Sawdust Festival's 'Spring Into Art' Workshops Start This Weekend

Submitted by the Sawdust Festival.

[Keep in mind that some classes may be filled, so click up the Sawdust website here for the latest information.]

Sawdust Art Festival is proud to announce its fresh set of 2013 Spring Into Art classes. These popular two-day weekend art workshops offer students one-on-one instruction with Sawdust artists covering a wide range of hands-on art classes in many exciting art mediums including ceramics, glassblowing, jewelry, painting and much more. Workshops are held during the four weekends in April and fees include materials, tools and instruction. Students can call in or register online. Schedule of classes and descriptions can be found online at www.sawdustartfestival.org/spring-into-art and also below. Instructor bio info is also posted online.

Ceramics

"Pottery" with Mark Winner 

April 14 from 9 am – 4 pm, $125

April 20 from 9 am – 4 pm, $125
This class will cover basic throwing skills and techniques on the potter’s wheel including centering the clay, pulling the clay into a cylinder, forming the clay into basic shapes of bowls and vases. Students will use the basic tools, including the rib, to manipulate and form the clay shapes while throwing.

"Hand-built Whimsical Ceramics" with Walter Reiss

April 13 from 9 am – 4 pm, $110
Ceramicist Walter Reiss will demonstrate spontaneous soft slab techniques, impressing and deforming textures by stretching, twisting and tearing. Reiss will instruct students on how to create unique whimsical teapots and wall pieces with many ideas to take home. This is a hands-on workshop, so wear clay clothes. 

Glass

"Glassblowing” with Sawdust Glassblowers 

April 6 from 9 am – 4 pm with Christopher Jeffries, $250 (class full)

April 7 from 9 am – 4 pm with Christopher Jeffries, $250 (class full)

April 13 from 9 am – 4 pm with Christopher Jeffries, $250 (class full)

April 14 from 9 am – 4 pm with Christopher Jeffries, $250

April 20 from 9 am – 4 pm with Gavin Heath and Muffin Spencer-Devlin, $250

April 21 from 9 am – 4 pm with Gavin Heath and Muffin Spencer-Devlin, $250

April 27 from 9 am – 4 pm with Gavin Heath and Muffin Spencer-Devlin, $250

April 28 from 9 am – 4 pm with Gavin Heath and Muffin Spencer-Devlin, $250

Learn to gather glass from the furnace and shape it into paper weights, shapes, vases, cups and more. With over 20 years experience, our professional glassblowers will teach students how to blow glass and experience the process of turning molten glass into awesome works of art. Hands-on basic and intermediate skills in glassblowing. At the end of the weekend students will have artwork they have personally created.

“Introduction to Glass Mosaic” with Rosanne Nitti
April 27 & 28 from 9 am – 4 pm, $125
This two-part class introduces the student to the art of glass mosaics. You will create a project made with stained glass pieces. The first day will be about creating your design and attaching the tiles to your base. On the second day you will grout and complete your pieces, ready to take home and show off to your friends.

Jewelry

"Forging a Silver Bracelet" with Mike Heintz

April 6 & 7 from 9 am – 4 pm, $275 (class full)

April 14 & 28 from 9 am – 4pm, $275

In this two-day class, students will be introduced to tools and techniques of a basic jewelry workshop, including sawing, soldering, sanding, anvil forging, filing and finishing. Students will walk away with something they will treasure for a lifetime, while acquiring information that instructor Mike Heintz developed over decades. Take advantage of this unique opportunity to learn from Master Jeweler Mike Heintz. This rare class is limited to four students. Registration fee includes $50 for silver.

"Jewelry Fabrication" with David Nelson

April 20 & 21 from 9 am – 4 pm, $225
In this class you will learn basic and advanced jewelry design and fabrication using sheet metal and wire. Incorporate gemstones in your design using bezel setting, overlay construction and piercing with the jeweler's saw and other fabrication methods. Students will also learn soldering with acetylene, as well as buffing and polishing techniques. 

“Basics of Copper Enameling” with Julie Setterholm

April 20 & 21 from 9 am – 4 pm, $150

Students will learn basic enameling techniques along with a bit of metal working. We will be covering sifting, stenciling, sgraffito and more. Each piece will be fired by the student and taken home that day.

