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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 open until October 30th 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 open until October 30th 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 open until October 30th at https://essexct.com/scarecrow-contest-2026/ Questions? Email ebotpresident@gmail.com

    Free

  • Future Fashionistas: Learn to Design and Illustrate Like A Pro! Ages 11-15

    Recurring
    Spectrum Art Gallery/Arts Center Killingworth 61 Main Street, Centerbrook, CT, United States

    Do you have a passion for style? Do you fill your notebooks with clothing doodles and dream of seeing your own designs on the runway? Step into the shoes of a real designer in this immersive, hands-on fashion illustration course! This creative studio class guides you through the entire process of bringing fashion to life. Start by mastering the fundamentals of the fashion figure and practicing dynamic poses used by professional designers to showcase clothing. As you  dive deeper into illustration, you will learn to identify classic fashion silhouettes, speak the language of style with standard fabric terms, respond to fun design prompts, and curate your  own custom color palettes. Using a mix of pencils, markers, and watercolors, practice the step-by-step workflow of brainstorming quick concept sketches and polishing them into portfolio-ready finished art pieces. All materials are provided! Just bring your imagination and enthusiasm.  A curated supply list will be provided at the start of class if you wish to keep creating and building your own toolkit at home. Jillian Nielsen began sewing and designing at a young age, attending fashion design programs in Connecticut and NYC, attended Bard College at Simon’s Rock and has a Certificate in Costume […]

    $15 – $160

  • Modern Minimal: Exploring Analog Collage

    Recurring
    Spectrum Art Gallery/Arts Center Killingworth 61 Main Street, Centerbrook, CT, United States

    This art class welcomes participants of all skill levels who are interested in analog collage. The course introduces the fundamentals of collage, focusing on minimalism and the use of a limited palette. Through guided exercises, the class learns how to select and arrange images to create visually engaging compositions. Emphasis is placed on simplicity and balance to encourage creativity within constraints and foster an appreciation for a clean, modern aesthetic. Over four studio sessions, participants practice the essential methods of analog collage: selection of substrates, cutting techniques, adhesive applications, color theory, and composition.  Projects such as creating a master board, starting and updating a studio notebook, designing artist trading cards and finally creating a personal collage are designed to practice newly acquired skills and  encourage participants to develop their own unique modern aesthetic. Small supply list available upon registration. Molly Waite Lund is an analog collage artist who lives in Essex, Connecticut.  As a self-taught artist, Lund is continuously experimenting with color, shape, relationships, and negative space.  She is compelled to repurpose vintage papers as a reminder of the history that has shaped her life. In her collages, the world that Lund imagines is a place where the familiar becomes […]

    $5 – $130

  • Delving Into Pastels

    Spectrum Art Gallery/Arts Center Killingworth 61 Main Street, Centerbrook, CT, United States

    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.

    $60

  • Zoom – Art Journaling Collage Techniques

    Recurring
    Spectrum Art Gallery/Arts Center Killingworth 61 Main Street, Centerbrook, CT, United States

    In this 4-week journey, explore collage from medium to process. Learn to transform the physical appearance of printed, vintage and specialty papers. Each journal page will showcase a medium, reconstructed paper and mini-collages of your design. Learn to describe each completed page for future reference. This is a good foundation class for future collage work. Material list available upon registration. No collage experience necessary. 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 the Art Disciplines as well as Studio classes.  Upon her return to the states she continued refining her art through classes and workshops at RISD (Rhode Island School of Design), The New Art Center in Newton – MA, South Shore Art Center – MA, West Hartford Art League, Creative Arts Workshop/New Haven, […]

    $120

  • Gallery – Art Journaling Collage Techniques

    Recurring
    Spectrum Art Gallery/Arts Center Killingworth 61 Main Street, Centerbrook, CT, United States

    In this 4-week journey explore collage from medium to process. Learn to transform the physical appearance of printed, vintage and specialty papers. Each journal page will showcase a medium, reconstructed paper and mini-collages of your design. Learn to describe each completed page for future reference. This is a good foundational course for future collage work.  Material list available upon registration. No collage experience necessary. 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 the Art Disciplines as well as Studio classes.  Upon her return to the states she continued refining her art through classes and workshops at RISD (Rhode Island School of Design), The New Art Center in Newton – MA, South Shore Art Center – MA, West Hartford Art League, Creative Arts Workshop/New Haven, […]

    $20 – $130

  • Essex FilmFest: Opening Reception & Film Screening

    Centerbrook Architects 67 Main Street, Centerbrook, CT, United States

    Join us at Essex Library on Nov. 6 at 5:30 PM for an opening reception to celebrate the second annual Essex FilmFest! A showing of the film "What Happened Was..." is scheduled for 8 PM on Nov. 6 in the Auditorium of Centerbrook Architects. The Essex Film Festival features Guest Filmmaker Scott Macaulay. In addition to in-depth conversations with Macaulay, the festival includes four must-see films, an opening reception and a producing masterclass. The full line-up of films includes What Happened Was…, Raising Victor Vargas, The Assistant, and Gummo. For more information, visit www.essexfilmfest.com.

  • Future Fashionistas: Learn to Design and Illustrate Like A Pro! Ages 11-15

    Recurring
    Spectrum Art Gallery/Arts Center Killingworth 61 Main Street, Centerbrook, CT, United States

    Do you have a passion for style? Do you fill your notebooks with clothing doodles and dream of seeing your own designs on the runway? Step into the shoes of a real designer in this immersive, hands-on fashion illustration course! This creative studio class guides you through the entire process of bringing fashion to life. Start by mastering the fundamentals of the fashion figure and practicing dynamic poses used by professional designers to showcase clothing. As you  dive deeper into illustration, you will learn to identify classic fashion silhouettes, speak the language of style with standard fabric terms, respond to fun design prompts, and curate your  own custom color palettes. Using a mix of pencils, markers, and watercolors, practice the step-by-step workflow of brainstorming quick concept sketches and polishing them into portfolio-ready finished art pieces. All materials are provided! Just bring your imagination and enthusiasm.  A curated supply list will be provided at the start of class if you wish to keep creating and building your own toolkit at home. Jillian Nielsen began sewing and designing at a young age, attending fashion design programs in Connecticut and NYC, attended Bard College at Simon’s Rock and has a Certificate in Costume […]

    $15 – $160

  • Modern Minimal: Exploring Analog Collage

    Recurring
    Spectrum Art Gallery/Arts Center Killingworth 61 Main Street, Centerbrook, CT, United States

    This art class welcomes participants of all skill levels who are interested in analog collage. The course introduces the fundamentals of collage, focusing on minimalism and the use of a limited palette. Through guided exercises, the class learns how to select and arrange images to create visually engaging compositions. Emphasis is placed on simplicity and balance to encourage creativity within constraints and foster an appreciation for a clean, modern aesthetic. Over four studio sessions, participants practice the essential methods of analog collage: selection of substrates, cutting techniques, adhesive applications, color theory, and composition.  Projects such as creating a master board, starting and updating a studio notebook, designing artist trading cards and finally creating a personal collage are designed to practice newly acquired skills and  encourage participants to develop their own unique modern aesthetic. Small supply list available upon registration. Molly Waite Lund is an analog collage artist who lives in Essex, Connecticut.  As a self-taught artist, Lund is continuously experimenting with color, shape, relationships, and negative space.  She is compelled to repurpose vintage papers as a reminder of the history that has shaped her life. In her collages, the world that Lund imagines is a place where the familiar becomes […]

    $5 – $130

  • Zoom – Art Journaling Collage Techniques

    Recurring
    Spectrum Art Gallery/Arts Center Killingworth 61 Main Street, Centerbrook, CT, United States

    In this 4-week journey, explore collage from medium to process. Learn to transform the physical appearance of printed, vintage and specialty papers. Each journal page will showcase a medium, reconstructed paper and mini-collages of your design. Learn to describe each completed page for future reference. This is a good foundation class for future collage work. Material list available upon registration. No collage experience necessary. 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 the Art Disciplines as well as Studio classes.  Upon her return to the states she continued refining her art through classes and workshops at RISD (Rhode Island School of Design), The New Art Center in Newton – MA, South Shore Art Center – MA, West Hartford Art League, Creative Arts Workshop/New Haven, […]

    $120

  • Gallery – Art Journaling Collage Techniques

    Recurring
    Spectrum Art Gallery/Arts Center Killingworth 61 Main Street, Centerbrook, CT, United States

    In this 4-week journey explore collage from medium to process. Learn to transform the physical appearance of printed, vintage and specialty papers. Each journal page will showcase a medium, reconstructed paper and mini-collages of your design. Learn to describe each completed page for future reference. This is a good foundational course for future collage work.  Material list available upon registration. No collage experience necessary. 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 the Art Disciplines as well as Studio classes.  Upon her return to the states she continued refining her art through classes and workshops at RISD (Rhode Island School of Design), The New Art Center in Newton – MA, South Shore Art Center – MA, West Hartford Art League, Creative Arts Workshop/New Haven, […]

    $20 – $130

  • Future Fashionistas: Learn to Design and Illustrate Like A Pro! Ages 11-15

    Recurring
    Spectrum Art Gallery/Arts Center Killingworth 61 Main Street, Centerbrook, CT, United States

    Do you have a passion for style? Do you fill your notebooks with clothing doodles and dream of seeing your own designs on the runway? Step into the shoes of a real designer in this immersive, hands-on fashion illustration course! This creative studio class guides you through the entire process of bringing fashion to life. Start by mastering the fundamentals of the fashion figure and practicing dynamic poses used by professional designers to showcase clothing. As you  dive deeper into illustration, you will learn to identify classic fashion silhouettes, speak the language of style with standard fabric terms, respond to fun design prompts, and curate your  own custom color palettes. Using a mix of pencils, markers, and watercolors, practice the step-by-step workflow of brainstorming quick concept sketches and polishing them into portfolio-ready finished art pieces. All materials are provided! Just bring your imagination and enthusiasm.  A curated supply list will be provided at the start of class if you wish to keep creating and building your own toolkit at home. Jillian Nielsen began sewing and designing at a young age, attending fashion design programs in Connecticut and NYC, attended Bard College at Simon’s Rock and has a Certificate in Costume […]

    $15 – $160

  • Painting a Fall Landscape in Watercolor

    Spectrum Art Gallery/Arts Center Killingworth 61 Main Street, Centerbrook, CT, United States

    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.

