Flower Painting: Botanical Study to Flower Still Life

Barbara Thomas

Saturday & Sunday, March 1 & 2

10am-3pm

Kat in the Hat Classroom

$300, $285 mbrs.

This workshop is a total immersion in the beautiful practice of painting flowers. The tropical flora of Key West provides stunning ‘models’ for our work, or students can bring in their favorite tropical flowers.

The traditional paint for botanical study is gouache watercolor. With a limited palette of these tube colors, we’ll learn to mix colors, how to lay in a simple flower study and closely observe the physical make up of flowers. Class will break for lunch 12pm-1pm, during which we can discuss our work.

In the afternoon students can continue their flower explorations with a full floral still life, or other ways to express the beauty of flowers, using acrylic, oil, or gouache. Sunday we’ll warm up with some quick expressive flower exercises, then continue work on our still life. Barbara Thomas will help guide the work, providing useful methods for capturing the details of all kinds of flora, laying in a still life, etc.

Barbara Thomas was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Her father was Fritz Siebel, renowned illustrator of such children’s classics as the Amelia Bedelia series. Barbara’s first formal art education was at The Art Students League in New York City, where she studied painting under naturalist painter Edwin Dickinson (1891-1978), followed by Pratt Institute, in Brooklyn, New York. Barbara has an MFA degree from Art Institute of Boston at Lesley University, Boston, Massachusetts. For ten years Barbara worked as an advertising art director in New York City, and then moved to the East End of Long Island, where she turned to painting full time.

Sunset Painting

Barbara Thomas

Friday, February 28

5-7:30pm

Kat in the Hat Classroom and Offsite

$160, $145 mbrs.

Sunset painting is so fun and challenging! Students meet at The Studios to go over the process with helpful tips on how to achieve effects in sunset painting, mixing colors, creating light, etc. The class will head over to the painting spot after the short demo and build their color and form while watching the beautiful glow of sunset!

Barbara Thomas was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Her father was Fritz Siebel, renowned illustrator of such children’s classics as the Amelia Bedelia series. Barbara’s first formal art education was at The Art Students League in New York City, where she studied painting under naturalist painter Edwin Dickinson (1891-1978), followed by Pratt Institute, in Brooklyn, New York. Barbara has an MFA degree from Art Institute of Boston at Lesley University, Boston, Massachusetts. For ten years Barbara worked as an advertising art director in New York City, and then moved to the East End of Long Island, where she turned to painting full time.

Painting Bootcamp

Jack McDonald

Mondays, April 7-28

6-8:30pm

Kat in the Hat Classroom

$165, $140 mbrs.

Our most popular class of all is a great place to start for beginners, and an equally fun time for more trained painters. By telling you what to do every step of the way, Jack McDonald takes any fear out of the equation and walks you through the basics of mixing paint and making images. By the end you’ll have a finished painting that’s all your own, and be amazed at your hidden talents.

As a visual artist and proud Key West native, the island landscape has always been Jack McDonald’s muse. He’s also worked with some of the local greats like Rick Worth – who led Painting Boot Camp at The Studios for many years – and John Martini. Primarily interested in street art, Jack is influenced by local color as well as art in public places. He is driven to stretch the boundaries of “street art,” with the hope to raise awareness and establish it as a more legitimate art form. (And, of course, while having a bit of fun!) Through the use of whimsical illustrations, bright colors and shapes, his desire is to have a positive influence on the Key West art scene, while adding an element of familiarity, exploration, and discovery.

Drop-in Figure Drawing

Tuesday, March 11

5-7pm

Kat in the Hat Classroom

$35

Step in the shoes of the ancient masters by participating in the age old tradition of drawing and painting from life! Work from a live model for up to two hours. Practice and hone your skills in whatever medium you wish.

There is no instruction for this class. Please bring your own materials.

Mixed Media Watercolor for Young People

Bria Ansara

For ages 5-10 only

Saturday, April 19

10am-12pm

Kat in the Hat Classroom

$10

Create beautiful watercolor images using the crayon/wax resist technique.

Students will discover the resistant properties of painting with watercolor over waxy crayon. After practicing the technique, a final piece will be the focus; in the form of a portrait, landscape, or abstract image. In addition, each student will create their own handmade frame to display their masterpiece.

Drop-in Figure Drawing

Tuesday, March 25

5-7pm

Kat in the Hat Classroom

$35

Step in the shoes of the ancient masters by participating in the age old tradition of drawing and painting from life! Work from a live model for up to two hours. Practice and hone your skills in whatever medium you wish.

There is no instruction for this class. Please bring your own materials.

Paint Pouring

Sandy West

Thursday, February 13

5-7pm

Kat in the Hat Classroom

$90, $85 mbrs.

Enjoy a fun step-by-step lesson in a loose, unpredictable and satisfying medium. Acrylic paint pouring involves a bit of chemistry, as ratios and fluidity have a direct impact on the end result. Heavier paints sink as lighter ones come to the surface creating beautiful cells. It’s also an exciting and fun technique because you don’t know what the finished product will look like!

Flash Fiction: Hermit Crab Style

Karin Lin-Greenberg (PEAR)

Tuesday & Wednesday, July 15 & 16

1-3:30pm

Heinen Design Lab

$65, $55 mbrs.

This is a flash fiction workshop focused on the “hermit crab” story. Students read several examples of hermit crab stories – which borrow a “shell” from another form, they might be written in the form of a list or an Amazon review or a math problem – and then write their own. They would then share their work verbally with the class and receive verbal feedback on it.

Drawing the Figure

Lothar Speer

Wednesday, Thursday & Friday, February 26, 27 & 28

10am-2pm

Kat in the Hat Classroom

$215, $185 mbrs.

Learn classical techniques while working with a live model.

Lothar Speer studied at Vienna’s National Academy. He received a prestigious European award for his figure drawings, was accepted in the annual exhibition of Britain’s Royal Portrait Society, and showed in galleries and museums here and abroad. A portrait of his was exhibited at The Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. and he was commissioned to create a portrait illustration for Chicago’s only official public exhibit celebrating President Obama’s election.

Capturing Nature with Printing on Fabric

Dawn Wilkins

Saturday, February 15

11am-3pm

Kat in the Hat Classroom

$135, $120 mbrs. (incl. $25 materials fee)

Record the intricate beauty of plants and natural objects using easy, fun, and accessible nature printing techniques. Zen-like repetitive printing practices connect artists with nature.