HMSC Adult Classes

Online Workshop

Tuesday, September 15, 9:30-11:30am

Join us for an art-making exploration of some ways our perception of color influences how we make and appreciate art. Using color-focused art projects, we will learn about our own color vision and how our brains process visual information. Along the way, we’ll play with contrasting and equiluminant colors, ultimately coming to better understand how our brains shape our perceptions as artists and art lovers. All skill levels are welcome.

Online Workshop

Wednesday, September 30, 9:30–11:30 am

The visual qualities of reflectivity, translucency, and transparency are incredibly compelling, but capturing them in your drawings in a satisfying way can be challenging. We’ll explore the visual clues that tell us what kind of material we’re looking at and approaches to rendering those qualities to good effect. We’ll discuss a range of examples and have plenty of time for drawing and individual feedback. A PDF handout will be provided after class. All skill levels are welcome.

Online Workshop

Tuesday, October 13, 9:30-11:30am

What makes a cluster of abstract shapes look like a tiger face? The way we see and interpret shapes relies on how our neurons are wired and our higher cognition. Understanding how those processes work together reveals strategies for artists as well as ways we appreciate and interpret artworks. In this workshop, we’ll explore how visual perception works, from the way light hits the retina to the tricks behind optical illusions, the visual riddles of “droodles,” and the timeless wisdom of the Impressionists. All skill levels are welcome.

In-Person Workshop

Saturday, October 17, 9:30–11:30 am

Shells are endlessly fascinating, with an incredible variety of their forms, patterns, and colors, making them great subjects to draw. In this 2-hour workshop, we’ll look closely at museum specimens to explore techniques for capturing them with pencil and paper, focusing particularly on the three-dimensional “architecture” of the shell and using shading to capture volume and depth. Class size will be limited, allowing ample time for individual feedback. All skill levels are welcome.

Online Workshop

Wednesday, October 28, 9:30–11:30 am

In this online drawing workshop, instead of focusing on a particular drawing material or subject matter, we’ll explore the core building blocks of visual art: marks and lines. Discover how using an incredible variety of marks and lines can transform your drawings by adding depth, volume, and texture, while infusing your work with depth and character. Through a range of inspiring examples, guided exercises, dedicated drawing time, and personalized feedback, you’ll build a richer, more expressive drawing tool kit. A PDF handout will be provided after class. All skill levels are welcome.

In-Person Workshop

Saturday, October 31, 9:30–11:30 am

With their unusual and subtle shapes, bones are both fascinating and challenging to draw. In this class, we will explore different kinds of bones and some of their common features through observational drawing. Along the way, we will practice drawing techniques like shading, line quality, and shape mapping to better observe and sketch bones of all kinds. All skill levels are welcome.

In-Person Workshop

Saturday, November 7, 9:30am–12:00 pm

Feathers give birds their color, from the bright red of a male Cardinal to the iridescent reds and greens of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. Feathers keep birds warm and dry: down provides excellent insulation against heat loss, and water really does roll off a duck’s back. Feathers form the aerodynamic shape of the wing, enabling flight. A Barn Owl’s flight feathers suppress sound, allowing it to fly nearly silently, while its ruff feathers reflect and focus sound into its ears, enabling the owl to hunt in total darkness by sound alone.

In this workshop, we’ll look closely at feathers through the eyes of an artist and an engineer. We’ll examine the structure of different types of feathers, see what gives feathers their color, and learn how an owl’s facial ruff feathers enable it to hunt by hearing alone. We’ll alternate between learning about feathers and exploring techniques for capturing them in pencil. All skill levels are welcome.

Online Workshop

Wednesday, December 2, 9:30–11:30 am

Sketching can be a practice for deepening mindful awareness of our surroundings, and mindful awareness can enrich our sketching practice by helping us quiet inner voices. In this online workshop, we’ll use natural objects as our subject matter to explore ways to focus our attention, learn to see more deeply, and record our observations more carefully. Taught by professional artist Erica Beade. All skill levels are welcome.

In-Person Workshop

Saturday, December 5, 9:30–11:30 am

Have you ever wished you could paint with the brilliant reds, blues, and purples of flowers, the rich brown of nuts, or the glowing oranges and yellows of spices?  For centuries, artists looked to natural sources to get their paint.Today, everyday items like teas, flowers, and spices make it easy to reconnect with that tradition. In this workshop, we’ll craft our own plant-based paints and create original artwork. Come explore these vibrant natural colors and see what you can create! All skill levels are welcome.