Workshops

AMH provides a range of experiential and creative workshops led by expert practitioners in their fields. Check out the selection below and join us! All workshops are located at Arts Mid-Hudson (696 Dutchess Turnpike, Suite F, Poughkeepsie) unless specified otherwise.

ANYONE CAN PAINT

Have you always wanted to paint but have never taken the time to learn? This class is for all skill levels. Individuals will bring an image to paint to class or choose from ones provided in class. You can work from a smart phone too.

Each class will build on knowledge from the previous classes. Individuals will work at their own pace with no pressure.

Find relaxation, creativity and fun during this session.

Dates: Wednesdays, June 5-26: 7:00 – 9:00pm

Price: $100 AMH Members, $115 NonMembers

Age: All ages welcome, if under 16, must be accompanied by an adult

RSVP: Click here to reserve your spot by May 22

Instructor: Nicole Jurain

About Instructor:

Nicole Jurain is a New Paltz artist that graduated from SUNY New Paltz with a major in ceramics. Through the years, Nicole’s art portfolio crosses 2D & 3D painting, pottery, and sculpture. She has been teaching art classes privately for the past several years focusing on acrylic and watercolor. You can see her work on Instagram @NicoleJurainPottery

SUBMIT TO THE CALL

Do you struggle with preparing images of your art work to submit for calls, grants, and awards?

Join Arts Mid-Hudson’s Lilia Pérez for tips on how to strengthen your work samples, learn technical skills on resizing and formatting images, and more. Participants can bring their portfolio for a quick review.

Dates: Tuesday, June 11: 12:00 – 2:00pm

Price: Free for 2019 Grantees, $15 AMH Members, $30 NonMembers

Age: all ages welcome

RSVP: Click here to reserve your spot by June 10

Instructor: Lilia Pérez

About Instructor:

Lilia Pérez joined Arts Mid-Hudson in May 2016. As Grants & Programs Manager, she facilitates a grant program that distributes arts funding for the New York State Council on the Arts’ Decentralization Grant Program, and the Duchess and Ulster County legislatures. Additionally, Pérez manages the Arts Mid-Hudson Gallery and Community Gallery program which provides showing opportunities to artists in our region. She has provided guidance to hundreds of grant applicants, led workshops, and works to strengthen partnerships in our communities through the arts. She graduated from the State University of New York at New Paltz with a B.F.A. in Photography in 2015.

REPORTING FOR GRANTEES

The Not-So-Glamorous Part of Grants – Reporting, management, and stewardship of your award. Arts Mid-Hudson’s Grants and Funding staff will walk you through the step-by-step process of setting yourself up for success with your grant!

Price: Free for 2019 Grantees (but please RSVP), $15 AMH Members, $30 Non-Members

Age: all ages welcome

RSVP: Click here to reserve your spot by June 17

Instructor: Lilia Pérez & Steven Steele Cawman

About Instructor:

Steven Steele Cawman lives in Poughquag, New York, and has enjoyed a career in photography, motion pictures and advertising for more than 20 years. Specializing in travel and nature photography, Steven has travelled the world capturing images of the great outdoors, breathtaking scenery and the majesty of nature. Steven’s love of travel and desire to experience new cultures has inspired and driven him to see and capture the world. Visit Steven’s website at www.sscphoto.com

Steven received his Masters Degree in Film from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. Prior to NYU, he attended Kenyon College where he studied English Literature and Art History. Steven lives in Dutchess County, New York, and is passionate about the arts and the Hudson Valley. His works are held in many corporate and private collections and his clients include the Semester at Sea Program, The Consulate General of Switzerland in New York and numerous local and international publications.

In 2017, Steven received an Individual Artists Commission for Dutchess: Farm to Table, a photographic study featuring the people, places and stories of the farm-to-table movement in Dutchess County. The project was made possible with funds from the Decentralization Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

BEGINNER WILLOW BASKETMAKING

In this workshop, participants will learn the basics of basketry using willow as a medium. The unique qualities of willow allow for a wide range of artistic expression, and participants will be encouraged to explore forms and colors. Over the course of 2 days we will weave a round base using a twining pattern, work up the sides and optional integrated handles in waling and French randing and then finish with a woven border. This is a surprisingly physical class with surprisingly gratifying results.

Dates: Saturday & Sunday, June 22-23: 9:00 am – 4:30pm

Price: $155 AMH Members, $170 NonMembers

Materials: Willow, to be supplied by artist. Some tools are also needed for the class: high quality pruning/garden shears, stiff or locking blade knife, bodkin or large awl. I can provide weights, pads, ties, and a few extra knives and bodkins.

Age: 16 and up

RSVP: Click here to reserve your spot by June 7

Instructor: Jesica Clark

About Instructor:

Jesica Clark is the owner and operator of Willow Vale Farm, where she grows vegetables as well as grows and weaves with willow, a naturally beautiful and sustainable material. The colors come from willow’s own ability to produce pleasing hues and the forms are a result of her conversation with each piece she weaves. Her willow and produce are grown without pesticides and with loving care.

