Adult Classes
Fall Adult Classes and Workshops
Fall 2010 Session runs for ten weeks:
September 20 - November 28, 2010
Classes are arranged by day of the week beginning with those running on Mondays.
Classes that are listed as CLOSED are not available for registration at this time either because they are full, because they are not running, or because they are not open for registration yet.
Click Here to search for classes by medium.
Classes limited to 12 students unless otherwise noted.
If you would like to take advantage of the sizeable Member discount on Yard School classes, please sign up for a Montclair Art Museum Membership FIRST, before paying for your Yard School of Art classes.
Drawing Painting Pastel Sculpture Ceramics Mixed Media Theory and Mentoring Workshops Professional Development Workshops
Drawing
100AD Introduction to Drawing
Mondays, 7 – 9:30 p.m.
$250 members, $280 nonmembers
Marion Held
This class is an introduction to the art of drawing for the novice or those wishing to enhance their skills. Students will complete exercises in all aspects of drawing including the expressive line, light, shade and tonal values, and study of structural planes. The class will include three sessions with a model. Course includes an overview of different mediums and papers.
Painting
300APL Landscape Oil Painting
Two classes offered:
Mondays, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Tuesdays, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
$250 members, $280 non-members
Gary Godbee
This course is for the intermediate student who wishes to learn techniques of landscape painting with oils. Emphasis is placed on the atmospheric effects of light and shade, tonal values, and the process of uniting these elements into a balanced composition. Students can use reference materials such as photographs or take subject matter directly from nature. Individual attention will be provided, allowing each person to express his/her own unique style.
200AP Introduction to Painting
Mondays, 7 - 9:30 p.m.
$250 members, $280 nonmembers
Suzanne Baron
Learn the techniques of oil and acrylic painting in a fun, hands-on environment. This course is designed for the beginner or intermediate student who would like to brush-up on the basics. This class will cover how to choose the right materials, as well as learn the basics of color theory and composition so you can create a painting. Work in a supportive atmosphere that develops a personal statement. Model fees included for three sessions.
400AP Intermediate Painting
Tuesdays, 7 – 9:30 p.m.
$260 members, $290 nonmembers
Janet Boltax
This is a follow-up course to Introduction to Painting. Students taking this class should have some drawing skills, and experience with either oil or acrylic paint. Using the figure, still life, and independent projects, students will explore and further develop their own style and comfort level with paint. This class will teach the subtleties of color mixing, varieties of painting techniques, and compositional analysis to the next level. Class is relaxed, but focused.
300API Realist Painting
Tuesdays, 7 - 9:30 p.m.
$250 members, $280 nonmembers
Robert Kogge
This class will present an approach that challenges the boundaries of painting and drawing in joining them to a single process. This approach will demonstrate the significance in personalizing one's materials and methods to best suit if not enhance your aesthetic sensibilities. How one creates will be regarded with highlighted importance as to what one creates. The heavy weave of the woven canvas as the dominant ground activates the positive and negative space against the rendered marks and forms. A class will include an introduction to Robert Kogge's artwork and process as well as historic examples including Georges Seurat, Paul Cezanne, Marcel Duchamp, Jackson Pollack, Jasper Johns, Louise Nevelson, Andy Warhol, and Chuck Close, whose departure from traditional methods was critical in realizing their particular vision.
300ADP Drawing Into Painting
Thursdays, 6:30 – 9:30 p.m.
$260 members, $290 nonmembers
John Atura
This class will focus on the process of taking the drawn figurative image and transforming it through painting by using the long pose and direct observation of the figure in its environment. By drawing with the intent of making the transition into painting, students will translate values into color while limiting the use of line in favor of analyzing the model in terms of tone, mass and shape. Students will be encouraged to work abstractly toward refining a representational image. Human anatomy and proportion will be addressed with an emphasis on placing it within a strong overall composition. The premise is that improving your drawing will improve your painting.
301AP Genre Painting, Drawing and Composition
Wednesdays, 1 - 4 p.m.
$260 members, $290 nonmembers
Alex Piccirillo
An intense course in painting and drawing, with emphasis on composing the figure in a natural environment. Light and shadow, color, and texture will be explored in developing the pictorial image. Each pose will last three to four weeks, depending on its complexity. Any medium may be used.
302AP Representational Painting and Drawing
Wednesdays, 7 – 9:30 p.m.
$260 members, $290 nonmembers
Alex Piccirillo
This course teaches realistic portraiture, figure drawing and painting using charcoal, pastel and oil paint from direct observation of a live model. Learn to develop the expression and individuality of each model. Problem solving concerning light, dark, shade, and color will be emphasized. Open to all levels.
303AP Portraiture
Thursdays, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Thursdays, 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
$260 members, $290 nonmembers
Gary Godbee
Learn traditional portraiture with the use of oils, pastels, or charcoal from direct observation of a live model. This course offers a unique study of the structure and proportions of the face. Through demonstrations and individual instruction, each student will achieve an understanding of the head and features, color mixture, tonal values, and composition. All levels welcome.
305APW Watercolor Techniques
Daytime & Evening Classes
• Thursdays, 9:30 a.m. – Noon
• Thursdays, 7 – 9:30 p.m.
• Fridays, 9:30 a.m. – Noon
$250 members, $290 nonmembers
Sharon Pitts
Watercolor is a beautiful and versatile medium. This course emphasizes the creative use of the paint and goes beyond the general information found in “how-to” books. Subject matter includes florals, still life, figure, and landscape, both plein air and from photos. We will concentrate on use of the palette, texture, composition, values, design, and color work. Regular demonstrations will give students a basis for starting their own work and individual attention is provided to encourage each student to find his or her own direction. Students of all levels are welcome.
405APW The World of Watercolor
Fridays, 1:30 – 4 p.m.
$250 members, $290 nonmembers
Sharon Pitts
Experience the exciting medium of watercolor in a fun and relaxed atmosphere. Work with color, value, composition, and many other techniques to make beautiful and interesting watercolors. With an emphasis on personal creativity, students will be encouraged to express their individuality. Demonstrations of techniques and personal attention will be provided. Students will work from a variety of subject matter including photographs, still life, figure, and landscape. Plein air work when possible.
NEW! 201AP Silk Painting
Tuesdays, 7 - 9:30 p.m.
$250 members, $280 nonmembers
Ritika Gandhi
Explore the beautiful and exotic technique of silk painting. Students will learn how to design for silk, as well as have the opportunity to choose from designs provided by the instructor. Information about tools, techniques and processes will be included, as well as class demonstrations covering gutta resist, stretching silk, the use of salt and alcohol to create different effects, shading and blending to create form, painting backgrounds, free-hand techniques, and more. All supplies provided. Please bring a $60 materials fee, payable to the instructor, on the first day of class.
Pastel
201APP Pastels en Plein Air: Fall
Thursdays, 1 – 4 p.m.
$260 members, $290 nonmembers
Catherine Kinkade
This engaging, meditative approach teaches you how to address color as a tool for rendering the landscape in pastel. Open to all levels in the fall, this class uses drawing, painting, and mixed media techniques to examine composition, perspective and the personal palette. The first of a three-semester course customized to its participants.
602APP Independent Study in Pastel
Wednesdays, 9:30 – 12:30 p.m.
$260 members, $290 nonmembers
Catherine Kinkade
This three-semester independent study course is geared toward plein air painting, primarily through sketching and painting with pastel, pen and ink, and mixed media. Group critiques and studio piece homework will be based upon on-site observation. Students will select subject matter to address for a month, including large-scale drawing; a model for figure or portraiture; composition format; and advanced color study, such as in-depth line exploration and seasonal site analysis. Open to students with a basic understanding of pastel application, rendering the landscape and applied color theory.
Sculpture
Portrait Sculpture in Clay
Thursdays, 7 - 9:30 p.m.
$260 members, $290 nonmembers
Jose Anico
This course is an exploration of portraiture for students interested in learning how to model a bust in clay. Working from a model each week, students will learn how to use a wire armature to build their projects, as well as study proportion and the relationship between features. Topics such as preparing your project for the kiln and the process of patina are included. For students of all skill levels. Class limited to 10 students.
Ceramics
100APC The Handbuilt Ceramic Form
Mondays, 7 – 9:30 p.m.
$275 members, $295 nonmembers
Peg Kenselaar
Long before the invention of the potter's wheel, people were forming vessels and sculptures by hand. This course will offer a personal, hands-on approach to creating functional and/or decorative clay pieces that will be glazed and kiln-fired. We will explore the fundamentals of working with the clay itself, necessary tools, surface treatments, and glazing. Possible project ideas and approaches include cups, bowls, vases, tiles, sculptures, use of molds, and the use of found objects to create texture. Clay, tools, glazes, and firing included in cost of class. All levels welcome. Class limited to 10.
Mixed Media
200AMM The Figure in Mixed Media
Wednesdays, 7 – 9:30 p.m.
$260 members, $290 nonmembers
John Atura
Working from ideas, drawings, and observation of the human form, we will create collages and experimental mixed media pieces that are your personal interpretation of the figure. Materials will include a variety of papers, cardboard, and other imagery. Students are welcome to bring embellishments of significance from home. This is a process-oriented course that welcomes experimentation and risk.
NEW! 200AC Collage and Beyond
Wednesdays, 7 – 9:30 p.m.
$230 members, $260 nonmembers
Ben Prager
Discover the endless possibilities of collage! In a series of weekly projects we will focus on aspects of collage, including pattern, texture and transparency, reassembly, and subtraction. Using simple tools and all manner of stuff we will put these elements together in more developed projects that explore the nature of the materials, as well as scale, content and sustainability. Class discussions and examples of artists’ work will illuminate collage techniques and forms. Open to all levels.
NEW! 200AI Creating Greeting Cards and Stationery
Wednesdays, 7 - 9:30 p.m.
$250 members, $280 nonmembers
Kristine Lombardi
Have you ever looked at the cards in a store and thought “I could do this”? Then this is the class for you. During this course, you will learn how to create art for use on all kinds of greeting cards such as birthdays, get wells, thank-you’s, blank notes and invitations. Create unique one-of-a-kind cards for your friends and family using different methods and techniques such as collage, embellishments with glitters and trims, rubber stamping and your own personal drawings and paintings.
Theory And Mentoring
500AA Path to Abstraction
Thursdays, 1:30 - 4 p.m.
$250 members, $280 nonmembers
Pat Butynski
For the intermediate and advanced student of drawing and/or painting that is interested in learning how to work towards creating non-objective art. Explore how to create an abstraction from specific subject matter, looking at artists such as Piet Mondrian, Marcel Duchamp, and Pablo Picasso. Additionally, while looking at Abstract Expressionist artists such as Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko, students will learn to disregard a traditional subject and make the elements of design the subject, inspired by personal expression. Abstraction can be achieved through the unification of the elements of form, color, and composition, an open mind, and a sense of adventure!
Dip Into Workshop Series
The Yard School of Art continues to offer its outstanding series of workshops for adults. Try a new medium or build on existing knowledge to develop a broader level of expertise. One-part and two-part workshops allow you to expand your skills in a shorter class cycle. Space is limited, so register early. Please provide your own supplies, unless otherwise noted.
Printmaking from the Museum to the Studio
Saturday, October 16, 23 and 30
Saturday, October 16th 12-4 p.m.
Saturday, October 23, and 30th 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
$375 members, $395 nonmembers
Mona Brody
This is a unique opportunity to explore printmaking at the Museum and make an edition of prints both on and off the press in Mona Brody's studio. The first session will commence in the Museum’s galleries where you will study pieces from the collection for historical, expressive, and technical reference. Next you will develop your idea at MAM's studio and prepare for your printmaking experience. The second and third sessions will take place in the artist's studio where you will experiment with non-toxic techniques to create an edition of prints. Materials fee of $50 payable to the instructor.
Fall Foliage in Watercolor
Sunday, October 24
10 a.m.-3 p.m.
$90 members, $110 nonmembers
Sharon Pitts
Autumn is an exuberant season of beauty and color. In this plein air workshop held at Verona Park, we will work to capture the brilliant colors of autumn leaves in a natural setting. Students will have the chance to concentrate on realistic or abstract paintings using subjects such as leaves, branches, berries, the water and sky, and more. All levels welcome.
Chelsea Art Ramble
Saturday, October 16
11 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
$30 members, $50 nonmembers
Martha Kelshaw
Explore the exciting galleries in New York’s Chelsea neighborhood with MAM’s Manager of Public Programs and artist Martha Kelshaw as your guide. View a wide variety of art that will either delight the eye, provoke thought, or both! Tour goers will meet at 11 a.m. at a designated location in Chelsea. We will tour a selection of galleries, stop for a light lunch and a lively discussion of what we’ve seen. Please wear comfortable shoes and clothing, appropriate for rain or shine. Lunch fee not included. Meeting location provided at time of registration.
