Visual ArtsVisual Arts
- Art Department Director:
- Anne Tabacco
The Visual Arts Department of the Darien Arts Center offers various rotating classes in painting, drawing, collage, sculpture, and other art techniques for children and adults in fall and spring terms. The educational experience at the Visual Arts Department focuses upon learning the fundamentals of art, refining skills and exploring creativity. Our dedicated and professional staff emphasizes individual instruction with students. We are committed to offering the highest caliber art programs to our community.
Visual Art Classes and Teachers
- Children and Teen Classes
- ME AND MY SHADOW - Ages 2 and 3, with caregiver Let's get messy and have some fun in the colorful discovery of ART! We will carve and crunch clay, dribble and dab paint, and explore with lots of other art materials.
Tuition: $140
Instructor: Anne Tabacco, Code: A9
Friday, 10:30 am - 11:30 am
no class April 16 - LITTLE ARTISTS WORKSHOP - (ages 3-5) Let's explore all media for drawing, painting and sculpture. We will make art that is teeny-tiny to super large! With an emphasis on vocabulary these little artists will gain an understanding of art terms and process, and be introduced to new ways of making art.
Mondays, Spring Feb 1 - May 24
Tuesdays, Spring Feb 2 - May 25
Tuition: $295
Instructor: Matthew Burcaw, Code: A2
Tuesday, 1:15 pm - 2:15 pm
No class Feb 16, Apr 13
Instructor: Matthew Burcaw, Code: A1
Monday, 1:15 pm - 2:15 pm
No class Feb 15, Apr 12 - FAIRYTALES, FOLKLORE, AND MYTHS - (K - Grades 2) A delightful storytime is followed by music and an art project inspired by the fairytale - all chosen carefully to enlighten and expand the horizons of the young artist.
Thursdays,
Spring Feb 4 - June 3
Tuition: $315
Instructor: Lisa Hillman, Code: A3
Thursday, 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
No class Feb. 18, Apr. 1, 15 - ART OF THE WORLD - (grades 3 - 5) Students will discover the world right in the art studio! From ancient Egypt, to Renaissance Italy, to the art of Asia and more, we will learn about the artistic expression of various cultures, and be inspired to create our own masterpieces!
Wednesdays, Spring Feb 3 - May 26
Tuition: $335
Instructor: Anne Tabacco, Code: A4
Wednesday, 3:45 pm - 5:00 pm
No class Feb. 17, Apr. 14 - CARTOONING - (ages 7-14) Students will design their own characters and learn to use them in 1 panel cartoons and 3 panel comic strips. We will study facial expressions & body
language as it relates to cartooning the human figure. Television storyboards & caricature will also be included. The
instructor emphasizes individual instruction & utilizes dynamic on the spot demonstrations!
Wednesdays, Spring Feb 3 - May 26
Tuition: $270
Instructor: Mike Valentine, Code: A5
Wednesday, 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
No class Feb. 17, Apr. 14 - CHILDREN'S DRAWING & PAINTING WORKSHOP - (grades 4-6) Tailored for the serious young artist interested in all media. Working one on one students develop their own interest in materials and subject matter. Strong guidance from the instructor assures each student will find the way they like to make art. There is a focus on drawing, as Matthew feels all areas of art are first conceived as drawings. Painting and sculpture will also be explored. Looking at artists from the past and present students will find their place in the rapidly changing art world. In painting, the emphasis will be on innovative and traditional techniques. In sculpture, students learn the skill of mold making as well as clay and assemblage.
Mondays, Spring Feb 1 - May 24
Tuition: $375
Instructor: Matthew Burcaw, Code: A6
Monday, 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
No Class Feb 15, Apr 12 - INTERMEDIATE & ADVANCED PAINTING - (Middle & High School) Say it BIG! Painting is such a great way to express yourself, and when you paint LARGE you can say a whole lot more! Learning how to stretch a canvas as big or even bigger than you, or trying something new, like painting on a door or plexiglass; exploring color-field, abstarct-expressionism, minimalist painting and mural painting, students find their voice and choice of material. This class allows the serious artist to take the next step in their creative development.