“Kumihimo Cord Braiding and Fused Glass Pendant” with Cindy Stalnaker

April 13 & 14 from 9 am – 4 pm, $250

Kumihimo is a Japanese form of braid-making, performed on a loom. In this two-day class, you will learn to weave a kumihimo cord and make a fused glass pendant to hang on it. On day one, we assemble and fire the pendants in the kiln. Next, we start work on our looms, using a variety of satin cord colors. The cord colors create beautiful patterns running along the length of the cord. On day two, we will complete any required finish work on the pendants, and then complete the braiding. Each class attendee will receive a loom kit to take with them, for future braiding projects.

Mixed Media

“Mixed Media Playtime” with Cherril Doty and Suzette Rosenthal
April 13 from 9 am – 4 pm, $110
Back by popular demand! In this fun, ever-changing class you will learn to create mixed media backgrounds and learn the tricks to simple image transfer techniques you can use in any number of ways. This class is for all levels from beginner to advanced student. There is always more to learn. Come join the fun!

“Mixed Media Bunny” with Patti Klingenmeier
April 7 & 8 from 9 am – 4 pm, $175
Create a 3-dimensional rabbit using paper clay and polymer clay along with a variety of other mixed materials. Students will sculpt, paint, design, wire, hand sew and embellish in this fun two-day class. Both days are necessary to complete your piece.

“Mixed Media – Visual Poetry” with Bette McIntire
April 27 & 28 from 9 am – 4 pm, $165
Reimagine the day’s news by making a collage with mixed media artist Bette McIntire. Write a found poem using torn-out words and phrases from one day’s newspaper. Then with the materials at hand – pencils, paint, stamps, stencils, decorative papers and more – create a visual poem. Bette will show you a variety of techniques that she uses in her Daily News Collages.

Painting

“Beginning Sign Painting” with Michael Brindley
April 20 from 12-4 pm, $99
Michael will teach you how to make some money with this fun sign painting class. Everyone needs a sign for something at some point, real fast! Learn how. No art experience required. Just show up ready to learn all the ins and outs of sign painting and the tricks of the trade.

"Oil Painting Workshop" with John Eagle
April 13 & 14 from 9 am – 4 pm, $145
Come paint a colorful seascape and landscape in oils with Laguna artist John Eagle. Learn about design values. Color mixing will be emphasized. Beginning to intermediate artists are welcome.  

Photography

“Introduction to Digital Photography” with Mary Hurlbut 
April 20 from 1-4 pm, $95
Learn the art of seeing light, while also having those pesky technical questions answered in plain English! Please bring your digital camera and the manual it came with. Wear shoes for walking. We will spend time in the classroom covering the basics of using your digital camera and some of the “art” of photography. You will also receive a handout to help you remember all we cover. Then we will get outside for a walking tour of the area to practice all you have learned before returning to the class and uploading the images to a computer for viewing and discussion. Please feel free to make a list of any questions you have about digital photography and email them to Mary one week prior to the class at hurlbut.mary@gmail.com.  

Printmaking

“Printmaking – Make Mine Monotype” with Hedy Buzan
April 6 from 9 am – 4 pm, $100
In this fun class you will explore additive, reductive and stencil monotypes using water based inks. No drawing skills required, just an open mind and a willingness to experiment.

“Printmaking – Back to Basics” with Brynne Cogorno
April 21 from 9 am – 3 pm, $130
In this printmaking class you will learn the basics of block printing and screen-printing. Learn from eco-artist Brynne Cogorno, as she teaches you how to create a custom rubber stamp, and explore printing with found objects such as buttons, kitchen utensils, and potatoes. You will learn the basics on composition, design, pattern and color. Bonus, you get to go home with a lovely set of printed notes that grow, and your very own custom screen-printed tote bag.

Spring Into Art class space is limited. Class fees include materials, supplies and instruction. Students will be told if there are additional materials fees. A continental breakfast will be provided during morning check-ins. Students should bring their own sack lunch or check with their instructors to find out if there will be time to visit one of Laguna Beach’s fine restaurants for a snack. To register or for more information on the Sawdust Art Festival’s 2013 Spring Into Art weekend workshops, please visit www.sawdustartfestival.org/spring-into-art or call 949-494-3030. The Sawdust Art Festival is located at 935 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach.