Fall 2023 Class List

This course is designed for students who have a strong foundation in drawing and cartooning concepts. The sole purpose of cartooning or illustration is to tell a story. In this class, we explore not only telling a story but expressing individuality through the use of illustration techniques that can be applied in any medium. Students will participate in class critiques as they work together, discuss each other’s work, and support one another’s growth.

Take your drawing and cartooning skills to the next level with Jim Giar. Jim attended CCAD, studying illustration and photography. He adopted advice from his illustration instructor as a lifelong mantra: “every illustration should tell a story.” Recently he has contributed to several anthologies, including the Harvey Award nominated Once Upon A Time Machine published by Locust Moon & Dark Horse Comics, as well as the New York Times best seller FUBAR: Empire of the Rising Dead. He shares his love of comics with kids, looking to motivate the young storytellers of the future to continue telling stories through the use of sequential images, a talent, Jim feels, exists in all children. In this course Jim will teach basic drawing skills, showing how to give figures form and incorporating storytelling while helping you find your own personal style. Open to any skill level, this class will leave students with a cartooning portfolio to be proud of and tools to apply to any discipline of art.

Participants will use digital and traditional media techniques to create posters, books, T-shirts and CD covers. Projects will be based on exploring the 10 top rules of graphic design; including hierarchy, usage of type and application of design solutions to products. Students will be encouraged to explore their ideas and imagination to create pieces that would communicate their ideas in the graphic medium. This program will encourage students to combine drawing and painting with typography, photography and digital media. We will be using Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop on MAC laptops (provided).

Step into the Art Lab ready to experiment and create. With some basic instructions and a little suggestion, students will use various supplies to explore painting and building, collage and sculpture. Suggestions and guidance will be provided while students have the chance to follow their own vision to create truly unique art pieces!

Explore different materials and mediums through a variety of autumn themed art projects.  

We will work on a canvas pumpkin painting, leaf printmaking and create other works of art

This class is designed for students who have no experience working in watercolor. The purpose of the class is to become comfortable using the unpredictable medium and learn to make friends with the water. We will explore different techniques, tools and supplies and create works of art you never thought that you could master.

Start from scratch as you learn the fundamentals of wheel throwing. Assignments are designed to encourage students to expand their skill level in pottery making. Decorating and glazing techniques will be explored. Returning students are welcome!

Zoom in on that selfie and create a large format mixed media selfie collage. Using a hand painted photo and large canvas, you’ll paint an abstract background, add your selfie, and embellish the final product with bits & pieces to create a one-of-a-kind original self-portrait art piece!

Create a custom tote bag and pencil/make up pouch using block printing techniques and materials, and make an additional paper print to hang at home. Please bring a nut free, brown bag lunch.

This class will provide the perfect start to a journey into the foundations of the elegant art of copperplate calligraphy. This form of pointed pen calligraphy can be used for addressing envelopes, place cards, writing quotes or adding touches to your personal artwork. Students will learn the proper posture and method for using an oblique pen holder and pointed nibs. Starting with minuscules and then majuscules we will learn the letters by like forms and shape. Spacing, numbers and forming sentences are all part of this course. $22.00 supply fee due to the instructor on the first day of class.

If you are looking to finish pieces from our fall pottery class, hoping to make a few items for the holidays, or want to avoid pottery class withdrawal, then sign up for this 4 week session. Andrea will be available with ideas, instruction and guidance to help you reach your goals.

Join us for a class that explores the gamut of techniques, designs, and glaze choices, from traditional to just plain weird. Beginners will begin at the beginning, intermediate and advanced students can explore and refine their craft. Hand-building and wheel thrown projects will both be offered. Let’s just have fun in this stress free, low key class!

Join us for a class that explores the gamut of techniques, designs, and glaze choices, from traditional to just plain weird. Beginners will begin at the beginning, intermediate and advanced students can explore and refine their craft. Hand-building and wheel thrown projects will both be offered. Let’s just have fun in this stress free, low key class!

This session will help students learn new techniques and strategies to create successful paintings, whatever the subject.  Students will start with a solid value plan, learn how to correctly match color to value, and use fresh unexpected colors to create successful paintings in and out of class. The class is for students who want to develop a good solid working method and work with non-realistic color. Students do not need to be able to draw to be successful. The grid method will be taught to transfer images to canvas.

Balance contrasting color, texture, pattern tonal relationship and form while building confidence using personal brushwork. Use of warm and cool colors, wet-into-wet blending, glazing, perspective and palette organization provide the knowledge to complete a composition.

Have you ever wondered how to paint like a master or have an interest in the rumors and facts that surround their lives? Bring along a friend and a comfort drink and have an enjoyable, enlightening evening exploring a famous artist from the past. No previous art experience needed; you will paint along with the instructor. All supplies are provided! 

Have you ever wondered how to paint like a master or have an interest in the rumors and facts that surround their lives? Bring along a friend and a comfort drink and have an enjoyable, enlightening evening exploring a famous artist from the past. No previous art experience needed; you will paint along with the instructor. All supplies are provided!  Choose to paint grapes or a landscape.

Welcome Fall with a hand painted canvas door hanger! Paint a vibrant bouquet of sunflowers on a colorful background. After adding a topcoat for protection from the weather, you’ll add a colorful ribbon around your bouquet for dimension and pizazz! Guaranteed to make a statement! All materials provided.

Originally developed as a less cumbersome alternative to parchment scrolls, concertinas (sometimes called accordion fold books) are a simple, no-sew way to create your own blank book! Your instructor will guide you through the process of preparing your paper, decorating the covers, and assembling a concertina booklet. All materials are provided.

Create one of a kind masterpieces with this fun and engaging printmaking class! Using simple texture tools and a specially treated gel pad, this modern printmaking method produces layered images with a unique style. Your instructor will demonstrate a variety of printing techniques, then you’ll be free to play around with the media and press to bring your vision to life. Participants typically make 3-5 pieces in this 2 hour c;ass. All materials are provided.

No art experience necessary, just a desire to paint your pet and have a meaningful piece of artwork to hang that you painted yourself. Please send a fantastic picture of your pet to the instructor (artbycam3@yahoo.com) at least one week before the class for your pet to be drawn onto the gallery wrapped canvas. Bring along a friend and a light snack!

Fall is just around the corner and will provide inspiration for our clay projects as students learn the basics of hand-building and ceramic techniques.

Fall is fast approaching! Use your imagination and creativity to make one of a kind pieces of pottery. They can be fun or functional or BOTH!

Create works in clay inspired by the festive holiday season, or the beauty of winter! (Projects will not be returned in time for Christmas due to the drying and firing schedule)

Create works in clay inspired by the festive holiday season, or the beauty of winter! *Projects will not be returned in time for Christmas due to the drying and firing schedule. 

Students will begin class by writing all the things they love about their dog in Sharpie marker on the back of their canvas. Introduction of a solid value plan is next and you’ll learn how to correctly match color to value, and use fresh unexpected colors to create a successful 12×16 painting. The focus will be on storytelling as well as painting.  Please send a clear photo of your pet to info@ChrysteneThomas.org two weeks before class begins to get the image transferred onto the canvas.

This 3-week intro class for youth will introduce students to a new medium every week. We’ll start out with the basics of shading and controlling value in graphite, move on to blending and layering with colored pencil, and finish-off with using a variety of lines to render in pen and ink. Composition, drawing from direct observation, and personal expression will be a part of each class.

This 3-week class for adults will introduce students to a new medium every week. We’ll start out with the basics of shading and controlling value in graphite, move on to blending and layering with colored pencil, and finish-off with using a variety of lines to render in pen and ink. Composition, drawing from direct observation, and personal expression will be a part of each class.

This workshop will explore the fundamentals of creating a charcoal drawing, from initial sketch to intermediate stages of blending and smudging, to fine details. We’ll start off with discussion of the medium and some exercises to get familiar, and progress to a landscape that we’ll all draw from the same reference. A carbon pencil and kneaded eraser can also be used, for finer details.

Explore mark making in this 2-day workshop with Cleveland artists Christine Mauersberger and Rebekah Wilhelm. Participants will engage in playful mark making techniques in a variety of media. We will take inspiration from autobiographical memories to create hand-bound books using paper, fabric, inks, multiple printmaking techniques and cyanotype. This workshop has been designed to allow participants to create individual pages using both paper and fabric.

Finally, we will assemble all the elements and use a traditional Japanese stab-binding technique to create the finished book. All supplies included, however participants should bring any personal memorabilia they might want to use.

ABOUT CHRISTINE AND REBEKAH

Both artists have a well-established art practice in multi-media including textiles, paper and printmaking. Christine has received several awards including 2 Ohio Arts Council Awards and has taught in the USA, Canada, and Switzerland. Rebekah is a visual artist who works in installation, conceptual art, and printmaking. She has held artist residencies in both Germany and Thailand.

