(6 sessions) Thursdays, January 2 - February 6 2025; 6:30pm - 9pm

$200 + Clay Fee: $45

Ages 16 and up

All levels welcome (beginner to advanced)

Come play with clay!! This is the prefect class to introduce you to most methods of working with clay.

The class will focus on the potters wheel and hand building techniques like slab, coil, and pinch to create cups bowls and other shapes to make our pottery projects.

We will finish, fire and glaze our project for you to enjoy for years to come.

This class is great for beginners and seasoned potters looking to bring it to next level.

About the Instructor: Randy Snyder got hooked on throwing pots while in high school and kept throwing them through his college years and part-time afterward, while trying various career avenues. He finally decided that the thing he loved to do was pottery and has been a full time artist and teacher for the last 30 years. Check out Randy’s work here: https://www.rakufiredpottery.com/

Fridays, January 3 - February 7, 2025 (6 sessions)

5pm - 7:30pm

$250 + $45 clay fee ON SALE: $205 + $45 clay fee

Maximum 10 students

There will be an initial demo on throwing and trimming, and you will also receive one-on-one guidance.

The class will end with learning to attach a handle to a cup and glazing the cup with your chosen colors.

The instructor will clear glaze your pieces once they have been bisqued at the studio.

Come prepared to get messy and have fun!

About the Instructor: James Thomson has been a ceramics studio facilitator with Sebastopol Center of the Arts for over 5 years. He holds a BA from San Jose State University and has taken classes with Laney Junior College, Santa Rosa Junior College, Richmond Art Center. He enjoys sharing his acquired skills with those who are interested in broadening their relationship with clay. James approaches his classes with a friendly and encouraging attitude. When James is not in the studio, he is out in nature, hiking, and contributing to community through his art.

Mondays, January 6 - 27, 2025; 6 - 9pm

$25 p/session or 4 Weeks $100

Painting/Drawing Room

Pre-signup guarantees entry, drop-ins are on a first come basis.

Live model on site, no instructor

Bring your own supplies

Ages 16+

Wednesdays, January 8 - 29, 2025; 10AM - 12PM

4 SESSIONS FOR $170+ $30 Materials Fee

Located in the Painting/Drawing Studio at SebArts

The watercolor class will focus on skill and technique development: wash, color mixing, texture, and line.

Beginning painters will practice developing a strong foundation.

Advanced painters will benefit from new approaches to the basics and sharpened skills.

Discussion will focus on the elements of visual art: light, form, color, and texture.

About the Instructor: Lynn Zachreson studied art at the University of Minnesota and San Jose State University—Painting, Printmaking: BA Fine Art. She has experience teaching all ages: Watercolor painting skills, 30+ years, Watercolor figure painting 20+ years, and Fine Art Basics with Mixed Media 20+ years. Lynn enjoys spending her time painting, teaching, long distance hiking, and gardening.

Wednesday, January 8, 2025; 3:30 - 6pm

Sliding Scale: $10/$15/$20

Artists welcome to a fun and friendly "show and tell."

Bring one of your masterpieces or something in-the-works to share. Our discussions will inspire and motivate the beginner to the expert.

Each artist has 10 minutes for discussion and input from attendees.

Max 12 attendees. RSVP required. Other artists and non-artists are welcome as "listeners."

Light refreshments will be served.

Moderated by Linda Loveland-Ried. You can see Linda’s figurative and abstract paintings, along with her writing, at her website: LindaLovelandReid.com

Friday, January 10, 2025; 4-5pm

RSVP by Sliding Scale: $10/$15/$20

Join us for a lecture by local artist, printmaker, and illustrator, Rik Olson. Learn about the history and techniques of wood engraving, etching, block-printing, and the process of printmaking with a steam roller.

About the Instructor: A California native, Rik received his B.F.A. from the California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland. He has studied under such masters as Barry Moser, John DePol, Richard McLean, and Ralph Borge. He has lived, studied and exhibited in Italy, Germany and the U.S. His influences include the years he lived in Europe and currently the beautiful countryside of Sonoma County, California. He enjoys pushing the envelope in printmaking and has recently been working on editions of multi-color linoleum cut prints. He recently took part in a fund raising event where the works of ten artists, whose over-size prints were printed by an actual steamroller, were featured. Rik Olson’s iconic steamroller images have been an introduction to that magic of printing on a communal scale. Using the road as his press bed, Olson’s larger-than-life linoleum prints have publicly and dramatically demonstrated the concept of printing to the thousands of people who have attended San Francisco Center for the Book’s annual Roadworks festival.

Saturdays, January 11 - 18, 2025; 1:30pm-3:30pm

2 SESSIONS FOR $80 + $20 Materials Fee

Located in the Painting/Drawing Studio at SebArts.

The watercolor class will focus on skill and technique development: wash, color mixing, texture, and line.

Beginning painters will practice developing a strong foundation.

Advanced painters will benefit from new approaches to the basics and sharpened skills.

Discussion will focus on the elements of visual art: light, form, color, and texture.

About the Instructor: Lynn Zachreson studied art at the University of Minnesota and San Jose State University—Painting, Printmaking: BA Fine Art. She has experience teaching all ages: Watercolor painting skills, 30+ years, Watercolor figure painting 20+ years, and Fine Art Basics with Mixed Media 20+ years. Lynn enjoys spending her time painting, teaching, long distance hiking, and gardening.

Sunday, January 12, 2025; 11am -3pm

Fee: $105 + $10 materials fee

Ages 16 and up

Learn to create beautiful designs on paper by printing with a gel plate and acrylic paint. Mixed media artist Catherine Cruz will teach you the basic skills for using this fun tool from printing textural backgrounds, to layering colors, and using stencils and other applications.

You will take home lots of prints that can be used for designing collage, mixed media art or greeting cards. This class is suitable for anyone wanting to learn this unique mono printing style and perfect for beginners.

All materials are provided: Gel plate, brayer roller, acrylic paint, stencils, mark-making tools, paper.

About the instructor: Catherine Cruz is a French-American artist, whose work is informed by textures and patterns created by the passing of time and the effects of the natural elements on the built environment. She has taught collage and mixed media workshops in the Bay Area and France since 2019, and this is her third year at the Sebastopol Center for the Arts. Her background is in interior design and green building certification. She works from her home studio in Sebastopol, and participates in Art Trails Open Studios. You may contact Catherine Cruz at beyouartstudio@gmail.com Check out Catherine's other classes here: https://www.sebarts.org/visual-arts-classes

Mondays, January 6 - 27, 2025; 6 - 9pm

$25 p/session or 4 Weeks $100

Painting/Drawing Room

Pre-signup guarantees entry, drop-ins are on a first come basis.

Live model on site, no instructor

Bring your own supplies

Ages 16+

Tuesday, January 14, 2025; 10 AM - 1 PM

DINING ROOM

3 HR CLASS - $45

These workshops are geared to the advanced, ongoing students who want in-person instruction and feedback on their colored pencil projects. Please consult the instructor before signing up, Nina Antze antze@pcquilt.com

Nina Antze is a botanical artist, quilt maker and teacher living in Sonoma County. She has a degree in Fine Art from San Francisco State University and has a Certificate in Botanical Illustration from the New York Botanical Gardens. Her paintings are part of the Filoli Florilegium and the Alcatraz Florilegium.

Tuesdays, January 14 - February 18, 2025 (6 Weeks)

Drop Off: 3:15-3:30pm / Class Time: 3:30-5:30pm / Pickup 5:30-5:45pm

Registration Price: $240 + $10 clay fee (All sales final, no refunds) Snacks will be provided

Ceramics for children ages 8-12 who love hands-on experiences and creative process, this exciting class offers the perfect opportunity to explore the world of clay.

Students will learn the fundamentals of handbuilding techniques such as pinch pots, slab formation and coil building, creating functional and sculptural forms, along with a chance at wheel throwing, all while using recycled clay.

In addition to clay formation we will delve into surface treatment of the texturing of wet clay, along with decorative glazing techniques.

