A walk through the woods will often allow you to find interesting twisted vines or sticks suitable for a basket handle.  This basket uses a found handle to form a rib melon basket.  A variety of reed, sea grass, and other fibers will be available to weave the basket.  The basic frame with the initial ribs atached to the stick handle will be provided.  Instructions adding secondary ribs will be stressed.  

Create a beautiful, luminous beach landscape while learning the fundamentals of pastel painting. Students will explore composition, value, color temperature, layering, and expressive mark-making to capture the light, atmosphere, and movement of a coastal scene. Through step-by-step instruction, participants will complete a finished pastel painting while gaining techniques they can apply to future landscapes.

Karen Peck – August 29, 2026

Workshop Pastel Landscape Workshop-Beach Pathways

In this workshop students will learn how to build a luminous beach landscape step by step, beginning with theessential foundation of simplifying the scene into clear value shapes. We will use a black-and-white study tounderstand composition, contrast, and the placement of major masses before moving into color. Participantsexplore how warm and cool color families work together to create believable light—soft sands, cool water, andthe subtle transitions of a coastal sky.As the painting develops, students practice layering techniques, refining edges, and adding atmosphericdepth. We will explore expressive mark-making to suggest movement and texture—especially in theforeground grasses, where directional strokes help anchor the scene and create a sense of place. Theprogression moves from broad shapes to subtle details, giving participants the confidence to build a cohesive,luminous coastal landscape. By the end of the session, each participant leaves with a finished beachlandscape and a deeper understanding of how value and temperature create mood and harmony in pastel.

Materials:Hard and soft pastels in a range of values and colors (NOT oil pastels).pencil/ eraserSanded pastel paper in a light color (cream or white)*I will have 9x12 sheets of U-Art paper for $4.00 each if you need one. *Cheap set of watercolors, water dish and old large brush (1 inch) for underpaintingBacking board for paper, clips or tape to attach paper to boardOld towel or washcloth for hands and wiping pastels cleanSimple beach reference photo with sand and dune grasses (I will have some choices) Preferably black andwhite and a color copy if printed or on your phone so we can turn a color copy to black and white.

Join artist and instructor Eric Westbrook in developing and improving your landscape painting skills. Instructor will be demonstrating with oil paint, but students are welcome to use acrylics if they prefer.

In this workshop, students will learn the fundamentals of landscape painting. Basic painting techniques will be explored. Focus will be on composition, color, atmosphere, and contrast in a painting. Each class will consist of a demonstration and individual critiques. All levels and materials welcome. 

Bring your own or utilize Arts Council supplies of acrylic paint, brushes and mixed media paper, included in the cost of the class. Both standing and table easels available.

Classes will be 10/3,10/10,10/24 from 1:30-3:30PM and can be taken as a series or for just one session.

Eric Westbrook is a painter, illustrator, and art instructor living and working in the Washington DC area. Current and former teaching venues include The Yellow Barn at Glen Echo, The Smithsonian, and VisArts in Rockville, MD.

Always wanted to know how to make a dream catcher? Well, here is your chance! Learn the art of weaving and create a 7-8" dream catcher. Hoops, beads, and feathers are provided. Participants are encouraged to bring their own personal embellishments they'd like to incorporate.  Dream catchers are not only beautiful, but can also be healing, meditative, and give rise to a hidden artistic side you never knew you had ! Ages 12 and up accepted.  Couples, moms and daughters, friends fun day out - all will all enjoy this class.

BioThank you for your interest in this workshop! My name is Michelle and I've been associated with Native American culture, teachings and spiritual practices for over 30 years. Come and learn the wisdoms of the Native people through the art and medicines of the dream catcher.

This comprehensive workshop is designed to help high school students prepare a strong, competitive portfolio for college art program applications. Students will receive guided instruction on selecting and refining artwork, developing cohesive bodies of work, and presenting their pieces professionally for submission.

Participants will learn what colleges and universities look for in an art portfolio, including technical skill, conceptual development, originality, and process documentation. The workshop will cover portfolio organization, photographing artwork, writing effective artist statements, and understanding digital submission platforms such as SlideRoom.

