› Arts Education Classes

Pause for Presence: The Art of Healing
Ages: 17-Adult
Wednesdays, Apr 7-May 5 | 6:30-8 pm
Tuition: $80
Instructor: Dr. Bre Haizlip
Location: Online via Zoom

In these unprecedented times when all of us are experiencing varying degrees of trauma, stress and uncertainty, art has the power to heal and transform. This class will provide a cohort of learners with awareness, knowledge and skills to use art as a tool for healing-centered social justice. Students will be guided through experiential reflections, focusing on wellness and learning to create from the most authentic parts of themselves.

Watercolor Spaces
Ages: Adults
Tuesdays, Apr 27-May 18 | 1-2:30 pm
Tuition: $85
Instructor: Carolina Silva
Location: Blue Heron (In person)

Create a painting or drawing representing an interior space, using multiple sketches to arrive at a thoughtful conclusion. Explore different watercolor techniques and look at the work of different artists for inspiration, focusing on depth, texture, color and emphasis. Carolina will provide live demonstrations and feedback to help students delve inward to discover their own personal style.

Filmmaking: Telling Visual Stories
Ages: 16-Adult
Thursdays, Apr 29-June 3 | 7-8:30 pm (skip Apr 6)
Tuition: $110
Instructor: Emalia Hinden
Location: VCA Greenroom (Zoom option)

Whether it’s a hobby, a potential new career path or a way to express yourself, filmmaking is a powerful skill to have in your toolkit. Learn a brief history of cinema as well as the elementary skills needed to go from concept to finished film, using equipment everyone has at home. Weekly assignments and class discussions will cover the basics of script writing, storyboarding, shot listing, shooting, and editing, using iPhones (or Androids) and iMovie (or Adobe Premiere Pro). Leave the class with a confident skill set in visual storytelling and a background in the mechanics of filmmaking. Emalia Hinden is a graduate of Hofstra University’s film studies and production program, with a concentration in film directing. A lifelong member of the Vashon film community, she showed her first film at the Vashon Theatre in 2009 when she was 11 years old and has been working on films ever since.

Time to Create: Sketchbooks
Ages: 16-Adults
Sundays, May 2-23 | 2-4 pm (skip May 9)
Tuition: $100 (includes Standard sketchbook) or $135 (includes Digitized book)
Instructor: Alisara Martin
Location: Heron Meadow

Join the Brooklyn Art Library's Sketchbook Project This class provides the 5x7 inch sketchbook, mini-tutorials, and time to fill your sketchbook with your own style. Students can choose between a standard book (which lives in the Brooklyn Art Library and will travel in the Bookmobile) or a digitized book (which does the same and is also photographed and added to their digital library). A list of suggested supplies will be provided upon registration https://brooklynartlibrary.org/participate

Animal Sculptures Large and Small
Ages: 9-14
Tuesdays, May 4-June 1 | 3:30-5 pm
Tuition: $90 (includes $15 materials fee)
Instructor: Alisara Martin
Location: Blue Heron Backyard

Make a life-size sculpture of your dog; a giant dragon for your porch; a tiny elephant for your desk…let your imagination run wild. Learn the foundations of sculpture using armatures, molds, and found-object supports, then use paper-mache, plaster, paper clay, cardboard, fabric, wire, and wood to make a variety of 3D creations.

Spring into Nature-Based Art
Ages: 7-11
Fridays, May 7-June 4 | 1:30-3 pm
Tuition: $90 (includes $15 materials fee)
Instructor: Carolina Silva
Location: Heron Meadow

Create art based on your imagination and observation of the natural wonders blooming all around you. Each week will focus on a different project that includes observation of nature. Students will paint from observation, creating colors out of plants and natural pigments; build with clay incorporating natural elements; create mobiles with "nature finds" using wax and paint; create birds and other animals using collage techniques and have a good time together making art outdoors.

Compelling Photography: Settings and Composition

Ages: 10-15

Fridays, May 7-June 4 | 3-5 pm

Tuition: $115

Instructor: Ray Pfortner

Location: Zoom and various outdoor locations on Vashon

Strengthen your ability to take great photos by practicing at various island locations. Learn to use your camera’s settings and to explore new ways of seeing composition to develop your own personal style of photography. Field trip photo shoots include Fisher Pond, Point Robinson, Shinglemill Creek & Fern Cove and Vashon town.