ART 101
For SRAL Members Only
Are you a beginning artist and want to learn the basics about different mediums, design, and color? Are you an artist that has wanted to learn a different medium? Then Art 101 is perfect for you. The Art 101 classes offered this fall and winter will be presented by SRAL members volunteering to share their time and expertise. If you have questions regarding any Art 101 classes contact Darilyn Ronn, Art 101 Co- Chairperson, at DarilynR@SantaRitaArt.org or Debra Nealy, Art 101 Co-Chairperson, at DebraN@SantaRitaArt.org. If you need to cancel a registration, contact Darilyn (DarilynR@SantaRitaArt.org) or Debra (DebraN@SantaRitaArt.org) and Susan Ettl, SRAL Web Manager, at SusanE@SantaRitaArt.org to remove your name from the attendance list.
- Each class will be held in the SRAL studio, from 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM.
- Materials for classes will be provided by SRAL and include paints, paper or canvas, and an appropriate paint brush.
- Participants will need to bring a water container, paper towels, an apron, or any
appropriate working clothes.
- The class size is determined by the instructor; generally, 12 – 18 people. We encourage members to sign up for only one media class per month to enable everyone to participate. This will ensure participants a fuller mastery of the new medium and allow us to accommodate more members.
- Registration for each class will be on this page. A small material fee of $10.00 is required to complete and validate your registration. Each class list is compiled on a first-come first-served basis. You will receive notification after you have registered. You will then be notified about how and when the material fee is to be paid.
Color Fundamentals Journey
Instructor: Kris Martens
Do you wish you had a better understanding of how color really works? In this hands-on class, Kris will guide you through the core principles of color theory—how the color wheel functions, how to mix colors effectively, and how to use complementary colors to control intensity. You’ll also review essential color vocabulary and practical mixing techniques. We’ll paint with two color wheels:
- Red, Yellow, Blue (traditional primaries)
- Magenta, Yellow, Cyan (Blue-Green) (modern primaries)
You’ll gain a clear understanding of the difference between warm and cool reds and blues and learn to mix an intensity scale—from bright, full-intensity hues to muted, neutral tones.
All media will be provided, and the concepts apply to any type of paint. If you already have paint sets but aren’t sure whether they include the full color range you need, Kris will review them and offer personalized suggestions.
Date: Thursday, February 5, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: SRAL Studio
Class Size: 16
Material Cost: $10 collected at the beginning of class
Last Day to Register: February 1, 2026
Cancellation Procedure: If you need to cancel attending this class, please send an email to Susan Ettl, Education Committee Chairperson, at SusanE@santaritaart.org in order for her to remove your name from the registration list. This will enable someone on the waiting list to take your spot.
At the studio, there will be someone there to sign people in, give name tags, and collect the material fee of $10.00.
About Kris Martens
With 30 years of experience teaching high school art and 20 years leading community education painting and drawing classes in the Portland, Oregon area, Kris brings a wealth of knowledge and a passion for helping students unlock their creative confidence through color.
Click the teal “Register Now” button below to sign up.
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Color Fundamentals Journey
February 5, 2026
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Watercolor Techniques
Instructors: Darilyn Ronn
Feeling a little rusty after the summer break? This fun, mixed-media class is designed to help you get back into the creative flow! You’ll be guided through a series of relaxed, intuitive exercises that gently build toward completing a unique, expressive painting.
When you first get watercolor paint, it comes in many forms. Because of the liquid nature of watercolor, the paint will flow to wherever there is moisture. Watercolor is a great medium that encourages creativity. Reserving white of the paper is unique to watercolor painting.
In this class we will learn how to do 12 techniques that can be used when painting with Watercolor. The techniques we will learn are wash, wet on wet, lifting paint, watercolor pencils, layering, masking, sgraffito, salt, stencils, plastic wrap, splattering, and wax resist. This is not a complete list of techniques, but it is a great starting point to learn this medium.
Date: Saturday, February 14, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: SRAL Studio
Class Size: 20
Material Cost: $10 collected at the beginning of class
Last Day to Register: February 10, 2026
Cancellation Procedure: If you need to cancel attending this class, please send an email to Susan Ettl, Education Committee Chairperson, at SusanE@santaritaart.org in order for her to remove your name from the registration list. This will enable someone on the waiting list to take your spot.
At the studio, there will be someone there to sign people in, give name tags, and collect the material fee of $10.00.