The goal is to inspire confidence in young artists, empowering them to bring their creative ideas to life within this wonderfully satisfying and expressive medium!

About the Instructor: Following the path of Practice, Passion and Play, Meryl Juniper, holds a BFA from San Francisco Art institute. Her 6 decades of Visual Art, Dance and Musical Expressions, intertwine within 5 decades of MultiMedia Master Arts Education and Collaborative Art Installation Projects. Meryl is a longtime Local Artist, spearheading art programs and teaching within them at Oak Grove Elementary, Willowside Middle along with Sally Briggs at Apple Blossom Elementary and positions at Bodega Bay and Tomales Elementary Schools. In addition, Meryl held a 20 year run of Arts Education here at Center for the Arts in past decades. She ignites and delicately encourages a supportive environment where artistic expression and hands-on inspired creative process thrives! You can view her work at https://www.meryljuniper.com/

View Syllabus Here

Link to Full Spring Semester

View Full Program

Wednesdays, January 15 - 29, 2025 (3 sessions)

1:30pm-4pm

This course is designed for new and returning students wishing to improve their clay hand-building skills and enjoy being a part of the Sebarts clay studio community.

Each session will start with a demonstration of a specific project related to functional pottery. Class time will also include unstructured time for students to explore special projects and consult with the instructor as needed. Sculptors are also encouraged to take this class.

Week 1: Pinch pots, coils, and texture.

Week 2: Slips, slabs, and slump Molds

Week 3: Glazing success strategies

The class fee includes firing/glazing, and 5 pounds of recycled clay. Students may purchase other clay for an additional fee online.

Thank you for selecting the “sliding scale” fee option that feels perfect for you. Your contributions help to make our community art center more inclusive.

About the Instructor: Alice Rathjen has over 40 years experience working with clay. She was a production potter for five years. The current focus of her “art” is the sheer pleasure of playful engagement and exploration of clay and not having to be productive. She enjoys throwing exquisite bowls, mugs and cups and seeing them go on adventures.

Wednesdays, January 15 - February 19, 2025 (6 weeks)

Drop Off: 3:00-3:15pm / Class Time: 3:15-5:15pm / Pickup 5:15-5:30pm

Registration Price: $225 (All sales final, no refunds) Snacks will be provided

Children ages 8-12 will explore recycled art which incorporates their natural desire for individuality through self-expression in various artistic media, including acrylic painting and sculpture.

In this class, they will engage in fun and empowering art forms like painting, drawing, collage, assemblage and sculpture that encourage them to connect with their inner selves. They will express their identity through recycled  papier-mâché masks and create their own jewelry and accessories. Collage allows for exploration of the inner world with little pressure to create with perfection with self portraits which incorporate acrylic paint and pastel including creating hot glue gun sculptures from recycled materials.

The use of recycled materials will be highly emphasized and students will be inspired by learning about artists who incorporate trash and recycled materials into their art.

Participants will study self-portraits by artists like Picasso, Frida Kahlo and Hannah Hoch using their own photographs as references to create unique portraits.

(In session 3 we will design and create a collaborative mural with the prompt, “Visions for helping our planet” with acrylic paint.)

About the Instructor: Amanda Rose Hopkins received her B.F.A from UC Santa Cruz with a concentration in painting and environmental art. Locally she has creatively taught children at Sunridge and REACH Charter schools. She spent 5 months studying under artist Kaveri Singh and Thangka painters from Nepal and Sikkim at the Sarnath International Nyingma Institute in India. Her work is currently focused on highlighting the sensuous texture and environmental importance of the kelp forests. You can view her work at https://artofnature.me/

View Syllabus

View Full Program

Wednesdays, January 15 - February 19, 2025 (6 sessions); 6:00pm-8:30pm

Class fee: $250 + Clay fee: $45

Ages 16 and up, max 10 students

All levels welcome (beginner to advanced)

Intro to Throwing and Handbuilding

This is a great class for those who want to enjoy building something with their own hands and experience the personal benefits of working with clay. Instruction will cover the basics of wheel throwing, hand-building (slab, coil, freeform), and glazing techniques. We’ll also explore the benefits of joining in collaborative art and letting go of the need to be productive.

Students will have unstructured time to work on, fire, and glaze their own pottery to take home. A goal of this course is to familiarize students with how clay rooms work and why they’re a fun place to be.

About the Instructor: Alice Rathjen has over 40 years experience working with clay. She was a production potter for five years. The current focus of her “art” is the sheer pleasure of playful engagement and exploration of clay and not having to be productive. She enjoys throwing exquisite bowls, mugs and cups and seeing them go on adventures.

Thursdays, January 16 - March 6, 2025; 9:30am-12:30pm

$325

In this 8 session class open to all levels, new weavers will experience the complete process of setting up the loom, from designing to finishing, then weave a sampler or a simple project. Experienced weavers will design and weave a project for the home choosing the appropriate pattern, colors and materials. Consider weaving table linens, dish towels, pillows, a rug, a throw, a lap blanket, etc…your choice with the guidance of an experienced teacher.

Materials not included, project costs will vary. Four & eight shaft looms available courtesy of the Redwood Guild of Fiber Arts (redwoodgfa.org).

Instructor: Marta Shannon

Thursdays, January 16 - February 20, 2025 (6 Weeks)

Drop off: 3:15-3:30pm / Class Time: 3:30-5:30pm / Pickup: 5:30 - 5:45pm

Registration Price: $235 (All sales final, no refunds) Snacks will be provided

PROMO, LIMITED TIME ONLY - EMAIL INFO@SEBARTS.ORG FOR COUPON

Sign up 2 students x $235 ea = $470 x 10% off (-$47) = $423

Sign up 4 students x 235 ea = $940 x 15% off (-$141) = $799

In collaboration with arts nonprofit and performance space The Lost Church (http://thelostchurch.org), this dynamic class invites students to explore various aspects of music through hands-on experience, collaboration, and visits from members of the North Bay's talented and diverse community of working musicians.

Presented as a series of weekly explorations, some of the topics we will cover include guitar, electronic music, piano, brass, basic technique, and the cultural relevance of music. Participants are encouraged to bring their own instruments, but it is not necessary for the class. Our goal is for each student to widen our worldview and find personal inspiration through music-making and interaction with experienced musicians.

About the Instructor: Josh Windmiller is a local musician, producer, and arts advocate with a Masters in Education from Sonoma State University. He has taught private music lessons and has led his band (The Crux) for 17 years, performing inventive shows at events and venues such as Gravenstein Apple Fair, Rivertown Revival, and the Great American Music Hall. Josh is also a co-founder of Santa Rosa's Lost Church theater, which hosts up and coming musicians and more in their intimate performance space.

View Syllabus

View Full Program

Mondays, January 6 - 27, 2025; 6 - 9pm

$25 p/session or 4 Weeks $100

Painting/Drawing Room

Pre-signup guarantees entry, drop-ins are on a first come basis.

Live model on site, no instructor

Bring your own supplies

Ages 16+

Thursday, January 23, 2025; 3:30 - 6 pm

Join us at the Writers' Salon—a monthly in-person gathering for literary enthusiasts. Each person will have 5 minutes to read their work (any type of writing is welcome including prose, poetry, essay, etc.)

Enjoy sharing feedback and insight! Light refreshments will be served.

Max 10 attendees. RSVP required. No drop-ins

About the Facilitator: Linda Loveland-Ried is the author of two novels available on Amazon (Touch of Magenta and Something in Stone). Her stories, essays, and poems have been published in over 30 anthologies and magazines. Linda has two B.A.s from SSU, graduating cum laude. She lectures for SSU and Dominican Universities in the Osher Lifelong Learning program. As president of Redwood Writers for three years, a branch of the prestigious California Writers Club, she is a recipient of the Jack London Award. Several of Linda’s short plays have been presented by Readers Thater. She has directed community theater in Sonoma and Marin Counties for over 30 years, most recently “readings” of Dylan Thomas’s Under Milkwood and the Pulitzer Prize play Our Town. Linda professional career began as Associate Executive Director of United Way in Sonoma County. She then founded an insurance firm specializing in employee benefits, now managed by her daughter. You can see Linda’s figurative and abstract paintings, along with her writing, at her website: LindaLovelandReid.com

Friday, January 24, 2025; 7:30pm

Prepare to be amazed by the next generation of musical talent. Watch as extraordinary young musicians from the Santa Rosa Symphony Youth Orchestra perform stunning solo works by iconic composers such as Mozart, Kabalevsky, Vivaldi, Rachmaninoff, Lee Actor, and more.

