Class and Workshop Schedule
Cottonwood Artists' School offers weekly classes in oil painting, drawing, watercolor, fine art collage, and sculpture for adults and teens with an emphasis on traditional methods. These courses give students a firm foundation in all of the elements of visual art. Many of these course are accredited through University of Colorado - Colorado Springs.
Weekly classes run for eight-weeks and are offered several times a year. These classes are for the serious emerging artist as well as for the beginner who has a passion for art.
All Cottonwood classes are taught by professional artists such as Chuck Mardosz, Gwen Fox, and Tom Owen
Class fees are listed in the course description. They vary based on membership status. Membership starts at $20 annually.
New Class Policies:
Refunds are not available within two weeks of the beginning of a weekly class.
Fall 2010 Weekly Classes
| Pegi Ballenger | Beginning to Intermediate Pastels Tuesdays 1-4 p.m. Sept. 14 - Nov. 2 |
This class will focus on trying different methods of applying pastels to a surface. |
 |
| Danielle Gravon | Traditional Bookbinding Wednesdays 1-4 p.m. Sept. 15 - Nov. 3 |
This course will focus on historical and still commonly used book binding methods |  |
| Chris Alvarez | Expressive Figure Drawing Wednesdays 6-9 p.m. Sept. 15 - Nov 3, 2010 |
We will explore the body from line, form, values, and planes, to gesture and anatomy. We will learn to focus on drawing from visual experience rather than from mental images. |
 |
| Mary Serafin | Yoga with Mary Wednesdays 5:30 - 6:45 p.m. Sept. 15 - Nov. 3, 2010 |
If you are new to the world of Yoga, today is the day. If you have practiced before, learn something new. We are always beginners. |
 |
| Kay Jeansonne | Oil Painting Open Studio Thursdays 1 - 4 p.m. Sept. 16 - Nov. 4, 2010 |
This class will be an open studio class where students can paint whatever subject they enjoy painting - either from a still life or from photographs. |
 |
| Michael Pach | Digital Photography Thursdays 6-9 p.m. Sept. 16 - Nov. 4, 2010 |
This course covers the fundamentals of digital photography from picture taking to print making and is geared toward beginners and intermediate amateurs. |
 |
| Kathleen Reed | Floral Design Basics Tuesdays 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Sept. 21 – Oct. 12, 2010 |
In this course you will learn the bare basics of silk floral design. With the right tools and guidance, you will learn how to make a bow, create a wreath and design silk floral artistry. |
 |
| Kathleen Reed | Wool Fiber Art Tuesdays 9 a.m. - 12 pm. Oct. 19 - Nov 9 |
Students will learn how to manipulate wool roving and |
 |
| Kathleen Reed | Beaded Jewelry Thursdays 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. Oct. 21 - Nov. 11 |
This class is directed at those who have always wanted to learn the basics of beaded jewelry, but never had the opportunity. It also caters to the intermediate beader who needs inspiration or has been stuck on a project for some time. |
 |
| Michael Pach | Basic Photoshop Saturdays Nov. 6 – Dec. 4 (no class Nov. 27) |
This course covers the basics of Photoshop. It includes hands-on instruction of common editing tools as well as techniques for resizing, cropping and preparing files for print and the Internet. |
 |
| Danielle Gravon | Artist Books Mondays and Wednesdays, 1–4 p.m. Nov. 8 – Dec. 8 (no class Nov. 22 or 24) |
This course will take the idea of books to a |
 |
| Kay Jeansonne | Oil Painting Open Studio Mondays and Wednesdays, 1–4 p.m. Nov. 9 – Dec. 9 (no class Nov. 22 or 24) |
This class will be an open studio class where students can paint whatever subject they enjoy painting - either from a still life or from photographs. |
 |
| Chris Alvarez | Figurative-Quick-Sketch Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6–9 p.m. Nov. 9 – Dec. 9 (no class Nov. 23 or 25) |
The human figure, the most complex and beautiful entity we know, contains all the aspects that we, as artists, struggle to learn. |
 |
| Mary Serafin | Yoga with Mary Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5:30–6:45 p.m. Nov. 9–Dec. 9 (no class Nov. 23 or 25), 2010 |
If you are new to the world of Yoga, today is the day. If you have practiced before, learn something new. We are always beginners. |
|
| Tom Owen | Fundamentals of Landscape Watercolor Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1–4 p.m. Nov. 9–Dec. 9 (no class Nov. 23 or 25) |
For all levels of students. Learn watercolor painting techniques, color usage and design concepts. |
 |
Upcoming 2010 Workshops
Workshops
For more advanced students, Cottonwood offers a variety of three and five-day workshops taught by nationally-recognized artists from across the region such as Skip Whitcomb, Kim English, and Ned Jacob. These workshops bring in students from all over the United States.
