Education

On Saturday March 29th (rescheduled from March  8, 2025) from 10am to 3pm,  Jill Nichols will be  offering a workshop on Clouds as an essential ingredient in any landscape painting.  In this one-day workshop, we will give clouds their due. Studying and creating cloud structures with the use of subtle values and colors. Jill will be demonstrating in oils and watercolors. Followed by one-on-one instruction while students create their own cloud studies. This workshop is suitable for all levels and mediums  

This event will be at The Newtown  Meeting House, 31 Main Street in Newtown, CT . (Lower Level). Registration is required. The fee for this workshop is $85 (members) and $105 (non-members).

On Saturday March  22, 2025 from 10am to 3pm,  Lenny Moskowitz will be offering a workshop on exploring landscape painting.  In this workshop, students will explore landscapes through a variety of media, including collage, mixed media, and paint (acrylic or watercolor). Working from photos and reproductions, we’ll cover key concepts like color theory, composition, and using values to create depth and space. The focus is on experimentation and developing a personal approach to landscape.

This seminar is open to all levels, from beginners to advanced artists. The only prerequisite is a curiosity to learn and a willingness to try new techniques. Come ready to explore, create, and have fun!

Supply List

Paper (a pad--Bristol Board 11x14" smooth surface, these are individual sheets of heavy stock paper so they take or whatever medium is used) 

Pencil (4B or 6B) 

Scissors

Magazine pages for collage-work

Elmer's Glue

Paint, acrylic or watercolor

Brushes

Water container

Palette, could be palette paper or whatever you like to use

Optional: Soft vine charcoal if you have it 

This event will be at The Newtown  Meeting House, 31 Main Street in Newtown, CT . (Lower Level). Registration is required. The fee for this workshop is $75 (members) and $95 (non-members)

Join us for a workshop on Saturday April 5th from 10am to 3pm. In this workshop: Gouache, the happy medium between oils and watercolor paint!

Join us on a journey of learning more about this fun medium.  During the workshop we will discuss how gouache different from Watercolor?  Why would I, choose to paint with it?

Gouache is the sister of watercolor paint, in basic terms it is opaque watercolor.

In fact, gouache is the oldest medium of paint, used by Monks to paint illuminate manuscripts. 

Gouache comes from the Italian word aguazzo ~ "wet mud".  Famous artists and illustrators used gouache for plein-air sketches and small paintings.

It is a very versatile medium, it can be used like watercolor when watered down and you can paint over layers like oil paint.  

Fee:  $65 members/$85 non-members, use the website to register and pay or mail fee and contact information to SCAN PO Box 41, Newtown, CT 06470

You are sure to enjoy this relaxed and informative Nocturnal Workshop with the "Queen of the Dark" Chris Ivers. Have fun exploring the many ways that lights in the night add glows and glistening highlights to street scenes after the sun sets. You will also learn how to better take and print your reference shots either of the night or day to help you create wonderful paintings going forward. All levels are welcome and Chris will be providing panels that she will prepare in advance for purchase of $15 for each 11" x 14" support. Demo and critique always included.

Fee:  $100 members/$120 non-members, use the website to register and pay or mail fee and contact information to SCAN PO Box 41, Newtown, CT 06470

PASTEL SUPPLY LIST FOR BEGINNERS 

Hard Pastels: Any of the following – Prismacolor NuPastels, Cretacolor,
Faber-Castell Half Sticks or Caran d’Ache Sticks

(Minimum of 36 set, available in sets of 48, 72 and 96, the more the merrier.)

Soft Pastels: (Based on budget, personal experience and availability)

A set of assorted pastels, including a small set, (or individual sticks) of very dark and very, soft pastels. There are many good brands available in art stores and more brands are available through catalogues or online from Jerry’s Artarama; Dick Blick, ASW, or Dakota Pastels. Pastel brands that have really dark sets are Unison Darks, Pastels Girault Dark Set, and Diane Townsend Dark Terrages. I use many of these brands on any painting that I create. 

The following items are not necessary but keep your hands from drying out and make it easier to clean them afterwards.

Latex, Nitrile, or Vinyl Gloves (you can get at any pharmacy or online), if you can, see if you can find someone who has some to try on. It’s important that the gloves fit tightly on your hands. Liquid Glove, Gloves in a Bottle, Windsor Newton Artguard Barrier Cream, or any other hand barrier you can find in an art supply store or online.

SUPPLY LIST FOR EVERYONE:

Make sure you have plenty of Dark Pastels.

I will bring prepared black Gator Board in standard frame size 11” x 14”
for purchase at $15 each. 

• An easel (let the coordinators know sit or stand to paint) 

• A drop cloth or towel to protect the floor

• Dust catcher for your easel

• Kneaded eraser

• Old bristle brush (oil painting brush) to erase errors

• A Support or field sketch board larger than 11” x 14”

• Two light-colored pastel pencils and any other pastel pencils you have

• Razor blade or sharpener for pastel pencils

• Masking tape (NO COLORED PAINTER’S TAPE!)

• Scissors

• 18“ Ruler & Ball Point Pen (If you have a yardstick, bring that too.)

• Paper toweling or a soft rag

• Portfolio or something to transport your work with

• Glassine Sheets (this protects the paintings in transport)

Bring a Photo of a Night Scene

If you don’t have a photo, I will have some on hand for you to choose from.

If you have any questions, please call 203-645-6779. We’re going to have fun!