About Darilyn:
Her personal experience is that she was a K-12 Art teacher for 28 years and has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Minnesota, Duluth.
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Watercolor Techniques
February 14, 2026
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Acrylic Painting for Beginners
Instructor: Karen Maggie Workman
During this class we will learn about acrylic paints, how to use them, and why. You will learn about various brushes, canvas to paint on, types of varnish, and the use of pens, color mixing, basting, and blending will be taught as we paint a simple acrylic design: “Cowboy Sunset.”
Date: Thursday, February 19, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: SRAL Studio
Class Size: 15
Material Cost: $10 collected at the beginning of class.
Last Day to Register: February 15, 2026
Cancellation Procedure: If you need to cancel attending this class, please send an email to Susan Ettl, Education Committee Chairperson, at SusanE@santaritaart.org in order for her to remove your name from the registration list. This will enable someone on the waiting list to take your spot.
At the studio, there will be someone there to sign people in, give name tags, and collect the material fee of $10.00
About Karen
When I was a young child, my mother decided I needed to learn to paint, and I’ve been taking classes ever since. Through years of practice and experimenting, I’ve worked to improve my skills and share my knowledge with others. Acrylic on canvas and watercolor are my primary mediums, mostly florals.
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Acrylic Painting for Beginners
February 19, 2026
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Gelli and Monotype Printing
Instructors: John McGraw and Karen Keim
Join us to experience the wonderful artform of printmaking. For members new to printmaking, here is an opportunity to add another dimension to your artist skills.
We will teach several methods of creating Gelli prints and explore how to use them in finished work. We also will teach how to create multicolor monoprints with AKUA Inks printed on plastic.
This three-hour course will enable participants to create monotypes in two ways:
- With a gel plate and acrylic paint by hand-pressing print paper onto the painted plate, and
- With a plastic plate and Akua inks printed on paper with a pin press.
Date: Saturday, February 21, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: SRAL Studio
Class Size: 12
Material Cost: $10 collected at the beginning of class.
Last Day to Register: February 17, 2026.
Cancellation Procedure: If you need to cancel attending this class, please send an email to Susan Ettl, Education Committee Chairperson, at SusanE@santaritaart.org in order for her to remove your name from the registration list. This will enable someone on the waiting list to take your spot.
At the studio, there will be someone there to sign people in, give name tags, and collect the material fee of $10.00.
About John and Karen
John has a background in commercial art that included printmaking, and Karen studied printmaking at Moravian University in Bethlehem, PA. They are currently co-coordinators of the SRAL Printmakers Guild and participate in various SRAL and CPAC shows.
Gelli and Monotype Printing admission
Sold Out
"Gelli and Monotype Printing" is currently sold out.
Please check back again later, as spots may become available.
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Gelli and Monotype Printing
February 21, 2026
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Asian Brush Painting for Beginners
Instructors: Kate McCavitt
Kate will be teaching the basics of the Asia brush art form including grinding ink, brush grip, and control, basic brush strokes, composition, and placement of shapes and forms. In this first class we will concentrate on painting bamboo, one of the four gentlemen of the Chinese brush and Japanese sumi-e traditions.
The material fee will cover Asian brush Ink plus rice and mulberry paper as well as practice newsprint. A Shikishi board for a final bamboo painting that can be displayed on any plate stand will also be furnished. The ink sticks, ink stones and brushes are Kate’s own and are cleaned and will be left in the studio at the end of the class.
Date: Friday, March 20, 2026
Time: 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Location: SRAL Studio
Class Size: 12
Material Cost: $10 collected at the beginning of class.
Last Day to Register: March 16, 2026.
Cancellation Procedure: If you need to cancel attending this class, please send an email to Susan Ettl, Education Committee Chairperson, at SusanE@santaritaart.org in order for her to remove your name from the registration list. This will enable someone on the waiting list to take your spot.
At the studio, there will be someone there to sign people in, give name tags, and collect the material fee of $10.00.
Biography
Kate McCavitt is a mixed media and acrylic artist now and in her 40 years of painting. She is represented locally in Cobalt gallery in Tubac. The first 12 years of her art pursuit was studying Asian brush in California. She still forms her colorful acrylic artworks with the Asian brush principals and aesthetics.
Asian Brush Painting for Beginners admission
Sold Out
"Asian Brush Painting for Beginners" is currently sold out.
Please check back again later, as spots may become available.
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Asian Brush Painting for Beginners
March 20, 2026
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM