kirah van sickle : the workshops
Kirah offers a variety of educational opportunities. As a certified Golden Artist-Educator, Marabu USA Artist-Educator, and Silver Brush Educator, Kirah has tremendous insight and experience with materials, and professional history in both traditional and contemporary processes. She teaches acrylics, watercolors, oils, pastel, mixed media, monoprinting (gelli arts), and creates custom programming for the individual or small groups.
CRITIQUE PUNCHCARD
Interested in a critique or consulting session? Perhaps a painting session to work on a specific issue or technique. The punchcard is $60, can be used to get insights/advice on up to three works in progress, or a painting session, juried show submissions, grant proposals, art biz advice, materials questions, or push past blocks.
This can be in person or virtual. Available in the art "store."
ONLINE WORKSHOPS
Gelli Print Madness!
Saturdays December 5, 12, 19, 2020
3 - 6 pm EDT
$150 (plus supplies) or $50 per class
Call Blaines Art at 907-561-5344 to register
12/5 Gel Printing: The Basics
12/12 Image Transfer Techniques
12/19 Nature-Inspired Designs
Let's explore the creative magic of gel printing!
We’ll use a combo of Golden Open and heavy body acrylic paints as our ink. Students will learn basic printing techniques, as well as advanced approaches with stencils, layering, textures and ways to use prints for handmade journals, cards and paper crafts.
All levels welcome! Limit 15
Paint Like the Masters: Wayne Thiebaud
Thursday and Friday, December 3 & 4, 2020
1 - 4 pm EDT
$110
Register Here
Known for his contemporary abstract and colorful cakes and pie still lifes, Thiebaud's appeal is rooted in capturing Americana with a modern twist on Impressionist color. We can learn from the juxtaposition of complimentary colors and the rich use of color temperature dynamics to build a fun still life or cityscape study. Well start with an overview of the process and color approach and follow up with demos and plenty of paint exploration and experimentation. Some basic painting experience suggested.
Acrylic or oil ideal. Max 15.
Nature's Sketchbook
Tuesday and Wednesday, December 15 & 16, 2020
1 - 4 pm EDT
$110
This virtual (zoom) class is a fun overview of quick-study approaches to drawing and watercolor mediums that will elevate and build confidence for your travel and/or plein air process. The course includes reference handouts, live instructor demos and time to experiment and sketch. All levels welcome. Maax 15.
New Classes
BEYOND ORDINARY MASTERMIND SERIES is a powerful group of seven inspiring women sharing their passions and pathways to a more radiant mind, body and spirit.
Kirah embraces the power of expressive mark-making by tapping into what she believes is an innate,creative spark within us all. Through art journaling, Kirah helps set a foundation for reconnecting to the artist within, that radiant, creative and playful self.
A simple daily proctice of 10 - 15 minutes a day of visual creativity, often referred to as art journaling, provides a sense of play, joy, meditation, emotional processing, gratitude and connection to Self.
The BEYOND ORDINARY MASTERMIND SERIES
introductory series offers a 30-minute segment from Kirah and the six other masterminds, with hands-on techniques that bring vitality, inspiration, and real whole- health pathways to mind, body and spirit.
Check out the introductory videos to meet these soul warriors... and join us!
2021 ART + TRAVEL WORKSHOPS
Caves of Painted Dreams (France)
September 2021 (Stay tuned for official dates)
Dordogne Valley, France
All Levels
"What gives this art its power is that it makes us dream." -Jean Clottes
Dreams, Symbolism and Art in the Painted Caves of France with Carol Aalbers, PhD and Kirah Van Sickle. Explore archetypal images in the caves, in our dreams, and in the beautiful landscape and villages of the Dordogne Valley, France. The painted caves of southwestern France are the perfect metaphor for the internal journey to the unconscious we experience each night in dreams. Relying upon art as a visual language of symbol and metaphor - the language of humans since the first dawning of consciousness, we will explore multiple forms of artistic expression in the context of connecting to our prehistoric artist ancestors.
Fee: $3,050 Per Person Double Room; $3,775 Private Room
Fees include all breakfasts, all lunches at outstanding restaurants, and 3 dinners prepared at the B&B, all site admissions and tour guide services. Dinner other nights is a pot-luck of local market finds hosted each night by a different room. Email kirahart@yahoo.com to be added to wait list.
More info, visit Caves of Painted Dreams.
43rd Annual Artist Week at Sea View Inn
April 23 - 30, 2021
Sea View Inn, Pawley's Island, SC
All Levels
It’s time to put the Spring Artists’ Workshop at Sea View Inn on your calendar. The annual workshop continues its 42nd year of combining great painting locations with gorgeous spring weather. The charming shabby chic inn serves three meals a day of low country cooking by Myrtle and Vertrella, adding to the ambience of a most enjoyable workshop.
Kirah takes the artists to a new location each day, having scouted out delightful spots for plein air painting at area plantations, Brookgreen Gardens, and historic cottages on the island. The week is informal and relaxed. Students are encouraged to do as much or as little as they desire. The groups are small enough to get individual attention. All levels are welcome as long as you feel comfortable painting outside. If not, you can work on your own at the inn, or avail yourself of her instruction that focuses on values, color, and the principles of design. Kirah has a natural positive approach to helping individuals achieve their personal goals. She encourages exploring mark-making and improving visual acuity. She always includes handouts and historical context, and will demo in watercolor and acrylic. Kirah is well versed in all painting mediums and happy to work with you in your preferred process. The group winds down by discussing each day’s paintings before supper. Evenings may include videos or slides of other artists’ work. We also reserve a time for painting the wait staff/models.
Positively Plein Air: French Alps
June 16-23, 2021
Annecy, France
Beginner to Advanced
Let’s immerse ourselves in the flavors and colors of the French Alps.
Join Kirah Van Sickle for a French adventure in watercolor, oil and acrylic painting. With the Alps as our inspiration, we will explore a myriad of journal sketching and alla prima painting techniques.
With an approach based on fundamentals of values, composition and color, Kirah will introduce students to exercises and techniques that build brush confidence and achieve bold, fresh and loose results. Students will gain a better understanding of color temperature, limited palette and the dramatic impact in building contrast and dynamic landscape compositions. Both rural and urban subjects will be addressed, using the notan to establish value planes, and color mixing savy.
Kirah will combine instructor demonstrations, extensive reference material and personal guidance directed to the individual artist’s goals and process. Let’s enjoy exploring the amazing sights and flavors…and all that color that is France!
More info: French Alps with Kirah
The Great Alaska Art Adventure
August 18 - August 29, 2021
Alaska
All Levels
Join Kirah for this amazing, once-in-a-lifetime adventure through Alaska. This 12 day land + sea itinerary on the
ms Nieuw Amsterdam - Holland America Line starts in Anchorage, three nights in Denali National Park, followed by 7 nights sailing from Whittier, to Hubbard Glacier, Glacier Bay, Skagway, Juneau, Ketchikan and ends in Vancouver. Sketching, photography, mixed media painting and journal play, lots of excursions with plenty of wildlife and landscape inspiration. Max 15 artists/unlimited companion spots. More info, email Kirah at kirahart@yahoo.com or Susan Perry at AAA Travel at sjperry@aaacarolinas.com.
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