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Classes & Workshops

ALL classes & workshops are held in our garden level art studio accessible by stairs only unless otherwise noted. Charlevoix Circle of Arts is located at 109 Clinton Street, Charlevoix, MI 49720 

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 YOUTH 
CERAMICS: PINCH POT MAKING

AGES 7 & UP
 

APRIL 8, 2025
TUESDAY 4:30 - 5:30pm

REGISTER BY: April 4


CLASS FEE: $35, or $31.50 for members​

FORMAT:  in-person

In this beginner class young students will be able to get their hands in the clay and build a vessel.

With instructor Bethany Newman, participants will have the opportunity to learn basic skills & principles of working with clay, hand building, adding texture. 

Students will be able to pick up their finished kiln fired piece the following week.


All materials included.

ABOUT Bethany Newman

 

Space is limited & Pre-Registration is required.

Minimum # of Participants to hold class = 3

Maximum # of Participants = 12

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 YOUTH 
ART-VENTURES! after school series

AGES 6-12
6 week session:

APRIL 10 - MAY 15, 2025
THURSDAYS 3:30 - 5pm

REGISTER BY: April 9


CLASS FEE: $75, or $67 for members​

FORMAT:  in-person. includes snack & all materials!

CCA's after school art program Art-Ventures for ages 6 - 12.
Kids get to be creative, try new techniques and explore a variety of materials during this 6 week program.

Includes after school snack and all materials. By the end of 6 weeks students with show off their creations with art show finale!


Snack & all materials included.

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With instructor Laura Kelly.

 

Space is limited & Pre-Registration is required.

Minimum # of Participants to hold class = 4

Maximum # of Participants = 12

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FUSED GLASS WORKSHOP:
Suncatchers

APRIL 19, 2025
SATURDAY  12 - 3pm

REGISTER BY: April 15


CLASS FEE: $35, or $31.50 for members​

FORMAT:  in-person

In this beginner class participants will learn the principles of fused glass and design.

Students will be able to pick up their finished kiln fired piece the following week.

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Create your own Fused Glass Suncatcher or Coaster in this class for all abilities!

After you make your glass piece, instructor and artist Teri Crandell will take it to her studio to fire in the kiln and return it to Circle of Arts for you to pick up the next week. Class time approx. 2 hours
Easy beginner project and No experience needed!


All materials included.

ABOUT Teri Crandell

 

Space is limited & Pre-Registration is required.

Minimum # of Participants to hold class = 4

Maximum # of Participants = 12

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ALCOHOL INK: Paint Beautiful Betta Fish

MAY 20, 2025
TUESDAY  12 - 3pm

REGISTER BY: May 15th


CLASS FEE: $84, or $75.60 for members​

FORMAT:  in-person

With artist Julie Tibus!
Alcohol inks are a fascinating medium and the perfect choice to create stunning paintings of Asian fighting fish (betta fish). Using glossy black paper, compressed air, and a small brush, Julie will guide you through creating a beautiful diptych (two paintings). You don't need any prior experience
to join the course. You will receive support and coaching during the class through demonstrations, classroom time, and personalized guidance.
 

All Supplies Provided.

ABOUT Julie Tibus

 

Space is limited & Pre-Registration is required.

Minimum # of Participants to hold class = 4

Maximum # of Participants = 12

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FUSED GLASS WORKSHOP:
night lights

MAY 24, 2025
SATURDAY  12 - 3pm

REGISTER BY: April 15


CLASS FEE: $50, or $45 for members​

FORMAT:  in-person

In this beginner class participants will learn the principles of fused glass and design.

Students will be able to pick up their finished kiln fired piece the following week.

Try this fun, exciting art form! No experience necessary! 
You will make a fused glass night-light with all supplies provided.  Artist & instructor Teri Crandell will provide various colored and transparent glass, frit, glue and nightlights to make your own unique light.

After you make your glass piece, instructor and artist Teri will take it to her studio to fire in the kiln and return it to Circle of Arts for you to pick up the next week. 


All materials included.

ABOUT Teri Crandell

 

Space is limited & Pre-Registration is required.

Minimum # of Participants to hold class = 4

Maximum # of Participants = 12

Summer Classes & Workshops

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DRAWING SKILLS:
Shape, Shadow, Contour & Gesture

JUNE 3, 4 & 5, 2025
TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY & THURSDAY 
9am - 12pm each day

REGISTER BY: May 30


CLASS FEE: $250, or $225 for members​

FORMAT:  in-person

In this engaging and accessible class, you will explore four fundamental drawing techniques to
enhance your sketching abilities. The focus will be on graphite drawing, emphasizing the
importance of observing shapes and shadows. Using reference materials, we will analyze the
shapes present in a still life and practice pencil positioning and fluid movements. Learning the art
of shadow and light will give dimensions to shapes. The second day will be dedicated to honing
your skills in observing details through blind contour drawing and perfecting loose sketching
movements with gestural lines. These techniques are essential for working with figures. This class
is designed for novice artists seeking to learn and improve their drawing skills. We will include
engaging demonstrations, individual coaching, and a fun learning environment.

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SUPPLY LIST

2B Pencil
Vine charcoal
HB Pencil
9X12 Pad of Drawing Paper


ABOUT Julie Tibus

 

Space is limited & Pre-Registration is required.

Minimum # of Participants to hold class = 4

Maximum # of Participants = 12

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PALETTE KNIFE PAINTING:
Lily Pond

JUNE 21, 2025
SATURDAY
10am - 3pm

REGISTER BY: June 17


CLASS FEE: $125, or $112.50 for members​

FORMAT:  in-person

Expressing nature through palette knife painting can be an exhilarating experience. In this
workshop, you will gain knowledge of the palette knife techniques using heavy-bodied acrylics. We
will start by creating a deep, smooth, and moody underpainting on an 18" x 24" canvas using a
large brush and feathering method. This will serve as an ideal contrast to the bold lily pads and
surface waters that we will paint using the palette knife. Finally, we will add the finishing touches of
thick impasto flowers. As your painting will still be wet, bringing a box for safe transportation is
recommended.

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SUPPLY LIST

A variety of Acrylic Paints - I use Golden acrylics: White, Payne’s Grey, Cad Yellow, Med, Cerulean Blue, Magenta, Ultramarine Blue, Black, Quinacridone Gold, light purple.
Various Acrylic Brushes; be sure to have a 1” flat.
18”x 24” Canvas
Palette paper
Spray bottle


ABOUT Julie Tibus

 

Space is limited & Pre-Registration is required.

Minimum # of Participants to hold class = 4

Maximum # of Participants = 12

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WATERCOLOR BATIK
2-day class

JULY 15 & 16 2025
TUESDAY & WEDNESDAY 10am - 5pm

REGISTER BY: July 9


CLASS FEE: $200, or $180 for members​

FORMAT:  in-person

Work with talented artist Ryan Fox and learn a new painting technique using the batik method with watercolor. 

Watercolor batik is the process of using traditional watercolor paint and wax to create unique and beautiful batik-style paintings on Japanese rice paper. Students will begin the process with a drawing and then learn to create highlights and shadows, as well as how to mask areas of the project with wax.

This class is suitable for both beginner and experienced painters with little or no watercolor experience.  Artists will create a multiple 12x16” batik paintings in the workshop. Irons, rice paper, electric skillets, newspapers, wax, and brushes for applying wax will be provided.  Artists will need to bring watercolor paints, brushes, and suitable clothing (wax does drip and sometimes ends up on clothing).  Artists can use reference photographs provided for their drawings or are welcome to bring a high contrast photograph or line drawing to transfer to rice paper.
 

SUPPLY LIST

  • Recommended Colors: I create 90% of my paintings with Yellow Ochre, Imperial Purple (DS), Sap Green, Burnt Sienna, Ultramarine Blue, Cobalt Blue, Aureolin, Winsor Yellow, Cerulean Blue (Winsor Newton), Rose Madder, and Perinone Orange (DS).  Any colors will work on batik though.

  • Watercolor Brushes:  Big & small brushes to cover large areas and details.  I highly recommend a squirrel mop brush (#8 or #6) to cover rice paper.

  • Watercolor Palette: I prefer the Sterling Edwards Big Brush palette but I also own several Richeson Covered Palettes.  Make sure your palette is big enough to mix up lots of paint with water so you have big puddles of color.

  • Water container:  Anything that holds water.  I use two water containers at once- I’ll explain later!

  • Spray bottle: Small SOHO or Holbein spray bottle. 

  • Board to put painting on.  This could be wood, plexiglass, or gatorboard.  Needs to be waterproof.  The board needs to be several inches larger than your paper (12x18)

  • Drawing Supplies/Erasers.

  • Sense of humor (required)!

I will provide brushes to apply wax (do not stick your good watercolor brushes into hot wax) as well as Japanese rice paper.



ABOUT Ryan Fox

 

Space is limited & Pre-Registration is required.

