/11/20, 10:00am-3:00pm): Students will focus on creating their piece in the classroom.

I encourage you to bring your own materials. I will bring added materials for you to use for a material fee of $10. We will use electric drills, small saws, screws, wire and glue to construct.

Janet Silverglate has been an Assemblage/Mixed Media artist for the past seven years. She holds a BA in Art History/Dance and an MFA in Dance. She has participated in Open Studios for the past five years and has exhibited her artwork throughout Santa Cruz County. Janet has been curating art exhibitions for over 11 years and is an avid supporter of the arts in our community.

“I love the hunt for interesting material, the fun of design and the challenge of construction.”-Janet Silverglate

Get the Feel of it!: Creating a Highly Textured Canvas

“Student will learn how to get that highly textured canvas surface using common and uncommon materials! A highly textured surface evokes the elements of earth and appeals to our sense of touch. Let’s explore new ways to create textured surfaces and interact with them with sepia washes, scumbling, sanding and more! This workshop is limited to 12 students. The focus of this workshop is learning to build a textured surface on canvas that students can take home to paint at their leisure, once dried.

NOTE TO PREVIOUS STUDENTS! Students who already have textured canvases from previous workshops are encouraged to bring them to class if they would like assistance in painting them. This class welcomes all levels of experience and is a dynamic setting that allows artists at different stages of creation of their textured canvases to congregate and work.”

Janet Trenchard has retired from teaching art in the public schools and now is a fulltime professional artist. She has been in juried exhibitions around the Bay Area and Carmel, and is a Santa Cruz Open Studios artist.

“I work in an abstract contemporary style and often work in large format for the physicality of it, and the sense of expansion. I enjoy the texture for the sense of touch, implied or real. My work is inspired by exploration and the interaction with materials. What’s coming through in my current work expresses the earth, geology, geography, and water.” -Janet Trenchard

Seascape Painting in Acrylic or Oil

In this Seascape painting class, Maggie will help each individual student elevate their own understanding of color and it’s dominate and supportive usage in creating an exciting composition.

• Learn how to understand water and waves in form, color temperature and value.

• Learn how to keep colors clean and fresh.

• Learn about focal points, composition, value, perspective, shapes and volumes, color, and edges.

• Learn how to use various color contrasts to push and pull compositional elements within a painting.

We will paint using personal or teacher supplied photos as reference. Maggie will guide you through the painting process step by step with demos and assist you in creating one painting during the class.

Acrylic or Oil (No Solvents or toxic mediums in class.) All levels Welcome.

Maggie is a professional painter specializing in Seascapes in Oil and Acrylics. Her work appeared in international publications ‘The Artist’s Magazine’ and has numerous Best of Show and International Awards. With over 40 years of experience working in Acrylic and Oil, Maggie has enjoyed teaching it for almost two decades. She teaches all skill levels from the inexperienced beginner to the professional wanting more in their work, or to try a new medium.

Students: “After working with Maggie, my work has taken a huge leap forward” “delightful teaching, clear and patient.”

Maggie received her Bachelor’s Degree with Honors in Art: Illustration, Painting & Design at SJSU, Advanced Painting studies at ‘Lorenzo de Medici’ Art Institute in Florence, Italy and studies with various contemporary Master Painters.

Maggie is a well known painting teacher who teaches locally and in Tuscany, Italy regularly. A long time Open Studios Artist and Gallery Represented Painter, Maggie’s work is exhibited and collected internationally.

POSTPONED Flower Power (Studio 119 @ Tannery Arts Center)

Welcome blooming artists to this floral themed painting workshop taught by Carrie Clayden. Carrie is excited to be teaching her favorite theme: Flowers!

I encourage you to bring 3-5 canvases (minimum) and expect to leave with many finished paintings! I will demo how to build layers, use our hands for flowers and stabilo pencils for stems. We will dance and play listening to Carrie’s awesome playlist, and break for a delicious lunch. I thought it would be fun to have a potluck, everyone sharing their favorite dish. This experience is always a gift to yourself and your art. Everyone leaves happy and with paintings they can hang in their home. You receive valuable techniques you can implement into your art process while having FUN making art. What could be better?

Instructor: Carrie Clayden is a professional artist and teacher. Carrie graduated from UCSC in 1995 with a Bachelor of Arts in Women’s Studies and Fine Art in 1995. Her studio is in downtown Santa Cruz and her work can be found on her website www.carrieclayden.com

*This class is being held at the Tannery Arts Center in Studio 119, NOT at the Art League*

Tannery Arts Center: 1010 River Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95060