Register Now For Arts Guild NJ’s Spring 2012 Art Classes

Registration is now open for Spring classes for adults, teens (ages 12-16), and children (ages 7–11) at Arts Guild New Jersey (formerly The Arts Guild of Rahway). Spring classes begin on March 17 2012, including several exciting new options, such as Color Theory + Exploration, Thinking in Three Dimensions, Plaster Casting and Pastels. Whether students are challenging themselves by taking their skills to the next level, or trying a new technique for the first time, there is something for everyone at Arts Guild New Jersey. In addition to new classes, the Arts Guild will be utilizing a newly renovated studio classroom space on the corner of Esterbrook and Milton Avenues in Rahway.

For complete course descriptions and class schedules, access the online course catalog at www.agnj.org (Art Classes page) or call (732) 381-7511 to request a printed flyer. You will notice class locations specified next to each class description: either 1670 Irving for the traditional Arts Guild building on Irving Street, or 125 W. Milton, for the Annex on Milton Avenue.

Registration is accepted online, as well as in-person or by mail. To register in person, visit the office at 1670 Irving Street in Rahway, on Monday, Tuesday or Thursday, from 9:00 AM – 12 noon or from 1:00 – 4:00 PM (please use parking lot entrance). Cash and check payments are accepted in person or by mail; credit card payments are accepted online only.

Daytime adult classes include Drawing from Life & Photos, an introduction to the fundamentals of composition, perspective, proportion, positive/negative space, value, and texture, using still life and reference materials; Expressive Watercolor, in which students create vibrant paintings in their own personal style; and Oil Painting: Basics & Beyond, where students focus on composition/design, under-painting, color theory and color mixing, and using transparent glazes. Color Theory is important for all artists to understand. This new class introduces students to color mixing and usage in two-dimensions. Topics and projects will address: the color wheel (primary, secondary, and tertiary colors), color relationships (ie. complementary colors, warm vs. cool), color harmony, and color meaning/symbolism. Daytime adult classes run weekly for two and a half hours each morning (10:00 AM – 12:30 PM), for eight weeks. All levels welcomed.

Two choices for adult drawing classes are offered in the evening: Drawing the Human Figure, a class for artists who want to improve observational drawing skills and understand the basic anatomy and proportions of the human figure by working from a live model. Open Studio Life Drawing gives artists an opportunity to work independently, at their own pace.  Artists will draw from different live male and female models each week, in short and long poses, without an instructor.

Learn the fundamental techniques of using soft pastels in Pastels. Drawing, blending and color usage, on white and toned paper, will be covered. Projects may include drawing from still-life set-ups, landscapes, and by referencing master artists. Plaster Casting is also new this semester. Students will learn how to make a Plaster of Paris mold and use it to create a plaster cast of models they form out of clay. Plaster casting is a great medium for original artwork or for preserving mementos.

The Arts Guild offers evening adult painting classes in various mediums. Watercolor teaches students to create vivid, original works of art with an emphasis on color, blending, composition, precision, form, light, shade and the use of brushes. Acrylic Painting demonstrates traditional methods, from washes and glazing with acrylic medium, to the use of gels and additives for texture. Painting with Oils is a study of technical, formal, and creative aspects of painting original artworks with oils from still life displays, landscape, and other inspirational sources.

Beginning Stained Glass and Intermediate/Advanced Stained Glass emphasize the skills of glass-cutting, foil wrapping, soldering and finishing techniques to make lampshades, stained glass window panels or even stained glass sculptural pieces and holiday ornaments, in two separate classes designed for your skill level.

The Arts Guild will also be offering the exciting new design class, Thinking in Three Dimensions. Sculpture is an art form that exists in physical space; it is meant to be experienced from many views. This fundamental course helps students think and create in three dimensions. Isometric (perspective) drawing and simple building processes utilizing everyday materials will be explored. Projects include: building cardboard architecture, paper sculptures, free form abstract constructions, and making a self portrait out of sugar cubes (inspired by the artist Tom Friedman).

Most evening classes run for 2.5 hours weekly, for eight weeks. For all adult classes, students are responsible for their own materials. Supply lists are distributed upon registration.

Arts Guild New Jersey offers three classes for teenagers, including Drawing for Teens, with a curriculum designed to build skills in drawing still life objects, landscapes, and basic figure drawing. On Saturdays, students can choose Painting for Teens, which covers everything from composition to color mixing, working from various subjects using acrylic paint, or Japanese Anime/Manga Style Cartooning, where students learn the techniques of this popular cartooning and animation style to make their own comic art. All teen classes include materials.

Kids classes include Sculpture for Kids, where students build three-dimensional objects out of cardboard, paper maché, wire, modeling clay and other materials and the popular Drawing Exploration, which builds students’ skills in drawing realistic and imaginary objects, people and landscapes, while tapping into their creativity and imagination. These children’s classes run weekly during after school hours (4:00 – 5:30 PM). The Arts Guild also offers a Saturday class for kids: Cartooning, where students tell a simple story in pictures, creating a comic panel or comic strip page. Materials for all children’s classes are provided.

The Arts Guild will offer two in-depth one-day adult workshops this Spring on Saturdays. Learn a low tech, low cost, non-toxic printmaking method with gelatin as the printing plate, and your own hands or a brayer as the press during our Gelatin Monoprinting workshop on April 21, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Using water-based inks, you will explore and develop various techniques including monoprinting with stencils, brushwork, mark making methods with found and household items.

Linoleum Block Printing is a printmaking method in which a piece of linoleum is used in place of wood as a relief surface. This process is a great introduction to printmaking—demonstrations on design transfer, carving, and printmaking will be covered in this workshop on April 21, from 10:00 to 2:00 PM. Students will work on carving and printing their own blocks.

All class space is limited, so early registration is encouraged to ensure enrollment. Members receive a $15 discount on adult classes and a $10 discount on classes for children and teens. To become a member, visit www.agnj.org and click on the Membership link. Members also receive incentives such as advance notice and reduced rates on special event tickets, discounted entry fees, and other VIP opportunities. The Arts Guild also offers a Refer-a-friend discount to help you save money.

Call (732) 381-7511, email artsguild1670@verizon.net, or visit www.agnj.org for more information.