Join us in this extra popular class and create a mixture of fun fall inspired projects while learning basic sewing and embroidery skills.

Let’s get sewing and create a mixture of fun holiday inspired projects to keep or give as gifts!

What better way to spend a Fall evening than decorating your own unique pumpkins? We will design, paint, and bedazzle pumpkins that are sure to WOW on your front porch! Please register under an adult account.  Limited to 8 families, 6 participants per family.

Wear your art on your sleeve! Customize your own pop art style graphic T-shirt using block printing techniques and materials, and make an additional paper print to hang at home! Please bring a nut free, brown bag lunch.

Whether your aim is functional or sculptural ceramics, students will learn the basic techniques of handbuilding and the mysteries of the potter’s wheel. Beginning students will develop fundamental techniques while returning students will work on refining their skills.

Also available Tuesdays 12:30-2:30P

Whether your aim is functional or sculptural ceramics, students will learn the basic techniques of handbuilding and the mysteries of the potter’s wheel. Beginning students will develop fundamental techniques while returning students will work on refining their skills.

Also available Tuesdays 10A–12P or Fridays 10A–12P

If you love Harry Potter as much as Miss Shay then you are in for a treat! Spend the day making projects inspired by this popular series.

Working with slabs, coils and pinching techniques or working on the potter’s wheel, students will create functional or sculptural ceramics. Instructor will provide various demonstrations for multi-level students.

This class is designed for students who like to develop specific ideas and pursue independent projects. Beginners will learn the basic skills in pottery making and glazing. Demonstrations and assignments will be given as needed.

This class is designed for students who like to develop specific ideas, a body of work, refine techniques, and pursue independent projects.  One full year of hand-building and wheel throwing experience necessary.

This workshop will introduce students to the basics of creating a variety of lines, shapes, and color palettes with the premier digital vector drawing program, Adobe Illustrator, to create a cute cartoon penguin. Students may take their images home on a memory stick. Laptop computers provided.

Have you ever been amazed by the high contrast and intense realism of soft, velvety charcoal drawings and wished that you could learn how to work with this ancient medium? In this class, you can do just that! We will work from a variety of subjects, from life and from photographs, while going over basic drawing skills at the same time. Using charcoal, we will work with additive and subtractive techniques to create expressive drawings. We will also learn to add color to our drawings with soft pastels, which can be easily integrated with the charcoal medium.

In this class students will practice making loose, fast and bold marks on paper. In the second half of the session, students will cut the painting into 4 inch squares and assemble into 8 inch compositions on cardboard. The focus will be on loosening up and creating original compositions in black and white. This is REALLY fun and a good activity if you’re experiencing creative block!

Spend the first hour in the art room, reading stories and exploring a variety of art media in a positive and creative environment. During the second hour, students will work with a music therapist exploring instruments, rhythm and song in a dynamic and social learning environment. Children must be toilet trained

Young artists can explore their creativity through drawing, painting, printmaking, ceramics, crafts & more!  Learn both indoors and on campus, through books and wonderful art & nature experiences.  Children must be toilet trained.

Students will create a miniature haunted house, complete with a couple of tiny wispy ghosties! Are you ready to create a spine-chilling abode that will send shivers down your spine? Sign up today!

Channel your inner mad scientist! In this class we will bring to life a unique and terrifying monster head. Are you prepared to breathe life into your own abomination? Enroll now and let your monstrous imagination take hold!

What’s spookier than one Halloween monster? Four! Using boxes to build a rotating tower, we will paint each side with a different Halloween character. In the end you’ll have an interactive, mix & match Halloween decoration!

$20 per person – walk in

Includes live model

Space is limited

Explore different techniques and processes while experimenting with paint, paper mache, collage and creative surfaces in one of our most popular classes!

Learn how to paint like the Old masters. This course is designed for students who are interested in learning painting techniques from the Renaissance era. Learn how to prime and tone a canvas, glazing techniques, layering, and how to utilize a limited color palette. You will also learn chiaroscuro, a favorite painting technique of Renaissance painters. The painting mediums are optional. Choose to paint with oil or acrylic for a noticeably different outcome.

Open to teens interested in developing a portfolio for college admission.

Perceptual Skills, Ideas, Composition and Design, and Craft, all criteria to consider when creating a strong portfolio. Work in color is essential. We will produce drawings in charcoal and graphite pencil as well as paint in acrylic and/oil to produce a balanced body of observation work. Refer to a live model and still life material of your choice.