Submitted by Barbara Nair
(August 19, 2026) — The following art classes and workshops for adults and children will be offered this Fall at Spectrum Gallery, 61 Main Street in Centerbrook, unless otherwise noted. Register and pay at spectrumartgallery.org or call (860) 767-0742.
Introduction to Painting with Gouache
Learn the fundamentals of painting with gouache, including water-to-paint ratios, color mixing, shading and gradients, brush control, dry brushing, layering and glazing. Discover how to keep colors vibrant rather than muddy while creating a painting on illustration board of a subject of your choice. The Instructor is a painter and illustrator working in acrylics, gouache, photography and glass, with a background in illustration and art education. Supply list available upon registration. Fridays: September 18, 25 and October 9, 16, 23. 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
On Zoom: Personal Shrine Assemblage
Explore assemblage, a mixed-media art form that combines everyday objects, found materials, scraps and imagery into three-dimensional compositions. Using personal collections and meaningful objects, create works that transform individual pieces into a unified theme or visual story. Instructor is a collage and mixed-media artist whose layered work blends representational and abstract imagery, color, shape and personal narrative. Tuesdays: September 22, 29 and October 6, 13, 20. 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
In Gallery: Personal Shrine Assemblage
Class description is the same as Zoom class, but dates are Wednesdays: September 23, 30 and October 7, 14, 21. 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Botanical Study in Colored Pencil
Designed for students with some colored pencil experience and a basic understanding of botanical illustration, this four-week class focuses on creating a complete botanical study. Students develop each component of the drawing week by week, resulting in a finished, frameable work of art. Instructor is a botanical artist trained through the New York Botanical Garden’s Botanical Art and Illustration Program. Oversized paper, tracing paper and the flower subject are provided. Material list available upon registration. Thursdays: September 24 and October 1, 8, 15. 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Drawing What You See
Sharpen your drawing skills by working from classic still-life setups and learning to draw what you actually see. Through instructor demonstrations, explore how to break objects into simple shapes, use varied line weights, and observe light and shadow to create depth and volume. Practice hatching, cross-hatching, stippling and blending to build smooth transitions from dark to light, then add patterns, textures and finishing details. Material list available upon registration. September 27, 2026 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Children’s Art Classes
Exploring Line and Color – Session 1, Ages 7–11
Explore how lines, letters and color can become the building blocks for creative art. Children design an Egyptian cartouche using hieroglyphic symbols from their names, review color theory while creating colorful name designs, and make an abstract crayon-resist watercolor painting. Additional projects include word-art animals and a poster combining a positive message with original illustrations. Wednesdays: September 16, 23, 30 and October 7, 14. 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. All materials included. Classes at Spectrum Gallery. Registration through Essex Parks and Recreation. https://essexct.recdesk.com/Community/Program (Search Spectrum)
