We’re excited to bring you a new activity at Bees N Blooms! Artist Mel Mitchell-Jackson will be offering a series of art classes this fall, using the farm as a source of inspiration. These courses are aimed at those with a wide variety of experience levels, from absolute beginners to seasoned artists. You’ll learn to capture the fall light and beautiful vistas at the foot of Taylor Mountain, as well as a few tech tips to reduce your screen time and leave more hours for creative endeavors! Several scholarships are available. Here are the options and dates.
Intro to Drawing from Nature
3 Weeks—September 30th, October 7th and 14th, 2023, 9:00 AM–noon
Feel inspired by nature and want to document your observations? This course is for you! We will work on paper using pencil, charcoal, and colored pencil to explore composition, form, and structure. This course is open to and strongly welcomes beginners. Three scholarships available. Reserve your spot now!
Intro to Acrylic Landscape Painting
3 Weeks—September 30th, October 7th and 14th, 2023, 1:00–4:00 PM
Join us to paint the gorgeous fall blooms at the farm. We will work in acrylic to build color palettes and paint outside observing the flora and fauna. You’ll learn mixing methods, color theory, paint application techniques, composition, and critique. This course is intermediate but welcomes beginners with previous experience in drawing from life. Two scholarships available. Reserve your spot now!
Intermediate Landscape Painting—Sunsets
October 13th 2023, 5:00–9:00 PM
Join us for an evening painting outdoors. We will begin with a short art history inspiration keynote of artists’ techniques for capturing the changing light of sunset. Then we will setup around the farm and begin to paint. You’ll receive feedback and encouragement each step of the way. We will be working in acrylics for this course and materials will be provided. Students are welcome to bring additional supplies. Enroll now!
Tech Reset—Rectangle of Doom? Revise your relationship with your Phone
November 11th, 2023, 2:00–5:00 PM, Adults
In this course, we will begin with a discussion as a group about how we want to amend our relationships to our devices. What things keep you engrossed in the screen? What would you rather be doing? Then we will take a group tour out on the farm without our phones, simply observing nature and meandering through the flower paths while we build community. We will use notebooks to record the thoughts and things we wish to capture and check. Then we will meet, discuss, and learn tips and tricks for rewriting your relationship with your device, social media, and notifications. Two scholarships available. Enroll Now!
Intro to Working from Photos: Pet Portraits in Acrylic
3 Weeks—November 4th, 11th, and 18th, 2023, 10:00AM-1:00PM
Have a beloved furry family member? Want to learn how to paint a portrait? In this three-week course we will learn to take a photograph, enlarge it using the gridding method and create acrylic portraits of your pet just in time for the holiday season! Take this class if you want to create a memorable and meaningful gift for someone you love. Three scholarships available. Reserve your spot now!
More About Mel
Mel Mitchell-Jackson is an artistic adventurer, skilled painter and illustrator, and content conjurer based in the East Bay. Bringing a wealth of experience, Mel has shared their expertise previously at Apple, the Kansas City Art Institute, and the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art. Their creative journey led them from Kansas City to the Bay Area where they now post regularly on Instagram and TikTok about their artistic process and insights for learners. Notably, Mel Mitchell-Jackson was the visionary founder of the art blog, Informality, while in the Kansas City area. Mel was also the Co-Director of PLUG Projects Gallery and Director of Subterranean Gallery. Whether you are just beginning your artistic journey, or expanding your studio practice, you can allow Mel’s eclectic experiences inspire and guide you to document the beauty of Bees N Blooms and beyond.
This is so exciting! I hope you’ll consider some watercolor classes in the future. Meanwhile I’ll look forward to the Drawing from Nature series. Thank you!
Lisa
Hi Lisa,
I have the artistic talent of a 6-year-old, so I’m hoping to take a few of these classes myself! I’ll ask Mel if she has a plan for watercolors and let you know.
Cheers,
Susan
Will you be having any future activities on a weekday or Sunday? I have Saturday Sabbath and I can’t attend on saturdays. thank you for listening.
Hi Wanda,
Right now, we don’t have plans for other dates, but I will check with Mel Mitchell-Jackson to be sure. The “Intermediate Landscape Paintings–Sunsets” is on a Friday evening, starting at 5 pm and goes to 9 pm.
Best,
Susan