Carnegie Hall’s Spring Classes & Workshops Series continues with Teaching Artist John Coffey leading drawing and watercolor workshops. Coffey will teach Basic Drawing on Mar. 25, Beginner/Intermediate Watercolor Painting on Apr. 29, and a new workshop, Painting Clouds and Trees in Watercolor, on May 6. Students must be at least 18 years of age and class sizes are limited.
Coffey’s first class of the spring semester is Basic Drawing on Saturday, Mar. 25, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. This class, designed as a refresher course or for beginners, will focus on drawing and sketching techniques, materials, and methods of drawing. The class will include instruction in drawing and sketching simple still life, landscapes, and people. Although different materials will be introduced, most of the class will focus on pencil and charcoal drawing. Students are asked to bring a pad of drawing paper. All other materials will be provided. Cost is $125/members ($140/nonmembers), but automatic scholarships are available for students over 50 years of age, who pay only $85.
On Saturday, Apr. 29, from 1 to 4 p.m., join Coffey in his Beginner/Intermediate Watercolor Painting workshop. This combined class is intended for people who have no or very limited experience with watercolor painting or those looking to advance their skills. The class focuses on the basics of watercolor painting and progress to technique and composition, working mainly from photographs. Students should bring a photograph of their choice, but it must be taken by the student. Students at the intermediate level may bring their own brushes if they choose. All other materials will be provided by the instructor. Cost is $125/members ($140/nonmembers), but automatic scholarships are available for students over 50 years of age, who pay only $85.
Coffey’s final spring class is his new class Painting Clouds and Trees in Watercolor on Saturday, May 6, from 1 to 4 p.m. This specialty watercolor class is the second in a new series at Carnegie Hall, where classes will be taught en plein air (live, outdoor) on the Ivy Terrace, weather permitting. Designed for beginners and the more experienced wanting to refresh their basic nature drawing skills, this class will focus on painting clouds and trees using watercolors. The class will include instruction in drawing and sketching the basic cloud types and tree shapes and will explore the different materials and techniques used in watercolor painting. All materials provided. Cost is $75/members ($85/nonmembers).
John Coffey is a watercolorist specializing in landscapes and buildings, primarily in and around southern West Virginia but also other parts of the world. He grew up in Monroe and McDowell counties and currently lives in Mercer County.
Coffey majored in art at Concord College in the 1960s, where he took only one watercolor course and decided the medium wasn’t for him. In the late 1980s he had a change of heart and decided to teach himself to paint with watercolor. When he made the connection between drawing and watercolor, he achieved some small degree of success.
Coffey is currently a member of the West Virginia Watercolor Society as well as being a Tamarack juried artisan and a past member of the Mahoning Valley Watercolor Society, the Appalachian Artist Association and the Beckley Art Group. He has held one-man shows at the Chuck Mathena Center, Princeton, WV; Sister’s Coffeehouse, Princeton, WV; Carrington’s Cofffeehouse, Bluefield, WV; Neighbors Arts and Crafts, Princeton, WV and the Payne Gallery, Bluefield, WV.
His awards include Tamarack’s Best of West Virginia show 2011 – Award of Merit; Beckley Art Group / Cynthia Bickey Gallery, West Virginia Memories Show – Best of Show, and various awards at other Beckley Art Group shows; Various first, second, third, honorable mention and best of show awards from Appalachian Artist Association and Mahoning Valley Watercolor Society shows.
To enroll or for a complete list of classes and workshops visit carnegiehallwv.org/classes-and-workshops or pick up a Classes & Workshops brochure at 611 Church Street, Lewisburg.