LUNCH-TIME QUILT-IN

Join this class to learn basic quilting techniques that are easy for everyone. Try a new design each month using stitches by hand or machine. Relax & create a simple project with applique, patchwork & quilted stitchery for yourself or a gift. Ideas for larger projects are also demonstrated.

July – Applique Hearts & Stars

August – Simply Squares

September – Designs with Rectangles

October – Tricks with Triangles

Dates: Tuesday, July 9: 11:00am – 2:00pm

Tuesday, August 6: 11:00am – 2:00pm

Tuesday, September 10: 11:00am – 2:00pm

Tuesday, October 8: 11:00am – 2:00pm

Price: $60 AMH Members, $75 NonMembers (per class)

Age: 14 & Older

RSVP: Click here to reserve your spot by July 2

Instructor: Shirley Botsford

About Instructor:

Shirley Botsford is a professional in the sewing, home decor & fashion fields. She has authored over 50 instructional needlework & crafts books, including the popular Daddy’s Ties. She has taught at Marist College, Dutchess Community College, Mount Saint Mary’s College, SUNY Ulster.

MAKE A MOVIE TODAY

“Make a movie today” – just for the fun of it. No experience necessary. If you already have been bitten by the acting or filmmaking bug then that’s great too! The class will focus learning camera angles, writing a short script and then shooting a movie on the spot.

The final project will be posted to YouTube for you and your family to enjoy.

Dates: Saturday, July 13: 9:00am – 1:00pm & Sunday, July 14, 2:00-3:00pm

Price: $65 AMH Members, $80 NonMembers

Age: All Ages Welcome

RSVP: Click here to reserve your spot by July 8

Instructor: Nile Clarke

About Instructor:

Nile Clarke is a visual artist who has worked with media in various forms for the past ten years. As a filmmaker, journalist and artist she is inspired by life, culture and science fiction. Creating content and sharing it will others is something Clarke really enjoys.

CONVERSATIONS WITH CURATORS

Join curators from across the region for a panel discussion about the ins and outs of the art world from their points of view. Learn about what curators look for in a submission, how they put shows
together, and what goes into the programming process.

Date: Tuesday, July 16: 3:00 – 5:00pm

Price: $15 AMH Members, $30 NonMembers

Age: All Ages Welcome

RSVP: Click here to reserve your spot by July 14

Curators: Nancy Azara, Daniel Belasco, Marline Martin

About the Curators:

Nancy Azara:

Nancy Azara is a sculptor who works in wood as well as collages, prints, and banners that record a journey of ideas and memories around the unseen and the unknown, reflecting on time and mortality through facets of her personal journey. She juxtaposes real tree limbs and vines with arboreal imagery – including renderings of witch hazel and rhubarb leaves – using them as stand-ins for her own presence, and as expressions of the dogged persistence of life.

Her work has been shown extensively, most recently in “Nancy Azara: Nature Prints” curated by Claudia Sbrissa at Saint John’s University, Queens, NY, “Crossing Broundaries; Material as Message” curated by Barbara Galazzo at (RoCA) Rockland Center for the Arts, West Nyack, NY and “Would/Wood” curated by Robert Tomlinson at Kaaterskill Gallery, Hunter Village, NY .

Daniel Belasco:

Daniel Belasco is an art historian and Executive Director of the Al Held Foundation. A specialist in postwar and contemporary art, he has published catalogues and curated exhibitions on the work of Helen Frankenthaler, Roy Lichtenstein, Bradley Walker Tomlin, Mary Reid Kelley, and many more. He previously served as Henry J. Leir Associate Curator of The Jewish Museum, and Curator of Exhibitions and Programs at the Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art at SUNY New Paltz. In 2010 Belasco co-curated (with Sarah Lewis) The Dissolve: SITE Santa Fe’s Eighth International Biennial. He holds a Ph.D. from the Institute of Fine Arts, New York University.

Marline A. Martin:

Marline is an artist, arts administrator, curator, writer and storyteller. She holds Master of Fine Arts from the City College of New York and is a 2017 recipient of Arts Mid-Hudson Individual Award, a 2012 Community Partner Award recipient from Zeta Phi Beta/Five Pearls Foundation, and a 2008 recipient of Harlem Women of Excellence Award for the Arts. Marline recently joined the staff as executive director of the Greene County Council on the Arts and is the former executive director of LeRoy Neiman Art Center and The Children’s Art Carnival, respectively. Her recent work includes curating the “Restoring Pride in Culture: Legacy and Tradition” exhibition at the Kingston Center of SUNY Ulster, organized by TRANSART & Cultural Services, and featured 37 works of over a dozen contemporary African American artists. She is currently working on a collection of short stories as well as a scholarly essay for publication.

ILLUSTRATION 101

This workshop will explore individual creativity, and encourage our child-like imagination in order to develop advanced ideas and approach towards a work of art. Illustration is telling a story about the way we see the world, or perhaps the way we’d like to see it. This course will cover all stages of creating an illustration, from spitballing ideas and thumbnail sketches to final sketches, classroom critiques and the finished artwork. Let’s create a safe space for our craziest ideas and illustrate a world of our own!

Dates: Saturday , July 20: 6:00 – 8:00pm

Price: $20 AMH Members, $35 NonMembers

Age: All Ages Welcome

RSVP: Click here to reserve your spot by July 18

Instructor: Shannon Ramos

About Instructor:

Local freelance artist and recent graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology where she received my BFA in Illustration and Art History. Ramos the solo artist behind XMoneysignx Art and Apparel and have illustrated for Complex Magazine and the International Model and Talent Association. She has worked with various clients from startup companies and other creatives as well as personal commissions. Her teaching background includes intro to drawing and painting at Michaels craft store and sip and paint classes in Manhattan and throughout the Hudson Valley. My passion is not only to create art but to be able to share creative knowledge to aspiring artists.

AUDITIONING FOR MUSICAL THEATER

Learn how to put your best foot forward and nail that audition. What to do and more importantly what NOT to do.
How to do your homework and best prepare for your big moment. We will have optional mock auditions and have constructive, objectives comments and evaluations. Selecting the right vocal, what shows your range. Managing expectations and so much more.

In addition, learn more about the shows that are being presented. Journey through the world of Musical Theater, from the classic to the contemporary. Through the use of video clips, music and scene fun we will travel through time and see the development of the American Musical. Rodgers & Hammerstein, Stephen Sondheim, Steven Schwartz, Andrew Lloyd Weber and many more. Comedies to profound stories will fill our workshops with great moments for all. Guests actors from the Broadway stage will share thoughts and experiences and there will be Musical Theater .

Dates: Sunday, August 25: 2:00 – 4:00pm

Price: $25 AMH Members, $40 NonMembers

Age: High School and Older

RSVP: Click here to reserve your spot by August 18

Instructor: Anthony Scarrone

About Instructor:

Theater MBA, Director in the Wappinger School District for 25 years and in the Beacon City School District for the last 7 years. Director/Producer – Spacekill School District. Directing over 70 shows.
Director – Gilbert & Sullivan
Director – DCC
Arts in Education Award
NSTEA – Teacher Award

PEN & INK DRAWING

The Instructor will demonstrate techniques and processes used to create a pen and ink drawing, from choosing the subject (landscape, animal, portrait, etc.) to the sketch to the finished product. Bring photos of potential subjects. Open to all levels.

Dates: Thursdays, September 5-26: 1:00 – 3:00pm

Price: $80 AMH Members, $95 NonMembers

Age: 16 and Older

RSVP: Click here to reserve your spot by August 29

Instructor: Paul Kmiotek

About Instructor:

“Like most kids, I started drawing at a very young age. In that time, I’ve never taken any formal lessons. I consider this to be a clear case of nature over nurture, as my father is an incredibly gifted watercolor artist, and his father painted in oils.
Although I’ve drawn a few cityscapes, the subjects of most of my artwork are naturalistic – either animals or landscapes; themes that appeal to my lifelong love of nature.

My work has been displayed, among other places, at the Ridgewood Art Institute, the Hiram Blauvelt Art Museum, the Belle Levine Art Center, The Flywheel Gallery, and the Lake Carmel Arts Center. I’ve been commissioned by the Wildlife Conservation Society, Aerco International, The Komodo Dragon Species Survival Plan, and The Wildlife Care Center of Belize. I currently live in the Hudson Valley, New York, with my beautiful wife and two awesome children.”

STAINED GLASS MOSAICS

Create a beautiful Amish style Hex sign using symmetry with colored stained glass. Participants will design and create their own pieces, suitable for framing. Members in this class will learn the skills it takes to create a stained glass mosaic piece.

Dates: Saturdays, September 7-21: 12:00 – 3:00pm

Price: $75 AMH Members, $90 NonMembers

Age: 10 and Older

RSVP: Click here to reserve your spot by August 30

Instructor: Jill Obrig

About Instructor:

Jill Obrig has been teaching art for over 30 years to young and old in museums, libraries, galleries, art camps, public schools and in private schools, throughout NYS. Jill’s own stained glass mosaic was featured in the 2005 “Lord of the Rings” Con illustrating Bilbo Baggin’s Bag End and sold with the proceeds going for the Tsunami Victims in India. Jill has been the recipient of Arts Mid Hudson Grants for the past 3 years, fusing art with literature. Jill lives and works in the Hudson Valley.