Yes! After two and a half months of sheltering in place the Oak Park Art League is opening back up to art shows, classes and workshops – of course with major modifications to accommodate the rules put in place by the state of Illinois regarding social distancing and the number of people who can gather together at one time, and with great regard toward ensuring, as much as we can, peoples’ safety. All of my classes will have a maximum of 5 students, face masks are required, each student will have one table and be 6 feet from other students, and we’ll just do our best to make the most out of this new arrangement.
I will be offering my Tuesday afternoon Mixed Media class Summer 1 Session, for five weeks from June 2 – 30, from 4:00 – 6:00 pm in Studio One (upstairs classroom), with a limit of 5 students. The class description:
This multi-faceted class introduces participants to various wet and dry techniques in mixed water media, collage, and image transfer, in order to stimulate exploration and find personal expression in art making. Instruction includes demonstrations, warm-ups, projects utilizing each technique, and one-on-one guidance and feedback. This class is often taken repeatedly, so the instructor will approach the various media differently in each session. This class is ideal for people with some drawing and painting skills, though all levels are welcome. Register here: https://opalart.clubexpress.com/content.aspx?actr=3&club_id=173882&eml=1&item_id=1218617&page_id=4002
I will also offer two Saturday morning workshops in June:
Saturday, June 13, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm – Mixed Media Sketchbook: Studies in Composition, Mark Making and Color
This workshop is a great way to start or revitalize your sketchbook practice, as we spend three hours creating pages that explore your personal artistic voice. Exercises in composition, mark making, and color combinations in various media will get your imagination going and illustrate how beneficial a regular practice of working in a sketchbook can be. Students provide a basic list of supplies, plus any supplemental materials you want to work with, such as personal collage papers, images, and tools. Instructor will provide homemade accordion sketchbooks for this workshop. All levels welcome. Register here: https://opalart.clubexpress.com/content.aspx?club_id=173882&item_id=1218772&page_id=4008
Saturday, June 27, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm – Farmers Market Watercolor Workshop
A celebration of the Oak Park Farmer’s Market! After an early morning trip to the market, Jackie will bring fresh produce, flowers and donuts to the Studio Classroom to paint using various watercolor techniques. There will be a demonstration and lessons in creating different textures, color mixing, mark making, and composition. BYOC – bring your own coffee! Register here : https://opalart.clubexpress.com/content.aspx?club_id=173882&item_id=1218838&page_id=4008
Anyone who has taken my classes over the years knows that I share a ton of materials with everyone in every single session, so I’m modifying my classes to not do that for the foreseeable future. It’s taking some imagination and setting up projects differently for each class but it’s doable. If anyone has specific questions about tools, stencils, collage papers, gel plates, inks, paint, etc. just email me at jackielakely@mac.com. Students must bring all of your own art supplies, paper towels, and ideally your own water bucket, palette/palette paper, hand sanitizer, and face masks and gloves, and whatever else you want to have at your disposal during class time.
I hope this works out for everyone and that we can get back into making art together. I feel like this is SO needed right now! I know it will make me feel a whole lot better to be around other artists in a social, educational, fun, peaceful, collaborative setting. I miss you all so much. XO – Jackie
