Crooked Tree Arts Center - Traverse City

Workshop: Five-Step Approach to Pastel Painting - with Jill Wagner

kristi — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 22:29:14 +0000

Workshop: Five-Step Approach to Pastel Painting - with Jill Wagner

kristi Thursday, March 20, 2025 - 6:29 PM

Five-Step Approach to Pastel Painting with Jill Wagner

2-day workshop: Friday - Saturday, May 16-17, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Adults - Ages 18+

Explore the beauty of soft pastels and create unique, personal works of art based on your own reference photos. Participants will learn how to find dynamic compositions with strong focal points and push color to enhance their vision. We will step away from the confinement of exact “copying” of reference materials and move toward finding our own interpretation of a scene.

Day One will begin with a short demonstration using a tonal underpainting to create a halftone “structure” on which to build a pastel painting. We’ll discuss how to crop into photos for various compositional options and how to loosely block in dark and medium areas that establish a value plan, before adding color.

Day Two will begin with another short demo using a colorful watercolor underpainting which uses complimentary colors to create an impressionistic, “vibrating” effect. After creating several value sketches, emphasis will be on students painting loosely and using strong marks to strengthen their chosen composition.

Beginner to Advanced students welcome.
SUPPLIES REQUIRED - Please click on the Supply List link below for details.

Materials List

Location

Crooked Tree Arts Center - Traverse City

Start Date

Friday, May 16, 2025 - 9:00 AM

End Date

Saturday, May 17, 2025 - 4:00 PM

Price

Member $250 / Non Member $300

Workshop: Loose Water Color Painting with Steve Griggs

kristi — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 22:12:16 +0000

Workshop: Loose Water Color Painting with Steve Griggs

kristi Thursday, March 20, 2025 - 6:12 PM

Only two spots left - Register today!

Loose Water Color Painting with Steve Griggs

1 session - Friday, June 13th, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm
Adults - Ages 18+

Want to learn to create loose, moving, and evocative watercolor painting but don't know where to start? Or, maybe you've got a good start but want to continue to grow your skills? This is the class for you!

Watercolor paints can be pretty free-spirited and unpredictable, unless you know how to work with them. In this class, Steve will share his methods for understanding your paints while giving voice to your own loose artistic style.

Learn Steve’s strategy for becoming friends with your paint in order to create beautiful, moving paintings with energy, freedom, and fascinating stories. You'll be surprised what you can do with a paintbrush, an open mind, and a sense of humor. Come and find out!

SUPPLIES REQUIRED - please click on the Supply List link for details.

Materials List

Location

Crooked Tree Arts Center - Traverse City

Start Date

Friday, June 13, 2025 - 9:30 AM

End Date

Friday, June 13, 2025 - 4:30 PM

Price

Member $150 / Non Member $200

Petoskey Workshop - Early Cattails with Lori Feldpausch

kristi — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 17:44:40 +0000

Petoskey Workshop - Early Cattails with Lori Feldpausch

kristi Wednesday, March 19, 2025 - 1:44 PM

Early Cattails with Lori Feldpausch

This workshop is help at our Petoskey Campus

Join painter Lori Feldpausch in this plein air workshop focused on relationships between flora and water on August 16, from 10 am to 1 pm.

Shallow water ponds with vertical plants are wonderful subjects for plein air painting! The play of light, reflection, and texture offers great possibilities for engaging compositions. Learn some tips on how to paint transparent water and opaque cattails with lively brushwork.

Just bring your favorite medium, a disposable easel, wet wipes, a sun hat and a sack lunch.

This one-day workshop is part of CTAC’s exciting new plein air series—which pairs excellent instruction with beautiful water venues all summer long!

Location

Crooked Tree Arts Center - Traverse City

Start Date

Saturday, August 16, 2025 - 10:00 AM

End Date

Saturday, August 16, 2025 - 2:30 PM

Price

Member $135 / Non Member $165

Petoskey Workshop - Water and Sky with Elizabeth Pollie

kristi — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 17:38:21 +0000

Petoskey Workshop - Water and Sky with Elizabeth Pollie

kristi Wednesday, March 19, 2025 - 1:38 PM

Water and Sky with Elizabeth Pollie

This workshop is help at our Petoskey Campus

Sky and water are two very powerful elements. Join painter Elizabeth Pollie in this plein air workshop focused on sky and water, on August 1, from noon to 5 pm.

