New Art Classes at The Village Shops and Galleries

May  ♢  June  ♢  July  Classes

Class information: All classes held at The Village Shops and Galleries, 10330 San Pablo Ave, El Cerrito (between Eureka Ave. and Stockton Ave., free on-street parking) 510.525-5661.  

Pre-registration is required for all classes. Contact instructor to pre-register. Class sizes are limited. A class may be cancelled if the minimum amount of students is not met. Visit our website for complete class descriptions, instructor biographies, and policies.  Click here to see all upcoming events, including classes.

INTRO TO CREATIVE SEWING with Tani Martinat

Beginning sewers welcome! Fun, fast introduction to the mechanics of using a regular sewing machine. Please bring your own machine with owner’s manual and accessories. If you don’t have a machine, the instructor can bring one. Sat 5/18 from noon to 4:00 pm.  Fee: $50. Email: tani@TaniMartinat.com

UPCYCLED PLASTIC BAG TOTES with Karen Morita

Don’t throw your plastic bags into landfill! Learn how to transform grocery plastic bags into a reusable strong tote bag. Learn to cut the bags, connect them to one another, and use basic crochet stitches to create tote bags & small change purses. Sun 5/19 or Thurs 5/23 or Thurs 6/6 or Sun 6/9:  from 1 pm to 4 pm.  Fee: $50.  Call Karen at (510) 525-8614

INTRO TO LEFT-HANDED CALLIGRAPHY with Douglas F. Jones

Learn four different techniques for writing the classic italic script. Series of 4 classes, take any or all.  (1) Right-handed: use right -hand stroke sequence: Sat 5/25 from noon to 2 pm; (2) Sideway method: write with a more natural flow by turning the page to 90 degrees, allows for beautiful flourishes: Weds 6/5 from 4:00 to 6 pm; (3) The typical “hook”, using left-hand stroke sequence, with letters written from left to right & backwards: Weds 6/19 from 4:00 to 6 pm; (4) The upside-down technique: requires letters to be formed upside-down, allowing the creation of graceful flourishes: Sat 6/22 from noon to 2:00 pm.   Fee: $20 or $90 for all four. Email: dfjones23@att.net

PHOTO ART : ALTERED IMAGERY WORKSHOP with Heidi Rand

Learn to transform your photographs into works of art with different software programs , techniques, and methods. Enhance your original photos to achieve unique and artistic effects. Sun 5/26 from noon to 3:30 pm.  Fee: $50 Email: HeidiRand@gmail.com

THE ART OF THE CLOTH DOLL with Deborah Tanaka

Learn to cut, sew and assemble selected doll bodies and embellish them with flair creating a one-of-a-kind 3-dimensional soft figure for exhibit or play. Using fabrics, trim, buttons, flowers, thread, wool and felt, you will express yourself through the 3-D soft figure. Students 12 years and older.  Sun 6/2 or 6/16 or 6/23 or 6/30: from 11:30 am to 5:30 pm.Fee: $60 + $25 materials fee. $25 due upon registration; registration required 2 weeks in advance of workshop Email: deborahtanaka@ymail.com

EXPRESSIVE WATERCOLOR PAINTING with Yuvak Tuladhar

Series of four classes. Yuvak will show you how to paint watercolor with the combination of free flowing transparent and more controlled opaque watercolor methods. Beyond teaching the techniques, he will inspire you to learn more and excel. Students 13 years or older. Fri 6/7 & 6/14 & 6/21 & 62/8: from noon to 4 pm. Fee: $140 for four classes.  Email: yuvakt@gmail.com

HANDMADE JEWELRY WITH YOUR INKJET PRINTER with Heidi Rand

Learn to make personalized jewelry with your own images, designs, or artwork. We will explore techniques to create unique earrings, necklaces, bracelets and pins from paper, fabric, and lutradur that you print on your inkjet printer. Sat 6/8 from noon to 3:30 pm.  Fee: $40 plus materials. Email: HeidiRand@gmail.com

PAINTING WITH KIDS with Grace Taormina

Paint a flower or butterfly on a 12"x12" canvas using acrylic paints. Lean how to use different types of paint brushes and try a variety of paint techniques. Bring an apron or old t-shirt to protect your clothing. All materials provided. Ages 7 to 17. Wed 6/12 or Thurs 6/13 from 1:00 to 3:00 pm. Fee: $35.  Email: Grace.Taormina@gmail.com

POLYMER CLAY PENDANTS with Grace Taormina

Create beautifully detailed pendants using art stamps and polymer clay. We will experiment with a variety of materials such as mica powders and paints to enhance the detailing of your pendants. Use these pendants to make jewelry or to enhance other mixed media projects. All materials provided. Wed 6/12 from 3:30 to 5:30 pm. Fee: $50. Email: Grace.Taormina@gmail.com

ALTERED ART BOOKS with Grace Taormina

Alter an old board book with an array of mixed media techniques to create a one of a kind art book. Learn how to age, crackle, colorize, texturize, stamp and stencil papers. All materials provided. Thurs 6/13 from 3:30 to 5:30 pm. Fee: $40.  Email: Grace.Taormina@gmail.com

SELL YOUR ART ON ZAZZLE.COM with Heidi Rand

Learn to sell your artwork and designs on Ipod cases, jewelry, skateboards, home decor, postage stamps, and hundreds of other products! In this hands-on workshop, Heidi will guide you through the steps to open your own store on Zazzle, upload a set of your images, and create at least five different products. Expert tips to design your products, write descriptions, maximize your profits, and use free social media tools to market your store. Sat 6/29 from noon to 3:00 pm. Fee: $45. Email: HeidiRand@gmail.com

EXPLORING LUTRADUR with Heidi Rand

Learn to create unique art with this exciting new product that combines the best qualities of fabric and paper. Lutradur looks, feels and folds like translucent paper and doesn’t tear or fray. It’s the perfect medium for a wide variety of mixed media art, crafting, and sewing. Sun 7/7 from noon to 3:00 pm.  Fee: $40 plus materials.  Email: HeidiRand@gmail.com