Arts & Crafts

This bookbinding class will offer two fundamental methods for creating lovely, personal handmade books. We will begin with the simple Accordion Book in week one and proceed to the Japanese Stab method sewn book for the next two sessions. Please bring a $10.00 materials fee, payable to the instructor, to the first class. Makeup class, if needed, 10/21/19.

Discover the centuries-old art of brewing beer with a hands-on, interactive sensory approach. We’ll cover the basics: sourcing ingredients and equipment, recipe building, brewing technique and methodology, beer styles and approaches, troubleshooting and off-flavors, and the craft, science, and magic behind it all! We’ll brew an example beer as a class, taking it through all the necessary steps from brew-day to bottling-day during the course of our syllabus, and will encourage students to brew their own batches at home using the techniques learned. *Note: This class meets two weeks apart for time to complete the fermentation cycle; there is no class 11/05/19. You will bring home two bottles of beer. You must be at least 21 years old to register for this class. Makeup class, if needed, 11/19/19.

Explore storytelling through comic book creation. Comic books, in recent years, have become widely regarded in the adult world media. You will learn a short history of comic books and explore the mechanics of construction. We will also experiment with creative elements of storytelling through words and pictures. There is no right or certain way to create a comic, and this is your story to tell, how you choose, by creating a 3-4 page story utilizing several techniques of traditional comic formatting. We will practice several styles of drawing techniques, as well as experiment with comic and cartooning tools used in the industry. This class is technology-free but if you choose to work on your personal computers with application and stylus, the instructor is open to exploring that as well. No experience necessary, we’re here to learn and have fun! Please bring to each class an idea, even an inkling of an idea, for a comic book story that you would like to create. Consider one or two characters, real or imagined, that you want to feature in the comic. If you have supplies that you would like to work with, please feel free to bring them. The materials are provided as part of the registration fee. Makeup class, if needed, 10/24/19.

In our non-judgmental class environment, we will explore the essentials of looking to see, becoming aware of line, value, texture, negative and positive space, perspective and proportions while experimenting with mark-making tools besides pencils. Course materials are available for purchase online (dickblick.com), at AC Moore and Hobby Lobby in Bangor, and Shirley’s Yarns & Crafts in Hancock (10% discount for Adult Education students). Makeup class, if needed, 11/07/19.

Advanced Watercolor This class will cover portraits, landscape and still-life painting. Come prepared with a personal project or goal that Melissa can help bring to fruition. Students will engage with a critique at the beginning of each class and are encouraged to do homework (purely fun-based). No class 10/14/19 or 11/11/19. Makeup class, if needed, 12/02/19.

Explore color on paper; learn or practice the fundamentals of watercolor, brush techniques and tone transitions. This class is for anyone interested in exploring with watercolor paints and brushes. Students will be introduced to a range of materials and encouraged to play and yield their own varied results. Makeup class, if needed, 11/13/19.