Elizabeth we will demonstrate and teach you how to create a compelling waterscape painting combining the water and the sky above.
Participants will also discuss many aspects of plein air painting during the duration of the class.

Elizabeth will begin the class with a demonstration. Following the demonstration, Elizabeth will lead students through a couple of small studies with limited palettes. .

This workshop will be taught using oil paints. Students will need to bring their plein air supplies including an
appropriate easel.

A complete supply list will be available to registered students.

Location

Crooked Tree Arts Center - Traverse City

Start Date

Friday, August 01, 2025 - 12:00 PM

End Date

Friday, August 01, 2025 - 5:00 PM

Price

Member $135 / Non Member $165

Petoskey Workshop - Vibrant Landscapes in Oil and Water Media

kristi — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 17:30:33 +0000

Petoskey Workshop - Vibrant Landscapes in Oil and Water Media

kristi Wednesday, March 19, 2025 - 1:30 PM

Vibrant Landscapes in Oil land Water Media with Lyudmila Tomova Clark

This workshop is held at our Petoskey Campus

Join us for a fun and inspiring landscape painting workshop with artist Lyudmila Tomova Clark, known as Lucy. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced painter, this class will help you bring your landscapes to life with bold colors and expressive brushwork.

In this hands-on workshop, you’ll explore techniques to make your landscapes vibrant and full of energy. Whether you’re working in watercolor, acrylic, or oil, you’ll learn how to use color to set the mood, capture light, and add depth to your work. Lucy will guide you step by step, starting with a live demonstration to show you how to create dynamic compositions that stand out.

You’ll have plenty of time to practice, experiment, and work on your own projects while receiving one-on-one feedback from Lucy. By the end of the workshop, you’ll feel more confident in your ability to create colorful, engaging landscapes and have the tools to keep exploring your creativity.

Come ready to have fun, learn new skills, and bring your landscapes to life!

Lyudmila will bring a wide variety of photo references to choose from or you can use your own.

Supplies: Please see supplies lists

Materials List

Location

Crooked Tree Arts Center - Traverse City

Start Date

Sunday, June 22, 2025 - 10:00 AM

End Date

Monday, June 23, 2025 - 4:00 PM

Price

Member $500 / Non Member $550

Workshop: Fearless First-Timers: An Intro to Plein Air Painting

kristi — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 22:47:33 +0000

Workshop: Fearless First-Timers: An Intro to Plein Air Painting

kristi Tuesday, March 11, 2025 - 6:47 PM

Enjoy the challenge and pleasure of painting a landscape from life, "en plein air" . This three hour workshop is for beginning painters who want to learn to paint and/or improve their painting skills en plein air. You will learn the process of creating successful outdoor paintings using acrylic paints. Sherry McNamara will work with you in a hands-on, step-by-step fashion, introducing the materials and introductory techniques for laying in shapes and capturing the illusion and feeling of light.

All supplies are included. This workshop will be held rain or shine. Please bring a landscape photograph in the event that we cannot hold the class outside due to weather.

Location

Crooked Tree Arts Center - Traverse City

Start Date

Monday, June 16, 2025 - 10:00 AM

End Date

Monday, June 16, 2025 - 1:00 PM

Price

Member $70/Non-Member $90

Workshop: Painting: Simplifying the Landscape - With Mark A. Vander Vinne

kristi — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 22:29:00 +0000

Workshop: Painting: Simplifying the Landscape - With Mark A. Vander Vinne

kristi Tuesday, March 11, 2025 - 6:29 PM

Painting: Simplifying the Landscape - With Mark A. Vander Vinne

2 sessions: Friday & Saturday, May 30 - 31, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Adults - Ages 18+

Learn to simplify what you see in nature to more efficiently translate what you see to a two-dimensional surface. Techniques covered will include what to look for when picking a scene, how to capture and interpret big masses and shapes, creating a focal area, and simplifying color and value.

