Special Interest Classes

Pencil Drawing

Tuesday and Thursday

6:30 PM- 9PM

If you have ever wanted to capture the beauty around you in a drawing, here is your opportunity to learn how to do just that. Whether you are a beginner or intermediate artist, this class will help you explore your creativity. Learn how to design detailed and realistic drawings by using both different grades of drawing pencils and blenders. Explore toning, shading and the use of different pencils to create textures for different subjects. Step-by-step instruction, in a pleasant and relaxed learning environment, will help you develop the confidence you need to work towards mastering the skill of drawing. A supply list will be mailed to you before class begins.

Pencil Drawing Supply List

Drawing paper (Strathmore Drawing Medium & Mead are two excellent brands, there are also other good brands to use)

Size 9×12 or 11×14 80 lb. comes in 12 or 24 sheet tablets

Pencils – Prismacolor Sketch Accessory Set. This set includes:

3 Pencils – 8B – HB – 6H

Sanding Pad – Vinyl Eraser – Blending Stump

2 Tortillons

As with Drawing Paper there are also other fine sets of Drawing Pencils available, such as Staedtler and Lowe Cornell

Pencils – Hard – 2H H F HB B 2B 6B – Soft

12″ Ruler

Note: A blending Stump also known as a Tortillon is a very important tool when doing a drawing in pencil. This allows the student to blend and shade to achieve realistic results.

These are suggestions for supplies, but any combination of these or other brands will do.

Watercolor

6:30 PM- 9PM

Take time for yourself this year. Learning how to paint with watercolor is a beautiful, fun way to express yourself creatively. Designed for beginner and intermediate artists, this course will help you explore various techniques in watercolor, such as mixing colors, applying glazes, using the dry brush technique, wet on wet application, and lifting of paint from an area to achieve desired effect. Hands-on instruction in a relaxed environment will help you learn foundational skills, explore your artistic side and also teach you to embrace new techniques. Art is an adventure, and you are invited to explore with us as you learn the unique skill of painting with watercolor! A supply list will be mailed to you before class begins.

Watercolor Supply List

Watercolor Paper (Size 9×12) 140 lb. weight Cold Press Paper (Strathmore and Cottman by Windsor Newton are two excellent brands). NOTE: Paper to light (90 lbs.) will buckle and not allow students to achieve the desired effect.
Watercolor Paint (Tubes only). Colors needed include: Red, Yellow, Green, Ultramarine Blue, Burnt Umber, Raw Sienna, Yellow Ochre
Watercolor paint comes in sets. Sets include:
Niji (great for both beginners or advanced students
Thomas Kincade Watercolor Paint Set
Grumbacher and Windsor Newton
Brushes – Either a 1 or 1 1/2 inch Flat Brush
Round Brush (#8 or #6 Size), Round Brush (#4 Size), Liner or Detail Brush (Size #1)
Brushes also come in sets. (Brushes or very important, so stay away from cheap sets, as the bristles tend to come off while painting).
Plastic Pallette or Styrafoam Plate
Plastic Container for Water
Pencil (No. 2)
Eraser and 12 inch Ruler

Developing Your Photographic Eye

Tuesday

6PM- 8PM

Develop the critical eye you need to elevate the quality of your photographs! Among areas to be covered- understanding your camera, basics of composition, aperture, depth of field, shutter speed, the 12 commandments of natural lighting, how to take a perfect portrait, how to plan ahead to elevate the quality of your photographs. Students will be required to shoot assignments on their own time, share them with the class each week and provide honest but fair critiques of other students’ work. One pick from five categories is required including: Portraits, Weather, Slice of Life Feature, Special Event and Landscape. About the Instructor: Tony Nicholas comes to the Career Center with an impressive art background that includes a Bachelor’s degree in Studio Art with a concentration in Photography from Youngstown State University, a Master’s degree in Imaging Arts from the Rochester Institute of Technology, adjunct faculty at YSU, executive director of the arts non-profit organization “Artists of the Rust Belt” and also taught photography at the SMARTS program in Youngstown.

Students are required to bring their own DSLR camera and memory card with them to class.

Paint, Pour & Pick

Computer Basics

Tuesday and Thursday

6PM- 8PM

Whew, technology is moving so fast. It can sometimes make you feel like you’re getting left behind. If you are new to computers or need a refresher course, this is the class that will start you along a path to understanding everything you need to know to feel confident when using your PC! Learn how to use a mouse, where to find the desktop, and how to organize your information into folders. Are you uncomfortable using drop down menus, check boxes and scrollbars? We have that covered too. In this class you will learn the fundamentals of a computer and how to use Microsoft Windows.

Windows 11

Tuesday and Thursday

6PM- 8PM

Windows 11 is considered one of the most powerful operating systems Microsoft has ever made and it is also one of the most complex. You can learn how to utilize this operating system in this hands-on course. Our expert instructor will help familiarize you with the Windows 11 user interface and its basic capabilities. Explore Windows 11 and learn how to customize your desktop, create documents, send email, browse the internet, and share information between applications and with other users.