    $100

  • Zoom – Art Journaling Collage Techniques

    Recurring
    Spectrum Art Gallery/Arts Center Killingworth 61 Main Street, Centerbrook, CT, United States

    In this 4-week journey, explore collage from medium to process. Learn to transform the physical appearance of printed, vintage and specialty papers. Each journal page will showcase a medium, reconstructed paper and mini-collages of your design. Learn to describe each completed page for future reference. This is a good foundation class for future collage work. Material list available upon registration. No collage experience necessary. 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 the Art Disciplines as well as Studio classes.  Upon her return to the states she continued refining her art through classes and workshops at RISD (Rhode Island School of Design), The New Art Center in Newton – MA, South Shore Art Center – MA, West Hartford Art League, Creative Arts Workshop/New Haven, […]

    $120

  • Gallery – Art Journaling Collage Techniques

    Recurring
    Spectrum Art Gallery/Arts Center Killingworth 61 Main Street, Centerbrook, CT, United States

    In this 4-week journey explore collage from medium to process. Learn to transform the physical appearance of printed, vintage and specialty papers. Each journal page will showcase a medium, reconstructed paper and mini-collages of your design. Learn to describe each completed page for future reference. This is a good foundational course for future collage work.  Material list available upon registration. No collage experience necessary. 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 the Art Disciplines as well as Studio classes.  Upon her return to the states she continued refining her art through classes and workshops at RISD (Rhode Island School of Design), The New Art Center in Newton – MA, South Shore Art Center – MA, West Hartford Art League, Creative Arts Workshop/New Haven, […]

    $20 – $130

  • Holiday Wreath Making Workshop

    Spectrum Art Gallery/Arts Center Killingworth 61 Main Street, Centerbrook, CT, United States

    Celebrate the winter season by creating your own holiday wreath. During this workshop, participants learn techniques for making a 26-30in wreath using natural materials such as pine, balsam, cedar, holly, laurel, winterberry, Andromeda and pinecones.  Discover how to work with a wreath form and to mix textures, shapes and shades of green for a lush dimensional look.  Personalize your wreath form by choosing one of our festive ribbons. All wreath materials and supplies are provided including the wreath form, wire and all decorating materials.  We recommend bringing a pair of garden gloves and garden shears/scissors. Leave with a handcrafted holiday wreath perfect for your door!

    $12 – $48

  • Creating Holiday Paper Gift Wraps Workshop

    Spectrum Art Gallery/Arts Center Killingworth 61 Main Street, Centerbrook, CT, United States

    Learn to wrap the gifts you give this year in unique ways not found in any store but created by you.  In this colorful holiday workshop design gift tags, a mini triangle gift box, a holiday card and a unique “apron” gift bag.  A variety of double-sided holiday patterned papers and supplies will be available for each set of projects. Please bring- a scissor, glue (liquid or glue stick), ruler and any other tools you think you might need.  Make each of your gift recipients feel “special” with gifts wrapped in these designs.  Happy Holidays! 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 […]

    $25

  • Holiday Sparkle Crocheted Earring Workshop

    Spectrum Art Gallery/Arts Center Killingworth 61 Main Street, Centerbrook, CT, United States

    Add a little handmade sparkle to your holiday season!  In this afternoon workshop, learn two different wire crochet techniques to create two unique pairs of beaded earrings.  Choose from a beautiful selection of holiday inspired beads, crystals and sparkling accents to create earrings that reflect your personal style.  Keep one pair for yourself and give the other as a special holiday gift, No previous jewelry making experience necessary. Jessica Dickens is an artist whose passion for creating original handmade jewelry spans over two decades. With an eye for bold and unique designs, Jessica draws inspiration from abstract and organic elements, infusing each piece with a distinctive touch. Many designs feature wire crochet and are inspired by its fluidity, reflecting a free-spirited aesthetic that resonates with those seeking individuality. Recently, she has embraced the versatility of polymer clay and marries the two motifs yielding captivating results. Her work has been featured on fashion show runways, Jewelry Television (JTV) Jewel School and in publications including Belle Armoire Jewelry Magazine. For 15 years, she sold her work at jazz and arts and crafts festivals on the east coast and continues to sell her work online and her work is currently exhibited at Spectrum Gallery in […]

    $20 – $65