Workshop Program

Wednesdays for 8 weeks starting June 7, 9:30 to 11:45.

This is the next step for beginners. We’ll work on bidding, playing the hand, looking at losers and enjoying the game.

Carolyn Kimbell is a professional teacher licensed by the American Bridge Teachers Association and the American Contract Bridge League.   Carolyn and Bob will team teach this class.

This fast-paced class will be an introduction to jewelry fabrication techniques with metalsmith/blacksmith James Viste. It will focus on the production of a wearable fitted sterling silver ring of your design. Techniques will include sawing, filing, soldering and a variety of texturing and stamping methods to make each piece unique. Eager students should plan to leave the class wearing their products. James will contact students prior to class.

James Viste was raised on a farm in Wisconsin, received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and a Master of Fine Art from Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield Hills, MI. He is a nationally known blacksmithing demonstrator and exhibitor and has participated in several national Ironwork Restoration Projects, including Cranbrook Educational Community and the Detroit Institute of Arts. He is currently the Manager of Edgewise Forge LLC and has taught at The Clearing for a number of years.

Little blocks of brilliantly-colored polymer clay are an invitation to both beginners and those with some experience to explore the clay’s potential. We will mix, mold, and build complex canes often with some surprising results. There is always more to discover. Instruction on basic techniques such as the Skinner Blend will be balanced with opportunities to apply the techniques. All tools and materials will be provided, but if you have pasta roller dedicated to polymer clay, please bring it. This day will be packed with enough instruction and inspiration to encourage even the most “apprehensive artist” to relax and enjoy the medium. Lynne will contact students prior to class.

Lynne Bergschultz is an illustrator, designer and educator with a passion for polymer clay. She has produced one-of-a-kind jewelry, countless original buttons and shawl pins, and is currently working on creating polymer collages. Her work has been published in national craft magazines and is sold in galleries, shops (including The Clearing’s Bookstore!) and festivals around the country. Lynne never tires of working with polymer clay and loves sharing her passion with others.

Come along as we explore the unique nature of alcohol inks! Let your creativity grow as you enjoy the process. All levels are encouraged and welcome.  Alcohol inks are brightly colored, acid-free, dye-based paints that create free flowing textures and design. They are loose, colorful, and will amaze you in their exciting movement across the canvases. This class will explore and play with a variety of techniques of painting alcohol ink on several different surfaces. While you create your own paintings, Linda and Yvonne will give helpful suggestions and personal attention to each student. After completion, the artwork will be given a series of protective sprays and UV archival protection to ensure longevity.  Come join us to create and explore! A supply list will be sent and is available at www.theclearing.org.

Linda Welch is passionate about her art. Her education, degrees and former career centered around being a healthcare provider. She saw an alcohol ink painting, fell in love with the intensity of the colors and decided it was something she needed to do. She is a lifetime member of the national Alcohol Ink Art Society. Linda has been represented in several private collections and art galleries in Door County and the Annual Juried Art Exhibition in the Miller Art Museum.

Yvonne Tyson is also a member of the national Alcohol Ink Art Society. Her paintings are privately held and has her own studio. She is an alcohol ink painter who excels in instruction and support of the students learning this medium.

Learn how to use the vibrant, permanent colors and versatile nature of pastels to create beautiful paintings! Working from still-life setups and your own photos to create two or more paintings, you will learn the basics of drawing, composition, working with values and colors, and how to work creatively from photos. Demonstrations will include ways of applying pastels to paper to achieve various painterly effects, how to begin, proceed, and finish a painting, and how to avoid and overcome common problems. You will have ample time to work on your own paintings, with plenty of personal attention from Sandra, and you will be encouraged to develop your personal painting style. Sandra will also discuss briefly the different approaches required for plein air painting.  A supply list will be sent prior to this class and is available at www.theclearing.org. 

