ART ENERGY is NAAC’s new community arts project.
This effort will include a series of introductory classes and workshops coordinated with independent Art Schools and Art Teachers of the McHenry County area, including:
Creative Artistry School of Fine Art (Amber Larsen - Crystal Lake)
River Art Studio & Gallery (Debbie Howard - Algonquin)
The Studio Art School (Lucy Tonyan - McHenry)
To start, there will be three Creative Art Workshops offered in conjunction with Little Women's Works, our annual showing of art produced by young women and on display at the Old Court House Arts Center in Woodstock during Women's Works.
Space is limited, sign up soon! Choose your workshop(s) below, then contact the teacher, through her school (listed above), to register.
Here are the details for each of the three workshops:
Crazy with Color and Contrast
Suggested Ages: 8-15
To be presented by Amber Larsen on Sunday, March 25 from 1-3 pm
Be inspired by the colorful and repetitive works of Andy Warhol. He is known for his painting and printing of popular characters in marvelous colors. Create a color explosion on paper with patterns and duplicate designs from your imagination. Then make a printing "plate" of Mickey Mouse or Stitch by drawing into a Styrofoam block which will be inked and printed on top of your design creating a dramatic "one of a kind" piece of art! Everyone will be successful and have fun with this mixed media art process.
Color the World Beautiful
Suggested Ages: 10-17
To be presented by Lucy Tonyan on Sunday, April 15 from 1-3 pm
Discover the work of artist Vera Newmann whose brilliantly colored artwork patterned housewares and fashion textiles for over four decades. Vera knew good design should be accessible to all and incorporated into daily life. Her designs were welcomed into homes across the USA (even the White House!) and worn by stylish people everywhere. Participants will use color, shape, line and pattern to paint and print an original design. Inspired by Vera, we'll create a life sized “paper person” and dress it in an amazing outfit. Participants will create a signature logo to complete their project.
French Impressionist Painting
Suggested Age: Grades 6 and up
To be presented by Debbie Howard on Sunday, April 29 from 1-3 pm
Have fun painting in the style of French Impressionist Henri Rousseau. Working in acrylic, you will enjoy using your imagination to create an imaginary jungle using organic shapes and animals to achieve depth and variety. Learn how to play with positive negative space using analogous colors. Working on a gesso prepared board, you will be pleased with your final results, enjoying the process along the way.
Future ART ENERGY workshops and classes will be offered at the schools above, as well as at local public libraries and other venues in order to encourage artists of all ages to express themselves creatively. The classes will be presented by local artists, who will be featured at the on-line ART ENERGY Gallery here, on the NAAC website. This gallery will be used to promote community arts in McHenry County. ART ENERGY programs will include drawing, painting, clay, computer art, illustration and photography.
We envision these outcomes from ART ENERGY:
- Students are connecting with experienced, talented teachers to explore and encourage their creativity.
- Students are proudly sharing their work with their families, peers and other community members.
- Expression of artistic talent is clearly visible throughout our community.
- Young participants are discovering their creative talents and growing through the experience.
- Adult and senior participants are exercising their minds and rediscovering their creative abilities.
Our online ART ENERGY gallery will be an exciting way for the artists of our area to promote their work with interviews, photos and links to their websites. Each interview will be posted on the site to coordinate with scheduled programs. This will be a perfect time to read about the instructor prior to signing up for the class. ART ENERGY programs are designed for the children, adults and senior citizens of our community to continue their art experience or to learn something new and exciting.
To learn more about NAAC's ART ENERGY programs, contact: