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  • Scarecrow Contest sponsored by The Essex Board of Trade

    Recurring
    Essex Village

    The Essex Scarecrow Contest and FestiFall have become a much-loved community tradition, bringing creativity, fun, and local spirit to the Main Streets of Centerbrook, Essex, and Ivoryton each fall! Every year, residents, businesses, and organizations design and build scarecrows to display on lamp posts throughout town. The scarecrows will be on display all October, so stroll the streets, snap photos, and share your favorites! Voting to start online on Saturday, October 3rd at https://essexct.com/scarecrow-contest-2026/ Questions? Email ebotpresident@gmail.com

    Free

  • In Gallery – Dwellings Mixed Media Class

    Spectrum Art Gallery 61 Main Street, Centerbrook, CT, United States

    Using the theme of Architecture, via collage and mixed media, participants work on a stretched canvas or canvas panel as their substrate. Everyone delves into the fun of using paints, gel prints, stamping, stencils, integrated with the use of handmade papers printed or painted, old vintage script or text using coffee or tea to stain. Together through the visuals shown of a variety of types of dwellings each of you will choose the type of structures and composition for your piece. Participants can choose, abstract high rises using simple basics shapes, city or townscapes or with staining, texturing gels make a rustic cabin, or farm, etc. There will be lots of ideas exchanged and personalized instruction. Regina Thomas’ collage and mixed media art is a mélange of visual stimuli, colors, and shapes involving different genres from the representational to the abstract. These multi-layered works portray her view of the world, never realistic, injecting her own narratives, metaphors, and icons. Regina works instinctually, and her desire is to stimulate and intrigue the viewer, make a connection, bringing their own experiences to the work. Regina has lived and traveled throughout Asia and Europe. While in London, she attended Richmond University concentrating on […]

    $160

  • Scarecrow Contest sponsored by The Essex Board of Trade

    Recurring
    Essex Village

    The Essex Scarecrow Contest and FestiFall have become a much-loved community tradition, bringing creativity, fun, and local spirit to the Main Streets of Centerbrook, Essex, and Ivoryton each fall! Every year, residents, businesses, and organizations design and build scarecrows to display on lamp posts throughout town. The scarecrows will be on display all October, so stroll the streets, snap photos, and share your favorites! Voting to start online on Saturday, October 3rd at https://essexct.com/scarecrow-contest-2026/ Questions? Email ebotpresident@gmail.com

    Free

  • Scarecrow Contest sponsored by The Essex Board of Trade

    Recurring
    Essex Village

    The Essex Scarecrow Contest and FestiFall have become a much-loved community tradition, bringing creativity, fun, and local spirit to the Main Streets of Centerbrook, Essex, and Ivoryton each fall! Every year, residents, businesses, and organizations design and build scarecrows to display on lamp posts throughout town. The scarecrows will be on display all October, so stroll the streets, snap photos, and share your favorites! Voting to start online on Saturday, October 3rd at https://essexct.com/scarecrow-contest-2026/ Questions? Email ebotpresident@gmail.com

    Free

  • Scarecrow Contest sponsored by The Essex Board of Trade

    Recurring
    Essex Village

    The Essex Scarecrow Contest and FestiFall have become a much-loved community tradition, bringing creativity, fun, and local spirit to the Main Streets of Centerbrook, Essex, and Ivoryton each fall! Every year, residents, businesses, and organizations design and build scarecrows to display on lamp posts throughout town. The scarecrows will be on display all October, so stroll the streets, snap photos, and share your favorites! Voting to start online on Saturday, October 3rd at https://essexct.com/scarecrow-contest-2026/ Questions? Email ebotpresident@gmail.com

    Free

  • Scarecrow Contest sponsored by The Essex Board of Trade

    Recurring
    Essex Village

    The Essex Scarecrow Contest and FestiFall have become a much-loved community tradition, bringing creativity, fun, and local spirit to the Main Streets of Centerbrook, Essex, and Ivoryton each fall! Every year, residents, businesses, and organizations design and build scarecrows to display on lamp posts throughout town. The scarecrows will be on display all October, so stroll the streets, snap photos, and share your favorites! Voting to start online on Saturday, October 3rd at https://essexct.com/scarecrow-contest-2026/ Questions? Email ebotpresident@gmail.com

    Free

  • Snowboard Gnome Workshop

    Spectrum Art Gallery 61 Main Street, Centerbrook, CT, United States

    In this workshop, learn to create a sculptural wool project including proper wrapping techniques, using wire in an armature and the purpose and use of various types of felting wool & needles on a 3-dimensional project. 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. Date: Sunday, February 1 Time: 12:30 PM – 4:30 PM Cost: $65 plus a $16 material fee paid to the instructor

    $65

  • Scarecrow Contest sponsored by The Essex Board of Trade

    Recurring
    Essex Village

    The Essex Scarecrow Contest and FestiFall have become a much-loved community tradition, bringing creativity, fun, and local spirit to the Main Streets of Centerbrook, Essex, and Ivoryton each fall! Every year, residents, businesses, and organizations design and build scarecrows to display on lamp posts throughout town. The scarecrows will be on display all October, so stroll the streets, snap photos, and share your favorites! Voting to start online on Saturday, October 3rd at https://essexct.com/scarecrow-contest-2026/ Questions? Email ebotpresident@gmail.com

    Free

  • Scarecrow Contest sponsored by The Essex Board of Trade

    Recurring
    Essex Village

    The Essex Scarecrow Contest and FestiFall have become a much-loved community tradition, bringing creativity, fun, and local spirit to the Main Streets of Centerbrook, Essex, and Ivoryton each fall! Every year, residents, businesses, and organizations design and build scarecrows to display on lamp posts throughout town. The scarecrows will be on display all October, so stroll the streets, snap photos, and share your favorites! Voting to start online on Saturday, October 3rd at https://essexct.com/scarecrow-contest-2026/ Questions? Email ebotpresident@gmail.com

    Free

  • Scarecrow Contest sponsored by The Essex Board of Trade

    Recurring
    Essex Village

    The Essex Scarecrow Contest and FestiFall have become a much-loved community tradition, bringing creativity, fun, and local spirit to the Main Streets of Centerbrook, Essex, and Ivoryton each fall! Every year, residents, businesses, and organizations design and build scarecrows to display on lamp posts throughout town. The scarecrows will be on display all October, so stroll the streets, snap photos, and share your favorites! Voting to start online on Saturday, October 3rd at https://essexct.com/scarecrow-contest-2026/ Questions? Email ebotpresident@gmail.com

    Free

  • Scarecrow Contest sponsored by The Essex Board of Trade

    Recurring
    Essex Village

    The Essex Scarecrow Contest and FestiFall have become a much-loved community tradition, bringing creativity, fun, and local spirit to the Main Streets of Centerbrook, Essex, and Ivoryton each fall! Every year, residents, businesses, and organizations design and build scarecrows to display on lamp posts throughout town. The scarecrows will be on display all October, so stroll the streets, snap photos, and share your favorites! Voting to start online on Saturday, October 3rd at https://essexct.com/scarecrow-contest-2026/ Questions? Email ebotpresident@gmail.com

    Free

  • Scarecrow Contest sponsored by The Essex Board of Trade

    Recurring
    Essex Village

    The Essex Scarecrow Contest and FestiFall have become a much-loved community tradition, bringing creativity, fun, and local spirit to the Main Streets of Centerbrook, Essex, and Ivoryton each fall! Every year, residents, businesses, and organizations design and build scarecrows to display on lamp posts throughout town. The scarecrows will be on display all October, so stroll the streets, snap photos, and share your favorites! Voting to start online on Saturday, October 3rd at https://essexct.com/scarecrow-contest-2026/ Questions? Email ebotpresident@gmail.com

    Free

  • Scarecrow Contest sponsored by The Essex Board of Trade

    Recurring
    Essex Village

    The Essex Scarecrow Contest and FestiFall have become a much-loved community tradition, bringing creativity, fun, and local spirit to the Main Streets of Centerbrook, Essex, and Ivoryton each fall! Every year, residents, businesses, and organizations design and build scarecrows to display on lamp posts throughout town. The scarecrows will be on display all October, so stroll the streets, snap photos, and share your favorites! Voting to start online on Saturday, October 3rd at https://essexct.com/scarecrow-contest-2026/ Questions? Email ebotpresident@gmail.com