Through personalized feedback, group critiques, and one-on-one guidance, students will leave with a clearer direction for their artistic voice and a structured plan for completing and submitting their portfolio on time.

Ideal for juniors and seniors planning to apply to art schools, design programs, or fine arts departments, this workshop equips students with the tools, confidence, and strategic insight needed to present their work at a professional level.

For Ages: 18+ (Students ages 12-17 may register with an adult)

Description: Create Meaningful Mirrors, Frames and Collages with Upcycled Materials! Upcycle found objects into a unique mosaic! All it takes is one unexpected find to begin a collection of materials to create a story. While exploring diverse textures, shapes and colors, you will learn a process of arranging a mosaic, based on materials that appeal to you! The catalyst for the theme is derived from objects that spark a memory or begin an imaginary story. Using traditional and unconventional materials and mosaic tools, we will create a one of a kind mosaic art experience. Materials of ceramics, glass, metals, wood, shells, beads (my favorite) and wires will be provided to share. You are encouraged to bring along objects/materials that could be included in your unique mosaic and to share.

Supplies: 

• A found object that brings you joy that could be part of your mosaic or hang from your mosaic
• Materials to share: broken or not- tiles, plates, glass, rocks, jewelry
• If you have them: Goggles, gloves, a metal file, any cutters applicable

Instructor Bio: My love of environmental art naturally thrives in upcycling materials into jewelry, mobile sculptures, and mosaics for indoors and outdoors. As a Baltimore County Art Teacher of K-12, one highlight was sharing environmental art projects at a National Art Educators Convention in New Orleans. I’ve enjoyed mentoring many art interns from McDaniel College, Towson University and Maryland Institute of Art. Since retired, I was invited to become a partner at Off Track Art Gallery here in Westminster, I volunteer in the Reisterstown Improvement Association projects and am now the President of the Franklin Garden Club. I’m excited to share ideas and materials for upcycling mosaics and to hear about the treasures you bring to this creative workshop!      

Members receive 10% off with promo code MEMBER

Workshop organized in partnership with Off Track Art Gallery. Visit the gallery at 11 Center Street and their website https://www.offtrackart.com/ for more information. 

Join Karen Peck in a workshop on Painting the Fall Landscape in Pastel.  In this class we will explore painting with soft pastels through the process of layering pastels to create a fall landscape. Karen will review briefly the variety of pastels from hard to soft, the choices in papers, underpainting processes, mark making, and layering. Karen will demonstrate the process of creating an underpainting with watercolor of a fall landscape. She will demonstrate the layering of pastels to create subtle changes in color and value and invites you to paint your own fall landscape. 

Materials Students Should Bring from home or purchase, with names of suppliers:

• old cloth and apron 
• soft pastels in a variety of colors (amazon sells- Rembrandt, Mungyo, Sennelier, Mount Vision, Jack Richeson) 
• pastel paper preferably sanded and white or cream in color(amazon sells U-Art, Pastel Premier, Canson Mi-Teintes, Luxarchival, Pastelmat)  
• backing board 
• Please bring several fall landscape photos to be used as a reference. 

The Art of Zentangle®: A Journey into Mindful Creativity

Discover the Zentangle® Method—an easy-to-learn, meditative, and joyful way to create beautiful art through simple, structured patterns. In this relaxing class, you’ll learn how simple lines and patterns can flow together to create stunning art. Each stroke becomes a moment of mindfulness, helping you unwind, focus, and reconnect with your creative spirit. You’ll leave with beautiful finished pieces and a sense of joy. No prior artistic experience is needed—if you can hold a pen, you can Zentangle®! All supplies are included.

Jaqui MacMillan believes that healing happens through art and music. In the early 1980s, she earned her degree in Graphic Art, Design, and Fine Art from the University of Maryland. Since 1987, she has been teaching private and group art and craft lessons in a wide variety of mediums. Her artwork has won multiple awards and has been published and distributed around the world. As a double-certified Zentangle® teacher (CZT, 2016 and 2019), Jaqui teaches at senior centers, art centers, community colleges, and at her shop and studio—Magnolia House Studios in Westminster, Maryland.