Arts & Theater

There’s nothing like working on classic still-life set ups to sharpen your drawing skills.  Drawing is necessary to pursue other mediums such as painting which begins with a drawing. In this class demos will be given to help you learn to keep your early pencil marks soft and faint and break items down into simple 2D shapes like circles, squares and triangles. You will learn to use different line weights such as thick and thin, dark and light to show what is close and what is far. To show volume and value you’ll observe where the light hits your subject and where the shadows fall. Demos will show how to add depth and volume to your drawing using hatching, cross-hatching, stippling and blending to achieve smooth transitions from dark to light. Finally adding details such as patterns, textures and accents to your piece. All of these skills will help you draw what you see not what you think you see.  Short material list available upon registration. Born in New York city to artist parents, Lisa Arnold has been involved in art most of her life. Her interests have been wide as she has explored many venues in the art world. […]

This is a workshop that will guide you to create your private journal and explore a variety of creative expressions. Everything goes in this workshop–use different mediums and text to create intentions, dreams, fantasy landscapes, travel, and more.  This is a time to break boundaries! See where your imagination takes you.  Demos given by the instructor. Material list available upon registration. Born in New York city to artist parents, Lisa Arnold has been involved in art most of her life. Her interests have been wide as she has explored many venues in the art world. From being an illustrator, to working in advertising agencies ( which she hated), she went on to be a creative coordinator at conde Nast Publications. She currently is an art instructor at the Silvermine School of Art and the Guilford Art Center.   Based in Connecticut, she now spends much of her time “painting”in pastels and watercolor. She exhibits her work throughout new England.

Welcome to the September/October card making workshop at Spectrum Gallery.  In this unique workshop learn to compose four different layouts, create watercolor backgrounds using stamping and stenciled backgrounds using glitter and Xylon tape.  Become comfortable with Mod Podge as you embellish your Autumn glass jar candle with accent paper painted leaves.  Only supplies to bring are scissors, ruler, liquid glue or glue stick, double sided tape and any other embellishments that excite you. These are the perfect handmade gifts to wish friends and family a joyous Fall season and a Happy Halloween! Introducing Nancy Souza, a teacher, mixed media artist and crafter. Creating unique cards and paper projects using a variety of techniques, colorful cardstock and card layouts including inks, stencils, collage, upcycled vintage items, and more. Souza is a certified teacher, teaching at the elementary & high school levels and graduate level courses at Sacred Heart University Griswold High School campus, including her 6th Year post graduate level. Twenty-six years ago, a teaching colleague suggested Nancy sign up for a local card making class and the rest is history.  It’s been an interesting and rewarding crafting journey both taking classes, sharing with crafting friends and teaching fellow crafters. Souza […]

For many, painting a dark or black subject in watercolor is challenging, but this workshop will put all your fears aside and help you overcome those obstacles. The techniques used to paint this particular subject can be applied to virtually anything dark, like a black dog or someone’s hair or jacket, etc.  Instructor provides reference(s), or participants can use their own, from which a contour (outline) drawing will be made by each participant before class. Instructor shows all steps taken to create a complete painting. A basic drawing ability is helpful but not necessary. Supply list provided upon registration. Bivenne Harvey Staiger is known for her colorful, dramatic watercolors of natural motifs she loves, like birds, other animals and flowers, and is the recipient of many prestigious awards.  Among the most recent is the Silver Medal from the American Watercolor Society’s 152nd International Exhibition (2019).  She is professionally affiliated with many art groups, including but not limited to the Salmagundi Club, American Artists’ Professional League, Academic Artists Association, Connecticut Academy of Fine Artists, Connecticut Watercolor Society, and many others.  Bivenne regularly gives instruction, demonstrations and workshops in watercolor, and in fact has an upcoming weekend workshop, focusing on painting flowers […]

Needle felt a 4- 6” wool pumpkin using colorful wool & sheep’s locks with all materials and use of tools included along with step-by-step instruction. This is a fun, beginner friendly workshop suitable for anyone wishing to make their own beautiful fall keepsake! Ages 9+ are welcome if accompanied by an adult. Lori Neumann is a local artist working in oils, acrylics & pastel.  Lori studied Fine Arts at the Lyme Academy of Fine Arts and has exhibited at galleries and art shows throughout New England & Kentucky. Lori especially enjoys working with a palette knife in plein air while hiking at dawn and dusk. Lori is a member of the CT Academy of Fine Arts, the CT Pastel Society, the Madison Art Society, the American Impressionist Society and the Lyme Art Association.  Lori especially enjoys painting rural New England landscapes & farm animals. She shares & teaches the love of art and believes that within each of us there is an artist, waiting to be released! Presently, she shows her work at Spectrum Gallery in Centerbrook, CT.

Working in this medium is so exciting-it’s a forgiving one!  You can blend, add value, and erase! Dig in for detail or be free according to your style.  We will be working with Autumn still lifes as you create color palettes, explore pastel strokes and so much more. For those of you who have already taken this workshop, we will explore new styles or hone in on your previous pieces. Please, bring in any pieces you are working on or have worked on.  You’ll enjoy the versatility of pastels.  Demos will be given by the instructor. Material list available upon registration. Born in New York city to artist parents, Lisa Arnold has been involved in art most of her life. Her interests have been wide as she has explored many venues in the art world. From being an illustrator, to working in advertising agencies ( which she hated), she went on to be a creative coordinator at conde Nast Publications. She currently is an art instructor at the Silvermine School of Art and the Guilford Art Center.   Based in Connecticut, she now spends much of her time “painting”in pastels and watercolor. She exhibits her work throughout new England.

Through fun and perhaps unexpected techniques, learn how to paint a colorful autumn landscape in watercolor. We’ll include a road or a stream for interest. Reference(s) will be provided by the instructor, or you can use your own, from which a basic drawing will be made before painting. All skill levels are welcome. Supply list provided upon registration. Bivenne Harvey Staiger is known for her colorful, dramatic watercolors of natural motifs she loves, like birds, other animals and flowers, and is the recipient of many prestigious awards.  Among the most recent is the Silver Medal from the American Watercolor Society’s 152nd International Exhibition (2019).  She is professionally affiliated with many art groups, including but not limited to the Salmagundi Club, American Artists’ Professional League, Academic Artists Association, Connecticut Academy of Fine Artists, Connecticut Watercolor Society, and many others.  Bivenne regularly gives instruction, demonstrations and workshops in watercolor, and in fact has an upcoming weekend workshop, focusing on painting flowers in watercolor, at Yale Peabody Museum in August.  At least two major solo exhibitions and a few group exhibitions featuring her work, including Spectrum Gallery in Centerbrook, Connecticut, are scheduled for the end of this year and next.