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I'm late getting this workshop and class schedule together, in part because it never seemed like Spring would get here. But here it is! A sunny day! My crocuses are in bloom and some early May classes are peaking their heads up.

Carol Ann Morley's Drawing Nature is the earliest arrival and begins Thursday May 1st from 6 - 9. Carol is the founder of the Botanical Art and Illustration Certificate program at The New York Botanical Garden and is a significant asset to Sanctuary Arts and our local artistic community. She will also be teaching Drawing Nature on Location, a four session workshop (July 21 - 24) and a Drawing in the Garden class beginning in June. Outdoor painter Dennis Poirier is another early bird with his Plein Air Painting in Oils & Acrylics beginning May 5th and another session in July. Norma Machado and Lynne Robertson offer intermediate classes in Pastel and Stained Glass in early May, a wonderful opportunity for students to expand beyond the introductory level in those two media.

I am pleased to announce that fellow sculptor Antoinette Schultze has agreed to offer a stone carving class from her Eliot studio. I've known Tony and her work since the 70's and have watched her sculpt both figuratively and abstractly in wood, stone, clay and glass. She created the large bronze "Mill Girl" sculpture in Manchester NH, is a consummate carver and knows everything about stone. This is a great opportunity for those who would like to learn professional carving techniques from a master carver. Her 10-week Monday morning class begins May 19th.

Stone wall by Steven Carpenter

Another fellow sculptor and stone wall artisan, Steven Alden Carpenter, is offering his expertise in The Artful Stone Wall, an unusual offering for Sanctuary Arts. If you look on his website, www.standingstonescapes.com, you will understand why this class is included in an arts schedule. Steven's work will knock your socks off. I hope next summer to get him to offer a water features class.

Susan Pratt Smith is another artist I have known since the 70's. I think Susan is one of the most creative fused and stained glass artists on the planet. Every project of hers stretches the medium of glass as an art form. Her designs and concepts continually evolve, and she is never content with repetition. I am so delighted that she is willing to impart her knowledge in the relatively new medium of fused glass.

"Dream of Flying" Bluebird Book design by Johanna Finnegan-Topitzer

Johanna Finnegan-Topitzer, whose work adorns the front of the brochure, is a Sanctuary Arts newcomer offering two short Saturday workshops in June on the centuries old craft of Bookbinding. She trained at the well- known North Bennet Street School in Boston, a school devoted to the training of students in fine craftsmanship. You can see a sampling of her work at www.selkiebindery.com.

Because I love the figure, and feel there can't be too many nudes in puritanical New England, Jenny Page and Chris Pothier offer drawing and painting the figure (and the portrait) in short 5 week classes, and Chris offers a class Painting the Figure in the Environment for those who are interested in painting the clothed figure in outdoor and interior settings. I am also teaching a figure modeling class in clay with the nude. Working with a model is always a pleasure. If you haven't tried it, these classes are an excellent introduction to figure study.

My trips to the foundry were always the highlight of my life as a sculptor, and now we get to share that excitement with you in two classes in iron and bronze casting learning lost wax and ceramic shell techniques with Green Foundry folks, Josh and Lauren. Foundry work is always exciting — like Christmas and opening your presents — when you chip away the investment to unveil your freshly cast piece.

I'm teaming up again with jeweler Alice Carroll to offer our well-received Miniature Wax Carving, Modeling, and Casting class using our centrifical casting machine and this time including a new vulcanizer mold maker for making multiples. Alice also offers her usual Jewelry and Metalsmithing classes as well as one on Enameling for those who would like to add color to their metal work.

"Sanctuary" by Dewitt Hardy

And Dustan Knight and Dewitt Hardy return with their popular Plein Air Watercolor Landscape courses. Dustan also offers a three-session workshop on Watercolor Painting on Panel, a technique that makes watercolor glow and eliminates the need for expensive framing. Donna Harkins combines both still life and landscape in her Beginning Oil Painting class for those who need a class in the basics or want to brush up on technique. Last, but not least in my musings, is the Encaustic workshop taught by Kim Bernard this August. Kim has recently been taken on by Arden Gallery in Boston and her work is selling out. Congratulations Kim! And congratulations to all those who take her workshop and are introduced to this beautiful medium.

Can you tell I love my job? I'd like to take every class myself. I am extremely proud of the caliber of the instructors here and the classes they offer. I hope you will enjoy them as well.

Cheers,