New classes at the Wassenberg

By Hope Wallace

We are very excited to announce a brand new set of engaging art classes for all ages, interests and skill levels. Art is not relegated to strictly artists! Creativity is basic human nature, not inherited through genetics. The Wassenberg Art Center is available to serve Van Wert and surrounding counties and being approximately 30 miles from Fort Wayne, it’s a short drive. The classes below will be conducted at the Wassenberg Art Center in Van Wert, Ohio with dates and times listed below. June classes and summer camps will follow. For more information, class supplies or to sign up, give us a call, email or check out our website. You may register and pay online as well. 

Calling all tee-shirts. Do you have a bunch of old tee-shirts laying around the house you never wear? Just sitting there, in the way… If so, we will take them off your hands and they will be upcycled and reincarnated as a colorful woven rug! Simply drop them off at the art center Tuesday through Friday 1-5 or call us to arrange a better time. We are also looking for empty (clean) kitty litter jugs, milk jugs, plastic caps, plastic bottles and any plastic item you might otherwise put in your recycling with the exception of grocery bags. They multiply all on their own under my sink. Again, please wash the items we’d really appreciate that. We will be making masks with found objects for one of our summer camps and will use these items to create them with.

Multi-Mix Media (adult) April 3, 10, 17, 24, from 6:30 p.m.–8:30 p.m. Instructor: Pat Rayman. $30 members, $35 non-members. Have fun combining different media to create unusual 3D effects.

Premier Coup (adult) April 12, from 6:00 p.m.–8:30 p.m. Instructor: Brooke Lancey. $35 members, $40 non-members.  Premier Coup is a term (french) that refers to the art technique of completing a painting at one sitting. Also known as Alla Prima (italian). Bring a bottle of wine and relax with our instructor Brooke Lancey as she demonstrates how to loosen up and enjoy painting for the mere action of painting itself. You will complete one painting ready to hang on your wall in this one-night course. Materials provided.

Ceramics (ages 8-12) April 14, 21, 28, from 10:00 a.m.–noon. Instructor: Matt Temple. $30 members, $35 non-members. Young people will work with traditional ceramics and pottery techniques to learn some of the basic principles of working with clay. If this is a second round of ceramics classes, you may continue where you left off with your first class if you wish. We’ll explore techniques such as slab-work, throwing or a simple coil pot, etc. What you decide to make is up to you! Sign up early, class size is limited. 
Materials provided.

Beginning Oil Painting (adult, youth) Every Wednesday from 
10:00 a.m.–noon & 6:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m. Instructor: Sally Geething. 
$50 members, $55 non-members. Sally Geething, a well-known area oil painter and instructor will not only teach you to learn to use traditional oils in a landscape class, you will also relax and enjoy in the fun of painting–laughs guaranteed!  Bring a friend!

Tee Rug Weave! (adult, parent/child) April 19, 26 from 6:30 p.m.–8:00 p.m. Instructor: Brooke Lancey. $30 members, $35 non-members. Bring your old tee-shirts to the Wassenberg Art Center, perhaps some that you can’t think of throwing away, and we’ll show you step by step how to weave a cushy, soft and bright rug! This class is a great opportunity to sign up for a parent/child class and spend some time together creating. Materials: Bring about 10 old tee-shirts with colors you like. We’ll have some here, but consider your decor.

LineArt 2D (adult, parent/child) April 28 from 10:00 a.m.–noon. Instructor: Scott Kraemer. $15 members, $20 non-members. You’ll create thought-stream images of self-expression where one thought becomes another.  This class is geared for non-artists and artists alike. Make a mistake? Turn it into something else. Hey Mom (or Dad)! Bring me along. (we suggest ages 9 and up) Materials provided.

LineArt 3D Plates (adult, parent/child) April 28 from 1:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m. Instructor: Scott Kraemer. $25 members, $30 non-members. Make a plate with a simple thought stream LineArt technique. Using underglaze pens, you will create a one-of-kind plate with drawings or patterns, then add a clear over glaze; we’ll fire in the kiln and you’ll pick up your finished piece in a week. This class is geared for non-artists and artists. Mom (or Dad), bring me along, we can make plates together! (we suggest ages 9 and up) Materials provided.