This 2-day workshop is ideal for intermediate to advanced students. Any painting medium, as well as pastels, are welcome - the instructor will be using oils.
Supplies required: Click on the Supply List link below this description details.

Materials List

Location

Crooked Tree Arts Center - Traverse City

Start Date

Friday, May 30, 2025 - 9:00 AM

End Date

Saturday, May 31, 2025 - 4:00 PM

Price

Member $200 / Non Member $250

Paint Grand Traverse 2025: Pint-Sized Paint Out for Kids!

kristi — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 20:42:38 +0000

Paint Grand Traverse 2025: Pint-Sized Paint Out for Kids!

kristi Tuesday, March 11, 2025 - 4:42 PM

FREE Event!

Kids get in on the plein air (outdoor) painting fun at our Pint-Sized Paint Out! This event will take place at Crooked Tree - Traverse City and surrounding Hannah Park. Artists ages 3-15 will compete for awards, and younger artists are welcome to create masterpieces as well!

All supplies provided! Please wear clothes that can get messy!

Event is limited to the first 100 participants. Register to reserve a space. Pre-registered artists must check in by 11:30 am. Any unclaimed supplies will be made available to walk on registrations after 11:30.

Location

Crooked Tree Arts Center - Traverse City

Start Date

Saturday, June 21, 2025 - 10:00 AM

End Date

Saturday, June 21, 2025 - 12:00 PM

Price

FREE

Workshop: 3-Day Plein Air with Kimball Geisler

kristi — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 17:59:08 +0000

Workshop: 3-Day Plein Air with Kimball Geisler

kristi Friday, February 28, 2025 - 12:59 PM

3-Day Plein Air with Kimball Geisler

Study with a nationally recognized plein air artist and Paint Grand Traverse 2025 Awards Juror—right here in Traverse City!

Kimball Geisler, an award-winning plein air painter, is bringing his sought-after plein air workshop to Traverse City—offering artists a unique opportunity to learn without the need for extensive travel. His workshops attract artists from across the country, and this is a rare chance to study with him in the stunning landscapes of the Grand Traverse region.

Workshop Overview:

Gain a fresh perspective on plein air painting while exploring the rich natural beauty of the Greater Grand Traverse area. This immersive three-day workshop will focus on strong composition and the critical role of value in achieving dynamic and compelling paintings.

Day 1: Mastering form through value – Learn how light and shadow define shape and create depth.
Day 2: Strengthening value structure – Understand how value relationships bring clarity and impact to a painting.
Day 3: Bringing it all together – Combine form, value, and structure with key compositional techniques to create paintings that truly “sing.”

Daily Schedule:

Each morning begins with a visual presentation and lecture (1 hour) featuring instructional images on a large screen.
We then head into the field, where Kimball will start with a demonstration before breaking for lunch.
The afternoon is dedicated to student painting sessions, with Kimball providing individual feedback and guidance throughout the day.

Optional One-on-One Feedback:

At the end of each session, Kimball will be available (time permitting) to offer additional one-on-one critiques. Students are also welcome to bring work from home for personalized feedback—this is completely optional but a great opportunity to gain deeper insight into your work.

Materials List

Location

Crooked Tree Arts Center - Traverse City

Start Date

Saturday, June 21, 2025 - 8:30 AM

End Date

Monday, June 23, 2025 - 4:00 PM

Price

Member $600 / Non Member $650

Free Artist Demo - Kathleen Gray Farthing

kristi — Thu, 30 May 2024 20:24:26 +0000

Free Artist Demo - Kathleen Gray Farthing

kristi Thursday, May 30, 2024 - 4:24 PM

PGT 2024 artist, Kathleen Gray Farthing will demonstrate in Hannah Park next to CTAC. Kathleen is joining us from Alliance, Ohio.

New for 2024! With support from Sunrise Rotary artists will wear a clip on microphone to enhance visitor experience during the demo.

CTAC will provide folding chairs. If you would prefer a camp chair, please feel free to bring it.

The demonstration will move inside to the classroom if the weather does not cooperate.

Location

Crooked Tree Arts Center - Traverse City

Start Date

Thursday, June 20, 2024 - 10:00 AM

End Date

Thursday, June 20, 2024 - 12:00 PM

Price

Free

RSVP (optional)