    Free

  • Scarecrow Contest sponsored by The Essex Board of Trade

    Recurring
    Essex Village

    The Essex Scarecrow Contest and FestiFall have become a much-loved community tradition, bringing creativity, fun, and local spirit to the Main Streets of Centerbrook, Essex, and Ivoryton each fall! Every year, residents, businesses, and organizations design and build scarecrows to display on lamp posts throughout town. The scarecrows will be on display all October, so stroll the streets, snap photos, and share your favorites! Voting to start online on Saturday, October 3rd at https://essexct.com/scarecrow-contest-2026/ Questions? Email ebotpresident@gmail.com

    Free

  • Signs of Love Valentine Cardmaking Workshop

    Spectrum Art Gallery 61 Main Street, Centerbrook, CT, United States

    The month of February is all about Valentine’s Day and the ways we choose to show our signs of love.  Creating handmade personalized Valentine cards is one of those ways and in this workshop, you will create 10! The techniques you will learn include how to layout and cut the printed paper for the ten cards using the layout template/map. How to design each card using the double-sided patterned paper including adding the stamped sentiment for each card.   You will explore the use of color using markers and learn about die cut hearts using a double-sided adhesive and glitter. A half sheet of white cardstock for each card will be available.  Each one of your cards will include an envelope.  Most materials are included but do bring a scissor, 12” ruler, pencil or pen, glue (liquid or glue stick), marker-pink or red (optional). 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 […]

    $40

  • Scarecrow Contest sponsored by The Essex Board of Trade

    Recurring
    Essex Village

    The Essex Scarecrow Contest and FestiFall have become a much-loved community tradition, bringing creativity, fun, and local spirit to the Main Streets of Centerbrook, Essex, and Ivoryton each fall! Every year, residents, businesses, and organizations design and build scarecrows to display on lamp posts throughout town. The scarecrows will be on display all October, so stroll the streets, snap photos, and share your favorites! Voting to start online on Saturday, October 3rd at https://essexct.com/scarecrow-contest-2026/ Questions? Email ebotpresident@gmail.com

    Free

  • Scarecrow Contest sponsored by The Essex Board of Trade

    Recurring
    Essex Village

    The Essex Scarecrow Contest and FestiFall have become a much-loved community tradition, bringing creativity, fun, and local spirit to the Main Streets of Centerbrook, Essex, and Ivoryton each fall! Every year, residents, businesses, and organizations design and build scarecrows to display on lamp posts throughout town. The scarecrows will be on display all October, so stroll the streets, snap photos, and share your favorites! Voting to start online on Saturday, October 3rd at https://essexct.com/scarecrow-contest-2026/ Questions? Email ebotpresident@gmail.com

    Free

  • Scarecrow Contest sponsored by The Essex Board of Trade

    Recurring
    Essex Village

    The Essex Scarecrow Contest and FestiFall have become a much-loved community tradition, bringing creativity, fun, and local spirit to the Main Streets of Centerbrook, Essex, and Ivoryton each fall! Every year, residents, businesses, and organizations design and build scarecrows to display on lamp posts throughout town. The scarecrows will be on display all October, so stroll the streets, snap photos, and share your favorites! Voting to start online on Saturday, October 3rd at https://essexct.com/scarecrow-contest-2026/ Questions? Email ebotpresident@gmail.com

    Free

  • Scarecrow Contest sponsored by The Essex Board of Trade

    Recurring
    Essex Village

    The Essex Scarecrow Contest and FestiFall have become a much-loved community tradition, bringing creativity, fun, and local spirit to the Main Streets of Centerbrook, Essex, and Ivoryton each fall! Every year, residents, businesses, and organizations design and build scarecrows to display on lamp posts throughout town. The scarecrows will be on display all October, so stroll the streets, snap photos, and share your favorites! Voting to start online on Saturday, October 3rd at https://essexct.com/scarecrow-contest-2026/ Questions? Email ebotpresident@gmail.com

    Free

  • Botanical Study in Colored Pencils

    Recurring
    Spectrum Art Gallery 61 Main Street, Centerbrook, CT, United States

    This class is designed for students with some experience using colored pencil and have basic concepts of botanical illustration. This course will focus on drawing a complete botanical study over the four-week session. Students will plan and draw each component of the study week by week resulting in a frame-able work of art. The teacher will provide the oversized paper, tracing paper for sketches and the flower subject. Material list available upon registration. $130 + $15 Material Fee Nancy Bentivegna is a botanical artist who received her training at the New York Botanical Gardens through the Botanical Art and Illustration Program. After completing the program in 2010, she relocated to Boston. For the past eleven years she has been teaching a variety of botanical art classes in Boston and the greater Boston area. These courses are based on the instruction she received at the NYBG and include colored pencil, graphite, pen and ink and watercolor pencil. Nancy prefers to work in watercolor pencil combined with colored pencil for depth and detail. She does custom pieces for clients both in the Boston area and New York. She recently relocated to Essex and will be offering classes at the Spectrum Gallery in […]

    $130

  • Scarecrow Contest sponsored by The Essex Board of Trade

    Recurring
    Essex Village

    The Essex Scarecrow Contest and FestiFall have become a much-loved community tradition, bringing creativity, fun, and local spirit to the Main Streets of Centerbrook, Essex, and Ivoryton each fall! Every year, residents, businesses, and organizations design and build scarecrows to display on lamp posts throughout town. The scarecrows will be on display all October, so stroll the streets, snap photos, and share your favorites! Voting to start online on Saturday, October 3rd at https://essexct.com/scarecrow-contest-2026/ Questions? Email ebotpresident@gmail.com

    Free

  • Scarecrow Contest sponsored by The Essex Board of Trade

    Recurring
    Essex Village

    The Essex Scarecrow Contest and FestiFall have become a much-loved community tradition, bringing creativity, fun, and local spirit to the Main Streets of Centerbrook, Essex, and Ivoryton each fall! Every year, residents, businesses, and organizations design and build scarecrows to display on lamp posts throughout town. The scarecrows will be on display all October, so stroll the streets, snap photos, and share your favorites! Voting to start online on Saturday, October 3rd at https://essexct.com/scarecrow-contest-2026/ Questions? Email ebotpresident@gmail.com

    Free

  • Scarecrow Contest sponsored by The Essex Board of Trade

    Recurring
    Essex Village

    The Essex Scarecrow Contest and FestiFall have become a much-loved community tradition, bringing creativity, fun, and local spirit to the Main Streets of Centerbrook, Essex, and Ivoryton each fall! Every year, residents, businesses, and organizations design and build scarecrows to display on lamp posts throughout town. The scarecrows will be on display all October, so stroll the streets, snap photos, and share your favorites! Voting to start online on Saturday, October 3rd at https://essexct.com/scarecrow-contest-2026/ Questions? Email ebotpresident@gmail.com

    Free

  • Scarecrow Contest sponsored by The Essex Board of Trade

    Recurring
    Essex Village

    The Essex Scarecrow Contest and FestiFall have become a much-loved community tradition, bringing creativity, fun, and local spirit to the Main Streets of Centerbrook, Essex, and Ivoryton each fall! Every year, residents, businesses, and organizations design and build scarecrows to display on lamp posts throughout town. The scarecrows will be on display all October, so stroll the streets, snap photos, and share your favorites! Voting to start online on Saturday, October 3rd at https://essexct.com/scarecrow-contest-2026/ Questions? Email ebotpresident@gmail.com

    Free

  • Scarecrow Contest sponsored by The Essex Board of Trade

    Recurring
    Essex Village

    The Essex Scarecrow Contest and FestiFall have become a much-loved community tradition, bringing creativity, fun, and local spirit to the Main Streets of Centerbrook, Essex, and Ivoryton each fall! Every year, residents, businesses, and organizations design and build scarecrows to display on lamp posts throughout town. The scarecrows will be on display all October, so stroll the streets, snap photos, and share your favorites! Voting to start online on Saturday, October 3rd at https://essexct.com/scarecrow-contest-2026/ Questions? Email ebotpresident@gmail.com

    Free

  • Scarecrow Contest sponsored by The Essex Board of Trade

    Recurring
    Essex Village

    The Essex Scarecrow Contest and FestiFall have become a much-loved community tradition, bringing creativity, fun, and local spirit to the Main Streets of Centerbrook, Essex, and Ivoryton each fall! Every year, residents, businesses, and organizations design and build scarecrows to display on lamp posts throughout town. The scarecrows will be on display all October, so stroll the streets, snap photos, and share your favorites! Voting to start online on Saturday, October 3rd at https://essexct.com/scarecrow-contest-2026/ Questions? Email ebotpresident@gmail.com

