Upcoming Classes and events
View Arts on Main’s Class Policies: https://www.gloucesterartsonmain.org/class-policies
WE'RE CLOSED!
WE'RE CLOSED!
We’re closed for Christmas! Wishing you a warm and wonderful holiday! ❄️
We will be back open on Friday, December 26th from 12-5pm.
Open Studio
Bring your art & supplies and paint from 12:00pm-2:00pm. You’ll work alongside other artists in the community, create new friendships, and get great advice on your next masterpiece. There is no cost to attend and no need to make reservations.
WE'RE CLOSED!
WE'RE CLOSED!
We’re closed for New Year’s Day! Wishing you a warm and wonderful new year! ❄️
We will be back open on Friday, January 2nd from 12-5pm.
Open Studio
Bring your art & supplies and paint from 12:00pm-2:00pm. You’ll work alongside other artists in the community, create new friendships, and get great advice on your next masterpiece. There is no cost to attend and no need to make reservations.
Palette Knife Workshop: Let it Snow
Palette Knife Workshop: Let it Snow
Instructor: Rebecca West
Saturday, January 3
12:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Paint a wintery dream with paint and palette knife. Some brushwork involved learn techniques to use in your creations.
Students are required to bring their own supplies.
Supply list:
- small size pallet knife
- Medium brush
- Acrylic paint/Oil paint
- 12x16 canvas (size optional)
Open to all ages and skill levels!
All children must have a parent with them
ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR
“I believe each individual has the potential to create a masterpiece, even with very little experience if the effort comes from a true desire to express the inner self. Using a palette knife gives the creator another tool to add to a growing toolbox.
I have been an artist since birth. Mostly I paint, but sometimes I sculpt. I believe life is art. Creation is art. Most of my adult life has been lived in the sky as a professional pilot. I have drawn inspiration from the ever-changing skyscape and many visits to breathtaking landscapes. I paint to create something new that wasn’t there before. I sculpt to give form to my ideas which could or could not have a basis in reality.
Art is freedom.”
Reduction Linocut Printmaking
Reduction Linocut Printmaking
(FOUR WEEK CLASS SERIES)
Instructor: Lauren Sowder
Every Wednesday in January
January 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th
6:00 PM - 8:00PM
In reduction printmaking, the artist creates a multi-color image from one block as layers are continuously printed and carved away, destroying the block in the process. The result is a beautiful edition of hand-pulled prints which can't be reproduced. Students should already have some experience with either linocut or woodcut printmaking, as this will be a fun but fast-paced class. You will design, carve, and print a 6x8 inch linoleum block and leave with a small edition of unique prints. All supplies will be provided by the instructor. Students are encouraged to come with an idea or two for designs. We'll work together to modify them for the reduction process!
For ages 18+
All supplies will be provided by the instructor
ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Lauren Sowder is a multi-media artist based in Newport News, Virginia, with a BA in English and Studio Art from Christopher Newport University. She works primarily in printmaking and watercolor, using her art to celebrate the connection between humanity and the natural world.
Perspective Workshop
Perspective Workshop
Instructors: Kay Van Dyke and Rebecca West
Friday, January 9th
12:00 PM - 3:00 PM
In this class, you’ll start with pencil and paper to master the basics of perspective—how to make your drawings come alive with depth and structure. Then, you’ll transfer your sketch to canvas and bring it to life with color in your own unique style. Together, we’ll explore light, shadow, and composition with the goal of creating a compelling finished painting. All levels welcome—just bring your curiosity and creativity!
ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR
“I believe each individual has the potential to create a masterpiece, even with very little experience if the effort comes from a true desire to express the inner self. Using a palette knife gives the creator another tool to add to a growing toolbox.
I have been an artist since birth. Mostly I paint, but sometimes I sculpt. I believe life is art. Creation is art. Most of my adult life has been lived in the sky as a professional pilot. I have drawn inspiration from the ever-changing skyscape and many visits to breathtaking landscapes. I paint to create something new that wasn’t there before. I sculpt to give form to my ideas which could or could not have a basis in reality.
Art is freedom.”
Open Studio
Bring your art & supplies and paint from 12:00pm-2:00pm. You’ll work alongside other artists in the community, create new friendships, and get great advice on your next masterpiece. There is no cost to attend and no need to make reservations.
Artisanal Wire Jewelry Workshop
Artisanal Wire Jewelry Workshop
Instructor: Suzanne Elliot
Friday, January 9
1:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Learn how to create an artisanal wire dragonfly or heart earring and pendant set! Students will use tools, 18, 20 and 28 gauge wire and beads to shape dragonfly and heart jewelry. This class requires good hand strength and coordination. Video tutorial will be available to view on student devices.
For ages 16+
All supplies will be provided by the instructor. Bring a friend and come learn a new skill!
Check out a few of Suzanne’s unique wire wrappings!
ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Hi! My name is Suzanne and I am a local artist from Hampton Virginia. I have been an artist for over 12 years. My journey began with shaping wire into rings and earrings. Over the last 6 years I have mastered the art of wire woven jewelry such as pendants, rings, and bracelets. My favorite project is to shape a creature into a wire woven pendant or ring. My favorites are my dragon pendant and dragon head rings. Join me in a class to learn to make your own unique jewelry!
rigid heddle loom weaving workshop
rigid heddle loom
weaving workshop
Saturday, January 10
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Ever wondered about weaving but didn't have access to a loom or know where to start? Ever thought "I'm more a math and science person than an artist"? Ever found it hard to sit still during an art class? If so, then this is the class for you! Weaving is an art form that dates back thousands of years and relies on simple math and mechanics to design, plan, and create beautiful and functional art. Students in this class will use Arts on Main's rigid heddle looms to learn beginning weaving techniques and create a scarf or table runner. Kate has done all the math and will walk students through the steps of warping (setting up), weaving, and finishing the project. She'll also show how to read patterns and design future projects. By the end of the class, students will know the basic vocabulary and steps involved in weaving on a rigid heddle loom. Come learn how to make your own cloth!
For ages 16+
All supplies will be provided by the instructor.
ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Kathryn “Kate” Swanson’s love of art began at an early age with art classes starting when she was about five years old. Since then, she has explored a wide variety of media including painting, drawing, pastel, pottery, glass, and fiber. Today, she primarily works in fiber, embracing a medium and technique that she has loved since elementary school. She sees her weaving as a meditative practice that is both calming and exhilarating, and she loves creating works of art that are aesthetically pleasing and often functional. Taking the cloth off the loom and realizing that she’s transformed yarn into handwoven art is one of her favorite parts of being an artist. When she is not weaving, Kate is the Executive Director of Gloucester Arts on Main.
Eight Week Watercolor Class Series *class full!
Winter Watercolor class series
(eight weeks) *class full!
Painting the Still Life and the Urban Landscape
Instructor: Doug Mock
Monday Evenings
January 12th - March 2nd
6:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Join artist/instructor Doug Mock as he leads this 8 week session focused on painting the still life and urban scenes. Artists will choose an image of their own or they can choose from the options offered by the instructor. Dive deep into choosing colors, mixing for success, glazing color that glows and painting in a loose yet controlled manner. These classes are fun, engaging, and full of information that you will use on a regular and frequent basis.
If you are interested in taking 6 weeks of this course rather than 8 weeks, please email programs@gloucesterarts.org for a discounted rate.
The deadline to sign up is Friday, January 9th @ 5pm.
AGES 16+
Open to all levels
ALL STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO BRING THEIR OWN SUPPLIES!
Click the button below to view the supply list.
*class full!
If you would like to be put on the waitlist, please call the gallery at (804) 824-9464
ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Doug Mock is an award-winning watercolor artist and teacher living in White Stone, Virginia. Born in 1966 in Central Pennsylvania he was raised in a small dairy farming community where strong work ethic, love of family and appreciation of nature were of major importance. Doug is mostly self-taught, with significant influence by figurative watercolorist Mary Whyte. Mock creates art inspired by people and nature. His work is characterized by unique design, bold color and creative subject matter. Capturing life’s simple moments, Doug’s art connects with collectors on an emotional level. Doug has been juried into and regularly appears in shows and exhibitions throughout the United States. His work is appreciated and can be found in private collections throughout the country. He is a member of prominent watercolor organizations and is a signature member of the Virginia Watercolor Society and the Southern Watercolor Society.
Open Studio
Bring your art & supplies and paint from 12:00pm-2:00pm. You’ll work alongside other artists in the community, create new friendships, and get great advice on your next masterpiece. There is no cost to attend and no need to make reservations.
Winter Pastel Workshop
Winter Pastel Workshop 🌨️
Instructor: Jody Ball
Friday, January 16
1:00PM - 3:30PM
Have fun painting a winter snow scene in this one-day pastel workshop! We are going to create this soft, quiet, snowy day by using the textured side of pink pastel paper to really make it pop! Jody will guide you with instruction, tips, and techniques as you have fun watching your painting come to life on the colorful, textured pastel paper provided in the class. This workshop is suitable for both beginners and advanced individuals, and everything you need is provided in the class. Come and join us this holiday season and have a wonderful time as we play and experiment with pastels!
All supplies will be provided by the instructor.
For adults and teens ages 12+
ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR
“Drawing and painting have been a part of my life as long as I can remember. As a child, my parents enrolled me in art lessons with a prominent hometown artist after my mother declared that all I did was draw and color! I now live in Deltaville, VA, but passionately taught art to students of all ages for many years in a homeschool co-op environment and my studio when I lived in Ohio. My first love is the pastel medium, and my representational paintings usually tend towards a softened, sometimes impressionistic appearance. Nature is my inspiration, and I am possessed by the colors, forms, and textures that are possible in creating two-dimensional art. My paintings grace the walls of many homes across the country, and I currently show my paintings at Gloucester Arts on Main, the RAL Art Center in Kilmarnock, and the Bay School Community Arts Center in Mathews.”
Carving and Crafting a Walking Stick
Carving and Crafting a Walking Stick
Instructor: Christopher Wagner
Saturday, January 17th & Sunday, January 18th
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Join us for a hands-on woodworking experience where creativity meets craftsmanship! Under the instruction of an experienced woodworker, students will learn how to carve a walking stick with traditional carving tools. Incorporating figurative and decorative elements into a practical functional walking stick. By the end of the workshop, every student will walk away (literally!) with a handcrafted walking stick that’s both durable and artistic. All materials and tools are provided, no experience is necessary.
For students 8+ (any students under 14 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian)
Registration deadline is Friday, January 9th @ 5pm
ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Christopher B. Wagner is a sculptor originally from Kentucky but has lived and worked all over the country. In the summer of 2022 he relocated from the West Coast to Williamsburg, VA to work at William & Mary University. He received a B.A. in art history and sculpture from Georgetown College after which he studied Sculpture at Edinboro University in which he graduated in 2010 with an M.F.A. He has been making and exhibiting his art ever since his work can currently be seen at Linda Matney Gallery in Williamsburg, VA, Guardino Gallery in Portland, OR, Imogen Gallery in Astoria, OR, and the Compound Gallery in Oakland, CA. Along with his own active studio he has worked as a Shop Manager for Eichinger Sculpture studio in Portland, OR; along with serving as an instructor and technician at numerous institutions including Gonzaga University, Mission College, De Anza University and most recently William & Mary University. His awards have included a Jurors Choice at Cherry Creek Art Festival, exhibitor at the Smithsonian Craft Show, the Glean Artist Grant, and the Emerging Artist Award from Portland Open Studios. His work focuses on recycled or reconstituted wood as the medium. Utilizing traditional carving skills in the creation of contemporary sculpture. The reclaimed lumber he predominantly sculpts in provides a sense of history that influences what he creates.
Open Studio
Bring your art & supplies and paint from 12:00pm-2:00pm. You’ll work alongside other artists in the community, create new friendships, and get great advice on your next masterpiece. There is no cost to attend and no need to make reservations.
Hand Woven Pouch Workshop
Hand Woven Pouch Workshop
Instructor: Janet Griffin
Saturday, January 24
12:00PM - 4:00PM
Learn the art of weaving in this engaging, hands-on workshop! Students will create a small handwoven pouch using a simple cardboard loom, intertwining colorful yarns to design their own unique pattern. This beginner-friendly workshop is a great way to explore texture, color, and the meditative rhythm of weaving. No experience needed!
All supplies will be provided by the instructor.
