Now that students are back to school, the Dorchester Center for the Arts (DCA) invites the community to participate in upcoming classes and programs. Enroll in one of the many affordable offerings. Supply lists for classes are available from DCA.

• Oil Painting for Beginners and Intermediates - Instructor: Tom Ryan

This class utilizes the grid method, and supports both beginners and students continuing to perfect their skills. Beginners learn the fundamentals of still life painting including color, composition, form, and materials, while intermediate students improve existing skills and explore increasingly complex challenges. More advanced students will complete finished, professional quality work.

One session: Monday mornings, six weeks, 9 am – noon; $95 members, $135 non-members; Oct. 13 – Nov. 17.

• Color Harmonies in Oil - Instructor: Jacqueline Pfaff-Pratt

This class will help the painter see value relationships by working with a limited palette. Color harmony is ensured since all secondary colors will be mixed from the same primaries. This method is beneficial for all subject matter, and suitable for both the beginning and intermediate level student. Previous experience working with a full palette is useful, but not required. Students will work with a variety of still life set-ups.

One session: Tuesday, six weeks, 10 am – noon; $75 members, $115 non-members; Oct. 14 – Nov. 18.

• Intermediate Watercolors- Instructor: Barbara Zuehlke

Students will work with the exciting technique of using wet pigment on wet paper combined     with hard edge work. Explore new triad palette combinations, learn how to pull and layer color, and discover new ways to create paintings from photographs. Demonstrations and assistance will be provided by the instructor. Watercolor experience is necessary. Wednesday afternoons, six weeks, 1 – 3:30 pm; $85 members, $125 non-members; Sept. 24 – Oct. 29

• Watercolor for Beginners and Beyond - Instructor: Jeanne Ewell

This class introduces basic techniques of watercolor and builds to the more complex techniques. Emphasis will focus on controlling the medium, color mixing, brush handling, and composition. Demonstrations are part of the class. Beginning and continuing students will receive individual attention, while painting a variety of subject matter.

Thursday mornings, six weeks, 9 am – noon; $95 members, $135 non-members; Sept. 25 – Oct. 30.

• “Pocket Painter” - One-Day Workshop with Chris Carter

Chris Carter returns to DCA to instruct this powerful class on how to draw and paint wherever you are, wherever you go. Chris has mastered the process, so everything you need fits into a pocket, handy when waiting for water to boil, sitting at a piano recital, traveling by air, car, bus, bike, train, or by foot. Searching for patterns, shapes, values, and color schemes in your everyday world opens your eyes to another layer of beauty and awareness of your environment. Flipping back through the pages, your preferences for shapes and patterns emerges along with your unique style. No need to bring any materials to class. Pocket painter kit provided (small sketch book, tiny tin palette with half pans of paint, water brush, fine tip permanent marker, mechanical pencil, wrist sock). The workshop includes morning demonstrations of drawing and painting styles and use of the travel kit. Students will choose place and subject for afternoon sketching and painting. Workshop will close with sharing of sketchbooks and discussion of experience.

Fall session: Oct. 25, 10 am – 4 pm; $95 DCA members, $130 non-members

$10 materials fee payable to instructor on class date. Chris draws and paints  daily in sketchbooks, studying the natural world and the inventions of  mankind; cities, roadways, machinery, and objects of all sorts.  She brings the knowledge gleaned from these studies back into the studio to better express in large, abstract paintings, her greatest passion of all, movement through space and the patterns of energy. Visit her website at www.ChrisCarterArt.com to view the range of her work and to register for the workshop on her website store.

• Colored Pencil Primer Plus - Instructor: Jacquelyn Pfaff-Pratt

Students will learn how to layer to achieve transparent tones when lightly overlapped, or opacity with heavy pressure. By working with the process of “stacking up” one hue over another, students will learn to achieve the hue laden mixtures and rich, luminous depth of color for which this medium is known. Whether you’re trying it for the first time or have some experience, this class will deepen your ability to utilize the medium for greater success. Some drawing experience is  essential.

Tuesday afternoons, six weeks, 1 – 3 pm; $75 members, $115 non-members; Oct. 14 – Nov. 18.

• Beginning Wheel Throwing - Instructor: Patrick Jurena

This five-week class is designed to lay the foundational skills for work on the pottery wheel, including throwing, trimming, and glaze application. Class fee includes clay, glazes, and kiln firing and use of studio pottery tools: bucket, sponge, wire tool, wood rib, wooden knife, metal rib, needle tool, and ribbon tool. Materials are included.

Saturday mornings, five weeks, 9 – 11:30 am; $125 members, $155 non-members; Oct. 11 – Nov. 8

• Ceramic Flowers for the Fall Garden - Instructor: Ann Geiger

Participants will enjoy two fun sessions in the clay studio making garden art. Using handbuilding techniques participants will create decorative pieces to add a bit of punch and color to the fall garden, or the home! No experience necessary. Also included in the class will be colored underglaze application Materials are included.

Two-part workshop: Tuesday and Thursday, 5 – 8 pm; $55 members, $85 non-members; Nov. 4 and 6.

• Open Clay Studio

Open Studio allows more advanced students who are current members of the Center to work autonomously with access to our clay studio. We require that you have been enrolled in at least one previous class at the Dorchester Center for the Arts prior to your enrollment in this program. Registration for this program includes 10 weeks of classroom space. Participants must provide their own clay, glazes, hand tools, towels, and plastic to cover the projects. Studio clean-up is required. Ceramic pieces should be average size, not exceeding 14” x 14” x 14” unless approved by a staff member. Firings are done at the end of the month, with class firings taking priority over open studio. Participants are responsible for loading and unloading their work in the kiln under the supervision of a staff member. Participants must schedule the time and date with a staff member for loading and firing.

Five-week sessions:  Monday – Friday, 10 am – 4 pm, Saturday noon – 3 pm; evening hours available by request. $35 per five-week session, or $10 per week.; Oct. 6 – Nov. 8

• Knitting for Everyone - Instructor: Windy Karpavage

Beginners as well as more experienced knitters will create beautiful projects using patterns purchased in the class. Supply prices vary depending on project selection, $50 – $200/project.

Work on one project until completion or select a beautiful array of projects. No experience is necessary to enroll. Check out the pattern selections at www.nonipatterns.com. If you want to Beginners and experienced knitters welcome. Quality matters—all supplies are purchased through the instructor to ensure student success.

Wednesday evenings, six weeks, 6 – 8 pm; $75 members, $125 non-members; Fall session: Sept. 17 – Oct. 22

• Discover Crochet - Instructor: Mary Romans

Beginners interested in the fiber art of crochet will learn the basics in this five-week session; how to “cast on” (make your first chain), the chain stitch, single crochet, and more as time permits. No supplies needed for the first class. Crochet needle provided; sample yarns will be available for starting work.

One session: Thursday evenings, four weeks; Oct. 9, 16, 23, and 30, 6 – 8 pm; $55 members, $85 non-members.

• Stained Glass for Beginners and Intermediates - Instructor: Jan Boettger

Depending on experience, students will learn basic or intermediate techniques for creating a stained glass panel. Instruction includes design, cutting, foiling, and soldering. Stress free, excellent instruction for creating custom work with beautiful results.

Tuesday evenings, ten weeks, 6 – 8 pm; $125 members, $165 non-members; $75 – $125 (depending on size of project) supply fee payable to instructor Fall session: Sept. 16 – Nov. 1

• Introduction to Glass Art - Instructor: Paul Winters

This class will include a lecture and hands-on experimentation format, providing participants with a background in color theory as it applies to glass art, and an overview of the process of working with kiln-fired glass. Students will gain an overall understanding of fused glass and the various concepts, tools, and techniques utilized in the creation of basic pieces.  Two-part class: Wednesday evenings, 6 – 7:30 pm; October 22 and October 29; $45 members, $75 non-members

Paul Winters has been a professional glass artist since 2000, but began as a hobbyist 35 years ago while living in Western Pennsylvania and Ohio. Paul works with both stained glass and fused glass. He creates pieces that reflect his own personal vision as well as those of his clients for custom, commissioned work.

• Fused Glass Creations - Instructor: Paul Winters

Students will complete a fused glass project of their choice, such as coasters, bowls, or objects d’art. A variety of glass colors will be available. Prerequisite: Introduction to Glass Art, or previous experience (at the discretion of the instructor). $10 – $20 materials fee payable to instructor on class date, based on project choice.

Fees: $85 members, $125 non-members Wednesday evenings, three weeks, 6 – 7:30 pm; Nov. 5, 12, and 19.

• Decoy Carving for All - Instructor: Warren Saunders

Students will carve a decoy using a knife or more advanced students will power carve in the Ward-style. All decoys are completed with paint. A $50 supply fee is payable to the instructor at the first class for the wood, paint, and eyes for the project. A list of additional supplies and power tools is available. Saunders is a master decoy carver who was born and raised in Dorchester County. Early on, he studied waterfowl by spending time in their natural habitat, spending long hours at the zoo and wildlife sanctuaries and sitting in duck blinds in five-degree weather to capture the realism of the beautiful migrating species of birds, ducks, and geese of the area. He studied with noted carvers over the years, and has been described as an old hand at this art. He participates in exhibitions and shows throughout the eastern United States, including the Ward World Championship Wildfowl Carving Competition in Ocean City and the Waterfowl Festival in Easton.

Two classes: Thursday evenings, ten weeks / Intermediate to advanced level and power tool carvers: 6 – 9 pm; $125 members, $165 non-members; $50 supply fee payable to instructor/

Fall session: Oct. 2 – Dec. 11 (no classes Thanksgiving week)

Monday evenings, ten weeks / Beginning level and hand tool carvers; 6 – 9 pm; $125 members, $165 non-members; $50 supply fee payable to instructor. Fall session: Oct. 6 – Dec. 10

• Beginning Piano for Adults and Young People - Instructor: Ginny Mattes Sears

Weekly piano lessons offered for beginners of all ages. Monthly sessions: TBA with instructor: Afternoons, 30-minute lessons; $20/lesson; Oct. – Dec.

• ART for ALL - Second Saturdays 3 – 5 pm. Ongoing.

Drop in and discover your inner artist. Try your hand at a different project each month, and take a great piece home. Guided instruction provided. Media varies. No registration necessary. Under 16 please be accompanied by an adult. Free.

• Homeschool Art Adventure

Supplement your child’s curriculum with this series of visual arts enrichment classes. Each session will combine a gallery tour and hands-on art project. Ages 6 and up.

$5 per child per session. DCA membership encouraged, but not required. Three sessions, third Monday monthly Oct., Nov., Dec.; 1 – 2:30 pm

• Choptank Writers Group

New members welcome. DCA membership encouraged, but not required. Meets the second and fourth Wednesdays, 3:30 – 4:30 pm, September – December

• Baywater Camera Club

A friendly and supportive environment for photographers of all ability levels. The mission of the club is to provide opportunities for members to learn and enjoy the art and science of photography; to present lectures, courses of study, and demonstration of techniques; to provide for participation in exhibitions and contests, and to sponsor any activities which further the purpose of the club. Dues and DCA membership required. Second Wednesdays, 6 pm, September – December.

• Auditions for Godspell – Directed by Laura Todd, January 2015 performance.

Auditions will be held on Sept. 13 at 11 a.m. and Sept. 17 at 6:30 p.m. Actors should prepare 16 bars of a ballad and 16 bars of an up-tempo piece and should be able to show their full vocal range between the two songs. An accompanist will be provided but actors are expected to bring their own sheet music. Recorded accompaniments will not be permitted.

To learn more about any of these programs or to register, call 410-228-7782, or visit dorchesterarts.org.

Editor’s note: Spectrum is the weekly column of the Dorchester Arts Center. It is written by Mickey Love, executive director. See listing of more classes on Sept. 19.

TAKE A CHILD TO ART. Membership not required.

• Mosaic Pumpkins - Instructor: Patti Logan

Starting with a pumpkin form, each adult/child team will use a variety of materials from glass and tile bits to beads and baubles to cover their pumpkin form before grouting. Oct. 18, 10 am – noon; $15 per adult and child team, includes materials.

• Friday Morning Drawing

Friday Morning Drawing is presented each Friday from 10 am – noon. October – December. The session is free and you must have a DCA membership to participate.

• Open Painting Studio

Painters of all mediums welcome to enjoy a bit of “parallel painting.” No instruction, just the opportunity to gather with like-minded others. Free. Members only. One six-week session: Mondays 1– 3 pm; Oct. 6 – Nov. 10

• Fiber Art Fridays

Bring your project and join a great group of fiber artists. From knitting to quilting to rug hooking to weaving—all are welcome. Free. Facilitated by advanced needle artist Windy Karpavage. DCA membership encouraged, but not required. Ongoing Fridays 10 am – noon

• The LITERARY LUNCHBOX

Stop by on your lunch hour for a monthly bite of culture along with your sandwich. Local authors will read from and/or discuss their books. Q&A included. Bring a lunch, beverage provided.  First Fridays, noon. October – December. Free. All are welcome. DCA membership encouraged, but not required.

• Theater

Dorchester Drama Guild welcomes the Hugh Gregory Gallagher Theatre for “Time Stands Still” by Donald Margulies. This is a play about changing relationships and developing social issues and was nominated for two Tony Awards for Best Play and Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play for Laura Linney. It’s a moving story with moments of comedy and reflection. Time Stands Still revolves around Sarah (Beth Anne Langrell), a photo journalist injured by a roadside bomb while covering the Iraq War and her relationship with her boyfriend (John Swann) who was also in Iraq, and how life with physical disability and PTSD is to continue in Brooklyn. When their friend Richard (Bill Gross), Sarah’s former boyfriend and mentor, and his much younger girlfriend Mandy (Ashley Chroniger) visit, we see how different each person’s life is from the other. Time Stands Still covers many aspects of the mission of HGGT in raising awareness of physical and mental disability issues and discrimination in society. Through dramatizations of real-life and fictionalized experiences they help to reduce prejudice in an entertaining way. The audience is invited to join in a talk back session after the performances. Oct. 4, 7 p.m. This is Gallery stage performance and tickets are $10 for DCA members; $12 for non-members.

• Festive Fall - Apple Bags - Instructor: Windy Karpavage

Students will work with a pattern kit that includes all materials, and yields a charming felted wool apple bag in a variety of colors, decorated with a bit of beaded bling. This class is for the intermediate level student. Students should bring a lunch. $50 supply fee payable to instructor. $40 members, $70 non-members

Two-day workshop: Nov 15 and 22, 10 am – 2 pm