Art Classes Return To THELMA

Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts (THELMA) has announced art classes have resumed in March under the direction of Shannon Kupfer, THELMA’s new curator and arts education coordinator.

Programming includes something for everyone. There are great opportunities for groups to gather for a class with a beverage. Studio 51, which are classes for children and families also returns. And there are adult art classes for those who want to explore. Most classes are open to all levels.

THELMA members receive 20% discount. Click here to reserve your spot. THELMA will follow all local health and CDC guidelines related to COVID-19. Capacity will be limited.

Here is the schedule:

Saturday March 6

Studio 51: “DIY Scratch Paper” 10:30am-12:00pm

If you have ever used scratch paper, you know how incredibly fun it is to reveal the vibrant colors as you draw. In this class, you will learn how to make scratch paper yourself! We will make our own colorful designs, turn them into scratch paper, and scratch some artwork into them using a variety of tools.

Adult: “Building Your Own Canvases” 12:30pm-2:30pm

Tired of spending all your money on store-bought canvases? Looking to have more control over the craftsmanship of your paintings? This class will show you all you need to know about building the wood frame, stretching the canvas, and prepping it for your next beautiful artwork. You will be surprised at how easy canvas-building can be!

Thursday March 11

A Glass with Your Class: “Brush and a Beverage” 4:30pm-6:30pm

Think still lives are boring? Not a chance during this painting session where we will dim the lights and illuminate our subject with various lights and colors. We will be painting on black canvasses. It is an artistic challenge and a ton of fun! Your first drink is on us.

Saturday March 13

Studio 51: “Paint and Plant” 10:30am-12pm

Get into the Spring spirit with this hands-on workshop! You will learn several techniques to paint a 4” planter and decorate it with a variety of craft supplies. Afterwards, you will fill your pot with soil and plant your own flower or herb from a selection of seeds!

Adult: “Acrylic Impressionism” 12:30pm-2:30pm

Come show your strokes in this class session all about impressionism. We will talk about some of the techniques used by the old masters and how to achieve visual color-mixing and movement. Learn, paint, and find out if you are the next Monet!

Saturday March 20

Studio 51: “Mixed Media Pot o’ Gold” 10:30am-12pm

Get into the St. Patty’s Day spirit with this mixed media art project. Practice your blending skills with chalk pastels, collage with paper and craft foam, and stitch with ribbon. There just might be a treasure waiting for you at the end of this project’s rainbow!

Adult: “Charcoal Still Life” 12:30pm-2:30pm

Let’s dirty up those hands and smudge our way to beautiful drawing! Learn how to achieve proportionally accurate drawings and successfully represent form and light in this charcoal drawing class. We will work with visual measurement techniques, gestural drawing, line weight, and blending.

Thursday March 25

A Glass with Your Class: “Sip and Sculpt” 4:30pm-6:30pm

Join us for a drink and some creativity in this jewelry-making class for all experience levels. You will learn several techniques in sculpting with polymer clay to create your own jewelry designs!

We will sculpt, bake, and assemble your custom jewelry during this class and your first drink is on us!

Saturday March 27

Studio 51: “Pull-String Art” 10:30am-12pm

Join us for this class’ swirly, messy paint-filled fun! Learn different techniques for creating amazing floral and abstract imagery using paint and string. This technique is lots of fun for all ages. You will love this artwork so much you may just have to frame it!

Adult: “Oil Painting for Beginners” 12:30pm-2:30pm

Never tried oil paint before? Intimidated by all the solvents and mediums? Throw your hesitation aside and join us for the essential knowledge you need to get started in oils. You will learn what supplies you need, how to mix and apply your media, prepare your surfaces, and more. By the end of this class, you will be on your way to oil paint mastery!

Saturday April 3

Studio 51: “Marbled Paper Eggs” 10:30am-12pm

Join us for a different kind of egg-dyeing when we create beautiful, marbled effects on paper using shaving cream and food coloring! We will be cutting our eggs out of this custom marbled paper. While it dries, we will also be making some paper chicks to pop out of our egg artwork. Don’t miss this class, it is a ton of messy fun for all ages!

Adult: “Abstract Fiber Art” 12:30pm-2:30pm

If you’re in need of a new kind of two-dimensional art, you won’t want to miss this class. Working on stretched fabric, we will learn several fiber arts techniques to create a textural, mixed-media art piece. We will incorporate elements of stitching, weaving, appliqué, beading and more!

Thursday April 8

A Glass with Your Class: “Brush and a Beverage” 4:30pm-6:30pm

90’s night! Learn some abstract painting techniques while listening to your favorite throwback tunes! Pick and choose the techniques that speak to you and create a unique artwork. Dressing up and singing along encouraged. So, break out your butterfly clips and roll-on glitter and don’t miss this painting class! Your first drink is on us.

Saturday April 10

Studio 51: “Coffee Filter Flowers” 10:30am-12pm

While you may not see flowers in your garden yet, they’re in full bloom in our classroom! In this class you will learn how to create beautifully colorful designs on coffee filters that almost resemble tie-dye. We will then fold, cut, and assemble them into amazing flowers. Create a custom bouquet that will never fade or wilt!

Adult: “Ekphrasis: Art Inspired Poetry” with Lora Vahlsing 10am-12pm

In this two-hour workshop taught by Lora Vahlsing, we’ll read and discuss some examples of ekphrastic poems. Then you’ll write your own ekphrastic poem in class, using art in the galleries and from other provided sources. The assignment provides poets with new ways of seeing an object. You’ll also learn effective strategies for stating what’s been observed, furthering your exploration of how art can be the catalyst for insight, feelings, and connections. Finally, we’ll use the remaining workshop time to share and discuss the ekphrastic poems.

Saturday April 17

Studio 51: “Landscape Collage” 10:30am-12pm

Get creative with collage is this fun family-friendly class! You will learn some helpful techniques in developing a landscape collage that is full of pattern, depth, and visual texture. We will have a wide variety of materials on hand, and you will be able to mix media into a unique, beautiful landscape-inspired image!

Adult: “Soldered Glass Suncatchers” 12:30pm-2:30pm

Spice up your windows at home with these gorgeous glass ornaments! You will learn basic stained-glass techniques such as scoring and breaking glass, prepping the glass with copper tape, and soldering the pieces together. Instead of traditional colored glass, however, we will be pressing flowers, leaves, feathers, etc. in between the glass!

Thursday April 22

A Glass with Your Class: “Drink While You Ink” 4:30pm-6:30pm

Let loose in this free-form art class where we will learn how to make art with alcohol inks. Working on a two-dimensional surface, you will leave this session with a gorgeous piece to take home and hang on your wall. I’ll pour the drinks while you pour the inks! Your first drink is on us.

Saturday April 24

Studio 51: “Eco Art” 10:30am-12pm

Reuse that refuse in this eco-friendly crafting class! In honor of Earth Day, we will be creating artwork using recycled materials. You will be provided with a wide variety of recycled supplies to choose from and will be shown several fun ideas to get started on your own earth-conscious artwork.

Adult: “Oil Painting Portraiture” 12:30pm-2:30pm

Learn several important techniques in this oil painting class focused on portraiture. We will start with the fundamentals of proportional accuracy and building underlying shapes and tones. We will then cover skin-tone color mixing and how to convey the details of a face. All skill levels are welcome in this class.

Saturday May 1

Studio 51: “Abstract Watercolors” 10:30am-12pm

Be wild and free in this abstract watercolor class! We will talk about different watercolor techniques like wet-on-wet, wet-on-dry, layering, creating texture, and more. Everyone of all ages and abilities can come and create a colorful, non-objective artwork!

Adult: “Shibori Dyeing” 12:30pm-2:30pm

If you have a piece of clothing or a linen that needs some rejuvenation, this class is for you. Learn several traditional Japanese shibori resist dyeing techniques and the unique patterns that they create. Bring your own item to dye and watch it transform from boring to beautiful! Must contain plant-based fibers such as cotton, rayon, hemp, or linen. Your piece should be about the size of a shirt or smaller.

Saturday May 8

Studio 51: “Mother’s Day Pop-Up Cards” 10:30am-12pm

Learn how to make an adorable pop-up heart card for mom in this family-friendly class! A step-by-step tutorial will be provided as well as several examples for personalizing your card for this upcoming Mother’s Day.

Adult: “Charcoal Portraiture” 12:30pm-2:30pm

Observe the subtleties of light and shadow in this class on charcoal portraiture. Learn how to achieve a proportional drawing, represent a full range of tones in black and white, and how to create depth and realism.

Thursday May 13

A Glass with Your Class: “Brush and a Beverage” 4:30pm-6:30pm

80’s night! Learn some abstract painting techniques while listening to your favorite throwback tunes! Pick and choose the techniques that speak to you and create a unique artwork. Dressing up and singing along encouraged. So, slide on those leg warmers, crimp your hair, and don’t miss this painting class! Your first drink is on us.

Saturday May 15

Studio 51: “Pointillism” 10:30am-12pm

Make a little noise in this class as we tap our way to amazing artworks! Learn how to create images and mix colors using nothing but dots! We have different techniques and media depending on age and ability.

Adult: “Acrylic Still Life” 12:30pm-2:30pm

In this class, we will cover compositional strategies when looking at a portion of a larger still-life, underpainting, as well as some paint application techniques when working with acrylic. Forget the boring bowls of fruit and join us for a unique and beautifully composed still life artwork.

Saturday May 22

Studio 51: “Geometric Tape Resist” 10:30am-12pm

Try your hand at modern art in this tape resist painting class. We will lay out lines and shapes with painter’s tape on amazing holographic paper! We will talk about different techniques for painting your projects and you will be amazed at your creation when you pull off the tape to reveal the shiny paper underneath.

Adult: “Tactile Collage” 12:30pm-2:30pm

Think about art differently in this collage class that focuses more on touch than on sight. We will talk about the conventions of art and how makers can think about the other senses when

creating an art experience. Whether you want to produce an image or work abstractly, you will be creating a one-of-a-kind touchable artwork in this class.

Thursday May 27

A Glass with Your Class: “Sip and Sculpt” 4:30pm-6:30pm

Join Thelma for a drink and some creativity in this jewelry-making class for all experience levels. You will learn several techniques in sculpting with polymer clay to create your own jewelry designs! We will sculpt, bake, and assemble your custom jewelry during this class and your first drink is on us!

Saturday May 29

Studio 51: “Memorial Day Pinwheels” 10:30am-12pm

Celebrate Memorial Day this year with DIY patriotic pinwheels that you can hold in the wind or place in your yard! You will learn how to make the pinwheel from scratch and then you will decorate it using a wide variety of materials.

Adult: “Oil Painting Seascapes” 12:30pm-2:30pm

Join in for a class all about achieving beautiful seascape compositions in oils. We will cover blending techniques for water, the structure of waves, and getting that vibrant translucency as light shines through the water.

THELMA is located at 51 Sheboygan St., in downtown Fond du Lac.