    Free

  • Scarecrow Contest sponsored by The Essex Board of Trade

    Recurring
    Essex Village

    The Essex Scarecrow Contest and FestiFall have become a much-loved community tradition, bringing creativity, fun, and local spirit to the Main Streets of Centerbrook, Essex, and Ivoryton each fall! Every year, residents, businesses, and organizations design and build scarecrows to display on lamp posts throughout town. The scarecrows will be on display all October, so stroll the streets, snap photos, and share your favorites! Voting to start online on Saturday, October 3rd at https://essexct.com/scarecrow-contest-2026/ Questions? Email ebotpresident@gmail.com

    Free

  • Botanical Study in Colored Pencils

    Recurring
    Spectrum Art Gallery 61 Main Street, Centerbrook, CT, United States

    This class is designed for students with some experience using colored pencil and have basic concepts of botanical illustration. This course will focus on drawing a complete botanical study over the four-week session. Students will plan and draw each component of the study week by week resulting in a frame-able work of art. The teacher will provide the oversized paper, tracing paper for sketches and the flower subject. Material list available upon registration. $130 + $15 Material Fee Nancy Bentivegna is a botanical artist who received her training at the New York Botanical Gardens through the Botanical Art and Illustration Program. After completing the program in 2010, she relocated to Boston. For the past eleven years she has been teaching a variety of botanical art classes in Boston and the greater Boston area. These courses are based on the instruction she received at the NYBG and include colored pencil, graphite, pen and ink and watercolor pencil. Nancy prefers to work in watercolor pencil combined with colored pencil for depth and detail. She does custom pieces for clients both in the Boston area and New York. She recently relocated to Essex and will be offering classes at the Spectrum Gallery in […]

    $130

  • Scarecrow Contest sponsored by The Essex Board of Trade

    Recurring
    Essex Village

    The Essex Scarecrow Contest and FestiFall have become a much-loved community tradition, bringing creativity, fun, and local spirit to the Main Streets of Centerbrook, Essex, and Ivoryton each fall! Every year, residents, businesses, and organizations design and build scarecrows to display on lamp posts throughout town. The scarecrows will be on display all October, so stroll the streets, snap photos, and share your favorites! Voting to start online on Saturday, October 3rd at https://essexct.com/scarecrow-contest-2026/ Questions? Email ebotpresident@gmail.com

    Free

  • Scarecrow Contest sponsored by The Essex Board of Trade

    Recurring
    Essex Village

    The Essex Scarecrow Contest and FestiFall have become a much-loved community tradition, bringing creativity, fun, and local spirit to the Main Streets of Centerbrook, Essex, and Ivoryton each fall! Every year, residents, businesses, and organizations design and build scarecrows to display on lamp posts throughout town. The scarecrows will be on display all October, so stroll the streets, snap photos, and share your favorites! Voting to start online on Saturday, October 3rd at https://essexct.com/scarecrow-contest-2026/ Questions? Email ebotpresident@gmail.com

    Free

  • Scarecrow Contest sponsored by The Essex Board of Trade

    Recurring
    Essex Village

    The Essex Scarecrow Contest and FestiFall have become a much-loved community tradition, bringing creativity, fun, and local spirit to the Main Streets of Centerbrook, Essex, and Ivoryton each fall! Every year, residents, businesses, and organizations design and build scarecrows to display on lamp posts throughout town. The scarecrows will be on display all October, so stroll the streets, snap photos, and share your favorites! Voting to start online on Saturday, October 3rd at https://essexct.com/scarecrow-contest-2026/ Questions? Email ebotpresident@gmail.com

    Free

  • Scarecrow Contest sponsored by The Essex Board of Trade

    Recurring
    Essex Village

    The Essex Scarecrow Contest and FestiFall have become a much-loved community tradition, bringing creativity, fun, and local spirit to the Main Streets of Centerbrook, Essex, and Ivoryton each fall! Every year, residents, businesses, and organizations design and build scarecrows to display on lamp posts throughout town. The scarecrows will be on display all October, so stroll the streets, snap photos, and share your favorites! Voting to start online on Saturday, October 3rd at https://essexct.com/scarecrow-contest-2026/ Questions? Email ebotpresident@gmail.com

    Free

  • Scarecrow Contest sponsored by The Essex Board of Trade

    Recurring
    Essex Village

    The Essex Scarecrow Contest and FestiFall have become a much-loved community tradition, bringing creativity, fun, and local spirit to the Main Streets of Centerbrook, Essex, and Ivoryton each fall! Every year, residents, businesses, and organizations design and build scarecrows to display on lamp posts throughout town. The scarecrows will be on display all October, so stroll the streets, snap photos, and share your favorites! Voting to start online on Saturday, October 3rd at https://essexct.com/scarecrow-contest-2026/ Questions? Email ebotpresident@gmail.com

    Free

  • Scarecrow Contest sponsored by The Essex Board of Trade

    Recurring
    Essex Village

    The Essex Scarecrow Contest and FestiFall have become a much-loved community tradition, bringing creativity, fun, and local spirit to the Main Streets of Centerbrook, Essex, and Ivoryton each fall! Every year, residents, businesses, and organizations design and build scarecrows to display on lamp posts throughout town. The scarecrows will be on display all October, so stroll the streets, snap photos, and share your favorites! Voting to start online on Saturday, October 3rd at https://essexct.com/scarecrow-contest-2026/ Questions? Email ebotpresident@gmail.com

    Free

  • Scarecrow Contest sponsored by The Essex Board of Trade

    Recurring
    Essex Village

    The Essex Scarecrow Contest and FestiFall have become a much-loved community tradition, bringing creativity, fun, and local spirit to the Main Streets of Centerbrook, Essex, and Ivoryton each fall! Every year, residents, businesses, and organizations design and build scarecrows to display on lamp posts throughout town. The scarecrows will be on display all October, so stroll the streets, snap photos, and share your favorites! Voting to start online on Saturday, October 3rd at https://essexct.com/scarecrow-contest-2026/ Questions? Email ebotpresident@gmail.com

    Free

  • Winter Art Classes for Children Ages 7-11

    Recurring
    Spectrum Art Gallery 61 Main Street, Centerbrook, CT, United States

    Spectrum Gallery is pleased to announce that our Children’s Art Program is being run in partnership with Essex Park & Recreation   These sessions focus on painting and the use of color. First project is drawing and painting the Northern Lights. Watercolor techniques such as wet-on-wet are taught to create the sky. A sprinkling of glitter is added for stars. A small landscape is added at the bottom to give the painting depth. Drawing techniques are reviewed to learn to draw flowers, bones, shells and pinecones focusing on contour, texture, shadow, pattern and color. Then taking Georgia O’Keefe as our muse colorful flowers are painted using oil pastels or watercolor. Moving forward with nature drawing and painting children learn to draw/paint the Banyan Tree which is an unusual tree from India focusing on its many trunks and branches and making it appear sitting in a pool of water while learning to blend oil pastels in the negative spaces of their painting and focusing on the tree’s reflection in the foreground water. Finally, as Spring approaches Session two ends with painting and decorating rocks with nature drawings and positive sayings. For more information call (860)767-0742 or email barbara@spectrumartgallery.org To register visit https://essexct.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=1513 Date: […]

    $125

  • Botanical Study in Colored Pencils

    Recurring
    Spectrum Art Gallery 61 Main Street, Centerbrook, CT, United States

    This class is designed for students with some experience using colored pencil and have basic concepts of botanical illustration. This course will focus on drawing a complete botanical study over the four-week session. Students will plan and draw each component of the study week by week resulting in a frame-able work of art. The teacher will provide the oversized paper, tracing paper for sketches and the flower subject. Material list available upon registration. $130 + $15 Material Fee Nancy Bentivegna is a botanical artist who received her training at the New York Botanical Gardens through the Botanical Art and Illustration Program. After completing the program in 2010, she relocated to Boston. For the past eleven years she has been teaching a variety of botanical art classes in Boston and the greater Boston area. These courses are based on the instruction she received at the NYBG and include colored pencil, graphite, pen and ink and watercolor pencil. Nancy prefers to work in watercolor pencil combined with colored pencil for depth and detail. She does custom pieces for clients both in the Boston area and New York. She recently relocated to Essex and will be offering classes at the Spectrum Gallery in […]

    $130

  • Scarecrow Contest sponsored by The Essex Board of Trade

    Recurring
    Essex Village

    The Essex Scarecrow Contest and FestiFall have become a much-loved community tradition, bringing creativity, fun, and local spirit to the Main Streets of Centerbrook, Essex, and Ivoryton each fall! Every year, residents, businesses, and organizations design and build scarecrows to display on lamp posts throughout town. The scarecrows will be on display all October, so stroll the streets, snap photos, and share your favorites! Voting to start online on Saturday, October 3rd at https://essexct.com/scarecrow-contest-2026/ Questions? Email ebotpresident@gmail.com

