headerphoto

Art classes

Click on the links below to learn more about the art classes offered at Hamilton House.

Stained Glass

The stained glass class meets on Friday afternoons at 12:45. The stained glass class and use of the workshop is free with your membership.


Garo, the stained glass instructor.

 

Knitting

Beginning Tuesday, Sept 15th at 10:00am
Come and learn a new stitch, finish an old project or start on a new one. Betty also teaches crocheting.

 

Chair Caning

The chair caners meet on Monday afternoons at 1:00 pm. Join the chair caners to learn the technique that dates back to the colonial times.

 

Horticulture

The horticultural group at Hamilton House offers a monthly floral design program offered by Sally Gruber, horticulturist and multi-talented instructor. The schedule changes each month, so for more information call or go to the News and Events page.

 

Photography

This class will offer an intermediate level of digital photography. Class members will be given a syllabus that will cover methods of taking better pictures, how to use photo management programs on the computer, information on photographic concepts and nomenclature. Remember to bring your camera and it's manual.
Thomas Morrissey has taught photography and digital photography for 30 years and has worked as a professional photographer on several international projects. He has an MFA degree from Arizona State University. He is a professor of art at the Community College of Rhode Island. His work is included in several museum collections, including RISD, the International Center for Photography in New York, and the Corcoran in Washington.
Sponsored by a State Legislative Grant

 

Painting and Drawing Classes

We offer various classes in the visual arts here at Hamilton House to allow active adults to express themselves in a myriad of ways.

  • Watercolor Painting
  • Figure Drawing
  • Water Soluble Oil Painting
  • Portrait Drawing

 

 

Current Offerings in visual arts include the following:

Free One-Day Art Workshop

Monday, September 20th at 10:00AM (rain date Sept. 27th)
Choose your own media for this two-hour workshop that will be held at Colt State Park in Bristol, RI. Bring your own lunch and arrange your own transportation. Try to carpool. Restrooms are available at the park.
No Fee

Ida Schmulowitz has been painting professionally for over 35 years. She received a BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design, and has exhibited widely in RI, as well being represented in galleries in Ohio, CA, and NY. She has been awarded residencies at the MacDowell Colony in Peterborough NH, and Weir Farm in Wilton CT. Her work is included in collections at the RISD Museum, RI Hospital, Miriam Hospital, Bradley Hospital, and Meditech, Fall River.

Please register in advance for all art workshops.

Open Studio

Mondays from 1:00PM-3:00PM and Thursdays from 10:00AM to noon
Easels and tables are available. There will be some still life displays with the possibility of figure models. You can work on your own and also share ideas with fellow artists.
There will be no instruction during Open Studio time.

Continuing Painting

Fridays, September 3rd,17th, 24th, &Oct 1st at 10:00AM
We will continue to explore either acrylics or water-soluble oils through still life set ups, interiors, and weather permitting, painting outside on the the grounds of Hamilton House. Students will be encouraged to push their particular directions further with challenging exercises given on an individual basis.
We will look at contemporary artists and those from the past for inspiration, but will be focusing on having each person in class solve problems using their own particular style.
Students must bring their own supplies to class including either acrylics or water soluble oils, canvas, assortment of brushes, and a palette.
Instructor: Ida Schmulowitz, Professional Artist and Graduate of RISD
Fee: $50

Continuing Drawing

Tuesdays, September 7th, 21st, & 28th at 1:00PM
A good foundation in drawing is necessary to lay the groundwork for other media and of course is also a lifelong pursuit in itself. In this course we will explore different exercises to develop an eye and loosen up using line, arranging shapes, using tone, and creating different kinds of marks on a page. The student should bring a variety of drawing tools- pencils of varying degrees softness, different kinds of charcoal, kneaded erasers, colored inks, an 18x24 pad of drawing paper, 18x24 pad of newsprint, and prepare to have fun and experiment.
All levels are welcome.
Instructor: Ida Schmulowitz
Fee: $40

Beginning Painting

Wednesdays ,September 8th,15th, 22nd, & 29th at 1:00PM
This class is designed for those with some drawing experience, who would like to transition into painting. We will start with the basics of mixing colors, and getting a feel for the use of paint on various surfaces, starting with paper, and then canvas boards, and stretched canvas. Subject matter will be simple still life set ups. Acrylics or water soluble oils may be used. Students must bring their own materials to class including paints, brushes, canvas, and a palette. A complete list of basic materials will be at the front desk of Hamilton House. Begin your painting study in a relaxed atmosphere, where experimentation is always encouraged!

Instructor: Ida Schmulowitz
Fee: $50

Watercolor

Thursdays at 1:00PM
Ann Rourke, watercolor artist, member of the RI Watercolor Society and retired art teacher of 30 years, is offering water color classes on Thursday afternoons. Each class has a prepared lesson with demonstration. New students are always welcome.
No Fee.