Mondays, Spring Feb 1 - May 24
Tuition: $375
Instructor: Matthew Burcaw, Code: A7
Monday, 5:15 pm - 6:45 pm
No Class Feb 15, Apr 12 - PORTFOLIO DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP - (grades 8 - 12) This class is for the student interested in creating and maintaining a portfolio of work, perhaps with an eye toward college application. The focus will be to develop a broad and diverse body of work, with projects ranging from printmaking, assemblage, and sculpture, as well as drawing and painting.
Tuesdays,Spring Feb 1 - May 24
Tuition: $375
Instructor: Matthew Burcaw, Code: A8
Monday, 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
No class Feb.15,Apr.12
Adult Classes
- WATERCOLOR TECHNIQUES - Students will explore the use of various media, such as acrylic, charcoal, pastel, and ink in combination with watercolor, as well as direct transparent techniques. Preliminary drawing & composition will
be stressed.
Mondays,Spring Feb 1 - Apr 19
Tuition: $325
Instructor: Joseph Lamorte, Code: A21
Monday, 9:30 am - 12:30 pm
No class Fall- Nov 23 No class Spring Feb 15, Apr 12
Instructor: Joseph Lamorte, Code: A21
Monday, 9:30 am - 12:30 pm
No class Feb 15, Apr 12 - BASIC CONCEPTS OF PAINTING - This popular all day class is for the intermediate as well as the advanced student. Students will explore composition, concepts, color and technique while learning the creative process. Varied media will be used including: acrylic, charcoal, graphite and pastels. The above media can be used separately or in conjunction with others. Two 5 wk. sessions. May take both. Second session is not a repeat of first but a continuation of topics and
techniques students have been exploring.
Thursdays,
Spring session 1 Feb 4 - Mar 11 Spring session 2 Mar 18 - Apr 22
Tuition: $460
Instructor: Constance Kiermaier, Code: A22
Thursday, 9:30 am - 3:30 pm
No class Feb 18, Apr 15 - LANDSCAPES & INTIMATE SPACES: A WATERCOLOR WORKSHOP - Techniques of classical and modern methods of color,value,perspective,texture and brushwork will be presented. Students will study master works, while learning watercolor techniques including glazing, splattering and sponging. Some collage work may be explored. Step by step demonstrations and participation will challenge students to work toward independent artistic expression. Some weeks will find us painting outdoors at picturesque locations around town. Students are welcome to use all paint media. A basic supply list can be mailed. All levels welcome.
Tuesdays,Spring Feb 2 - Apr 20
Tuition: $325
Instructor: Vicki French Smith, Code: A23
Tuesday, 9:30 am - 12:30 pm
No Class Feb.16,Apr 13 - MIXED MEDIA/ASSEMBLAGE - Assemblage is an artistic process in which a three-dimensional artistic composition is made from putting together found objects, or personal mementos. Robert, Rauschenberg, Pablo Picasso, Marcel Duchamp and Joseph Cornell were artists that used this technique. You will work on projets inspired by your personal experiences. While drawing from past events, memories of family, people, places, and things, you will combine your choice of collected found objects and personal mementos assembling them in a special box, frame or book. Different mixed media techniques will be explored, such as printmaking, photo transfer, faux painting, stamping and stenciling. Focus will be on creating an assemblage that is meaningful to you. All levels of experience are welcome. Spring session February 3 - March 31
Tuition: $300
Instructor: Karen Vogel-Grefe, Code: A20
Wednesday, 9:30 am - 12:30 pm
No Class Spring Feb. 17 - OIL PAINTING LIKE THE MASTERS - Tap into the personal visions of Claude Monet, the founder of French Impressionism, and Sanford Glifford, a leading Hudson River School landscape painter, and founder of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Discover the principals of design, color, values and perspective and learn how to direct paint in oil to create a successful composition. Students of all levels will benefit from in-depth, personalized instruction based on classical nineteenth century techniques.
Spring session February 5 - March 12
Tuition: $195
Instructor: Vicki French Smith, Code: A 24
Friday, 9:30 am - 12:30 pm
No class Feb 19
Teachers
- Lisa Hillman - Lisa Hillman is a Darien resident and artist. She has had extensive experience in painting, printmaking and collage and has been a long time student of Darien Arts Center instructor Constance Kiermaier. Miss Hillman is an award winning artist who has exhibited her work in numerous shows. She studied Visual Culture at the Union Institutes' graduate program at Vermont College, and with the guidance of installation artist Jo Yarrington, she has created several installations. She recently curated an exhibit for the Darien Arts Center at Town Hall. She is a Loft Artist Associate with a studio in Stamford and a member of FIVE ARTISTS.
- Constance Kiermaier - Her teaching experience has included Silvermine School of Art, Norwalk Community College, Lyme Academy of Fine Arts, and N.Y. Adult Education. Ms. Kiermaier is a 1992 recipient of a Regional fellowship in Painting awarded by New England Foundation for the Arts/National Endowment for the Arts. She received her BFA degree from the Yale School of Fine Arts, Yale University.
- Vicki French Smith - Vicki is a member of the Rowayton Art Center, Greenwich Art Society, and is currently on the board of Silvermine Guild Art Center. She holds a teaching degree from Miami University, and has taught and exhibited in many states on the east coast. Vicki has recently traveled to France and Italy for an in-depth study of landscape painting. She has studied with Judi Betts, Robert Sakson, Pat San Soucie, Charles Reid and others. This is her 8th year teaching at the Darien Arts Center.
- Anne Tabacco - Anne previously taught high school art before joining the Darien Arts Center as director of the Visual Art program, as well as instructor of children's classes. She received her BFA in Art Education and Art Therapy from the College of New Rochelle.
- Mike Valentine - Mike is a professional clown, ventriloquist & cartoonist with 20 years experience as an artist & performer. Mike illustrated several books & performs in clubs, conventions & parties. He studied at Pace College of Art, Fairfield University & at the Museum of Cartoon Art. Mike has recently returned to the Darien Art Center after working for Disney.
- Joseph Lamorte - Mr. Lamorte, a career artist, has long been involved in advertising as illustrator and art director. His work, appearing in newspapers and magazines, has at times received national awards. He teaches watercolor painting, and has extensive experience painting in oils. His training has been at Cooper Union and The New School at NYC and at Silvermine College in CT. He has exhibited in galleries throughout Westchester and Fairfield Counties. The National Endowment for the Arts has funded purchase of his work for public space. He is a resident of Darien.
- Matthew Burcaw - Greenwich native Matthew Burcaw has been teaching art for seven years at the Darien Arts Center. Receiving his MFA this past spring from Parsons School of Design, he has been included in three group shows this past year; Heidi Cho gallery in Chelsea, Drawing Show at Artist Space in SOHO and a group show at Swing Space in lower Manhattan. With a BFA in illustration and Art Education Burcaw spent much of his time in the nineties working with youth in Stamford and Darien, as well as being involved with the local art scene. He was a member of the Loft Artist Association of Stamford for seven years and was their President for two years. His teaching experience includes the Whitney Museum of American Art, Stamford Museum and Nature Center, Trailblazers Academy and the Boys and Girls Club of Greenwich.
- Karen Vogel-Grefe - Studied painting and drawing at the Art Students League, NYC; San Francisco Art Institue, San Francisco, California ; Corcoran School of Art, Washingtin DC; Printmaking Center for Contemporary Printmaking, Norwalk, Ct. Her work is represented in numerous private and corporate collections and has exhibited widely. She is currently on the board at the Center for Contemporary Printmaking and maintains her studio in Bridgeport.