| Carolyn Anderson | Painting Reality September 14–17 Tuesdays 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. |
Learning to see and interpret the subject matter, with an emphasis on expressive painting, will be the subject of this workshop. We will discuss the basics of composition, value and color, and the use of contrast and rhythm. Discussions will also include materials, technique, "how-to", and the use of lost and found edges. |
 |
| Kay Beaubien | Monoprinting September 18–19, 2010 (10 a.m.–2 p.m.) September 21–22, 2010 (1–5 p.m.) October 13–14, 2010 (1–5 p.m.) October 16–17, 2010 (10 a.m.–2 p.m.) |
Monoprinting is a form of printmaking where each print is an original work of art. In this class we will explore techniques such as stencils, collagraph, collage, subtraction and you will become familiar with printing inks, papers and using a press. For beginners and experienced alike. (Includes a three-hour pass to the print studio to work on your own after the workshop is completed.) |
 |
| Sandra Murphy | Metalsmithing Sampler October 2–3, 2010 (9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.) November 13–14, 2010 (9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.) December 4–5, 2010 (9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.) |
Come and immerse yourself in a weekend of basic metalsmithing techniques! Working with sterling silver, learn the basic techniques of sawing, piercing, drilling, filing, stamping, texturing and polishing to complete a project of your choice. Make a pendant, key ring, charm or earrings. Can’t choose one? Attend all three samplers and make one of each! |
 |
| Nethery Wylie | Controlling the Abstract Painting Daily 9:00am-4:00pm October 8–10, 2010 |
This class is designed for those, of any experience level, who wish to begin, explore or expand their practice in abstract art. This class will cover decisions about intention as well as color, value, line, shape, and texture as part of the process of experimenting with abstract painting. |
 |
| Dan Schultz | Drawing and Painting Portraits 3 Day Workshop: November 12–14, 2010 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. |
Portraits are among the most difficult subjects an artist can undertake due to their need for accuracy. This workshop will focus on drawing and painting portraits from live models and will include a review of the fundamentals necessary to create a strong portrait. Compositional methods, tips for achieving accuracy, keys to correctly see value and color, and tips on working with edges will be discussed and utilized. We will also talk in depth about color theory. |
 |
| Kim English | Quick Sketch in Oil November 3–6 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. |
The ability to paint quickly and accurately can be useful in many situations. Techniques for achieving a spontaneous yet controlled approach will be practiced. Numerous quick sketches with a live model will be painted each class. |
 |
| Gail Necker | Basket Weaving 9a.m. - 5 p.m. December 4, 2010 |
A sturdy, rectangular basket with a filled bottom, the Tote’em Basket features splintwork basketry techniques, controlled shaping, and multiple color choices. The soft carrying handles make toting anything a breeze! Materials fee includes all weaving materials, Shaker tape handles, pattern w/ photo, and reference materials. Finished basket is approximately 9” x 16” x 12” high. |
 |
UPCOMING 2010 YOUNG MASTERS PROGRAM
| Kay Jeansonne | Drawing the Human Form Sept. 11, 18, 25, Oct. 2 Saturdays, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. |
Following the example of the masters, this class will allow students to draw directly from the human form. |  |
| Carole Reece | Exploring New Media Sept. 11, 18, 25, Oct. 2, 9, 16, 2010 Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. |
Dig in and try something new! Learn about different media and have fun creating something wild and crazy! |
 |
| Dusty Shutt |
Drawing Sept. 11, 18, 25, Oct. 2, 2010 Saturdays, 1–3 p.m. |
In this class we’ll learn how to identify shapes in the items that we draw and work on shading techniques. |
 |
| Kay Jeansonne | Oil Painting Oct. 9, 16, 23, 30, 2010 Saturdays, 1–3 p.m. |
This class focuses on the two major aspects of oil painting: the art spirit and the technical. Within a fun, relaxed environment, instruction will include value, composition, color, and drawing. Discussion will cover our reasons for painting; what inspires and motivates us. |
 |
| Carole Reece | Wild Things Oct. 23, 30, Nov. 6, 20, Dec. 1, 2010 Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. |
Time to let your imagination come to life! Where trees are purple and mosquitos have 3 legs! Anything is possible. Painting up close, large and in your face animals in any color your heart desires. Exploring paint and how to bring it to life! |
|
| Marie David | Sculpting in Clay Nov. 6, 13, 20, Dec. 4, 2010 Saturdays 1–3 p.m. |
In this fun and fast-moving hands-on studio class young artists will learn to create small ceramic sculptures utilizing the coil, slab and drape hand-building techniques. Exploring the versatility of low-fire earthenware clays, using neither an armature nor casting, students will learn techniques and practices for sculpting in clay and to think critically and creatively about turning abstract ideas into reality |
 |
| Dusty Shutt | Color and Design |
What colors make people happy? Which ones make them sad? Why do some people really, really like black? Is black a color? As a continuing exploration of color basics (hue, tertiary colors, etc.) the class will explore how colors affect how they feel while learning more about design (form). Different art materials (mediums) will be incorporated. This class builds on previous information, but is still a good place to start learning about art basics. |
 |
Artistic Assortment
| Life Drawing Sessions with Model |
Fridays 9 a.m. - Noon (clothed on first Friday sessions, nude otherwise) Saturdays 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. (nude) |
Open studio for all levels to render the figure in any medium. |  |