With the expert accompaniment of Bay Area pianist Miles Graber, this performance promises to be an unforgettable celebration of skill, passion, and musical excellence.

$25 General Admission

$15 Students 

$5 Children under 10 yrs old

Sunday, January 26, 2025; 11am - 3pm

$105 + $10 materials fee

Number of participants: 14 max.

Ages 16 and up

Collage artist Catherine Cruz will teach you how to paint and alter paper to create interesting patterns and textures. We will play and experiment by testing different mixed media techniques on various types of paper, and you will have an opportunity to create your own collection of painted and textured papers to incorporate in your abstract collage artwork or other mixed media art.

This workshop is appropriate for artists working with collage, journaling, altered books, and mixed media painting. It is part of Catherine’s abstract collage 3-part series but it can also be taken on its own.

About the instructor: Catherine Cruz is a French-American artist, whose work is informed by textures and patterns created by the passing of time and the effects of the natural elements on the built environment. She has taught collage and mixed media workshops in the Bay Area and France since 2019, and this is her third year at the Sebastopol Center for the Arts. Her background is in interior design and green building certification. She works from her home studio in Sebastopol, and is a participant in Art Trails Open Studios. You may contact Catherine Cruz at beyouartstudio@gmail.com Check out Catherine's other classes here: https://www.sebarts.org/visual-arts-classes

Sundays, January 26 - March 2, 2025; 5:30PM-8:30PM (6 weeks)

$200 + $45 Clay Fee

Located in the Ceramics Studio at SebArts

Have you tried your hand at pottery in the past? Are you looking to dive back in after a long break or recently learned the basics of throwing on the wheel?

This class will continue to build your confidence in your throwing skills and teach techniques on creating functional ceramics that are a little less wabi-sabi and a little more polished and professional!

Attention to detail on throwing, trimming, and decorating techniques will be the main focus of this course. Expect to come away with pieces that you can be proud of within this 6-week course!

About the Instructor: Rachel Horton has taken numerous collegiate pottery clases and various workshops over the course of 10 years. She has been facilitating at the Sebastopol Center for the Arts for several years and has been a production potter for the past 3, selling her wares at various markets locally. Check out some of Rachel's work here: https://www.up-north-pottery.com/ or on her Instagram @upnorthpottery

Mondays, January 6 - 27, 2025; 6 - 9pm

$25 p/session or 4 Weeks $100

Painting/Drawing Room

Pre-signup guarantees entry, drop-ins are on a first come basis.

Live model on site, no instructor

Bring your own supplies

Ages 16+

Saturday, February 1, 2025; 12pm-3:30pm

$40 + $10 Materials Fee

Create one of a kind cards by searching for treasure among troves of images, vintage magazine pages, fabric, peeled acrylic palette remnants, rice paper, origami and leaf skeletons. Let inspiration strike where it will by composing fun collage cards with loads of personality. These unique creations will be treasured by your friends and family.

This relaxing class will allow budding artists to create beautiful images without the need to perfect painting and drawing skills. The more advanced student can also expand their knowledge of the effects of various papers and how to add unexpected and unique collage elements to their work.

Collage can be a really fun way to quickly create delightful compositions and play with pictorial relationships. Get Inspired by viewing collage works that moved the art world and play with my diverse collection of papers ranging from rice paper, origami, to metallic papers and vintage images.

About the Instructor: Amanda Rose Hopkins received her B.F.A from UC Santa Cruz with a concentration in painting and environmental art. Locally she has creatively taught children at Sunridge and REACH Charter schools. She spent 5 months studying under artist Kaveri Singh and Thangka painters from Nepal and Sikkim at the Sarnath International Nyingma Institute in India. Her work is currently focused on highlighting the sensuous texture and environmental importance of the kelp forests. You can view her work at https://artofnature.me

Mondays, February 3 - 24, 2025; 10:30am-12:30pm (4 weeks)

$150 +$30 Materials Fee

Using the earth and its elements as the foundation of artistic inspiration, texture and form you can tap into the instructor’s vast collections of leaves, flowers, cones, lichens, seaweeds and more to create eco inspired compositions that draw on the glorious perfection of natural forms and the sensuous textures that can be found in nature.

In following classes in this series participants will seal, prime and paint the textured surface they created in the previous workshop. Students will receive guidance on how to highlight the patterns and forms and which adhesives work best with materials from nature. This class is a lovely combination of structure and play. All materials are provided, but if you have collections you'd like to bring you are welcome to.

About the Instructor: Amanda Rose Hopkins received her B.F.A from UC Santa Cruz with a concentration in painting and environmental art. Locally she has creatively taught children at Sunridge and REACH Charter schools. She spent 5 months studying under artist Kaveri Singh and Thangka painters from Nepal and Sikkim at the Sarnath International Nyingma Institute in India. Her work is currently focused on highlighting the sensuous texture and environmental importance of the kelp forests. You can view her work at https://artofnature.me/

Wednesdays, February 5 - 26, 2025; 10AM - 12PM

4 SESSIONS FOR $170+ $30 Materials Fee

Located in the Painting/Drawing Studio at SebArts.

The watercolor class will focus on skill and technique development: wash, color mixing, texture, and line.

Beginning painters will practice developing a strong foundation.

Advanced painters will benefit from new approaches to the basics and sharpened skills.

Discussion will focus on the elements of visual art: light, form, color, and texture.

About the Instructor: Lynn Zachreson studied art at the University of Minnesota and San Jose State University—Painting, Printmaking: BA Fine Art. She has experience teaching all ages: Watercolor painting skills, 30+ years, Watercolor figure painting 20+ years, and Fine Art Basics with Mixed Media 20+ years. Lynn enjoys spending her time painting, teaching, long distance hiking, and gardening.

Wednesdays, February 5 - 19, 2025 (3 sessions)

1:30pm-4pm

This course is designed for new and returning students wishing to improve their clay hand-building skills and enjoy being a part of the Sebarts clay studio community.

Each session will start with a demonstration of a specific project related to functional pottery. Class time will also include unstructured time for students to explore special projects and consult with the instructor as needed. Sculptors are also encouraged to take this class.

Week 1: Pinch pots, coils, and texture.

Week 2: Slips, slabs, and slump Molds

Week 3: Glazing success strategies

The class fee includes firing/glazing, and 5 pounds of recycled clay. Students may purchase other clay for an additional fee online.

Thank you for selecting the “sliding scale” fee option that feels perfect for you. Your contributions help to make our community art center more inclusive.

About the Instructor: Alice Rathjen has over 40 years experience working with clay. She was a production potter for five years. The current focus of her “art” is the sheer pleasure of playful engagement and exploration of clay and not having to be productive. She enjoys throwing exquisite bowls, mugs and cups and seeing them go on adventures.

Saturdays, February 8 - 15, 2025; 1:30pm-3:30pm

2 SESSIONS FOR $80 + $20 Materials Fee

Located in the Painting/Drawing Studio at SebArts.

The watercolor class will focus on skill and technique development: wash, color mixing, texture, and line.

Beginning painters will practice developing a strong foundation.

Advanced painters will benefit from new approaches to the basics and sharpened skills.

Discussion will focus on the elements of visual art: light, form, color, and texture.

About the Instructor: Lynn Zachreson studied art at the University of Minnesota and San Jose State University—Painting, Printmaking: BA Fine Art. She has experience teaching all ages: Watercolor painting skills, 30+ years, Watercolor figure painting 20+ years, and Fine Art Basics with Mixed Media 20+ years. Lynn enjoys spending her time painting, teaching, long distance hiking, and gardening.

