From Michele Hiegel
The “Creative Drawing” classes have begun here at the Wassenberg Art Center, and instructor Pat Rayman is leading the group through a series of exercises designed to improve drawing skills and creativity. It sounded as if everyone was having a good time last Monday evening. Pat’s motto is “There are no mistakes in art,” and she encourages people to find their own style and way of working.
For the first exercise, Pat did a quick demonstration of how to draw a pumpkin and cornstalk in pencil and pen. She had brought small pumpkins and cornstalks so that everyone could set up his or her own individual still life to work from. Pat then showed everyone how to add color with colored pencils.
For the next exercise, each person did a pencil sketch on gessoed paper, blending the values with their fingers or a paper stomp (tortillion).
It was an interesting evening and everyone is looking forward to the next session. Our staff member Kay Sluterbeck is taking the class and she says, “This is a great class for everyone. My brother is taking the class, and he is at a level where he can draw a little and wants to learn more about drawing techniques. I have a lot of experience, but I enjoy the exercises and the chance to draw with a group, and I learn a lot. One of the best things about these classes is seeing what everyone does with the drawing exercises because each person does cool work in their own style.”
We are still taking registrations for the “Fun with Watercolor and Mixed Media” class and the “Dynamic Cardmaking” three-hour workshop. The watercolor class will be held November 1, 8, 15 and 22 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The workshop is November 6 from 9 a.m. to noon. Contact the art center or visit the website at www.vanwert.com/wassenberg for more information.
The 33rd Annual October Photography Exhibit is on display at the Wassenberg Art Center now through October 29, from 1-5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday (closed Mondays). Admission is free. The exhibit is sponsored by Citizens National Bank.
Many of our members have inquired about the upcoming Members’ Show and Sale, which will run November 14 through December 11. Prospectuses with rules and entry forms will be in the mail to you shortly (if they are not already on the way). This is a great show and we hope all our members will enter their work. If you paint, draw, sculpt, make pottery, or do original craft work (items made from kits or from commercial/other people’s patterns are not acceptable) and are not an art center member, get a membership — they start at $25 annually for an individual — and enter your work into this exhibit! It includes a judged show and a sales gallery.
The Wassenberg Art Center is located at 643 S. Washington Street, Van Wert. Call us at 419.238.6837, toll free 1.888.238.3837, or e-mail wassenberg@embarqmail.com for information on activities and exhibits, or to register for classes.
IMAGE: One of the exercises in the Creative Drawing class was to draw a fall still life and then color it with pencils.The participants’ work ranged from simple line drawings to more complex work, depending on their skill levels. This was drawn in pencil, ink and colored pencil by advanced student Kay Sluterbeck.