FOR TEENS AND ADULTS
ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR
“Hi there, my name is Janet Griffin and I am a fiber artist. Specifically, I’d like to say I am a tapestry Weaver. I use a cotton warp background on my loom, and I inlay wool yarn to create an image. My Tapestry weavings are based on the techniques developed by Theo Moorman , based in England. Additionally, I find felted wool extremely creative. Felted paintings, felted bowls, felted flowers, felted purses work extremely well together. My favorite kind of fiber is Corriedale, Romney, and Merino wool or yarn, cotton yarns, Silk, Leicester locks , and Mohair. Feathers are kind of fun too. As you can tell I’m very much drawn into texture. I do love how wool can be soft and fluffy; and yet transformed into wet, thick fabric.”
Open Studio
Bring your art & supplies and paint from 12:00pm-2:00pm. You’ll work alongside other artists in the community, create new friendships, and get great advice on your next masterpiece. There is no cost to attend and no need to make reservations.
Dynamic Figure Drawing Workshop
Dynamic Figure Drawing Workshop
Instructor: Jess Goehner
Saturday, January 31, 2026
12:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Join us for a dynamic figure drawing class that explores expression, perspective, and the power of gesture. Working from a live model, timed exercises will push you to convey the human form quickly and creatively and to expand the creative language you bring to all forms of art. This class will include personalized feedback from the instructor, suggestions and resource lists, and collaborative critique skills with your peers. All levels welcome.
Supplies will be provided, but bring your favorite drawing materials to work with if you have them (large newsprint drawing paper or large sketch pad, preferred drawing tools). For ages 14+
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR
Directive is the studio practice of artist and designer Jess Goehner, a one-woman operation working in a garage on the Virginia coast. Her media exploration ranges from fine pen and ink drawings, found sculpture, photography, clothing design, fibers, painting, and leatherwork. Since 2013, her work under the name Directive has been focused on functional pieces which has served as an extension of a broader artistic inquiry—an exploration of material, form, and repetition as a language of making.
Open Studio
Bring your art & supplies and paint from 12:00pm-2:00pm. You’ll work alongside other artists in the community, create new friendships, and get great advice on your next masterpiece. There is no cost to attend and no need to make reservations.
Leatherworking 101: Two Pocket Snap Wallet
Leatherworking 101:
Two Pocket Snap Wallet
Instructor: Jess Goehner
Saturday, February 7
12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Discover the art of leathercraft in this beginner-friendly workshop. Students will be introduced to the basics of working with leather—learning about different types of hides, essential tools, and foundational techniques such as cutting, punching, and hand-stitching. Guided step by step, you’ll create a two pocket wallet from start to finish, customizing details like leather color and thread for a piece that’s truly your own.
All supplies will be provided by the instructor.
For ages 16+
ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Directive is the studio practice of artist and designer Jess Goehner, a one-woman operation working in a garage on the Virginia coast. Her media exploration ranges from fine pen and ink drawings, found sculpture, photography, clothing design, fibers, painting, and leatherwork. Since 2013, her work under the name Directive has been focused on functional pieces which has served as an extension of a broader artistic inquiry—an exploration of material, form, and repetition as a language of making.
Open Studio
Bring your art & supplies and paint from 12:00pm-2:00pm. You’ll work alongside other artists in the community, create new friendships, and get great advice on your next masterpiece. There is no cost to attend and no need to make reservations.
Open Studio
Bring your art & supplies and paint from 12:00pm-2:00pm. You’ll work alongside other artists in the community, create new friendships, and get great advice on your next masterpiece. There is no cost to attend and no need to make reservations.
Open Studio
Bring your art & supplies and paint from 12:00pm-2:00pm. You’ll work alongside other artists in the community, create new friendships, and get great advice on your next masterpiece. There is no cost to attend and no need to make reservations.
Open Studio
Bring your art & supplies and paint from 12:00pm-2:00pm. You’ll work alongside other artists in the community, create new friendships, and get great advice on your next masterpiece. There is no cost to attend and no need to make reservations.
Open Studio
Bring your art & supplies and paint from 12:00pm-2:00pm. You’ll work alongside other artists in the community, create new friendships, and get great advice on your next masterpiece. There is no cost to attend and no need to make reservations.
STamp Making Workshop
Stamp making workshop
Basics of Linocut Relief Printmaking
Instructor: Lauren Sowder
Saturday, March 14th and Sunday, March 15th
3:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Ready, set, carve! In this two-day workshop, you will learn techniques of linocut relief printmaking. You'll carve and print a small rubber block and you'll leave with a handmade stamp of your own creation. You can use your imagination to create your own design or choose from a selection provided by the instructor. This workshop is beginner friendly: no experience is necessary and all supplies will provided. Be prepared to handle sharp tools.
For ages 16+
Take a look at some of Lauren’s phenomenal work!
ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Lauren Sowder is a multi-media artist based in Newport News, Virginia, with a BA in English and Studio Art from Christopher Newport University. She works primarily in printmaking and watercolor, using her art to celebrate the connection between humanity and the natural world.
Open Studio
Bring your art & supplies and paint from 12:00pm-2:00pm. You’ll work alongside other artists in the community, create new friendships, and get great advice on your next masterpiece. There is no cost to attend and no need to make reservations.
Mixed Media Workshop
Mixed Media Workshop
Acrylic lifts, ink transfers, scraffito, rice paper, printing, embossed surfaces, attaching real objects, silkscreen images, faux finishes, thread, sands, stencils
Instructor: Robert Placky
Saturday, March 21
12:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Learn foundational mixed media techniques to explore surface, depth, and personal meaning in your art. Join artist and educator Robert Placky for a dynamic, hands-on exploration of mixed media techniques that build texture, depth, and narrative. Participants will experiment with acrylic lifts, ink transfers, rice paper, and found materials to create richly layered surfaces. Through guided demonstrations and individual exploration, this workshop emphasizes process, material discovery, and the creative dialogue between chance and intention.
All students are required to bring their own supplies. Click the button below to view the supply list.
ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Robert is an artist/adventurer that loves the outdoors and thrives under cerulean skies. He is an acrylic painter that uses mixed media on canvas and in print to capture the essence of place. Using the process of collage, Robert combines real and painted objects to explore the intangible qualities of being in the outdoors. He uses natural objects such as sand from “Uluru” in Australia or Forester grass from the Appalachian Trail to bring the natural setting to the canvas. This concept developed around the aboriginal word, “Kuruwarri," which is interpreting meaning from the land. He is in love with anything Australian, having spent all of 1994 on an International Teaching Exchange in Victoria, Australia Robert is a recently retired secondary art teacher from the State College Area School District. He taught for 40 years, focusing on advanced classes and portfolio development. Many of his students obtain degrees in the arts at major universities and art schools. He has stayed activity in the art community with his involvement with the Tappahannock Art Guild being a member of the Education Committee, Curation Committee and a Guild Artist.
Open Studio
Bring your art & supplies and paint from 12:00pm-2:00pm. You’ll work alongside other artists in the community, create new friendships, and get great advice on your next masterpiece. There is no cost to attend and no need to make reservations.
Oil Painting Basics
Oil Painting Basics
Instructor: Majorie Perrin
Saturday, April 11
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
This class provides insight into oil painting for beginners starting out in oils as well as experienced painters who are developing techniques. During a demonstration of developing composition, participants discover the results of painting wet-in-wet and creating form with color. By understanding how the paints work, students will be able to translate what they see into finished oil paintings. Emphasis will be on employing a full range of techniques to create an expressive painting. Students can choose to work from their own photos or from still life.
All supplies will be provided by the instructor.
For adults and teens ages 14+
This program has been organized by the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and is funded, in part, by the Paul Mellon Endowment and the Jean Stafford Camp Memorial Fund.
ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Marjorie Perrin paints the world around her using the richness of oil paint to convey mood and sense of place. Her style is influenced by Impressionism and Classical Realism. She taught Studio Art for 30 years at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Studio School and continues to teach art workshops for the VMFA Statewide Program.
Marjorie graduated with honors from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts; she also studied at Art Students League of New York and Virginia Commonwealth University. She has received several awards, most recent are Second Place Artists’ Choice Award for Tidelands Plein Air event in Tappahannock, Virginia in 2024, First Place at Gloucester Arts Festival Community Artist Plein Air Competition in 2019 and an Honorable Mention in the same event in 2024 in Gloucester, VA and Third Place in Plein Air Westhampton 2019 in Richmond, VA. She has also received two fellowships to the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts.
Her work is included in numerous private and corporate collections in Richmond, Virginia, including the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, E.R. Carpenter Corp., Medical College of Virginia, Henrico Doctor’s Hospital, and Mutual Assurance.
She is an active member in the Portrait Society of America, Oil Painters of America, the Virginia Plein Air Painters Association, the Maryland Society of Portrait Painters, and the Mid-Atlantic Plein Air Painters Association.
Make Your Own Tea Blend! *CLASS FULL!
Make Your Own Tea Blend! ☕️
*CLASS FULL!
Instructor: Lori Whitmore
Saturday, December 20
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Join Lori Whitmore on Saturday, December 20 from 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM for a Tea Blending Workshop at Arts on Main!
Looking for a fun, interactive experience to celebrate a special occasion or just treat yourself? Our Tea Blending Workshop is the perfect way to dive into the world of tea, whether you're a long-time tea lover or just getting started! Join us for a delightful afternoon where you'll learn about different herbs, teas, and the art of blending. Discover how to pair flavors, steep your perfect cup, and explore the health benefits of each ingredient. Plus, we’ll spice things up with a fun tea game and a chance to win a prize! In this hands-on workshop, you’ll create your own personalized tea blend, sample it, name it, and package it to take home. You’ll also have the option to create a refreshing fall/winter blend, plus experiment with simple syrup flavors to give your tea a deliciously sweet twist. As a thank-you for attending, you'll receive a goody bag with all of your tea blending essentials. Don't miss out on this tea-filled event—come join us and make some unforgettable memories!
*CLASS FULL!
To be put on the waitlist, please call the gallery at (804) 824-9464
ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Lori, “The Tea Lady”Founder & Master Tea Blender, Savory Blends Tea Co.Based in Richmond, VA, Lori is a lifelong tea enthusiast turned entrepreneur, world traveler, and passionate tea educator. Her journey with tea began as a personal obsession—curating unique blends from her travels and exploring the medicinal power of herbs. Today, that passion has blossomed into Savory Blends Tea Co., a handcrafted loose-leaf tea brand rooted in wellness, culture, and creativity. Inspired by an article in Essence magazine about entrepreneurship, Lori felt a spark—one that led her to turn her deep love of tea into a purpose-driven business. Her mission is simple but powerful: to turn tea skeptics into believers, one flavorful steep at a time. Lori specializes in custom wellness blends and loves sharing the healing power of tea through workshops, themed tea parties, community events, and tea catering experiences. Her work has been featured in The Richmond Times-Dispatch, YurView 757, Style Weekly, and she's proud to be a 2024 Comcast RISE Award recipient.
Open Studio
Bring your art & supplies and paint from 12:00pm-2:00pm. You’ll work alongside other artists in the community, create new friendships, and get great advice on your next masterpiece. There is no cost to attend and no need to make reservations.
Holiday Paint Night
Holiday Paint Night ☃️
Instructor: Juli Schuszler
Friday, December 12
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Join Arts on Main gallery and teacher, Juli Schuszler, on Friday evening, Dec. 12 for a fun time painting. You will be creating a cute image of a snowman man decorated with stars, shining in a snowstorm. The class will be completed using acrylic paint on an 11" x 14" stretched canvas. All materials necessary to paint this image will be provided by the teacher. All levels of experience are welcome, from beginner to experienced. You will receive a full-sized reference picture and printed step-by-step directions. Special instructions will be available to those needing help mixing colors and applying paint to create the details of this scend. Bring a friend, neighbor, relative, spouse for this fun and engaging class.
Open to ALL AGES!
Children under 12 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian
ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Juli Schuszler is a Gloucester artist known for her vibrant and dramatic oil masterpieces showcasing the beauty of the natural world. A passion for color is evident in Juli's paintings, inspired by an ongoing love of nature and gardening. Much of Juli’s inspiration comes from her garden. Juli works from real life observations and her own reference photos, focusing on the play of light and shadow, creating drama and visual interest in her art. Often working on large canvases, Juli paints carefully and slowly, creating numerous layers of paint, building as she goes. Juli says, “I like to search for striking and dramatic light in the images that I collect for my references.... I want to transport the viewer to a beautiful world of color and light with my paintings, to take them into a garden of delight!” Anyone can see that the common thread through all her artwork is a love of color and light. Retired from careers in commercial art and then in teaching Art and English in public school, college, and university, Juli now pursues her own art in her home studio. Her artworks are featured in the Bay School for the Arts, The Charles H. Taylor Art Center, and the Crossroads Art Center as well as the RAL Art Center Gallery.
Open Studio
Bring your art & supplies and paint from 12:00pm-2:00pm. You’ll work alongside other artists in the community, create new friendships, and get great advice on your next masterpiece. There is no cost to attend and no need to make reservations.
2025 Small works show & Holiday Marketplace
SMALL WORKS SHOW & HOLIDAY MARKETPLACE
Opening Reception: Friday, December 5th, 5:30PM - 7:30PM
Support a small, local business this holiday season by gifting your loved one a present that is unique and handmade!
Arts on Main’s Small Works Show and Holiday Marketplace will focus on small, affordable works that are perfect for holiday gift-giving. The Front Gallery and the Gateway Gallery will feature our Small Works Show where all works are 12 x 12 inch or smaller. Throughout the gallery, tables will be set up for our Holiday Marketplace featuring local artists. Our Small Works Show and Holiday Marketplace will run from December 5th to December 27th. The opening of these shows will take place on Friday, December 5th from 5:30pm - 7:30pm. Light hors d’oeuvres will be served and wine + beer will be available for purchase. Live music will be performed by Hunter Owens.
Artists featured in Arts on Main’s 2025 Small Works Show: Lindsay Adams, Margaret Benton-Jones, Sarah Bushey, Brenda Clark, Gloria Coker, Milica Decker, Ellen DeMaria, Paula Dooley, Donald Dransfield, Carolyn Dudley, Lin Hall, Kelly Harriman, Mike Ivey, Diane Keen, Michael Kravchak, Bob Leek, Joan Lazarus, James Liles, Joyce Meier Pully, Jackie Merritt, Karen Pittman, Connie Powell, Jennie Richards, Doris Roland, Heather Salvador, Collin Scott, Karen Thuermer
Many Thanks to our December Exhibit Sponsors, Tish & Will Grant!
Live music will be performed by Hunter Owens at First Friday! Many thanks to our First Friday Music Sponsors, Gail & Rick Griffin!
Hunter Owens is a country/folk singer-songwriter from Mathews, Virginia. Music has been part of his life for as long as he can remember—he started singing as a child and picked up his first guitar at the age of five. What began as simple strums has grown into a lifelong passion for creating and sharing music.
Influenced by artists like John Denver, James Taylor, and Jim Croce, Hunter’s baritone voice and acoustic style reflect a love for honest, heartfelt songwriting. Over the years, he has performed everywhere from church services and community gatherings to larger stages such as Virginia's Li'l Ole Opry and The Old Dominion Barn Dance.
In addition to his solo work, Hunter is the lead vocalist of Three Creeks Down, a folk, jazz, and country trio that blends guitar, piano, and drums. Whether playing in his hometown or reaching new audiences, Hunter’s goal remains the same: to bring us together in a time when we need it most.
ART & FLOWERS
Stop by the gallery on Friday, December 5th and Saturday, December 6th to view the beautiful floral arrangements created by the Sogetsu School of the Middle Peninsula. Each arrangement is interpreted by a piece of artwork in the gallery.
Open Studio
Bring your art & supplies and paint from 12:00pm-2:00pm. You’ll work alongside other artists in the community, create new friendships, and get great advice on your next masterpiece. There is no cost to attend and no need to make reservations.
Open Studio
Bring your art & supplies and paint from 12:00pm-2:00pm. You’ll work alongside other artists in the community, create new friendships, and get great advice on your next masterpiece. There is no cost to attend and no need to make reservations.
WE'RE CLOSED!
WE'RE CLOSED!
We’re closed for Thanksgiving! Wishing you a warm and grateful holiday! 🦃
We will be back open on Friday, November 28th from 12-5pm.
Charcoal Drawing Workshop
Charcoal Drawing Workshop
Instructor: Jody Ball
Saturday, November 22
12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Come and explore the world of charcoal by drawing this pewter teapot on a toned paper surface with charcoal pencils. We will practice and explore ways to create a three-dimensional metallic look on a flat surface! Using the grid system, Jody will teach you how to make a line drawing of the teapot. After you transfer your teapot to the final drawing paper, you will begin to fill in the areas with soft strokes and layers of charcoal as the teapot takes shape on your paper. Jody will give you tips and advice as you work your way through this project. For beginner to experienced students, some drawing experience is helpful but not necessary. Everything you need is supplied in the workshop. Come and join us!
ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR
“Drawing and painting have been a part of my life as long as I can remember. As a child, my parents enrolled me in art lessons with a prominent hometown artist after my mother declared that all I did was draw and color! I now live in Deltaville, VA, but passionately taught art to students of all ages for many years in a homeschool co-op environment and my studio when I lived in Ohio. My first love is the pastel medium, and my representational paintings usually tend towards a softened, sometimes impressionistic appearance. Nature is my inspiration, and I am possessed by the colors, forms, and textures that are possible in creating two-dimensional art. My paintings grace the walls of many homes across the country, and I currently show my paintings at Gloucester Arts on Main, the RAL Art Center in Kilmarnock, and the Bay School Community Arts Center in Mathews.”
Open Studio
Bring your art & supplies and paint from 12:00pm-2:00pm. You’ll work alongside other artists in the community, create new friendships, and get great advice on your next masterpiece. There is no cost to attend and no need to make reservations.
Paper Beads Workshop
Paper Beads Workshop
Instructor: Gudrun Kiel-Bullock
Saturday, November 15
11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Learn how to make easy and colorful paper beads in many shapes and sizes, even Pandora-style beads. Different ways to use the beads will also be demonstrated such as in jewelry pieces, keychain fobs, ornaments, charms, etc.
For ages 15+
Students are required to bring their own supplies. Click the button below to view the supply list.
ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR
“Creating art has always been a main focus in my life. Professionally, I worked as a graphic designer for many years while also pursuing other creative activities. I moved to Virginia 20 years ago and spent the first 6 years as a wildlife rehabilitator raising mostly orphaned baby squirrels. In 2012 I returned to art in the form of drawing in graphite, charcoal, and colored pencils. Fiber art has always interested me and Idiscovered felting in 2015. Creating in fiber – wet and needle felting as well as tapestry weaving – is currently where my journey has taken me. I enjoy the challenge of starting with loose wool fibers and in the case of wet felting, work with soap, water, and agitation to form my vision into a picture or vessel. In needle felting I also start with loose fibers but a barbed needle is my tool and with many needle stabs I create a picture or sculpture. I find both felting and weaving meditative in its repetitiveness and I like that I am using ancient art forms to create something contemporary. But no matter what form creation takes, for me, it is always about the joy of finding that seed of inspiration and seeing it come into form. My art has been accepted in many juried shows and has won awards. I am a member of the Williamsburg Spinners and Weavers and exhibit at the Art Speaks Gallery in Mathews. I have also taught classes in felting and weaving.”
Open Studio
Bring your art & supplies and paint from 12:00pm-2:00pm. You’ll work alongside other artists in the community, create new friendships, and get great advice on your next masterpiece. There is no cost to attend and no need to make reservations.
4th and 5th grade Palette Pals Reception
Palette Pals Reception at Arts on Main
Thursday, November 13
5:30pm - 6:30pm
Join us at Arts on Main on Thursday, November 13th from 5:30pm - 6:30pm for a reception featuring 4th and 5th Grade Palette Pals!
One artist from each class will receive a “Best in Show” award!
Palette Pals is Arts on Main’s signature educational program and part of our Youth Art Enrichment Programs. Founded in 2011 in one elementary school as the After-School Enrichment Program, it is now in every elementary school in Gloucester County, with over 3000 children participating to date. Palette Pals is currently conducted as an extracurricular, before-school program for students in grades K-5, led by the school’s art teacher. The program’s focus is on teaching STEAM-based art lessons that focus on current SOL objectives in math and science. Our goals are to provide hands-on experiential learning through art making and to increase student understanding of concepts related to math and science. This program is provided at no charge to the children or the schools and relies solely on grants and donations.
Thank you to our Sponsors!
Artist Talk + Demonstration
“The Art of Layering: Techniques and Textures in Mixed Media”
Artist Talk + Demonstration with Robert Placky
Saturday, November 8
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Robert Placky shares techniques that transform surfaces through layering, texture, and experimentation. From acrylic lifts and ink transfers to rice paper and found materials, participants will discover how mixed media can expand creative expression. The talk emphasizes process, play, and the power of materials to shape meaning and form.
This event is free and open to the public!
MEET ROBERT PLACKY
Robert is a retired Art Educator & Exhibiting Artist living in Montross, VA.
Education
B.S. in Art Education, Pennsylvania State University
Graduate Studies (M.S. credits), Penn State University
Additional coursework: Virginia Commonwealth University; Manhattan College
Teaching Career
State College Area Senior High School (1982–2015)
Taught Drawing, Painting, and Advanced Placement Studio Art; mentored students in portfolio development
Coordinated AP Studio Art portfolio submissions (1999–2015)
Organized The Decade Shows and The Decade3 Show, featuring 55 alumni artists and a published catalog
Park Forest Junior High School (1974–1981)
International Teacher Exchange, North Geelong Secondary College, Victoria, Australia (1994)
Exhibitions (Selected)
Best of the Best, Shippensburg University (2014)
Images 2012 & 2013, Central PA Festival of the Arts, Robeson Gallery, Penn State University
Art Alliance of Central PA Juried Exhibitions (multiple years)
Presentations (Selected)
National Art Education Association – AP Studio Art portfolios, thematic teaching, and innovative studio practices (NYC, Baltimore, Washington, DC)
Pennsylvania Art Education Association – multiple workshops and lectures
Awards & Honors
Teacher Fellowships: CENTRO (Mexico City, 2013); Maryland Institute College of Art (2005)
Skidmore Six /Artist /Art Educators: summer residency at Skidmore College (1993)
Excellence in Instruction Commendation, Pennsylvania School Study Council (2008)
Superintendent’s Award, State College Area School District (2005)
Member, Art Alliance of Central Pennsylvania (2007–2022)
Member, Tappahanock Art Guild (2025)
Mural Workshop
Mural Workshop
VMFA Special Workshop with Hamilton Glass
Saturday, November 8th
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
*This workshop is divided into four sections: 11am-1pm and 2pm-5pm on Saturday.
You are welcome to come for one of these sessions or all day!
Partnering with the Gloucester-Mathews Humane Society!
Want to be part of creating something beautiful for your community while supporting TWO local nonprofit organizations? Come join Arts on Main and the Gloucester-Mathews Humane Society (GMHS) as we work with award-winning Richmond muralist Hamilton Glass to create a public mural!
In this workshop, we invite you to spend a few hours tapping into your inner artist and working collaboratively with a group to create a piece of public art. Learn what it’s like to be part of the process of creating large-scale works of art that will live and enrich their environment. The mural created in this workshop will be located on a storage container at the Gloucester-Mathews Humane Society.
The workshop is divided into four sections: 11am-1pm and 2pm-5pm on Saturday . You are welcome to come for one or all of these sessions! After signing up, please call or email Arts on Main (804.824.9464 or gallerymanager@gloucesterarts.org) to let us know which sessions you would like to reserve. Spaces are limited to 20 students per session and are on a first-come-first-served basis.
All supplies will be provided by the instructor, just wear clothes you can paint in!
For adults and teens ages 16+
This program has been organized by the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and is funded, in part, by the Paul Mellon Endowment and the Jean Stafford Camp Memorial Fund.
*For Pay What You Can options, please contact Arts on Main at (804) 824-9464
ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Hamilton Glass’s career as an artist stems from his architecture and design background. “Despite working in the architecture field for 7 years, my passion for public art pushed me to start a career as an artist. Public art has always been a big influence and inspiration of mine, because of its power to influence and inspire the surrounding community. With every project I’m given, a dialog is built in that connects the work to the community to in which it lives. My work usually distinguished by my use of architectural elements with bright vivid colors and sharp lines,” he said. For many years Glass has been using public art as a tool to support and promote communities throughout the greater Richmond area. He has worked with an array of organizations, from Community Centers to Richmond Public schools in creating of these social change projects. The projects are usually mural-based and aimed at giving a voice to the underserved population. The goal of these projects is to encourage public equity and give students a since of accomplishment while reaching an unfamiliar audience and environment.
November 2025 Show: "The Art of Rust"
November 2025 Monthly Exhibit
“THE ART OF RUST”
featuring
Al Bryan and Pat Andrews
Opening Reception: Friday, November 7th, 5:30PM - 7:30PM
Explore the beauty found in decay and transformation in The Art of Rust, a dual exhibition showcasing pastel works by Al Bryan and sculptural pieces by Pat Andrews. Through different mediums, both artists capture the textures, tones, and timeless character of rust—celebrating how nature reclaims, redefines, and reimagines the manmade.
Bryan’s photo realistic pastels evoke the warmth and subtle hues of oxidation, transforming corrosion into color and composition. Andrews’ sculptures, by contrast, embrace the tactile strength of metal, revealing resilience and renewal through form. Together, their works invite viewers to see rust not as ruin, but as art—an enduring testament to time, texture, and transformation.
The opening of this show will take place on Friday, November 7th from 5:30pm - 7:30pm at Arts on Main. Live music will be performed by Farren Winter. Light bites will be provided, and beer + alcohol will be available for purchase. The show will be on display at Arts on Main until Saturday, November 29th. The gallery is open Wednesday - Saturday from 12-5pm.
Many thanks to Arts on Main’s November Exhibit Sponsor, Gail and Rick Griffin!
Live music will be performed by Farren Winter during the opening reception! Thank you to Arts on Main’s First Friday Music Sponsor, Yolanda’s!
Farren Winter is a musician who performs live music in the Gloucester, VA area, with past performances documented at local venues like Gloucester Brewing Company and Short Lane Ice Cream. This will be Farren’s second time performing at Arts on Main, and we are delighted to have her back!
Find her on Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/farren_winter
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
PAT ANDREWS
“I have been interested in art in almost every form since middle school. I still remember going to my grandparents’ house and my grandmother teaching me oil painting and my grandfather teaching me woodworking skills. This interest has allowed me to explore different media such as ceramics, wood working, drawing and metal working. As I became a parent, my goal was to encourage my children to develop the same appreciation for art in all its forms. I have watched my daughter learn how to play the piano as a child and taught her how to forge a piece of metal into a Roman Legion spear for her college history class. I have also passed on my love for metal working to my son as he completed a sculpture inspired by Alexander Calder and made a rose out of a cookie tin. Teaching my children these skills allowed me to renew my love for art and inspired me to branch out artistically. My goal is to have re-used or re-purposed 80% or more of all the materials in my pieces. I have learned to look at a piece of material and in addition to seeing it for what it was, seeing what it could become. I believe that is a primary goal of art. To teach us to look past the surface of not just a piece of art, but also another person, and see not just what they are, but what they can become.”
AL BRYAN
While currently living in Bon Air, Virginia, Al grew up in rural North Carolina surrounded by forest and farmland, spending his childhood outdoors and with family vacations to the mountains and coastal N.C. and VA, camping, fishing, and exploring all that nature had to offer. This has greatly influenced his genre of artwork.
Al is a graduate of the North Carolina State University School of Design. While that included plenty of drawing assignments, his formal art training was limited to simple form, color and light, and the history of art and architecture. While a student of Landscape Architecture, Al’s interest in fine art continued through his college years, inherited perhaps from his mother, formally trained, and other Sr. family members on both sides who were artists. His great Uncle Henry, an artist in St. Ives, England, was foremost in his encouragement, sending Al pen and ink sketches of coastal and maritime scenery when he was a child. Al would copy these and mail back the results!
During his career as a Professional Landscape Architect, Al was tasked with creating photo-realistic depictions of “Before” and “After” scenarios, which has carried over into his style which trends toward Hyper-realism.
With regard to his “creative process,” Al has to make a connection with the subject, usually stemming from his life experience.
Open Studio
Bring your art & supplies and paint from 12:00pm-2:00pm. You’ll work alongside other artists in the community, create new friendships, and get great advice on your next masterpiece. There is no cost to attend and no need to make reservations.
Paint your Home with Watercolors *CLASS FULL!
Paint your Home with Watercolors 🏡
*CLASS FULL!
Instructor: Jan Finn Duffy
Saturday, November 1
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Join Jan Finn-Duffy on Saturday, November 1 from 1-4pm for a watercolor workshop at Arts on Main!
Paint your own home using watercolor. It’s a painting you and your family may treasure forever! (Some watercolor experience is helpful, but even beiginners with very little w/c experience can paint their home with instruction.) You will learn to make a value study (a grayscale drawing of your home), how to mix colors, and experiment with painting techniques to render a beautiful painting. All advanced preparation in art materials are provided by the instructor.
Each student needs to submit a good quality photo of your home that you want to paint to the instructor. Please email your photo to programs@gloucesterarts.org by October 25. The photo should have clear detail when printed, with light and shadow contrast, in order to be able to create a successful painting.
*CLASS FULL!
ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Jan Finn-Duffy is a self-taught watercolorist with a passion for painting and sharing watercolor skills with aspiring artists. She has a working studio at 40 Church Street in Mathews, VA, where her art is displayed and lessons are taught. Her art has been published in multiple international publications. Please visit her website www.JanFinnDuffy.com for more information.
Open Studio
Bring your art & supplies and paint from 12:00pm-2:00pm. You’ll work alongside other artists in the community, create new friendships, and get great advice on your next masterpiece. There is no cost to attend and no need to make reservations.
Watercolor Workshop: The Finer Things *CLASS FULL!
Watercolor Workshop: The Finer Things *CLASS FULL!
Instructor: Jan Finn-Duffy
Wednesday, October 29
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Join Jan Finn-Duffy on Wednesday, October 29 from 6-8pm for a Watercolor Workshop at Arts on Main!
Paint this arrangement, one flower at a time. Step by step guidance will help you enjoy the beauty of the watercolor medium. All skill levels can do this!
All supplies will be provided by the instructor. Bring your friends and come have fun painting with watercolors!
FOR AGES 16+
*CLASS FULL!
To be put on a waitlist, please call the gallery at (804) 824-9464
ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Jan Finn-Duffy is a self-taught watercolorist with a passion for painting and sharing watercolor skills with aspiring artists. She has a working studio at 40 Church Street in Mathews, VA, where her art is displayed and lessons are taught. Her art has been published in multiple international publications. Please visit her website www.JanFinnDuffy.com for more information.
