Enriching Lives Through Art: Adult/Teen Classes

We are offering art classes for all age groups at the arts center, which are made possible through “Enriching Lives through Art,” a grant generously funded by the John Ben Snow Foundation. Our Thursday night free drawing class is offered online. All classes are listed below.

You can also check out our month-by-month calendar to help you plan your Fine Arts Center activities.

Classes

Christmas card made by Lyn Bernatovich showing green pine trees

CHRISTMAS IN JULY
Watercolor Christmas Cards & Gift Tags
Instructor: Lyn Bernatovich
Date: Saturday, July 27
Time 10 am - 1 pm
Ages: Adult (12+)
Maximum enrollment: 8
Fee: $25 (25% off for members $18.75)*

Join us for a creative and fun session of water coloring Christmas cards and gift tags! This is a beginner watercolor and card making class where you will learn some basic techniques of watercolor and incorporate it into constructing cards and tags! You will be shown basic stamping techniques to stamp sentiments on the front and inside of your cards. You will complete 4 cards and 4 gift tags for a total of 8 unique designs by the finish of the class. All of the designs can be easily replicated at home for everyone on your Christmas card list. In the spirit of the holidays, this class is designed to be creative and fun without any stress!

No previous watercolor experience necessary. All supplies provided, but you may bring your own brushes and paints if you prefer.

Register in person or online at Salmon River Fine Arts Center Square Site. *Financial assistance is available for those who would like to attend and are unable to pay the full fee. Please email the art center with your request.

This discounted class is made possible through “Enriching Lives through Art,” a grant generously funded by the John Ben Snow Foundation.

Lyn Bernatovich: Since 1998, my passion, my burn, my creative energy stems mainly from a desire to teach and share what I know about paper crafting to others. I am a card maker and since 2016 love painting in watercolor. I am the past founder and director of Paper Arts Club of CNY and Author of Paper Petunia’s weekly e-newsletter. Past Design Teams: Paper Craft Planet Creations by AR, Dreamweaver Stencils, Stampendous, Happy Little Stampers. I am the guest Instructor for “Art is Creation” Teen Program, New Smyrna Beach, Florida. You know that old saying, “Do what you love, love what you do?” Well, that is my journey to be creative through and through! Sharing what I know with others is exactly where I want to be. My reward is definitely the journey and I love all that paper art has brought me and embrace whatever lies ahead.

a raku wall hanging showing butterflies made by Billie Jo Peterson

a raku fish mounted on driftwood made by Billie Jo Peterson

Please note this is a 3-session class

Raku Sculptural Pottery Workshop
Instructor: Billie Jo Peterson
Dates & Times:
Tuesday, July 30, 12 - 2 pm
Monday, August 12, 9 - 11 am
Monday, August 19, 9 am, until done (approximately 3 pm)
Ages: adult - teens (14+)
Experience Level: beginner - intermediate
Class size limit: 10 students
Cost: $67 members get 25% off *($50.25)

In this 3-part class, students will use a variety of ceramic forming techniques to create one-of-a-kind raku pieces. Students should expect to complete an equivalent of 3 mug size pieces. A brief history of raku pottery will be covered. We will also discuss clay bodies, glazes, firing processes and decorative ideas as they relate to raku pottery. Students will start with a basic pinch pot and then will be free to follow their own creative path. The raku firing will be held outdoors in a location a few miles away where students will meet to glaze and participate in the exciting reduction firing process. Students should plan to be available for the whole day of glaze firing and bring their own beverage and lunch. All tools and materials to create your raku items will be provided.

This is an in-person class and masks are optional. Register in person or online at Salmon River Fine Arts Center Square Site. Space is limited, so sign up early.

This discounted class is made possible through “Enriching Lives through Art,” a grant generously funded by the John Ben Snow Foundation.

* Financial assistance is available for those who would like to attend and are unable to pay the full fee. Please email the art center with your request.