Sandra Place grew up in Manitowoc, WI and lives in Santa Fe, NM. She received a B.A. in French from Northwestern University and pursued her art education at the American Academy of Art in Chicago. She works primarily in pastels and acrylics. In addition to many national and international juried group exhibitions, she has had over 20 one-person shows. She is a Signature Member of Artists for Conservation and the Pastel Society of the West Coast and an active member of various other national organizations. Her work is in many national and international collections, including the Miller Art Museum in Sturgeon Bay and the Rahr-West Museum in Manitowoc, and is included in the books ‘Celebrating Door County’s Wild Places’ and ‘Artists for Conservation 2015’. Sandra is represented by fine galleries in the West and Midwest.

This course is directed toward the beginning and intermediate student and will serve that student to further cultivate a drawing practice. It will not be about technique, style, or the idiosyncratic use of drawing materials. Rather, this course will focus on a high level of seeing, which enables the requisite understanding that is needed to accomplish insightful and expressive draftsmanship. This one-day intensive course will encourage the loosening of the shackles of “accuracy” which will begin to open the possibility to a personal point of view. Each student is required to bring two (2) objects that they find inspirational and personal to themselves. Each of these objects should be a minimum of 6″ in height. Drawing paper and drawing implements will be provided. 

Craig Blietz is a graduate of the University of Denver, Harrington College of Design, and the School of Representational Art. He is a full-time artist and has had 24 solo exhibitions. He is recognized for his work representing American rural landscape and pastoral life. Craig has had twenty-three solo exhibitions and has exhibited widely in museums in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Pennsylvania.  He lives and works in northeast Wisconsin. 

Boro is an old Japanese mending technique which was used to keep work clothing and domestic fabric items useful for generations. Adopted by the upper-class, it became known as sashiko.  In class we will work on five “pages” of a small book and fill each page with different sample types of mends using scrap fabrics and a variety of stitches. The sample book may be completed using a book binding stitch.  Or students have the option of making four (4) panels for a Kumbukuro (Rice Bag), which they can then take home to sew with a provided pattern and sewing machine.  Please bring a basic sewing kit of fabric scissors and thread scissors, needle threader, thimble if desired, reading glasses if needed, pin cushion or holder and task light if needed. 

Kipp Inglis is a lifelong stitcher. She learned to sew at a very early age to clothe her dolls. A needle and thread have been in her fingers ever since. Sewing has always been solace and a means to express some spirituality. Kipp studied costume and clothing design in college, learned to weave shortly after, and has found a way to include fiber related art as a constant in her life. While she concentrates a lot of her current work on the use of botanical dyes on fibers, she still utilizes stitching, both classical and experimental, in much of her work and especially in the stitched shibori and indigo dyed pieces that are so popular.  Kipp exhibits at primarily local fine craft shows with occasional gallery exhibitions and teaches in and around Wisconsin. 

Join gourd artist Annelies Gebert for a “gourd” day of fun!  You will be working with prepped gourds to learn two dying techniques and finished with gourd wax. The three-dimensional surface, exclusive shapes and various textures of the gourds will have you creating unique pieces.  You will drill the gourd rims and finish with natural materials, such as philodendron sheath, along with your choice of beads, feathers and any other embellishments you or Annelies bring to play with.  Please bring a bucket, spray bottle, and wear an old shirt or apron.   

Annelies Gebert has been using nature as an influence for her gourd artistry since 1997. Using basket-making techniques learned at a convention, she utilizes a wide variety of natural fibers to create unique gourd pieces. The three-dimensional surface, exclusive shapes and various textures of the gourds take her imagination to new levels. Annelies uses a hands-on teaching approach, allowing her students to get the most out of their class time. 

Join Door County watercolor artist Kari Anderson and immerse yourself in Kari’s step-by-step, follow-the-leader style of teaching that seems to work well for all levels. With her unique, very free and loose style of painting, learn many basic techniques, such as wet-wash, dry brush, saving whites, creating shadows, birch trees, clouds and sunsets while capturing the many moods and seasons of Door County.  One of the hardest lessons to learn is when to stop. Hopefully, after this workshop, you won’t want to stop!  A supply list will be sent and is available at www.theclearing.org.  

Kari Anderson is a watercolorist who lives near Jacksonport, WI, and has taught watercolor to all ages for over 30 years.  She captures the many moods and seasons of Door County in her paintings with her unique, very free and loose style of painting.  Kari graduated from Madison Area Technical College with a degree in Commercial Art. Her life has been filled with art, galleries, picture framing, art festivals, being a mom and illustrating and designing over 30 knitting pattern books for her mom, Carol Anderson.   Kari has a very strong line of note cards of her own paintings, sold in The Clearing’s bookstore. 

Do you have a story to tell but struggle to know where to begin? Are you looking for a supportive environment to help you begin crafting a memoir? This writing workshop focuses on uncovering the themes and threads of your unique life story.  Led by an  international award-winning author and writing coach, Byrd will provide a brave community to guide you through identifying the key events and relationships that have shaped your life. Guided prompts and group discussions will explore your personal history and discover new insights into your story.  Designed for anyone who wants to write a book, from beginners to seasoned writers, learn to translate your experiences into a compelling narrative that captures your unique voice and perspective.  You will better understand your life story, the tools you need to continue writing and feeling empowered to share your story with the world through publishing or sharing with loved ones.  Your willingness to explore will help you to unleash your story onto the page.  Please bring a notebook and writing utensils. 

Heather ‘Byrd’ Roberts is an award-winning poet, writing coach, author of “Mahogany: A Love Letter To Black”, and CEO of Byrd’s World, built to inspire and transform lives one story at a time. Byrd’s artistic practice revolves around the intersectionality between form and freedom. Each story tastes like ripe mangos, cayenne pepper, or an eclectic combination. Her work enriches the student and educator experience through storytelling. Byrd’s work has appeared in several festivals and publications, including Sixfold, “Expressions from Englewood”, “Hope Ignited,” and “Trouble The Waters: Tales from the Deep Blue.” Most recently, she won the international Anthem Award in diversity, equity, and inclusion for her work on the “I See You” issue of the Cornell Report alongside Google, HBO Max, BBC, National Geographic, Netflix, and The Daily Show with Trevor Noah. Her favorite words are balloon and bubble.  

We will begin each day with a short yoga stretch allowing us to relax and open up to new directions in watercolor. Batik is a term that refers to using wax as a resist, and it is really all about values. During the first day we will go over materials and show how to draw on the paper, find values, and start to wax. We will start on a small piece and go step by step through each process. Barbara encourages students to use their own references, however, she also has many drawings that can be used. The second day is a day for working the process to see all the options that can be incorporated into a piece. When finished with a piece, it no longer feels like paper it’s more like material. Barbara will finish the day by suggesting ways to frame your work. A supply list will be sent prior to class. 

Barbara Mathews has taught for over 20 years in the US and about 18 years abroad with workshops in Ireland, Hawaii, Greece, Italy, Mexico, Canada, Croatia, Turkey and many locations in the Caribbean.  She has also taught for UW-Madison Continuing Education studies, and for many different art associations.  Barbara has won the outstanding achievement in Art Education, Life of an Artist Award – 2019, United Arts Alliance, Hall of Fame.  While being mostly self-taught, she has also taken many workshops from top people in the field. 

Women deal with a myriad of demands at every stage of life, and quite often our good intentions for self-care don’t reach the top of the “to do” list. We can get closer to honoring our authentic self and well-being on all levels—-physical, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual—-if we do the inner work. Join Beth and Susan as we explore simple journaling techniques, create vision boards and personal plans, and engage in mindfulness practices of breath work, gentle movements, guided relaxation, and an integrative outdoor labyrinth walk. Come with curiosity and the desire to reprioritize what matters in your life. Leave with a range of daily practices to sustain you. Please wear comfortable clothes and bring a journal or notebook, yoga mat, blanket, pillow, indoor slippers/shoes, and sturdy footwear for an outdoor walk. A pre-class letter will be sent. 

Beth Coleman has spent her adult life exploring well-being on all levels—physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. Her garden design business of 23 years, “The Garden Lady”, literally grounds her in the cycles of life, and her labyrinth facilitator training, 200RYT yoga training, and Reiki practice allow her to assist clients and students in growing their daily practices as well. 

Susan Gould has extensive experience leading groups through her work in nonprofit organizational development. Susan has a master’s degree in Curriculum & Instruction, specializing in adult education, and is a SoulCollage®️ Facilitator and certified IIN Health Coach.