Saturday, February 8, 2025 at 7:00 PM

Tier 1: $25, Tier 2: $35, Tier 3, $45

An Evening of Poetry and Music in the Ecstatic Tradition 

Join us for Rumi's Caravan, a mesmerizing evening of poetry and music celebrating the ecstatic tradition. This benefit event will transport you into a realm of inspiration and creativity, featuring an incredible lineup of talented performers.

Kay Crista, Barry Spector, Maya Spector, Rebecca Evert, and Larry Robinson Share their heartfelt verses, drawing from the rich tapestry of Rumi’s wisdom and the ecstatic spirit of poetic expression.

Enhancing the evening, the soulful musical accompaniment by Jason Parmar and Don Fontowitz will elevate the atmosphere, weaving melodies that resonate with the rhythms of the heart.

Join us for this unforgettable night where art meets compassion, and be part of a community dedicated to supporting the arts. Your presence not only enriches the evening but also helps SebARTS continue to foster creativity and culture in our community.

Lavish attire is encouraged!

Tuesday, February 11, 2025; 10 AM - 1 PM

Painting/Drawing Room

3 HR CLASS - $45

These workshops are geared to the advanced, ongoing students who want in-person instruction and feedback on their colored pencil projects. Please consult the instructor before signing up, Nina Antze antze@pcquilt.com

Nina Antze is a botanical artist, quilt maker and teacher living in Sonoma County. She has a degree in Fine Art from San Francisco State University and has a Certificate in Botanical Illustration from the New York Botanical Gardens. Her paintings are part of the Filoli Florilegium and the Alcatraz Florilegium.

Wednesday, February 12, 2025; 3:30 - 6pm

Sliding Scale: $10/$15/$20

Artists welcome to a fun and friendly "show and tell."

Bring one of your masterpieces or something in-the-works to share. Our discussions will inspire and motivate the beginner to the expert.

Each artist has 10 minutes for discussion and input from attendees.

Max 12 attendees. RSVP required. Other artists and non-artists are welcome as "listeners."

Light refreshments will be served.

Moderated by Linda Loveland-Ried. You can see Linda’s figurative and abstract paintings, along with her writing, at her website: LindaLovelandReid.com

(6 sessions) Thursdays, February 13 - March 20 2025; 6:30pm - 9pm

$200 + Clay Fee: $45

Ages 16 and up

All levels welcome (beginner to advanced)

Come play with clay!! This is the prefect class to introduce you to most methods of working with clay.

The class will focus on the potters wheel and hand building techniques like slab, coil, and pinch to create cups bowls and other shapes to make our pottery projects.

We will finish, fire and glaze our project for you to enjoy for years to come.

This class is great for beginners and seasoned potters looking to bring it to next level.

About the Instructor: Randy Snyder got hooked on throwing pots while in high school and kept throwing them through his college years and part-time afterward, while trying various career avenues. He finally decided that the thing he loved to do was pottery and has been a full time artist and teacher for the last 30 years. Check out Randy’s work here: https://www.rakufiredpottery.com/

Sunday, February 16, 2025; 11am - 3pm

$105 + $10 materials fee

Number of participants: 14 max.

Ages 16 and up

In this workshop, collage artist Catherine Cruz will focus on the basics of grid composition and how it can be used to create interesting abstract collages. This class is designed for people with no previous art experience as well as artists interested in exploring a new medium. Catherine can meet you wherever you are in your art practice and guide you. She will discuss how grids are used in design and show how many contemporary collage artists use a form of grid composition. Participants will have an opportunity to select papers, learn about the elements of composition, and practice several exercises for different types of composition. They will take home several abstract collages on paper.

Provided materials: Glue sticks, Scissors, Templates, Collage papers. Participants are welcome to bring their own collage papers if they want.

About the instructor: Catherine is a French-American artist, whose work is informed by textures and patterns created by the passing of time and the effects of the natural elements on the built environment. She has taught collage and mixed media workshops in the Bay Area and France since 2019, and this is her third year at the Sebastopol Center for the Arts. Her background is in interior design and green building certification. She works from her home studio in Sebastopol, and is a participant in Art Trails Open Studios. You may contact her at beyouartstudio@gmail.com Check out Catherine's other classes here: https://www.sebarts.org/visual-arts-classes

Thursday, February 20, 2025; 3:30 - 6 pm

Join us at the Writers' Salon—a monthly in-person gathering for literary enthusiasts. Each person will have 5 minutes to read their work (any type of writing is welcome including prose, poetry, essay, etc.)

Enjoy sharing feedback and insight! Light refreshments will be served.

Max 10 attendees. RSVP required. No drop-ins

About the Facilitator: Linda Loveland-Ried is the author of two novels available on Amazon (Touch of Magenta and Something in Stone). Her stories, essays, and poems have been published in over 30 anthologies and magazines. Linda has two B.A.s from SSU, graduating cum laude. She lectures for SSU and Dominican Universities in the Osher Lifelong Learning program. As president of Redwood Writers for three years, a branch of the prestigious California Writers Club, she is a recipient of the Jack London Award. Several of Linda’s short plays have been presented by Readers Thater. She has directed community theater in Sonoma and Marin Counties for over 30 years, most recently “readings” of Dylan Thomas’s Under Milkwood and the Pulitzer Prize play Our Town. Linda professional career began as Associate Executive Director of United Way in Sonoma County. She then founded an insurance firm specializing in employee benefits, now managed by her daughter. You can see Linda’s figurative and abstract paintings, along with her writing, at her website: LindaLovelandReid.com

Sunday, February 23, 2025; 12pm - 5:30pm

$85

Exercises that will help you drop into a state of doing without thoughts and critical analysis, where you are directly experiencing creative expression with painting and collage. Let us step into a child-like state and finger paint, let us free write and tap into our deepest yearnings and then create from this place. Play and experimentation is where invention and innovation are born.

Through courageous play, through quick, fun exercises we will access a state of flow and then create from that place. Learning how to access your own flow state is helpful not just in art making but in any creative pursuit- working on that book? Needing to solve challenging problems at work that require out of the box thinking? Step out of your judgemental mind and enter a space of openness and play.

About the Instructor: Amanda Rose Hopkins received her B.F.A from UC Santa Cruz with a concentration in painting and environmental art. Locally she has creatively taught children at Sunridge and REACH Charter schools. She spent 5 months studying under artist Kaveri Singh and Thangka painters from Nepal and Sikkim at the Sarnath International Nyingma Institute in India. Her work is currently focused on highlighting the sensuous texture and environmental importance of the kelp forests. You can view her work at https://artofnature.me/

Sunday, February 23, 2025; 12:00pm – 4:00pm

$85 p/student (min. 8)

Learn how to make (not take) great photos to enjoy, create memories, capture those life moments, and not bore your friends to death with your photos. All iPhones are welcome (android phones are also welcome, but we demonstrate with an iPhone). It does not have to be the latest rendition and all levels of photographical experience are welcome!!! We will discuss, and demonstrate:

The settings, filters, exposure, focus, shutter speeds, lenses (yes you do have lens choices on the phone camera), panoramas, macro and close ups, portraits, and videos. All will be presented with an eye towards creativity and compositional power and considerations.

Join us in discovering and mastering the potential of your iPhone Camera!

About the Instructors: As a husband-and-wife team, Susan and Neil Silverman have been “captured” with photography for over 25 years – teaching, leading workshops and working professionally in many venues. They have taught for the Kelby Photo Conferences, Gualala Arts Center, Santa Rosa Junior College, Pacific Northwest Art School, Point Reyes Field Institute, Great American Photography Workshop (GAPW), and Better Photo, as well as many photo clubs and organizations. Their work has been published both nationally and internationally. Sharing knowledge, experiences and camaraderie is as important as “getting the shot.”

Fridays, February 28 - March 4, 2025 (6 sessions)

5pm - 7:30pm

$205 + $45 clay fee

Maximum 10 students

There will be an initial demo on throwing and trimming, and you will also receive one-on-one guidance.