Billie Jo Peterson currently teaches High School art in Oswego. She has also been teaching visual art to Oswego County community members for over 25 years. Her current interests as an artist range from sculpture and ceramics to 2-D mixed media.

watercolor painting of a turtle swimmng in water

Beginner Watercolor Class: "Vibrant Turtle"
Instructor: Robert Jones
Date: Saturday, August 10
Time: 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Ages: Adult (14+)
Maximum enrollment: 8
Fee: $25 (25% off for members $18.75)*
Materials: Will be provided. Feel free to bring your own.

It’s a sure sign of summer when we can glimpse turtles lounging on rocks, basking in the summertime sun, or meandering in our yards to lay eggs. Why not celebrate these fascinating creatures in a painting?

Come join this beginner watercolor class that will focus on creating a unique image of a turtle (or another image of your choice) on various sized Arches watercolor paper. Through demonstration and individual, hands-on help, you will learn basic watercolor techniques. You will be instructed on basic wash, composition, shadows, and reflections. Pigment suggestions will help create the mood of the painting you would like to achieve. Commercial color wheels will be used to help in your color selection to create a harmonious color scheme. Several examples will be available. Materials will be provided, but feel free to bring your own.

So, unlike turtles, be “quick” to sign up for this class, as space is limited. Register in person or online at Salmon River Fine Arts Center Square Site.

This discounted class is made possible through “Enriching Lives through Art,” a grant generously funded by the John Ben Snow Foundation.

*Financial assistance is available for those who would like to attend and are unable to pay the full fee. Please email the art center with your request.

Robert A. Jones - Watercolor Artist: Robert is a retired technology education teacher from the Hannibal School District. He has over ten years’ experience painting a variety of subjects including landscape, wildlife, abstract, color theory, and mixed media. He teaches watercolor at several art organizations throughout Oswego County to share his enthusiasm for watercolor painting.

acrylic painting of a cartoon version of a white cat

Cranky Cat: White “Knight”
Sip and Paint Acrylic Painting Class
Instructor: Cindy Schmidt
Date: Thursday, August 15
Time: 6:00 - 8:30 pm
Ages: Adults 14 y/o and up; child 7 y/o and up
Maximum enrollment: 14
Fees:
Adult $25.00 (25% off for members $18.75) *
Child: $12.50 (25% off for members $9.38) *

Long summer nights are so enjoyable, but this royal white kitty seems a little cranky.

Come in and enjoy painting this adorable “White Knight” cranky cat with plenty of attitude. In this class, you will be instructed by one of our “famous” local artists, Cindy Schmidt, on how to paint fuzz (a.k.a. fur) and cranky eyebrows to achieve that typical cat attitude — all the necessary components in painting cats — using acrylic paint on canvas. AND, you can bring along a child for ½ price. They too will be painting their own version of a cranky cat. It will be an evening of fun with non-alcoholic drinks available. This class is for adults and a child 7 y/o or older; no experience is necessary. All materials are supplied.

A self-proclaimed quirky cat lover, Cindy Schmidt has been painting cats for 20+ years and selling her art at various shows in several states. Her art is currently being licensed by Bradford Exchange and Heaven and Earth Designs and is available for sale at over 30 shops and galleries across the country. Cindy is a local member of the Riverside Artisans in Oswego as well as the Salmon River Fine Arts Center.

a flat rock with a design of a butterfly and flower made from cut glass

Please note this is a 2-session class

Mosaic Garden Glass-on-Rock Class
Instructor: Diane Melnik
Dates & Times 2-day workshop:
Sunday, August 18, 1 - 4:30 pm
Sunday, August 25, 1 - 2:30 pm
Ages: Adult/Teen – 14 y/o and up
Maximum enrollment: 8
Fee: $30; Members get 25% off ($22.50)*

Back by Popular Demand! Add some beauty to your garden with your own personalized mosaic garden rock. This is a two-session class. In the first class, your instructor will teach you how to score and break small pieces of glass, which you will arrange and glue to the surface of your rock. After your rock sets, grout will be added in the second class as a finishing touch. Students will receive a rock approximately 6 x 8 inches, and all materials are included to complete a beautiful and unique garden mosaic rock.

