Spring Sessions Off to a Good Start!

It was a rainy and chilly weekend during our first session of 2009, making ESSA a perfect place to stay indoors and get artsy! Four students took Pastels class which made a nice sized group where students could interact and learn from each other, as well as glean knowledge firsthand from Eureka Springs' very talented Jody Stephenson as their teacher. 

Jody introduced students to techniques such as preparing a surface for pastels, underpainting with acrylics, various drawing techniques with the medium and styles such as abstract expressionism allow students to experiment with the medium. According to Jody, pastels are a very versatile and forgiving medium. Many people think they are hard to use, but the ability to work colors over one another. She even showed how to take the pastel off a board surface and start again, which makes pastels a great choice for beginners or advanced students.

Delnita Foust, who said she had not engaged with her art in many years left the class on Sunday saying, "ESSA is magic!" 

Other students said the three day workshops are a good choice because it is enough time to concentrate on the material, but manageable for their busy schedule.  Here are some examples of the works in progress:

An abstract piece by Dana Jones

Trees in snow by Delnita Foust

Jody's demonstration piece from the class

One of many landscapes done this weekend by Carol Dickie

A river scape by Janet Alexander, and below one of her abstract pieces

This light filled view of the prairie by Delnita Foust

A landscape inspired by New Mexico by Carol Dickie

An architectural rendition by Dana Jones

And aspens in the wind also by Dana Jones

Be sure and check our schedule for more spring classes, the weekend of April 17, 18 and 19th. Enrollment available online, in person or by phone. www.esartschool.org/