Pacific Northwest Art School

Altered Books Botanizing is a workshop in which an altered book can become a personal archive of life in a changing climate. In this workshop, participants will learn basic techniques for altering a book to use as a journal in which to record observations of the natural world. We will begin by editing the content of a used book via cutting, pasting, gesso, and collage. Methods of creating pockets and cavities in the existing book structure will be demonstrated and…

Fibre + paper + ink together produce a unique and inspiring marked textile that illuminates more beautifully than any other combination. Paper adds unique textural and sculptural qualities to the felt, which we emphasize with bold ink work added to our final felt forms. In this class we cover resist work, paper selection and sources, ink for felt design, and the manipulation of form. Our main project will be a cylindrical table lamp. We’ll also explore a small sculptural lighting…

Join Keron Psillas, award-winning photographer and author, to discover and refine a deeper intent for your photography. With six books Internationally award-winning books of photography published, Keron is creating a legacy of refined work with a passionate voice. 2019 was the debut of her fine press edition of Cavalo Lusitano: The Spirit Within, from Veritas Editions, and saw acclaim and awards for Lusitano:noble, courageous, eternal, as well as Loss and Beauty: creating solace in a land of infinite sorrow. From…

Discover how to speak strongly, simply, and in your own voice. The focus of this workshop is exploring mark-making possibilities for increasing visual vocabulary. Emphasis is placed on using the silk screen in an intuitive, painterly way. In addition to deconstructed, polychromatic, and other spontaneous printing methods with fiber reactive dyes, we will also be printing with textile medium, Caran d’Ache crayons, charcoal, and other water-soluble media. Along with demonstrations and hands-on work, each day will include a series of…

In Kyrgyzstan, when a daughter got married, her mother and her relatives felted her a rug. Using their ancient symbols they felted her best wishes and good luck into the rug that stayed with her for the rest of her life. In this workshop, you’ll create a felted rug (approximately 3×5’) with the instructor’s pre-felt technique, using either the several hundred-year-old symbols or creating your very own. Come and join us for a four-day workshop and learn – about the…

This is an introductory to advanced course in the ancient Korean technique of joomchi or felted paper. In this context the word ‘felted’ means that this method of fusing papers uses some of the same hand tools and styles of manipulation that one can use in making felt from wool fiber. In both cases, the main tools are the hands and water. Having studied papermaking for several years and traveled extensively in Asia I will also talk about the uses…

Creating abstract art with oil paint and cold wax medium is intuitive, bold, and full of discovery. Your pieces will take on lives of their own through the many layers of oil and cold wax you apply, addition of mixed media elements, and the areas you choose to scrape away. Each oil and cold wax piece is a result of a moment in time and space where elements converge in a one-time-only way. I’ll show you lots of techniques for…

Big Ink is all about creating bold dramatic surfaces on garments that engage the wearer and the viewer. This is design that celebrates life and movement! We explore inks and paints for printing and drawing on textiles to add form, depth and line. Seamless garment design will be covered encompassing colour, form and fit, plus using resist additions and pleating for additional shaping and fit. Collar, sleeves and hood design will be covered, as well as tools and techniques to…

How do you experience nature? Some people climb the biggest mountain they can find, others prefer beach combing the coast, while others cultivate their backyards into pristine gardens. How can we capture that energy and express those fleeting feelings of exhilaration, nostalgia, or serenity on the canvas? This workshop explores abstraction, color and mark through the lens of landscape painting. We will transform our reference imagery into rich, energetic, abstract paintings. Each morning we will explore and experiment through warm-up…

This renowned workshop is designed for both amateur and professional photographers who wish to strengthen their ability to see and work in color. Through daily shooting assignments, critiques and discussions, participants acquire techniques to become more sensitive to light and its effects on color, composition, texture, pattern, and design. While covering the use and quality of natural light, the main focus is on investigating color from a personal point of view. Arthur guides and inspires participants to help refine an…

Throughout my years of guiding beautiful people through the practices and processes of art journaling and till today I often hear how that practice makes people feel at ease, safe, free, connected to their creative selves, be themselves, and all kinds of good stuff. At the same time I hear how going outside of the journal, or bigger, makes people feel the opposite, and therefore fearful or having performance anxiety. The truth, I believe, is that once you feel truly…

You’ll photograph picturesque Mount Rainier National Park and the surrounding forests, alpine lakes, waterfalls, and meadows at the peak of wildflower season. Students will have plenty of time to practice on grand landscapes, alpine flower photography, and macro images. This workshop is based in Ashford, Washington where there will be in-class critiques and instructional sessions. Book your own lodging at Nisqually Lodge in Ashford, WA (888) 674-3554. Ask for the block of rooms reserved under David Cobb’s name. Summer Workshop:…

