Personal Writing Projects & Exploration
Mondays, November 4 - December 9, 2024 from 1:15 pm to 2:45 pm
This personalized workshop is for anyone who has a writing project they would like to work on, or who wants to begin a writing project. We will be working on elements of craft and writing that are applicable to both fiction and nonfiction, to short stories and novels and compilations of memory. We will utilize a variety of mentor texts, with nonfiction such as Fransisco Cantu’s The Line Becomes a River and fiction including Jeffy Offill’s Weather. All texts are included.
Cost: $135 JCC Members / $150 Program Guests
Painting a Simple Sunset in Soft Pastels
Thursday, January 30, 2025 from 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm
In this 2 1/2-hour class students are introduced to the world of soft pastels. They will learn the important skills and techniques such as composition, color theory and underpaintings to create a painting that is vivid and has depth. By the end of class, students will have created a simple sunset with soft pastels.
Materials needed: Soft Pastels 24 -36 set, U-Art Pastel Paper- 400 or 500 grit paper, Kneaded Eraser, Wipes, Rag, Stump/Blender, Drawing Board
Cost: $24 JCC Members/$26 Program Guests plus materials.
The Basement Bar Mitzvah Book Discussion, Signing and Q&A with Editor J. Thalia Cunningham
Monday, February 3, 2025 from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm
Dr. J. Thalia Cunningham will share stories from her father, Barry Farnol's, long-forgotten works that were recently published in The Basement Bar Mitzvah. Read a interview by Times Union contributor Paul Grondahl here.
Cost: Free. This event is a part of the Albany JCC’s Eye on the World series and is generously sponsored by Ophthalmic Plastic Surgery, LLC.
Books may be purchased at the event for $18 cash only.
Painting A Rose With Colored Pencils
Thursday, February 13, 2025 from 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm
In this 2 ½ hour class, students will learn how to use watercolor pencils, which are made with water soluble pigments. We will become familiar with various techniques of this specialized medium, and practice using them on hot pressed paper. By the end of class students will have created a beautiful rose.
Materials needed: 24-36ct. set of Watercolor Pencils, Hot Pressed 140lb Watercolor Paper, Watercolor Brushes - Round - Sizes 6, 3, and 1, Water Container, A clean rag or paper towels
Cost: $24 JCC Members/$26 Program Guests plus materials.
Enhancing your Watercolor Paintings with Pen and Ink
Tuesday, February 25, 2025 from 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm
In this class students will learn how to sketch and paint a simple nature-themed watercolor. They will then use pen and ink techniques that will enhance their beautiful paintings.
Materials needed: Cold Pressed Watercolor Paper, A 12 pc set of Tube Watercolors, OR A set of Pan Watercolors, Sakura Micron Archival Ink Pen - .01, Round Brushes – Size 8, 6, 4 and 1, Container, Paper Towels
Cost: $24 JCC Members/$26 Program Guests plus materials.
Botanical Drawing with Colored Pencils- Spring Daffodils
Thursday, March 6, 2025 from 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm
In this 2 ½ hour class students will practice the process of Botanical Drawing, which begins with simple geometric shapes. We will begin our forms by using the “Grisaille Technique”, which is layering neutral tones and putting on top color with colored pencils. This process will make your piece three dimensional and pop off the page. By the end of class participants will have created a lovely spring Daffodil.
Materials Needed: Drawing Pencils (HB, H, 2H), Dark Sepia Colored Pencil (Faber- Castell , Prismacolor or Caran D ache), Kneaded Eraser and Soft White PVC free Eraser, Colored Pencils: 24-36 Count (Faber- Castell , Prismacolor or Caran D Ache), Smooth Bristol Paper - 9X12 ( Strathmore or Canson are best).
Cost: $24 JCC Members/$26 Program Guests plus materials.
Introduction to Oil Pastels
Tuesday, March 25, 2025 from 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm
Soft oil pastels are small sticks of paint made of pigment mixed with non-drying oil and wax binder. In this 2 1/2-hour students will be introduced to soft oil pastels and become familiar with and practice the different techniques using this specialized medium. By the end of class students will have created a simple sunset landscape.
Cost: $24 JCC Members/$26 Program Guests plus materials.
Materials needed: 12 Assorted Colors Set of MUNYGO Soft Oil Pastels (Please No Cray-Pas Oils! Sennelier Soft Oil Pastels, Caran D'Ache Neo Pastel and Paul Rubens Soft Oil Pastels are also acceptable), Blending Stubs, Tissues, Paper (Arches Oil Cold Pressed 140lb, Sennelier Oil Pastel Pad OR Arches Watercolor Paper 140lb are all great for oil pastels)
Stitch & Schmooze
Tuesdays, 11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Get together and schmooze while you knit or crochet. Don’t know how to knit or crochet? No worries, Marsha Schneider will be on hand to offer you a chance to learn a new skill.
No registration required.
Any Media Art Group
TBA
Meet in an informal setting to discuss and work on your art. Limited to 10 artists per session.
Purchase a 10-session punch card. The punch card expires one-year after purchase and is non-refundable.
Check back soon!
Cancellation Policy for Arts & Culture Classes and Workshops
We understand that life brings many surprises to us all, and sometimes people must cancel their class or workshop registration. Please help us continue to offer these wonderful art and culture classes, at the most affordable costs possible, by reading and adhering to our cancellation policy.
Low Enrollment
Classes or workshops may be cancelled when enrollment minimums are not reached. Cancellations are determined no later than 2 business days before the class starts. If the Albany JCC cancels a class or workshop, the participant will have the option to transfer to another class, as long as space is available, or receive a 100% refund.
Refunds
If a participants chooses to cancel their registration for a class or workshop, the refund policies are as follows:
- 100% refund with seven or more days' notice prior to the start date of the class unless specified otherwise*
- No amount refunded after that time. However, you may transfer your registration to another individual not currently registered for the class or workshop.
*Account credit may be given in special circumstances at the discretion of the Jewish Cultural and Community Program Coordinator