One Block, Amazing Colors-The "White Line Woodcut"
Saturday, October 23, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.
10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
$90 members, $110 nonmembers
Dorothy Cochran, Printmaker
Inspired by traditional Japanese prints, also known as the “Provincetown Print,” the white line woodcut is relief printed in full color using only one block as the printing matrix. This workshop will provide participants with an in depth exploration of this print method, from the creation of a drawing, to simple linear wood carving, paper selection and hand printing the block with watercolor. You will be guided to create a series of unique and vibrant monoprints using a single block. Students will need to bring some supplies from home, such as photographs or sketches to use as a starting point. A short list will be provided with your workshop confirmation. A materials fee of $30 for wood, cutting tools, paper, etc. is payable to the instructor.
Art Business and Marketing
Sunday, October 24
2:30 - 5:30 p.m.
$75 members, $85 nonmembers
Liron Sissman, M.B.A.
This interactive workshop will help you develop a winning portfolio, professionally present yourself to the right galleries, spread the word, create a buzz, and sell your artworks. Learn how to research your market relative to galleries and your own works, how to maximize your income, how to get the most out of your website, and what pitfalls to avoid along the way. Other topics covered include copyright for artists, taxes, and self-publishing. You will leave the workshop with a strategy, a plan for success, and the necessary resources. If possible, please bring your résumé, biography, artist statement, and any marketing materials you may already have.
Anatomy of a Handbag
Sunday, June 6
10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
$90 members, $110 nonmembers
Jennifer Siletski, Professional handbag sample-maker/designerLiron
Curious as to what gives a handbag its department store look? This workshop will give you a chance to bring professionalism and polish to your work. In step-by-step format, students begin with patternmaking, followed by cutting, gluing, sewing and assembly processes. A resource list and detailed notes will be provided by the instructor. At the end of the workshop, you will take home a mock-up of the bag you designed. Please bring your own sewing machine, beige thread, and a bag lunch to class. Limited to 7 students.
MAMathon
Saturday, November 20
10 a.m.-4 p.m.
$60 members, $80 nonmembers
Hosted by John Atura
Join us for an all-day drawing and painting marathon. Held in the Museum’s spacious Leir Hall, students will spend six hours drawing and/or painting from models in a series of dynamic long and short poses. With models staged in the center of the room, all students are sure to have an interesting and unique vantage point. Students may work in drawing or painting medium of choice. Easels and tables provided.
Techniques and Materials of the Old Masters
November 21st
10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
$75 members, $95 nonmembers
Julian Tejera
When one walks through museums, it is hard not to be struck by the works of such masters like Rembrandt, Rubens, and Velazquez. Natural discoloring and aging of the surface aside, their artworks have a surprising freshness and vitality that is lost in works being done as recently as the nineteenth century. This workshop will introduce students to an exciting new formula based on extensive research, trial and error. While it may never be known what mediums they used for certain, this solvent-free, all natural, homemade paint vehicle ensures durability and full control of the paints in ways not available with commercial products. Free samples will be available for each student to test out on their own.
Chelsea Art Ramble
Saturday, June 12
11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
$30 members, $50 nonmembers
Martha Kelshaw
Explore the exciting galleries in New York’s Chelsea neighborhood with MAM’s Manager of Public Programs and artist Martha Kelshaw as your guide. View a wide variety of art that will either delight the eye, provoke thought, or both! Tour goers will meet at 11 a.m. at a designated location in Chelsea. We will tour a selection of galleries, stop for a light lunch and a lively discussion of what we’ve seen. Please wear comfortable shoes and clothing, appropriate for rain or shine. Lunch fee not included. Meeting location provided at time of registration.
Printmaking
200APM Plate, Ink and Paper: An Introduction to Hand Rubbed Prints
8 Sessions, Tuesdays, 1:30-4 p.m.
Starting Tuesday, October 12
$200 members, $230 nonmembers
Dorothy Cochran
Challenge your artistic curiosity by exploring printmaking with bite size experiences. Each class will focus on the “how to” of a print technique including monotype, linoleum, woodcut, collagraph, digital transfer, and trace prints. Plates will be made, inked and printed by hand during each class, creating a portfolio of finished images at class end. Water-based Akua inks and rag papers will be used for all processes. Artists working in other media are welcome, all levels can participate.