Course Description:  Boro mending, kantha cloth, the Quilts of Gee’s Bend. Each of these evokes images of old, worn fabrics, simply but beautifully stitched for a new purpose out of need and salvaged cloth. Born of necessity in diverse cultures worldwide, contemporary fiber artists can learn much from these traditions both technically and aesthetically. In this workshop we explore the traditions that created these textiles and then look to them for inspiration in creating new works of fiber art. Beginning…

The landscape tradition is rooted in plein air and direct observation. Yet, nearly every contemporary landscape painter relies on photo reference to some degree. The question is: what are the best practices when working with photos? Do we accept whatever composition the camera records? Do we try to copy the colors exactly as they appear in the photo? In this workshop, the answer to those questions is “no.” You’ll learn ways of working with color and composition that will help…

This workshop is designed for students who wish to explore expressive drawing and acrylic painting with an emphasis on creative thinking. Students will discover fundamental techniques through painting exercises merged with an innovative approach to color harmony, compositional balance, and spontaneity. Extensive observation of contemporary master expressionist artists will be introduced for inspiration.

Some of the oldest methods of patterning cloth are the resist dyed techniques. These include batik, which uses paste or hot wax, and the shibori technique which was brought to prominence in the West during the ‘60s through the use of Chinese tie-dye. ‘Tie-dye’ techniques are to be found the world over including India, Japan, Indonesia, Peru, and Africa – and they are now collectively referred to as shibori – the word the Japanese gave to their traditional textiles which…

Enhance your art practice in inspiring and unique ways. Join us do an exciting three day exploration into the world of botanical printmaking and collage; accessible art forms whether you’re a newcomer or seasoned artist. On the first day, we’ll layer lines leaves and colors on a GeliArts gel plate in order to create a series o beautiful and unique handprinted collage papers. The following day, we’ll immerse ourselves in the world of botanical contact printing (also called eco printing),…

Enhance your art practice in inspiring and unique ways. Join us do an exciting three day exploration into the world of botanical printmaking and collage; accessible art forms whether you’re a newcomer or seasoned artist. On the first day, we’ll layer lines leaves and colors on a GeliArts gel plate in order to create a series o beautiful and unique handprinted collage papers. The following day, we’ll immerse ourselves in the world of botanical contact printing (also called eco printing),…

Gather with Roxanne Evans Stout on Whidbey Island in the spring and create a book inspired by the landscapes and seascapes of the Pacific Northwest! Roxanne will teach you her very favorite mixed media techniques and guide you in filling page after page with textures and colors that you love that symbolize simple landscapes. You will be working on watercolor paper as our your pages, but also be glazing and mark making on deli-paper and using these colorful creations for…

Photography and typography are linked in communicating your visual story. Whether they are integrated together in a photograph or they are separate components in the presentation of your work through a book, website, exhibition, artist statement, or even a business card, they both need to carry out your visual aesthetic and enhance the connection between one another. This course will introduce the various relationships of text and image with historical and contemporary references of photography and typography along with an…

In this 4-day (Thursday-Sunday) workshop with award winning photographer Susan Burnstine you will explore your Personal Story. Photographic images are deeply rooted in personal emotion. This is the case whether they are found or created, and it is the case regardless of genre—be it landscape, still life,  portraiture, nature, abstraction, photojournalism, self-portrait, or documentary.  As photographers who strive to convey our visions in a true, honest, and consistent manner, we establish an emotional connection to each image we create. Under…

Join mixed media artist Caitlin Dundon for a fabulous, energizing and inspirational three-day workshop for all skill levels where there are no mistakes. Beginners will benefit from basic processes of learning how to start a painting with a variety of backgrounds from white gesso, black gesso, multi-colored painting as well as learning the basics of working with acrylic gel for collage. Practice begins on watercolor paper and then proceeds with canvas or wood panel as the weekend progresses creating an…

This workshop in color photography will emphasize developing one’s creative eye. Guidelines and strategies will be provided to cultivate awareness, presence, and imagination. We’ll also show how an appreciation of ‘zen in the arts’ can benefit the creative process. And learn the ways simplicity, minimalism, and slowing down can lead to a deeper connection with your photographic vision. Field excursions with the instructor will be conducted in Coupeville & vicinity. These field sessions will provide an opportunity for classroom evaluation.…