Spectrum Art Gallery

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: […]

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 […]

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: […]

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: […]

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: […]

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: […]

In this session the focus is on the Line……a moving point, a dot that goes for a walk which can vary in length, width, direction and curvature. The alphabet is composed of lines so projects will include each child’s name and letters of the alphabet as a focus for designing an Egyptian Cartouche where children use the hieroglyphic alphabet to sketch the symbols that represent the letters or sounds of their names.  Their names will also be designed into a colorful drawing as they review color theory: primary, secondary, warm, cool, complimentary & tertiary colors. Using their knowledge of color theory and lines they will create an abstract crayon-resist watercolor painting connecting the letters of the alphabet. They’ll practice more line drawings as they learn to draw word art animals and finally design a poster with a short positive message and illustrations to help spotlight their message.  April 8, 2026 - May 13, 2026  4:00 pm - 5:30 pm All classes are held on Wednesdays, 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM at Spectrum Gallery, 61 Main Street, Centerbrook.  Cost is $125 per child.  Dates are as follows: April 8, April 22, April 29; May 6, May 13. For more information call (860)767-0742 or email barbara@spectrumartgallery.org To register visit  https://essexct.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=1512

In this session the focus is on the Line……a moving point, a dot that goes for a walk which can vary in length, width, direction and curvature. The alphabet is composed of lines so projects will include each child’s name and letters of the alphabet as a focus for designing an Egyptian Cartouche where children use the hieroglyphic alphabet to sketch the symbols that represent the letters or sounds of their names.  Their names will also be designed into a colorful drawing as they review color theory: primary, secondary, warm, cool, complimentary & tertiary colors. Using their knowledge of color theory and lines they will create an abstract crayon-resist watercolor painting connecting the letters of the alphabet. They’ll practice more line drawings as they learn to draw word art animals and finally design a poster with a short positive message and illustrations to help spotlight their message.  April 8, 2026 - May 13, 2026  4:00 pm - 5:30 pm All classes are held on Wednesdays, 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM at Spectrum Gallery, 61 Main Street, Centerbrook.  Cost is $125 per child.  Dates are as follows: April 8, April 22, April 29; May 6, May 13. For more information call (860)767-0742 or email barbara@spectrumartgallery.org To register visit  https://essexct.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=1512

In this session the focus is on the Line……a moving point, a dot that goes for a walk which can vary in length, width, direction and curvature. The alphabet is composed of lines so projects will include each child’s name and letters of the alphabet as a focus for designing an Egyptian Cartouche where children use the hieroglyphic alphabet to sketch the symbols that represent the letters or sounds of their names.  Their names will also be designed into a colorful drawing as they review color theory: primary, secondary, warm, cool, complimentary & tertiary colors. Using their knowledge of color theory and lines they will create an abstract crayon-resist watercolor painting connecting the letters of the alphabet. They’ll practice more line drawings as they learn to draw word art animals and finally design a poster with a short positive message and illustrations to help spotlight their message.  April 8, 2026 - May 13, 2026  4:00 pm - 5:30 pm All classes are held on Wednesdays, 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM at Spectrum Gallery, 61 Main Street, Centerbrook.  Cost is $125 per child.  Dates are as follows: April 8, April 22, April 29; May 6, May 13. For more information call (860)767-0742 or email barbara@spectrumartgallery.org To register visit  https://essexct.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=1512

In this session the focus is on the Line……a moving point, a dot that goes for a walk which can vary in length, width, direction and curvature. The alphabet is composed of lines so projects will include each child’s name and letters of the alphabet as a focus for designing an Egyptian Cartouche where children use the hieroglyphic alphabet to sketch the symbols that represent the letters or sounds of their names.  Their names will also be designed into a colorful drawing as they review color theory: primary, secondary, warm, cool, complimentary & tertiary colors. Using their knowledge of color theory and lines they will create an abstract crayon-resist watercolor painting connecting the letters of the alphabet. They’ll practice more line drawings as they learn to draw word art animals and finally design a poster with a short positive message and illustrations to help spotlight their message.  April 8, 2026 - May 13, 2026  4:00 pm - 5:30 pm All classes are held on Wednesdays, 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM at Spectrum Gallery, 61 Main Street, Centerbrook.  Cost is $125 per child.  Dates are as follows: April 8, April 22, April 29; May 6, May 13. For more information call (860)767-0742 or email barbara@spectrumartgallery.org To register visit  https://essexct.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=1512

In this session the focus is on the Line……a moving point, a dot that goes for a walk which can vary in length, width, direction and curvature. The alphabet is composed of lines so projects will include each child’s name and letters of the alphabet as a focus for designing an Egyptian Cartouche where children use the hieroglyphic alphabet to sketch the symbols that represent the letters or sounds of their names.  Their names will also be designed into a colorful drawing as they review color theory: primary, secondary, warm, cool, complimentary & tertiary colors. Using their knowledge of color theory and lines they will create an abstract crayon-resist watercolor painting connecting the letters of the alphabet. They’ll practice more line drawings as they learn to draw word art animals and finally design a poster with a short positive message and illustrations to help spotlight their message.  April 8, 2026 - May 13, 2026  4:00 pm - 5:30 pm All classes are held on Wednesdays, 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM at Spectrum Gallery, 61 Main Street, Centerbrook.  Cost is $125 per child.  Dates are as follows: April 8, April 22, April 29; May 6, May 13. For more information call (860)767-0742 or email barbara@spectrumartgallery.org To register visit  https://essexct.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=1512

The days are spent working with professional designers and seamstresses on two projects. The first is sketching, designing and sewing a re-fashion of a pair of jeans into a unique skirt. The second project is learning to read, pin and cut a commercial pattern of your choice. You will then machine sew and finish your garment adding accessories for the end of the week fashion show.Professional hair and makeup stylists help prepare you for your photo shoot and fashion show. No previous sewing or design experience necessary for Fashion Week. Material lists available upon registration. July 20 - July 24, 2026 9 am - 5:30 pm

The days are spent working with professional designers and seamstresses on two projects. The first is sketching, designing and sewing a re-fashion of a pair of jeans into a unique skirt. The second project is learning to read, pin and cut a commercial pattern of your choice. You will then machine sew and finish your garment adding accessories for the end of the week fashion show.Professional hair and makeup stylists help prepare you for your photo shoot and fashion show. No previous sewing or design experience necessary for Fashion Week. Material lists available upon registration. July 20 - July 24, 2026 9 am - 5:30 pm

The days are spent working with professional designers and seamstresses on two projects. The first is sketching, designing and sewing a re-fashion of a pair of jeans into a unique skirt. The second project is learning to read, pin and cut a commercial pattern of your choice. You will then machine sew and finish your garment adding accessories for the end of the week fashion show.Professional hair and makeup stylists help prepare you for your photo shoot and fashion show. No previous sewing or design experience necessary for Fashion Week. Material lists available upon registration. July 20 - July 24, 2026 9 am - 5:30 pm

The days are spent working with professional designers and seamstresses on two projects. The first is sketching, designing and sewing a re-fashion of a pair of jeans into a unique skirt. The second project is learning to read, pin and cut a commercial pattern of your choice. You will then machine sew and finish your garment adding accessories for the end of the week fashion show.Professional hair and makeup stylists help prepare you for your photo shoot and fashion show. No previous sewing or design experience necessary for Fashion Week. Material lists available upon registration. July 20 - July 24, 2026 9 am - 5:30 pm