Townsend Atelier offers art classes, workshops

After three years in the Business Development Center, Townsend Atelier has relocated to the corner of Main and Williams streets. Owners Stan and Peggy Townsend are excited to be in their new home in the Southside Arts District.

"It's a really warm, invigorating and inspiring space in a great location," said Peggy Townsend.

In addition to providing a better layout for their core business of distributing mold-making and casting materials, patinas and finishes, the couple wanted to offer art classes, workshops and an open drawing studio on a continual basis.

Since Townsend Atelier's grand opening in September, it has held a master class portrait session, a patina and metal finishing workshop, watercolor and oil painting classes and open studio life drawing sessions on a weekly basis.

"What I'd like to see happen is the atelier continually providing a wide variety of art classes in all media for all ages," said Peggy Townsend. "We want this to be a place where people can come and study with renowned artists from across the United States."

She is thrilled to have Florida artists Lynn and John Whipple teach the following workshops: "Two-Dimensional Collage and Altered Found Images" on Jan. 29 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and "Mixed Media Assemblage: Working Outside the Box - Inside a Box" on Jan. 30 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The fee for each workshop is $150.

The life drawing open studio sessions, held every Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m. and most Sundays from 2 to 5 p.m., have been a great success. These ongoing classes provide an unclothed model from which to draw, paint or sculpt. Students may drop in for $15 per session or make reservations for four sessions at $10 each.

This winter, classes in tinsmithing, sculpture, molding/casting, figure drawing and genre painting are being planned. See box for classes scheduled January through March. To register for a workshop, class or more information, call 266-2712 or visit www.townsendatelier.com.

Winter Art Classes for Children and Adults

* Beginning Watercolor: Mondays (Jan. 10-Feb. 7), 9 a.m.-noon, $195 per student and taught by Durinda Cheek.

* Advanced Watercolor with Critique: Mondays (Jan. 10-Feb. 7), 1-4 p.m., $195 per student and taught by Durinda Cheek.

* Beginning Oil Painting: Tuesdays (Jan. 11-Feb. 8), 9 a.m.-noon, $195 per student and taught by Durinda Cheek.

* Advanced Oil Painting with Critique: Tuesdays (Jan. 11-Feb. 8), 1-4 p.m., $195 per student and taught by Durinda Cheek.

* Painting 101 for Grades 3-5: Saturdays (Jan. 8, 15, 22), 10-11:30 a.m., $125 per student and taught by Carla Guerra.

* Drawing is Fundamental for Grades 6-9: Saturdays (Feb. 26, March 5, 12), 10-11:30 a.m., $125 per student and taught by Carla Guerra.

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