Dynamic Acrylic (adult) May 1, 8, 15, 22 from 6:30 p.m.–8:30 p.m. Instructor: Pat Rayman. $30 members, $35 non-members. Learn the basics of acrylic painting along with learning how to achieve dramatic lighting effects and create mood. A variety of subjects will be explored. Materials required: 8″x10″ canvas paper pad, canvas boards, stretched canvas or artist panel boards (one per class) at least (5) tubes acrylic paint, a drawing pencil, palette (we use foam or paper plates), kneaded eraser.

Shoot Out! (ages 16–adult) May 1 & 3: Nature, May 15 & 17: Architecture, May 29 & 30: Portraits from 6:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m. Instructor: Douglas Heckler. Each session: $30 members, $35 for non-members. All 3 sessions: $80 members, $95 non-members. Great photography instruction is hands on, outdoors and inside. Back by popular demand, Doug Heckler will get you out of the box to experience real-life photography. Day #1 of each session is the shoot and day #2 an in-house critique. Materials required: 35mm digital SLR (single lens reflex) camera, preferably with interchangeable lens, 4GB jump-drive.

Ceramics (adult) May 2, 9, 16, 23 from 6:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m. Instructor: Matt Temple $40 members, $45 non-members. Whether you have worked with traditional ceramics and pottery in the past or you have never touched the stuff, this class will teach you some of the basic principles of working with clay. If you have taken ceramics with us last quarter, you are able to pick up where you left off or start anew. Materials provided.

Silk Painting (adult) May 3, 10, 17, 24 from 7:00 p.m.–8:30 p.m. Instructor: Brooke Lancey. $30 members, $35 non-members. Dying silk is a relaxing way to paint. This time we’ll dye a 14” x 14” pillow cover or umbrella! Use a pre-designed pattern, or take the road less traveled and design your own with layers of delicious colors that practically paint themselves. Materials provided. Sign up early, class size is very limited.

Ceramics (ages 13-17) May 5, 12, 19, 26 at 10:00 a.m.–noon. Instructor: Matt Temple. $40 members, $45 non-members. We will work with traditional ceramics and pottery to learn some basic principles. If this is your second round of ceramics classes, you may continue where you left off with your first class. We’ll explore techniques such as slab-work, throwing or a simple coil pot, etc. Sign up early, class size is limited. Materials provided.

Photoshop Shop (ages 16–adult) May 15 from 6:30 p.m.–8:30 p.m. Instructor: Hope Wallace $35 members, $40 non-members. In this workshop, you will learn a quick overview of one of the world’s most massive computer programs. You will learn some basic layering and photo retouching techniques as well as image editing. We’ll also go over some good alternative image editing software.
 Materials required: Laptop computer (PC or MAC) and appropriate software. Contact us for more information.

Clay Print Magnets (adult, parent/child) May 22, 29 from 6:30 p.m.–8:00 p.m. Instructor: Ralph Stuckman. $35 members, $40 non-members. Learn a new (and reusable) way to create one of a kind magnet stamps using your own artwork! Carve a master stamp and create as many ceramic magnets as you like. Ralph Stuckman, Celina will be conducting this class. Suitable for all ages and artistic levels we encourage young people to bring along a parent or adult friend and take 
the class together. Materials are provided.

Watercolor Techniques (adult) June 5, 12, 19, 26 from 6:30 p.m.–8:30 p.m. Instructor: Pat Rayman. $30 members, $35 non-members.  This workshop is designed to motivate creative ideas. The class will experiment with various materials to make one of a kind paintings. Materials required*: Watercolors, watercolor paper (140 lb), brushes, palette (we use foam/paper plates), drawing pencil, kneaded eraser. *all other supplies provided by the instructor.

Wassenberg Art Center’s general office hours are: Tuesday–Sunday, 1–5 p.m. Admission to the Wassenberg Art Center is always free. Contact us at 419.238.6837 or email:  admin@wassenbergartcenter.org, or for sign up options and further information on classes visit our website at wassenbergartcenter.org.