The class will end with learning to attach a handle to a cup and glazing the cup with your chosen colors.

The instructor will clear glaze your pieces once they have been bisqued at the studio.

Come prepared to get messy and have fun!

About the Instructor: James Thomson has been a ceramics studio facilitator with Sebastopol Center of the Arts for over 5 years. He holds a BA from San Jose State University and has taken classes with Laney Junior College, Santa Rosa Junior College, Richmond Art Center. He enjoys sharing his acquired skills with those who are interested in broadening their relationship with clay. James approaches his classes with a friendly and encouraging attitude. When James is not in the studio, he is out in nature, hiking, and contributing to community through his art.

Sunday, March 2, 2025; 11am -3pm

Fee: $105 + $10 materials fee

Ages 16 and up

Learn to create beautiful designs on paper by printing with a gel plate and acrylic paint. Mixed media artist Catherine Cruz will teach you the basic skills for using this fun tool from printing textural backgrounds, to layering colors, and using stencils and other applications.

You will take home lots of prints that can be used for designing collage, mixed media art or greeting cards. This class is suitable for anyone wanting to learn this unique mono printing style and perfect for beginners.

All materials are provided: Gel plate, brayer roller, acrylic paint, stencils, mark-making tools, paper.

About the instructor: Catherine Cruz is a French-American artist, whose work is informed by textures and patterns created by the passing of time and the effects of the natural elements on the built environment. She has taught collage and mixed media workshops in the Bay Area and France since 2019, and this is her third year at the Sebastopol Center for the Arts. Her background is in interior design and green building certification. She works from her home studio in Sebastopol, and participates in Art Trails Open Studios. You may contact Catherine Cruz at beyouartstudio@gmail.com Check out Catherine's other classes here: https://www.sebarts.org/visual-arts-classes

Sunday, March 2, 2025; 1 - 3pm

Sliding Scale: $15/$20/$25

While poetic forms impose a certain amount of constraint upon the writer, they can also lead to greater abstraction. In this class, we will experiment with a short-form of the sestina called the questina. The questina form was devised by Sonoma County Poet Laureate Dave Seter while attending the Napa Valley Writers’ Conference.

The questina is patterned after the sestina, but with four end-words instead of six. The four words must appear in each stanza, ordered in a specific pattern. Ezra Pound is said to have described the sestina as “a thin sheet of flame, folding and infolding upon itself.” The same flame-like intensity may be achieved in the questina form by choosing end-words that are in tension with one another.

In the first thirty minutes of the class the instructor will discuss the idea of abstraction through form in poetry. He will then cover the rules governing the questina form and share examples from his own work. For the following thirty minutes, participants will work with the form with the goal of completing one or more draft questinas. In the final sixty minutes, participants will be given the opportunity to share and discuss their work.

About the Instructor: Dave Seter is a poet, essayist, and author of the poetry collections Don’t Sing to Me of Electric Fences (Cherry Grove Collections, 2021) and Night Duty (Main Street Rag, 2010). His poems have won the KNOCK Ecolit Prize and placed third in the William Matthews competition. He is the recipient of two Pushcart nominations. He has been an Affiliate Artist at the Headlands Center for the Arts, and has served on the Board of Directors of Marin Poetry Center. He earned his undergraduate degree in civil engineering from Princeton University and his graduate degree in humanities from Dominican University of California. He has previously been a guest instructor and panelist at the Dominican University of California Low-Residency MFA in Creative Writing Program. He has been named Sonoma County Poet Laureate 2024-2026.

Mondays, March 3 - 24, 2025; 10:30am-12:30pm (4 weeks)

$125 + $25 Materials fee

Gain confidence in the art of acrylic painting by learning foundational techniques in acrylic painting through getting to know tools and surfaces. Experiment with various types of acrylic mediums, how to use different types of brushes, palette knives and spatulas and learn how to create a variety of marks.

Try different surfaces like wood, masonite, canvas, fabric, watercolor paper and cardboard and learn how to prepare your surface with gesso. Learn how to thin your paint and glaze and how to thicken your paint to create dimensional textured paintings. We will also learn about the composition of your work and look at many artists and break down the elements of composition in painting.

About the Instructor: Amanda Rose Hopkins received her B.F.A from UC Santa Cruz with a concentration in painting and environmental art. Locally she has creatively taught children at Sunridge and REACH Charter schools. She spent 5 months studying under artist Kaveri Singh and Thangka painters from Nepal and Sikkim at the Sarnath International Nyingma Institute in India. Her work is currently focused on highlighting the sensuous texture and environmental importance of the kelp forests. You can view her work at https://artofnature.me/

Tuesdays, March 4 - April 8, 2025 (No class Mar 18-20 Spring Break) (5 Weeks)

Drop Off: 3:15-3:30pm / Class Time: 3:30-5:30pm / Pickup 5:30-5:45pm

Registration Price: $230 + $10 clay fee (All sales final, no refunds) Snacks will be provided

Ceramics for children ages 8-12 who love hands-on experiences and creative process, this exciting class offers the perfect opportunity to explore the world of clay.

Students will learn the fundamentals of handbuilding techniques such as pinch pots, slab formation and coil building, creating functional and sculptural forms, along with a chance at wheel throwing, all while using recycled clay.

In addition to clay formation we will delve into surface treatment of the texturing of wet clay, along with decorative glazing techniques.

The goal is to inspire confidence in young artists, empowering them to bring their creative ideas to life within this wonderfully satisfying and expressive medium!

About the Instructor: Following the path of Practice, Passion and Play, Meryl Juniper, holds a BFA from San Francisco Art institute. Her 6 decades of Visual Art, Dance and Musical Expressions, intertwine within 5 decades of MultiMedia Master Arts Education and Collaborative Art Installation Projects. Meryl is a longtime Local Artist, spearheading art programs and teaching within them at Oak Grove Elementary, Willowside Middle along with Sally Briggs at Apple Blossom Elementary and positions at Bodega Bay and Tomales Elementary Schools. In addition, Meryl held a 20 year run of Arts Education here at Center for the Arts in past decades. She ignites and delicately encourages a supportive environment where artistic expression and hands-on inspired creative process thrives! You can view her work at https://www.meryljuniper.com/

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Wednesdays, March 5 - April 9, 2025 (No class Mar 18-20 Spring Break) (5 weeks)

Drop Off: 3:00-3:15pm / Class Time: 3:15-5:15pm / Pickup 5:15-5:30pm

Registration Price: $200 (All sales final, no refunds) Snacks will be provided

Children ages 8-12 will explore recycled art which incorporates their natural desire for individuality through self-expression in various artistic media, including acrylic painting and sculpture.

In this class, they will engage in fun and empowering art forms like painting, drawing, collage, assemblage and sculpture that encourage them to connect with their inner selves. They will express their identity through recycled  papier-mâché masks and create their own jewelry and accessories. Collage allows for exploration of the inner world with little pressure to create with perfection with self portraits which incorporate acrylic paint and pastel including creating hot glue gun sculptures from recycled materials.

The use of recycled materials will be highly emphasized and students will be inspired by learning about artists who incorporate trash and recycled materials into their art.

Participants will study self-portraits by artists like Picasso, Frida Kahlo and Hannah Hoch using their own photographs as references to create unique portraits.

(In session 3 we will design and create a collaborative mural with the prompt, “Visions for helping our planet” with acrylic paint.)

About the Instructor: Amanda Rose Hopkins received her B.F.A from UC Santa Cruz with a concentration in painting and environmental art. Locally she has creatively taught children at Sunridge and REACH Charter schools. She spent 5 months studying under artist Kaveri Singh and Thangka painters from Nepal and Sikkim at the Sarnath International Nyingma Institute in India. Her work is currently focused on highlighting the sensuous texture and environmental importance of the kelp forests. You can view her work at https://artofnature.me/

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Wednesdays, March 5 - April 9, 2025 (6 sessions); 6:00pm-8:30pm

Class fee: $205 + Clay fee: $45

Ages 16 and up, max 10 students

All levels welcome (beginner to advanced)

Intro to Throwing and Handbuilding

This is a great class for those who want to enjoy building something with their own hands and experience the personal benefits of working with clay. Instruction will cover the basics of wheel throwing, hand-building (slab, coil, freeform), and glazing techniques. We’ll also explore the benefits of joining in collaborative art and letting go of the need to be productive.