    Free

  • Scarecrow Contest sponsored by The Essex Board of Trade

    Recurring
    Essex Village

    The Essex Scarecrow Contest and FestiFall have become a much-loved community tradition, bringing creativity, fun, and local spirit to the Main Streets of Centerbrook, Essex, and Ivoryton each fall! Every year, residents, businesses, and organizations design and build scarecrows to display on lamp posts throughout town. The scarecrows will be on display all October, so stroll the streets, snap photos, and share your favorites! Voting to start online on Saturday, October 3rd at https://essexct.com/scarecrow-contest-2026/ Questions? Email ebotpresident@gmail.com

    Free

  • Scarecrow Contest sponsored by The Essex Board of Trade

    Recurring
    Essex Village

    The Essex Scarecrow Contest and FestiFall have become a much-loved community tradition, bringing creativity, fun, and local spirit to the Main Streets of Centerbrook, Essex, and Ivoryton each fall! Every year, residents, businesses, and organizations design and build scarecrows to display on lamp posts throughout town. The scarecrows will be on display all October, so stroll the streets, snap photos, and share your favorites! Voting to start online on Saturday, October 3rd at https://essexct.com/scarecrow-contest-2026/ Questions? Email ebotpresident@gmail.com

    Free

  • Scarecrow Contest sponsored by The Essex Board of Trade

    Recurring
    Essex Village

    The Essex Scarecrow Contest and FestiFall have become a much-loved community tradition, bringing creativity, fun, and local spirit to the Main Streets of Centerbrook, Essex, and Ivoryton each fall! Every year, residents, businesses, and organizations design and build scarecrows to display on lamp posts throughout town. The scarecrows will be on display all October, so stroll the streets, snap photos, and share your favorites! Voting to start online on Saturday, October 3rd at https://essexct.com/scarecrow-contest-2026/ Questions? Email ebotpresident@gmail.com

    Free

  • Scarecrow Contest sponsored by The Essex Board of Trade

    Recurring
    Essex Village

    The Essex Scarecrow Contest and FestiFall have become a much-loved community tradition, bringing creativity, fun, and local spirit to the Main Streets of Centerbrook, Essex, and Ivoryton each fall! Every year, residents, businesses, and organizations design and build scarecrows to display on lamp posts throughout town. The scarecrows will be on display all October, so stroll the streets, snap photos, and share your favorites! Voting to start online on Saturday, October 3rd at https://essexct.com/scarecrow-contest-2026/ Questions? Email ebotpresident@gmail.com

    Free

  • Scarecrow Contest sponsored by The Essex Board of Trade

    Recurring
    Essex Village

    The Essex Scarecrow Contest and FestiFall have become a much-loved community tradition, bringing creativity, fun, and local spirit to the Main Streets of Centerbrook, Essex, and Ivoryton each fall! Every year, residents, businesses, and organizations design and build scarecrows to display on lamp posts throughout town. The scarecrows will be on display all October, so stroll the streets, snap photos, and share your favorites! Voting to start online on Saturday, October 3rd at https://essexct.com/scarecrow-contest-2026/ Questions? Email ebotpresident@gmail.com

    Free

  • Scarecrow Contest sponsored by The Essex Board of Trade

    Recurring
    Essex Village

    The Essex Scarecrow Contest and FestiFall have become a much-loved community tradition, bringing creativity, fun, and local spirit to the Main Streets of Centerbrook, Essex, and Ivoryton each fall! Every year, residents, businesses, and organizations design and build scarecrows to display on lamp posts throughout town. The scarecrows will be on display all October, so stroll the streets, snap photos, and share your favorites! Voting to start online on Saturday, October 3rd at https://essexct.com/scarecrow-contest-2026/ Questions? Email ebotpresident@gmail.com

    Free

  • Winter Art Classes for Children Ages 7-11

    Recurring
    Spectrum Art Gallery 61 Main Street, Centerbrook, CT, United States

