Providing art educators with the opportunity to explore new art mediums and techniques is what Visual Arts Demo Days is all about.

Taught by industry professionals and art and design faculty, these workshops were created by art educators, for art eduators.

 

2023 Workshops:    

Bookmaking with Dr. Lori Santos: "Walking and Drawing with Nature." Participants will create a mini-sketchbook and explore drawing ideas inspired by walking and nature-based pedagogies. Eco-based media will be included. Location: McKnight North, Rm. 118. Limit 15 participants. Lori Santos, PhD is the Associate Professor of Art Education at the School of Art, Design & Creative Industries. 

Monotype Printing with Marco Hernandez: This workshop will cover the printmaking process of monotype. Participants will learn how to make one-of-a-kind color prints using a traditional printing press and plexiglass as the plate. Safe and non-toxic water-based inks will be used at this workshop. Location: McKnight North, Rm. 221. Limit 12 participants. Marco Hernandez is the Assistant Professor of Print Media at the School of Art, Design and Creative Industries. 

Wheel Throwing with Ted Adler: "Out of the Round: Thrown and Altered Forms." This workshop will begin with a wheel throwing refresher for throwing larger forms, then move to techniques for altering forms, including darting and compound forms. Skill level for this workshop is for intermediate through advanced participants. Location: Henrion, Rm 107. Limit 10 participants. Ted Adler is a Professor of Ceramic Media at the School of Art, Design and Creative Industries.

AMACO Brent Underglazes & Teaching Resources with Diana Faris: Participants will spend most of the session focusing on surface design techniques using Velvet underglazes. This presentation highlights AMACO glaze and underglaze products and ceramics teaching resources designed specifically for high school art teachers. This will be a hands-on workshop with online demonstration. Location: Henrion Hall. Limit 25 participants. Diana Faris is the Manager of International Sales and Education Outreach for AMACO Brent.

Drawing Portraits with Adelia Wise: Participants will learn portrait proportions and foundational drawing skills. Location: McKnight 214. Limit 15 participants. Adelia Wise in an Adjunct Professor of Foundations at the School of Art, Design and Creative Industries.

Lumen Printing with Jennifer Ray: Learn the simple process of printing on silver gelatin photo paper without a darkroom. Learn how to fix and wash the prints, then scan and alter them digitally. Participants are encouraged to bring large photo negatives or small objects. Bring a flash drive for digital files if desired. In case of clouds/rain the workshop will pivot to darkroom photograms. Location: McKnight Rm 107 & 108. Limit 12 participants. Jennifer Ray is the Associate Professor of Photo Media at the School of Art, Design and Creative Industries.

Cyanotypes with Jennifer Ray: Learn to make cyanotypes (a.k.a "blueprints" or "sunprints") from start to finish, no darkroom required. Participants are encouraged to bring large photo negatives and/or small objects. In case of clouds/rain, the workshop will pivot to darkroom photograms. Location: McKnight 107 & 108. Limit 12 participants. Jennifer Ray is the Associate Professor of Photo Media at the School of Art, Design and Creative Industries.

Introduction to Performance Art with Tatiana Svrckova Larsen: Participants will explore performance art through experimental video making with cell phones. They will learn the fundamentals of performance art, create their own videos, and receive feedback. No prior experience is necessary. Location: McKnight Computer Lab. Limit 12 participants. Tatiana Svrckova Larsen is an Adjunct Professor of Art and Technology at the School of Art, Design and Creative Industries.

Temporary Yarn Sculptures with Tatiana Svrckova Larsen: Participants will create temporary, site-specific yarn sculptures using yarn and natural materials found on campus. The sculptures will be designed to interact with the environment and will be documented through photography. The workshop is suitable for all skill levels and promotes creativity and community engagement. Location: McKnight Atrium. Limit 20 participants. Tatiana Svrckova Larsen is an Adjunct Professor of Art and Technology at the School of Art, Design and Creative Industries.

Jewelry Basics with Bethany Janssen: Learn simple, inexpensive jewelry techniques you can use in the secondary art classroom. Location: McKnight 118. Limit 12 participants. Bethany Janssen is an Adjunct Professor of Art Education at the School of Art, Design and Creative Industries.

Creative Digital Lighting for Advertising with Joshua Smith: Starting from scratch, learn the basics of using Adobe Lightroom Classic to edit, manipulate, and improve photography through additive processes. Participants are encouraged to bring a charged laptop with Adobe Lightroom Classic installed and ready to use, to follow along with the workshop. Location: McKnight 113. Limit 16 participants. Joshua Smith is an Assistant Professor of Graphic Design at the School of Art, Design and Creative Industries.

Book Cover Design with Joshua Smith: "Judge a Book By Its Cover," A Book Cover Design Journey in Adobe Photoshop. Starting from scratch, learn the basics of using Adobe Photoshop following a book cover design process from start to finish, including the front, back, spine, and leaflet designs. Participants are encouraged to bring a charged laptop with Adobe Photoshop installed and ready to use, to follow along with the workshop. Location: McKnight 113. Limit 16 participants. Joshua Smith is an Assistant Professor of Graphic Design at the School of Art, Design and Creative Industries.

Product Design & Marketing with Joshua Smith: "Marketing with Mock-Ups in Adobe Photoshop." Starting from scratch, learn the basics of using Adobe Photoshop to create compelling, realistic product mock-up advertisements. Participants are encouraged to bring a charged laptop with Adobe Photoshop installed and ready to use, to follow along with the workshop. Location: McKnight 113. Limit 16 participants. Joshua Smith is an Assistant Professor of Graphic Design at the School of Art, Design and Creative Industries.

Golden Artist Colors Demonstration with Andrea Warren: This live, online demo will give you an overview of Golden's products, with a special focus on the acrylic paint lines, color, and mediums. We'll discuss Mediums and Gels, and how to use them to modify your paints to create texture, enhance transparency, create glazes, and extend your paint by as much as 70%. We'll look at the way Molding Pastes and Grounds can be used to create unique surfaces for acrylic, pastel and watercolor, and how various Golden products can be used for printmaking, collage and acrylic transfers. We'll discuss tips for cost-effective ways to incorporate these products in the classroom - from color choices, controlling drying times for less paint waste, and extending paints to save money. The demo will include plenty of time for questions, and all participants will be able to sign up to have Golden samples sent right to their doorstep. Andrea Warren is the Ottowa Working Artist for Golden Artist Colors.