Students will have unstructured time to work on, fire, and glaze their own pottery to take home. A goal of this course is to familiarize students with how clay rooms work and why they’re a fun place to be.

About the Instructor: Alice Rathjen has over 40 years experience working with clay. She was a production potter for five years. The current focus of her “art” is the sheer pleasure of playful engagement and exploration of clay and not having to be productive. She enjoys throwing exquisite bowls, mugs and cups and seeing them go on adventures.

Thursdays, March 6 - April 17, 2025 (7 weeks); 2 - 5pm

$210 +$45 clay fee (pre-registration required)

Using basic-level hand-building skills including pinching and working with slabs, participants will learn to create unique pieces of garden art. Students can explore applied textures and the use of colored slips and glazes to personalize each piece. Participants can expect to have fun while skill-building— leading to an elegant piece art.

About the Instructor: Maura Palmer has been a  prolific creator for most of her life.  She specializes in the use of color and texture on organic forms. Her approach to teaching is to guide students to produce a truly unique work of art that embodies a west coast appreciation of nature and free form design.  Prior to working with clay and concrete, she operated her own garden design business for over two decades.

Thursdays, March 6 - April 10, 2025 (No class Mar 18-20 Spring Break) (5 Weeks)

Registration Price: $225 (All sales final, no refunds) Snacks will be provided

Drop off: 3:15-3:30pm / Class Time: 3:30-5:30pm / Pickup: 5:30 - 5:45pm

In collaboration with arts nonprofit and performance space The Lost Church (http://thelostchurch.org), this dynamic class invites students to explore various aspects of music through hands-on experience, collaboration, and visits from members of the North Bay's talented and diverse community of working musicians.

Presented as a series of weekly explorations, some of the topics we will cover include guitar, electronic music, piano, brass, basic technique, and the cultural relevance of music. Participants are encouraged to bring their own instruments, but it is not necessary for the class. Our goal is for each student to widen our worldview and find personal inspiration through music-making and interaction with experienced musicians.

About the Instructor: Josh Windmiller is a local musician, producer, and arts advocate with a Masters in Education from Sonoma State University. He has taught private music lessons and has led his band (The Crux) for 17 years, performing inventive shows at events and venues such as Gravenstein Apple Fair, Rivertown Revival, and the Great American Music Hall. Josh is also a co-founder of Santa Rosa's Lost Church theater, which hosts up and coming musicians and more in their intimate performance space.

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Tuesday, March 11, 2025; 10 AM - 1 PM

Painting/Drawing Room

3 HR CLASS - $45

These workshops are geared to the advanced, ongoing students who want in-person instruction and feedback on their colored pencil projects. Please consult the instructor before signing up, Nina Antze antze@pcquilt.com

Nina Antze is a botanical artist, quilt maker and teacher living in Sonoma County. She has a degree in Fine Art from San Francisco State University and has a Certificate in Botanical Illustration from the New York Botanical Gardens. Her paintings are part of the Filoli Florilegium and the Alcatraz Florilegium.

Wednesdays, March 12 - 26, 2025 (3 sessions)

1:30pm-4pm

This course is designed for new and returning students wishing to improve their clay hand-building skills and enjoy being a part of the Sebarts clay studio community.

Each session will start with a demonstration of a specific project related to functional pottery. Class time will also include unstructured time for students to explore special projects and consult with the instructor as needed. Sculptors are also encouraged to take this class.

Week 1: Pinch pots, coils, and texture.

Week 2: Slips, slabs, and slump Molds

Week 3: Glazing success strategies

The class fee includes firing/glazing, and 5 pounds of recycled clay. Students may purchase other clay for an additional fee online.

Thank you for selecting the “sliding scale” fee option that feels perfect for you. Your contributions help to make our community art center more inclusive.

About the Instructor: Alice Rathjen has over 40 years experience working with clay. She was a production potter for five years. The current focus of her “art” is the sheer pleasure of playful engagement and exploration of clay and not having to be productive. She enjoys throwing exquisite bowls, mugs and cups and seeing them go on adventures.

Wednesday, March 12, 2025; 3:30 - 6pm

Sliding Scale: $10/$15/$20

Artists welcome to a fun and friendly "show and tell."

Bring one of your masterpieces or something in-the-works to share. Our discussions will inspire and motivate the beginner to the expert.

Each artist has 10 minutes for discussion and input from attendees.

Max 12 attendees. RSVP required. Other artists and non-artists are welcome as "listeners."

Light refreshments will be served.

Moderated by Kim Winter, who holds an MFA from UC Santa Barbara and has lived in both Southern California and Spain. She is a member of the Visual Arts Team at the Sebastopol Center for the Arts, where she also curates "The Stop Gallery." Kim has participated in the "Reverberations" shows as an artist and poet. She currently resides in Santa Rosa with their wife, Laura, and a variety of animals, including dogs, chickens, and sheep.

Saturday, March 15, 2025; 11am - 3pm

$105 + $10 Materials Fee

Number of participants: 14 max.

Ages 16 and up

In this workshop, collage artist Catherine Cruz will demonstrate her process for creating abstract collage artwork. She will discuss materials, composition and abstraction. Participants will choose papers from a wide collection of hand-painted, colorful, patterned papers as well as vintage books, selecting images and text that speak to them. Then they will design an abstract collage on a 12”x12” wood panel.

Catherine’s goal is to provide a non-judgmental and supportive environment where participants can challenge themselves to respond intuitively to their art and unleash their creativity. No previous art experience needed. Other classes she provides include gel plate printing, collage composition, and mixed media techniques on collage.

About the instructor: Catherine Cruz is a French-American artist, whose work is informed by textures and patterns created by the passing of time and the effects of the natural elements on the built environment. She has taught collage and mixed media workshops in the Bay Area and France since 2019, and this is her second year at the Sebastopol Center for the Arts. Her background is in interior design and green building certification. She works from her home studio in Sebastopol, and she is participating in Art Trails Open Studio. You may contact Catherine Cruz at beyouartstudio@gmail.com Check out Catherine's other classes here: https://www.sebarts.org/visual-arts-classes

Thursday, March 20, 2025; 3:30 - 6 pm

Join us at the Writers' Salon—a monthly in-person gathering for literary enthusiasts. Each person will have 5 minutes to read their work (any type of writing is welcome including prose, poetry, essay, etc.)

Enjoy sharing feedback and insight! Light refreshments will be served.

Max 10 attendees. RSVP required. No drop-ins

About the Facilitator: Linda Loveland-Ried is the author of two novels available on Amazon (Touch of Magenta and Something in Stone). Her stories, essays, and poems have been published in over 30 anthologies and magazines. Linda has two B.A.s from SSU, graduating cum laude. She lectures for SSU and Dominican Universities in the Osher Lifelong Learning program. As president of Redwood Writers for three years, a branch of the prestigious California Writers Club, she is a recipient of the Jack London Award. Several of Linda’s short plays have been presented by Readers Thater. She has directed community theater in Sonoma and Marin Counties for over 30 years, most recently “readings” of Dylan Thomas’s Under Milkwood and the Pulitzer Prize play Our Town. Linda professional career began as Associate Executive Director of United Way in Sonoma County. She then founded an insurance firm specializing in employee benefits, now managed by her daughter. You can see Linda’s figurative and abstract paintings, along with her writing, at her website: LindaLovelandReid.com

Sunday, March 30, 2025; 10am - 12pm

Sliding Scale: $15/$20/$25

What is documentary poetry? Documentary poetry, as described by the Poetry Foundation, is usually written to shed light on an issue or injustice. The issue or injustice may be explored firsthand (if directly experienced by the poet) or secondhand (if experienced by someone other than the poet). Oral or written histories, news coverage, and other sources, may be used in providing context to the issue or injustice being written about. Poets from Muriel Rukeyser to Sonoma County’s own Iris Dunkle and Jodi Hottel have written powerful documentary poetry. As is the case with many subgenres of poetry, the definition of documentary poetry is constantly in flux, therefore workshop participants are encouraged to trust their own instincts instead of seeking to conform to any one style or approach.

In the first thirty minutes of the class the instructor will discuss the idea of documentary poetry. He will then share examples, from his own work and from the work of other poets. For the following thirty minutes, participants will work with the idea of documentary poetry with the goal of completing one or more draft questinas. In the final sixty minutes, participants will be given the opportunity to share and discuss their work.

About the Instructor: Dave Seter is a poet, essayist, and author of the poetry collections Don’t Sing to Me of Electric Fences (Cherry Grove Collections, 2021) and Night Duty (Main Street Rag, 2010). His poems have won the KNOCK Ecolit Prize and placed third in the William Matthews competition. He is the recipient of two Pushcart nominations. He has been an Affiliate Artist at the Headlands Center for the Arts, and has served on the Board of Directors of Marin Poetry Center. He earned his undergraduate degree in civil engineering from Princeton University and his graduate degree in humanities from Dominican University of California. He has previously been a guest instructor and panelist at the Dominican University of California Low-Residency MFA in Creative Writing Program. He has been named Sonoma County Poet Laureate 2024-2026.

Mondays, March 31, 2025 - Apr 28, 2025 (No class on the 21st) (4 weeks)

10:30am-12:30pm

$125 + $25 Materials fee

Join us in an open and creative space where we will explore and experiment with a variety of ways to create unique and interesting textures in your acrylic mixed media paintings. We will use a variety of acrylic mediums, fabric, ink, pastel, pencil, pens, rice paper, sand and more. Add depth and visual interested in your paintings with dimensional textures using materials like molding paste and sand.

Learn how to incorporate interesting collage materials like fabric, rice paper and vintage paper. One of the advantages of acrylic paint is its ability to be layered and to be easily combined with other mediums. We will learn how to use ink and layer with pens and oil pastels and how to blend with chalk pastels.

About the Instructor: Amanda Rose Hopkins received her B.F.A from UC Santa Cruz with a concentration in painting and environmental art. Locally she has creatively taught children at Sunridge and REACH Charter schools. She spent 5 months studying under artist Kaveri Singh and Thangka painters from Nepal and Sikkim at the Sarnath International Nyingma Institute in India. Her work is currently focused on highlighting the sensuous texture and environmental importance of the kelp forests. You can view her work at https://artofnature.me/

(6 sessions) Thursdays, April 3 - May 8, 2025; 6:30pm - 9pm

$200 + Clay Fee: $45

Ages 16 and up

All levels welcome (beginner to advanced)

Come play with clay!! This is the prefect class to introduce you to most methods of working with clay.

The class will focus on the potters wheel and hand building techniques like slab, coil, and pinch to create cups bowls and other shapes to make our pottery projects.

We will finish, fire and glaze our project for you to enjoy for years to come.

This class is great for beginners and seasoned potters looking to bring it to next level.

About the Instructor: Randy Snyder got hooked on throwing pots while in high school and kept throwing them through his college years and part-time afterward, while trying various career avenues. He finally decided that the thing he loved to do was pottery and has been a full time artist and teacher for the last 30 years. Check out Randy’s work here: https://www.rakufiredpottery.com/

Saturday, April 5, 2025; 11am - 3pm

Fee: $105 + $10 materials fee

Ages 16 and up

Learn fun mixed media techniques to embellish your collage artwork such as adding texture and patina, mark-making, layering, glazing, and image transfer. This workshop is appropriate for anyone interested in mixed media art, collage, or art journaling. You will have an opportunity to try various art supplies on mini-collage samples provided for you. You are also welcome to bring your own collage to work on. This class is the third and last module in Catherine’s series of workshops which she teaches regularly – 1) collage papers and 2) abstract collage. She will review and demonstrate materials and techniques which you will then practice.

Please note: this is NOT a collage making class.

All materials are provided: Collage samples, gesso, matte medium, acrylic paint, acrylic inks, water-soluble crayons, oil pastels, brushes and tools, tissue paper, etc.

You may contact Catherine Cruz at beyouartstudio@gmail.com

About the instructor: Catherine Cruz is a French-American artist, whose work is informed by textures and patterns created by the passing of time and the effects of the natural elements on the built environment. She has taught collage and mixed media workshops in the Bay Area and France since 2019, and this is her second year at the Sebastopol Center for the Arts. Her background is in interior design and green building certification. She works from her home studio in Sebastopol, and participates in Art Trails Open Studio.

Tuesday, April 8, 2025; 10 AM - 1 PM

Painting/Drawing Room

3 HR CLASS - $45

These workshops are geared to the advanced, ongoing students who want in-person instruction and feedback on their colored pencil projects. Please consult the instructor before signing up, Nina Antze antze@pcquilt.com

Nina Antze is a botanical artist, quilt maker and teacher living in Sonoma County. She has a degree in Fine Art from San Francisco State University and has a Certificate in Botanical Illustration from the New York Botanical Gardens. Her paintings are part of the Filoli Florilegium and the Alcatraz Florilegium.

Sunday, April 13, 2025; 12pm - 5:30pm

$85 + $25 Materials Fee

Sensual Lines, gorgeous curves, luscious colors; this and more comes to mind when I think of Georgia O’Keeffe. The quintessential artist who left society to live in the desert immersed in her work. O’Keeffe’s flowers are powerfully sensual, filled with softness yet with jarring lines and edges. How can we achieve this softness with acrylics? What inspired O’Keeffe? How can we get into her mind and create something similar?

O'Keeffe's flower paintings were a crucial step in the evolution of her work as a modernist painter. Ever since their inception, they have garnered both praise and disdain from critics who have pondered over the true meaning behind these flowers. (Adrienne Howell)

In this one day workshop we will look deeply at the evolution of Georgia O'Keeffe's paintings and create our own Georgia O'Keeffe inspired acrylic flowers. Fresh flowers and bones will be on display for your inspiration.

About the Instructor: Amanda Rose Hopkins received her B.F.A from UC Santa Cruz with a concentration in painting and environmental art. Locally she has creatively taught children at Sunridge and REACH Charter schools. She spent 5 months studying under artist Kaveri Singh and Thangka painters from Nepal and Sikkim at the Sarnath International Nyingma Institute in India. Her work is currently focused on highlighting the sensuous texture and environmental importance of the kelp forests. You can view her work at https://artofnature.me/

Sunday, April 13, 2025; 2-4pm

Sliding Scale (includes ceramic mug): $35/$45/$55

A Benefit for SebArts Literary Arts Program: Recite Your Favorite Poem

Join us for a heartwarming evening celebrating the power of poetry at the "Recite Your Favorite Poem" event, a benefit for the SebArts Literary Arts Program. This special gathering invites friends, family, and neighbors to come together and share the poems that have touched their hearts.

Your ticket includes a beautifully handmade ceramic mug from our ceramic studio!

Our talented MC, Larry Robinson, a member of Rumi’s Caravan, along with co-host Dave Seter, the current SoCo Poet Laureate, will lead an inspiring evening filled with shared voices and meaningful connections. Participants are invited to submit a poem that speaks to them (not their own) and to share a brief reflection on its significance.

How to Participate: Submit your chosen poem by clicking HERE

Call Opens Feb 1st, March 17 deadline for submission 

Whether you’re a seasoned poet or a first-time reciter, this event is for everyone who appreciates the beauty of words. Come share your love for poetry and support a great cause! We can't wait to hear the poems that inspire you!

Light refreshments will be served. Let’s celebrate the art of poetry together!

