There are artistic skills in ALL of us.
I believe that practice makes improvement. With time we can all develop our artistic style and voice.
I teach classes based in watercolor painting, block printing, creating/using natural pigments, drawing, and book binding. I have taught with: Bainbridge Island Museum of Art, Case for Making, Camp Craftaway, Gage Academy of Art, Kitsap Regional Library, North Seattle College (Continuing Education Department), The Works Seattle, and Wildcraft.
I have also taught youth based art classes at public schools: Hawthorne Elementary, Sandpoint Elementary, Summit Atlas, and Dry Creek Elementary in Port Angeles (in conjunction with the Port Angeles Fine Arts Center).
Adult Classes
Watercolor Snowy Landscapes
2/18 - 3/25, 6:30 - 9 PM
North Seattle College
Capture the beauty of snowy landscapes from the greater Seattle area without leaving the warmth of the classroom! This beginner to intermediate watercolor class guides you in painting stunning winter scenes inspired by the region. Learn key techniques like color mixing, composition, and creating soft, snowy textures. Let the winter charm of the greater Seattle area inspire your watercolor creations!
The Art of Botanical Watercolor
2/20 - 3/20, 6:30 - 9 PM
Gage Academy of Art
Come to this beginner to intermediate class to watercolor portraits of plants and fruits. In this class you’ll capture the different moments from the lifecycle of a plants and fruits (bulbs, seed heads, flowers, leaves, fruit). In this class students will learn: how to create a harmonious color palette, techniques that produce realistic and accurate paintings, an understanding how light reveals form, and how to improve their observational and visual interpretation skills.
Watercoloring Urban Critters
2/24 - 3/17, 6 - 8 PM
UW Botanic Gardens
Come watercolor Seattle’s urban fauna! In this beginner to intermediate level class students will learn techniques to produce realistic and accurate paintings. In this class you’ll also gain the skills to paint fur, feathers, and skin. Students leave with finished watercolor pieces of urban animals and the confidence to paint other subject matter!
Exploring Color Theory Through Watercolor
4/7 - 4/28, 6:30 - 9 PM
North Seattle College
Want to become more confident with color? Color can be a complex subject matter but with a few essential rules it can be broken down. In this class students will get to explore the basics of color theory with watercolor. Students will start off by exploring the color wheel and principles of color theory. Next, they'll develop a few dynamic color palettes, experiment with mixing watercolor, and learn how to use color theory in paintings. Students will leave class with self-colored charts, diagrams, and confidence with color!
Making Watercolor Paints From Plants
4/8 - 5/6, 6:30 - 9 PM
Gage Academy of Arts
Have you ever been curious how your watercolor paint is made? Did you know you can turn plant matter into artist grade paint? If you answered yes, then this 5-week course is for you! In this course you will learn recipes and techniques to turn plant matter into pigment, and then into watercolor paint. Everyone will leave this course with 4 different paints that they have created (a red, yellow, blue, and green)! Also, students will learn how lightfastness plays into these watercolors. After creating your watercolor paint, you’ll learn various watercolor techniques.
Drawing With Natural Inks
4/12 - 4/13, 11AM - 2 PM
UW Botanic Gardens
Discover the timeless art of botanical illustration with a dip pen and natural ink. You'll begin by learning the foundational properties of strokes and pen control, various shading methods, and techniques for adding detail to your work. With these skills in hand, you'll create a botanical still life drawing. At the end of the class, you’ll leave with your artwork, studies, and a bottle of handmade ink.
Watercoloring Spring Florals
5/15 - 6/12, 6:30 - 9 PM
Gage Academy of Arts
Nature is waking up from its winter slumber. With spring flowers abound, come to this class to watercolor them. In this beginner to intermediate level class students will learn techniques to produce realistic and accurate paintings. Students leave with finished watercolor pieces of spring specimens and the confidence to paint other subject matter!
Alternative Watercolor Methods
5/5 - 6/16, 6:30 - 9 PM
North Seattle College
In this six week watercolor class you will learn about unique alternative methods to create awesome effects in your watercolor paintings. Using some alternative art materials, you’ll learn many methods of application and techniques to create visual interest in your watercolor paints. You will also learn watercolor technique, drawing skills, color mixing, and composition techniques. Over the few weeks you will paint landscapes, flora, and fauna.
Plein Air Plants
7/26, 9 AM - 12 PM
OR
8/9, 9 AM -12 PM
Washington Park Arboretum
Do you love botanical art? Do you like to spend time outside? Combine the two in this nature journaling class that focuses on plants. In this class you’ll learn techniques to document the experiences you’re seeing in nature, how to improve your observational skills, how to combine pen and watercolor to create your pieces, how to create a pleasing composition, and color relationships. You’ll also learn how to use creative prompts to connect further and deeper with nature. Come create a memory of a place! During inclement weather class will be held indoors.
Youth Classes
Watercolor & The Natural World
4/19, 1:30 - 4:30 PM
Gage Academy of Arts
Get ready for an exciting class that mixes art with science! In this class, you’ll dive into the world of scientific illustration, learning how to draw plants and organisms with crazy accuracy. You’ll explore drawing skills and watercolor techniques. Whether you’re into nature, art, or both, this class is all about turning your creativity into science-powered masterpieces!
Scientific Illustration & Watercolor
7/14 - 7/18, 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Gage Academy of Arts
Are you curious about the natural world and love to make art? If so, this is the art camp for you! In this camp, teens will be inspired by flora and fauna specimens to create art. Students will explore scientific illustration, how to create accurate drawings of their specimens, and techniques for drawing and watercoloring. Come create art that develops both an artistic and scientific mind!
Creating Magical Pop-up Books + Dances in Fantasy Land
8/4 - 8/8, 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Gage Academy of Arts
Come learn how to create pages that will come to life! In this camp students will unlock the imagination and explore how to create pop-up illustrations out of paper. There will be an emphasis on how to construct pop-up artwork and at the same time students will learn how to add hand drawn illustrations to their pieces. Students will also develop their visual storytelling skills as they illustrate a short story with their own pop-up constructions.
Drawing Inspiration at MOHAI
8/11 - 8/15, 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Gage @ MOHAI
Come to this camp to connect with Seattle’s history through art! This camp will take place at the Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI). MOHAI is filled with rich stories, artifacts, and art from Seattle’s past. Campers will spend time exploring MOHAI's collection, galleries, and Lake Union Park. Then, using watercolor and a variety of other art materials, we'll create art that explores the region’s past and present. Through creative map making, illustrated stories, and more we'll improve our technical drawing skills while getting creative at the museum.
Feedback From Students
In-Depth Look at Classes