Minimum # of Participants to hold class = 4

Maximum # of Participants = 12

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GELLI PLATE PRINTING AND CARD MAKING

JULY 30 2025
WEDNESDAY
9am - 2pm

REGISTER BY: July 26


CLASS FEE: $125, or $112.50 for members​

FORMAT:  in-person

Spend the day learning to monoprint and layer printing techniques. Work on making papers and
then cutting and collaging to create beautiful cards (Each student will be supplied with 3
Strathmore paper cards and envelopes). Stencils, exciting papers, and design ideas are
provided.

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SUPPLY LIST
5X7 Gelli Plate (link:  https://a.co/d/1rQCgCp )
Speedball 3” or 4” Brayer (link:  https://a.co/d/7iXfFN8 )

A variety of acrylic/craft paints.
Tweezers & Sharp Scissors.
Spray bottle.



ABOUT Julie Tibus

 

Space is limited & Pre-Registration is required.

Minimum # of Participants to hold class = 4

Maximum # of Participants = 12

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WATERCOLOR FOR ALL LEVELS

JULY 31 2025
THURSDAY
10am - 1pm

REGISTER BY: July 26


CLASS FEE: $50, or $45 for members​

FORMAT:  in-person

I’m so excited to return to the Circle to paint with vacationers and residents of the Charlevoix region! In this watercolor-for-all-levels class we’ll create two paintings, two different sizes. We’ll use wet-into-wet techniques and wet-into-dry, and use some unique household tools, beyond the paint brush!

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SUPPLY LIST
•    140-pound cold press watercolor paper. 9” x 12”, plus a half sheet of 9” x 12”
•    A board for your paper. Can be a corrugated box side.
•    Painter’s tape to tape your paper down to your board.
•    Table Salt (regular and/or Kosher, larger grains).
•    White Crayon or white taper candle.
•    Brushes: Round brushes that come to a point when wet, including a size 0 or smaller for details, 4, 6, and optional larger.
•    Watercolor paint colors: Sap green, a warm yellow, a pink, violet or purple, a deep blue, ocher, a quinacridone gold is optional, green-gold (or can make with sap green and LEMON yellow), cerulean blue, red, burnt sienna, indigo or Payne’s gray, brown. (Don’t worry if you don’t have all these colors; most can be mixed with basic colors such as red, yellow, blue) 


SUPPLIES CAN ALSO BE PURCHASED! Contact Megan if you would like her to bring supplies for your use, the cost is $10 per head, bring cash to class and pay teacher directly. Please notify Megan in advance at megan@waterloogroup.com .

ABOUT Megan Swoyer

 

Space is limited & Pre-Registration is required.

Minimum # of Participants to hold class = 4

Maximum # of Participants = 18

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ACRYLIC: BIG SKIES & WILD SEAS

AUGUST 19 & 20, 2025
TUESDAY & WEDNESDAY
10am - 3pm

REGISTER BY: August 15


CLASS FEE: $250, or $225 for members​

FORMAT:  in-person

Discover the art of painting stunning skies and abstract landscapes in this immersive two-day
class! Participants will use a spacious 24" x 24" canvas to underpaint, do composition sketching,
and practice blending techniques, dynamic strokes, and captivating cloud formations. Delve into
color mixing and the application of wet-on-wet techniques to bring vibrant skies to life. The
foreground comes alive with a palette knife and oil pastels. Participants will receive guidance,
demonstrations, coaching, and ample painting time throughout the process.

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SUPPLY LIST
variety of Acrylic Paints - I use Golden acrylics: White, Payne’s Grey, Cad Yellow, Med, Cerulean Blue, Magenta, Ultramarine Blue, Black, Quinacridone Gold.
Various Acrylic Paint Brushes; please include a 1” flat.
24”x 24” Canvas.
Palette knives.
Palette paper.
Spray bottle.
LARGE Water Dish.


ABOUT Julie Tibus

 

Space is limited & Pre-Registration is required.

Minimum # of Participants to hold class = 4

Maximum # of Participants = 12

CANCELLATION POLICY

 

Student Withdrawal

Due to artist/instructor preparations and travel, we do not provide refunds.

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Weather-Related 
In the event that Charlevoix Public Schools are closed due to inclement weather, classes will be cancelled. To the best of our ability, CCA will schedule a make-up class. Refunds will not be provided if the student is unable to attend a rescheduled class.

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Minimum Enrollment
If a class does not have the minimum number of students enrolled, CCA will notify you prior to the first session that the class is cancelled and will offer a full refund to the student. (Credit card payments will be refunded to the same card and check & cash payments will be refunded by check.)

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