This discounted class is made possible through “Enriching Lives through Art,” a grant generously funded by the John Ben Snow Foundation.

Diane Melnik, a local artist, has been creating and selling stained glass art for 20 years and is well known locally for her inspiring glass-on-glass creations. She is currently a board member for the Salmon River Fine Arts Center.

example of a mosaic mixed-media piece of artwork resembling a waterfall

Mixed Media Class – MOSAIC WATERFALL
Instructor: Beth Sotherden
Date: Saturday, August 24
Time 10:00 am - 1 pm
Ages: Adult (14 y/o and up)
Maximum enrollment: 8
Fee: $25.00* (25% off for members $18.75)

In this beginner mixed media class you will be creating a mosaic on a wood panel. Using both found and purchased materials, you will artistically arrange and affix objects to the wood panel. Items to be used include slate, woody stems, shells, glass, sea-glass and other items to create a mosaic waterfall. Beth will walk you through the process of combining these natural elements with glass gems, tiles and colored sand to create a beautiful mosaic mixed media piece. Note, this method does not use grout. So, come and enjoy this fun, creative class. All materials to be supplied by the Salmon River Fine Arts Center.

This discounted class is made possible through “Enriching Lives through Art,” a grant generously funded by the John Ben Snow Foundation.

*Financial assistance is available for those who would like to attend and are unable to pay the full fee. Please email the art center with your request.

Beth Sotherden is a regional artist who enjoys working and experimenting with a variety of mediums, materials and processes. Beth is a member of several area art organizations including the Salmon River Fine Arts Center where she also exhibits and teaches.

WATERCOLOR & GOUACHE-MIXED MEDIA
Instructor: Sharon Blair
Date: Monday evening, August 26
Time: 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Ages: Adults (16 and older)
Maximum enrollment: 8
Fee: $25 (25% off for members $18.75)*

NEW DATE FOR CLASS! Whether you are a beginner or a watercolor enthusiast, you will enjoy experimenting in this fun class. Artist Sharon Blair will show you step by step how to combine watercolor and gouache in your painting to allow you to take advantage of the unique paint properties of each of these water-based mediums. You will also learn how to enhance your painting with Shimmering Ferris Wheel inks to add a little sparkle to your painting! The key to this class is painting something that excites you or creates a “sparkle.” You are encouraged to bring your own personal reference photos to paint something meaningful to you. This is a fun opportunity to learn something new that is sure to spark your creativity! All materials will be provided.

This is an in-person class and masks are optional. Register in person or online at Salmon River Fine Arts Center Square Site. Space is limited, so sign up early.

This discounted class is made possible through “Enriching Lives through Art,” a grant generously funded by the John Ben Snow Foundation.

* Financial assistance is available for those who would like to attend and are unable to pay the full fee. Please email the art center with your request.

Sharon Blair is a working artist with extensive experience and knowledge in a wide array of artistic mediums. She enjoys her work at Syracuse Commercial Art Supply, gives demonstrations, and teaches art classes, both indoor and Plein Air, for various local art guilds, organizations and colleges. Sharon has had her work exhibited in many Central New York venues and juried in various regional art shows, including exhibits at the Salmon River Fine Art Center. As a proud military mother, she also has a passion to create work that helps bring honor to our Veterans and has prints from her painting series "A Military Experience - A Parent's Perspective" being sold and presented around the country.

Free Weekly Drawing Class

FREE Weekly Drawing Class
Thursday 6 - 8 pm
Instructor: Ann Buchau
All ages welcome
Class Limit: 20

Enjoy this online step-by-step drawing class in the comfort and safety of your own home via Zoom. Each week your instructor will focus on a different topic, technique or subject with the ultimate goal of improving and developing your own unique style. This class is open to anyone in our local community with a desire to draw — any age, any level. To attend, simply email us at sr.fine.arts.ctr@gmail.com to get your name on the list. After you register for this free class you will be emailed a link with instructions. Be sure to sign up early because the class limit is 20.

This class is made possible by generous donations from Drs. Patricia and Jay Chapman as well as many of our members and participants.