Tuesdays, April 22 - May 20, 2025 (5 weeks)

Drop Off: 3:15-3:30pm / Class Time: 3:30-5:30pm / Pickup 5:30-5:45pm

Registration Price: $230 + $10 clay fee (All sales final, no refunds) Snacks will be provided

Ceramics for children ages 8-12 who love hands-on experiences and creative process, this exciting class offers the perfect opportunity to explore the world of clay.

Students will learn the fundamentals of handbuilding techniques such as pinch pots, slab formation and coil building, creating functional and sculptural forms, along with a chance at wheel throwing, all while using recycled clay.

In addition to clay formation we will delve into surface treatment of the texturing of wet clay, along with decorative glazing techniques.

The goal is to inspire confidence in young artists, empowering them to bring their creative ideas to life within this wonderfully satisfying and expressive medium!

About the Instructor: Following the path of Practice, Passion and Play, Meryl Juniper, holds a BFA from San Francisco Art institute. Her 6 decades of Visual Art, Dance and Musical Expressions, intertwine within 5 decades of MultiMedia Master Arts Education and Collaborative Art Installation Projects. Meryl is a longtime Local Artist, spearheading art programs and teaching within them at Oak Grove Elementary, Willowside Middle along with Sally Briggs at Apple Blossom Elementary and positions at Bodega Bay and Tomales Elementary Schools. In addition, Meryl held a 20 year run of Arts Education here at Center for the Arts in past decades. She ignites and delicately encourages a supportive environment where artistic expression and hands-on inspired creative process thrives! You can view her work at https://www.meryljuniper.com/

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Wednesdays, April 23 - May 21, 2025 (5 weeks)

Drop Off: 3:00-3:15pm / Class Time: 3:15-5:15pm / Pickup 5:15-5:30pm

Registration Price: $200 (All sales final, no refunds) Snacks will be provided

Children ages 8-12 will explore recycled art which incorporates their natural desire for individuality through self-expression in various artistic media, including acrylic painting and sculpture.

In this class, they will engage in fun and empowering art forms like painting, drawing, collage, assemblage and sculpture that encourage them to connect with their inner selves. They will express their identity through recycled  papier-mâché masks and create their own jewelry and accessories. Collage allows for exploration of the inner world with little pressure to create with perfection with self portraits which incorporate acrylic paint and pastel including creating hot glue gun sculptures from recycled materials.

The use of recycled materials will be highly emphasized and students will be inspired by learning about artists who incorporate trash and recycled materials into their art.

Participants will study self-portraits by artists like Picasso, Frida Kahlo and Hannah Hoch using their own photographs as references to create unique portraits.

(In session 3 we will design and create a collaborative mural with the prompt, “Visions for helping our planet” with acrylic paint.)

About the Instructor: Amanda Rose Hopkins received her B.F.A from UC Santa Cruz with a concentration in painting and environmental art. Locally she has creatively taught children at Sunridge and REACH Charter schools. She spent 5 months studying under artist Kaveri Singh and Thangka painters from Nepal and Sikkim at the Sarnath International Nyingma Institute in India. Her work is currently focused on highlighting the sensuous texture and environmental importance of the kelp forests. You can view her work at https://artofnature.me/

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Thursdays, April 24 - May 22, 2025 (5 Weeks)

Drop off: 3:15-3:30pm / Class Time: 3:30-5:30pm / Pickup: 5:30 - 5:45pm

Registration Price: $225 (All sales final, no refunds) Snacks will be provided

In collaboration with arts nonprofit and performance space The Lost Church (http://thelostchurch.org), this dynamic class invites students to explore various aspects of music through hands-on experience, collaboration, and visits from members of the North Bay's talented and diverse community of working musicians.

Presented as a series of weekly explorations, some of the topics we will cover include guitar, electronic music, piano, brass, basic technique, and the cultural relevance of music. Participants are encouraged to bring their own instruments, but it is not necessary for the class. Our goal is for each student to widen our worldview and find personal inspiration through music-making and interaction with experienced musicians.

Registration Price: $225 (All sales final, no refunds) Snacks will be provided

About the Instructor: Josh Windmiller is a local musician, producer, and arts advocate with a Masters in Education from Sonoma State University. He has taught private music lessons and has led his band (The Crux) for 17 years, performing inventive shows at events and venues such as Gravenstein Apple Fair, Rivertown Revival, and the Great American Music Hall. Josh is also a co-founder of Santa Rosa's Lost Church theater, which hosts up and coming musicians and more in their intimate performance space.

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Sunday, May 4, 2025; 1 - 3pm

Sliding Scale: $15/$20/$25

Modernist writers, including T.S. Eliot and Marianne Moore, experimented with incorporating found text into their poetry. The goal? To explore a subject through multiple perspectives and voices, thus adding dimension or depth to the subject. Incorporating other voices also places less emphasis on the “I” of authorship.

In the first thirty minutes of the class the instructor will cover the concept of found text and provide examples, from his own work and from the work of others, on how text may be interwoven into a poem. For the following thirty minutes, participants will work with their own found text and lines of poetry with the goal of completing one or more draft poems. In the final sixty minutes, participants will be given the opportunity to share and discuss their work.

Participants should bring newspaper articles, magazines, advertising brochures, nature guides, et cetera, in print or on a laptop computer or tablet, pertaining to the subgenre of poetry they typically write, from which to select found text to incorporate into their poems.

About the Instructor: Dave Seter is a poet, essayist, and author of the poetry collections Don’t Sing to Me of Electric Fences (Cherry Grove Collections, 2021) and Night Duty (Main Street Rag, 2010). His poems have won the KNOCK Ecolit Prize and placed third in the William Matthews competition. He is the recipient of two Pushcart nominations. He has been an Affiliate Artist at the Headlands Center for the Arts, and has served on the Board of Directors of Marin Poetry Center. He earned his undergraduate degree in civil engineering from Princeton University and his graduate degree in humanities from Dominican University of California. He has previously been a guest instructor and panelist at the Dominican University of California Low-Residency MFA in Creative Writing Program. He has been named Sonoma County Poet Laureate 2024-2026.

Mondays, May 5 - 19, 2025 (4 weeks) 10:30am-12:30pm

$125 + $25 materials fee

Create a solid foundation for your art with an exploration of the inner workings of color.

MIX! Blend… POP, add depth and subtly to your artworks by working with the color wheel and exploring color interactions.

Learn techniques in color mixing, tints and shades, complementary colors and learn more about color interactions. This is a technical class approached with an attitude of freedom and experimentation. Color can lend feeling and vibrancy to your art and good use of color can distinguish a beginning artist from a master.

The beginning class will focus on the foundations of the color wheel and color mixing. The intermediate class will review the foundations and explore color relationships in a painter’s palette as well as the color interaction experiments of Josef Albers.

About the Instructor: Amanda Rose Hopkins received her B.F.A from UC Santa Cruz with a concentration in painting and environmental art. Locally she has creatively taught children at Sunridge and REACH Charter schools. She spent 5 months studying under artist Kaveri Singh and Thangka painters from Nepal and Sikkim at the Sarnath International Nyingma Institute in India. Her work is currently focused on highlighting the sensuous texture and environmental importance of the kelp forests. You can view her work at https://artofnature.me/For questions about the class contact Amanda at artistamandarose@gmail.com

Sundays, May 18 - June 22, 2025; 5:30PM-8:30PM (6 weeks)

$200 + $45 Clay Fee

Located in the Ceramics Studio at SebArts

Have you tried your hand at pottery in the past? Are you looking to dive back in after a long break or recently learned the basics of throwing on the wheel?

This class will continue to build your confidence in your throwing skills and teach techniques on creating functional ceramics that are a little less wabi-sabi and a little more polished and professional!

Attention to detail on throwing, trimming, and decorating techniques will be the main focus of this course. Expect to come away with pieces that you can be proud of within this 6-week course!

About the Instructor: Rachel Horton has taken numerous collegiate pottery clases and various workshops over the course of 10 years. She has been facilitating at the Sebastopol Center for the Arts for several years and has been a production potter for the past 3, selling her wares at various markets locally. Check out some of Rachel's work here: https://www.up-north-pottery.com/ or on her Instagram @upnorthpottery