Fresh Perspectives to Fine Art Instruction

Peninsula School of Art instructor Ann Thomas offers “Outdoor Sketching,” one of several workshops for beginners at the School in 2014.

The newly released 2014 Summer/Fall Adult Workshop Catalog for Peninsula School of Art offers an expansive selection of workshops that embrace a wide variety of media at every skill level.

According to Andra Nyman, Director of Adult Education Programs, the diverse schedule with 100 workshops is necessary for a vital fine art curriculum.

“The school balances its schedule by offering workshops that employ traditional fine art techniques with those that explore the latest trends,” she says. “From children’s book illustration to taking compelling photographs with an iPhone, we provide an exciting curriculum.”

Beginning students may start their creative journey by choosing from an extensive list of sketching and drawing workshops that includes “Pocket Sketching” with Kath McCauley, “Outdoor Sketching” with Ann Thomas, and Bill Buchman’s “Expressive Figure Drawing.”

From beginner through accomplished artist, there are painting workshops that appeal to students who wish to depict an abstract view. Among them are “Adventures in Abstract Acrylics” with Karen Calkins Ragus, and for advanced beginner and above, Door County artist Emmett Johns offers “Abstract Painting: Order Within Chaos.” For her first time teaching at the School, internationally-recognized painter Debora Stewart will teach “Creating Abstractions in Pastel and Acrylic” for all levels, except novice.

Advanced beginner painters who desire to bring abstract imagery to natural subjects would enjoy Debora Stewart’s “Creating Abstractions in Pastel and Acrylic” workshop at Peninsula School of Art.

Two award-winning plein air artists, who will participate in the eighth annual Door County Plein Air Festival, July 20 – 26, will bookend the Festival with three-day workshops. Tim Horn teaches “Capturing Light and Shadow in Plein Air” before the Festival while fellow Californian, Greg LaRock, instructs students on how to “Take Your Plein Air Paintings to the Next Level” after the event.

As an addition to traditional reference materials, Susan Ploughe will teach students how to make the most of their iPad as a creative tool.

Technology also becomes the focus of an art business workshop. Taught by jewelry instructor, Joy Kruse, students discover not only how to begin, but increase their presence on the web through “Launching and Running an Etsy Shop.”

There are also new three-dimensional workshops to offer instruction in both functional and decorative works. Katie Biderbost teaches ceramics students to make serving pieces in her workshop, “Art for the Table,” while Sylvia Youell teaches “Creating a Spoon Using Silversmithing Techniques.” Author and artist Victoria Landsford will instruct students in ancient metalsmithing techniques during her “Russian Filigree” workshop.

First-time Peninsula School of Art instructors Robin Power and Douglas Freeman will provide new perspectives to the workshops, “The Figure in Clay” and “The Portrait in Clay,” respectively. Melissa Gohman, also a new faculty member, will lead “Figurative Sculpture in Clay.” Gohman’s work centers on narrative sculpture.

Public registration for workshops is now open. To see a catalog, visit PeninsulaSchoolofArt.org.