    Spectrum Gallery is pleased to announce that our Children’s Art Program is being run in partnership with Essex Park & Recreation   These sessions focus on painting and the use of color. First project is drawing and painting the Northern Lights. Watercolor techniques such as wet-on-wet are taught to create the sky. A sprinkling of glitter is added for stars. A small landscape is added at the bottom to give the painting depth. Drawing techniques are reviewed to learn to draw flowers, bones, shells and pinecones focusing on contour, texture, shadow, pattern and color. Then taking Georgia O’Keefe as our muse colorful flowers are painted using oil pastels or watercolor. Moving forward with nature drawing and painting children learn to draw/paint the Banyan Tree which is an unusual tree from India focusing on its many trunks and branches and making it appear sitting in a pool of water while learning to blend oil pastels in the negative spaces of their painting and focusing on the tree’s reflection in the foreground water. Finally, as Spring approaches Session two ends with painting and decorating rocks with nature drawings and positive sayings. For more information call (860)767-0742 or email barbara@spectrumartgallery.org To register visit https://essexct.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=1513 Date: […]

    $125

  • Botanical Study in Colored Pencils

    Recurring
    Spectrum Art Gallery 61 Main Street, Centerbrook, CT, United States

    This class is designed for students with some experience using colored pencil and have basic concepts of botanical illustration. This course will focus on drawing a complete botanical study over the four-week session. Students will plan and draw each component of the study week by week resulting in a frame-able work of art. The teacher will provide the oversized paper, tracing paper for sketches and the flower subject. Material list available upon registration. $130 + $15 Material Fee Nancy Bentivegna is a botanical artist who received her training at the New York Botanical Gardens through the Botanical Art and Illustration Program. After completing the program in 2010, she relocated to Boston. For the past eleven years she has been teaching a variety of botanical art classes in Boston and the greater Boston area. These courses are based on the instruction she received at the NYBG and include colored pencil, graphite, pen and ink and watercolor pencil. Nancy prefers to work in watercolor pencil combined with colored pencil for depth and detail. She does custom pieces for clients both in the Boston area and New York. She recently relocated to Essex and will be offering classes at the Spectrum Gallery in […]

    $130

  • Scarecrow Contest sponsored by The Essex Board of Trade

    Recurring
    Essex Village

    The Essex Scarecrow Contest and FestiFall have become a much-loved community tradition, bringing creativity, fun, and local spirit to the Main Streets of Centerbrook, Essex, and Ivoryton each fall! Every year, residents, businesses, and organizations design and build scarecrows to display on lamp posts throughout town. The scarecrows will be on display all October, so stroll the streets, snap photos, and share your favorites! Voting to start online on Saturday, October 3rd at https://essexct.com/scarecrow-contest-2026/ Questions? Email ebotpresident@gmail.com

    Free

  • Scarecrow Contest sponsored by The Essex Board of Trade

    Recurring
    Essex Village

    The Essex Scarecrow Contest and FestiFall have become a much-loved community tradition, bringing creativity, fun, and local spirit to the Main Streets of Centerbrook, Essex, and Ivoryton each fall! Every year, residents, businesses, and organizations design and build scarecrows to display on lamp posts throughout town. The scarecrows will be on display all October, so stroll the streets, snap photos, and share your favorites! Voting to start online on Saturday, October 3rd at https://essexct.com/scarecrow-contest-2026/ Questions? Email ebotpresident@gmail.com

    Free

  • How to Paint a Barn in a Snowy Landscape

    Spectrum Art Gallery 61 Main Street, Centerbrook, CT, United States

    Gather up your paint brushes and sharpen a pencil to learn how to create a barn in a beautiful snowy setting.  In this workshop, learn how to create an interesting sky with clouds and a backdrop for the barn and, if you wish, add snowflakes for atmosphere. Instructor provides a reference about a week in advance or use one of your own. The barn should be drawn onto watercolor paper beforehand, but instructor can assist if necessary. Whether you’re new to or familiar with watercolor, this workshop will give you the confidence to continue to paint more in this wonderful medium. Material list available 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 […]

    $100

  • Watercolor and Pen Landscape

    Pencil & Wool 12 Main Street Suite 6, Essex, CT, United States

    In this Watercolor + Pen workshop, you will experiment with techniques to bring beautiful landscapes to life, creating base layers with watercolor, and finishing touches in ink! You will walk away with at least two finished, original 5"x7" paintings that you create.   All materials will be provided, including some reference photos; however, we highly encourage you to bring your own references! We love to see the world through many different perspectives, especially if there is a scene or landscape that really spoke to you. So grab that stunning picture from that trip you just went on, or that sunset you captured in the parking lot last Tuesday, we can't wait to see!   Whether you are a beginner and new to watercolor or just looking to create with others, this workshop is perfect for anyone looking to stretch their creativity and create original artwork! See you there! Sign up online

    $40