Woven Pumpkins Workshop
Woven Pumpkins Workshop 🎃
Saturday, October 25
2:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Learn how to weave cute little pumpkins with yarn on a very portable little loom! Many things can be made on these great little looms. Tina will provide each student with a kit and guide you from start to finish on how to weave and assemble your pumpkin.
All supplies will be provided by the instructor, but if you have any special small sticks you love for a stem or other things you want to add you can bring them....You do not have to bring any supplies as Tina will have them in your kit.
For ages 12+
ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Fiber artist. I do all the fiber sports (crochet, knit, spin yarn, weave, felt, dye). I learned to crochet at 16 as an exchange student living in Brasil. I have been in love with fiber ever since. I love color and textures. I love to learn and explore media and push the limits. My friends say I am a giant fairy living in the human realm. Some of my favorite things are feathers and locks. I love to spin yarn with feathers. I also love to teach.
Open Studio
Bring your art & supplies and paint from 12:00pm-2:00pm. You’ll work alongside other artists in the community, create new friendships, and get great advice on your next masterpiece. There is no cost to attend and no need to make reservations.
Foundation Quilting Workshop *CLASS FULL!
Foundation Quilting Workshop
VMFA SPECIAL WORKSHOP! *CLASS FULL!
Instructor: Julia Pfaff
Saturday, October 18
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Join Julia Pfaff on Saturday, October 18th from 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM for a VMFA special workshop at Arts on Main!
In this fast-moving workshop, you will learn a quick contemporary construction technique guaranteed to expand your quilting abilities. Foundation quilting yields immediate finished results by combining piecing and quilting. This workshop is suitable for beginners and experienced quilters alike. Several samples suitable as small wall hangings or pillow tops will be made during the workshop.
Sewing machines will be available for those who don’t have one, but if you do have a sewing machine, please bring it with you! Fabric will be provided, but feel free to bring your own fabric if you have it.
FOR AGES 16+
This program has been organized by the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and is funded, in part, by the Paul Mellon Endowment and the Jean Stafford Camp Memorial Fund.
*For Pay What You Can options, call the gallery at (804) 824-9464
*CLASS FULL!
To be put on a waitlist, please call the gallery at (804) 824-9464
Take a look at some of Julia’s stunning works!
ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Julia E. Pfaff is a recipient of a 2019-2020 Professional Artist Fellowship from the Virginian Museum of Fine art and an Individual Artist’s Fellowship from the Virginia Commission for the Arts. With an undergraduate degree in Art History from the University of Toronto and a Master of Fine Art degree from Virginia Commonwealth University, she divides her time between being an educator and studio artist. Pfaff has been quilting her entire life and has successfully turned a family tradition into a contemporary art form. Her quilts have been exhibited extensively and can be found in numerous national collections and publications.
View her work at https://juliapfaffquilt.blogspot.com
Open Studio
Bring your art & supplies and paint from 12:00pm-2:00pm. You’ll work alongside other artists in the community, create new friendships, and get great advice on your next masterpiece. There is no cost to attend and no need to make reservations.
Autumn Pastel Workshop *class full!
Autumn Pastel Workshop
*class full!
Instructor: Jody Ball
Wednesday, October 15
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Have fun painting an autumn scene in this one-day pastel workshop! You will be provided with beautiful photos supplied by your instructor, Jody Ball, or you can bring your own fall-themed photo to recreate. Jody will guide you with instruction, tips, and techniques as you have fun watching your painting come alive on the colorful, textured board supplied in the class. This workshop is suitable for both beginners and advanced individuals, and everything you need is provided in the class. Come and join us and experience this interesting technique in the world of pastels!
All supplies will be provided by the instructor.
For adults and teens ages 12+
class full!
To be put on the waitlist, please call the gallery at (804) 824-9464
ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Drawing and painting have been a part of my life as long as I can remember. As a child, my parents enrolled me in art lessons with a prominent hometown artist after my mother declared that all I did was draw and color! I now live in Deltaville, VA, but passionately taught art to students of all ages for many years in a homeschool co-op environment and my studio when I lived in Ohio. My first love is the pastel medium, and my representational paintings usually tend towards a softened, sometimes impressionistic appearance. Nature is my inspiration, and I am possessed by the colors, forms, and textures that are possible in creating two-dimensional art. My paintings grace the walls of many homes across the country, and I currently show my paintings at Gloucester Arts on Main, the RAL Art Center in Kilmarnock, and the Bay School Community Arts Center in Mathews.
Shibori Dye with Indigo Workshop
Shibori Dyeing with Indigo 💙
Instructor: Sara McCourt
Saturday, October 11
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Join Sara McCourt on Saturday, October 11 from 1:00pm - 4:00pm for a Shibori dyeing workshop at Arts on Main!
This class will teach you the basics of Shibori dye techniques using an indigo dye vat. Shibori is a Japanese form of creating resists on fabric for dyeing. This art form uses string, blocks, folding and clamps to create unique designs on the cloth. This class will cover the basic techniques and each student will dye their own scarf. Indigo is its own unique tradition used in many countries around the world. All supplies will be provided by the instructor.
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR
An avid knitter, Sara found that the needles in her hands were the gateway tool to a deeper passion: fiber. Wondering about the sourcing and processing of her mail-order wools led her to complete her Master’s Spinning Certification program at the Olds College in Alberta, Canada. She then began to use her handspun yarns in weaving. This of course led to the use of natural and synthetic dyes in her work. Now, Sara spins and dyes her own yarn, fibers, and fabrics for use in her various fiber arts.
Open Studio
Bring your art & supplies and paint from 12:00pm-2:00pm. You’ll work alongside other artists in the community, create new friendships, and get great advice on your next masterpiece. There is no cost to attend and no need to make reservations.
Needle Felt a Small Pumpkin 🎃
Needle Felt a Small Pumpkin 🎃
Instructor: Gudrun Kiel-Bullock
Saturday, October 4
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Join Gudrun Kiel-Bullock for a fiber workshop on Saturday, October 4th from 10am - 3pm at Arts on Main!
Learn how to needle felt a small 3D pumpkin with an expressive face. Great opportunity to practice felting faces since there is no "right" or "wrong" pumpkin face. Materials will be provided by instructor. Large sewing needle, tweezers and reference pictures of expressive faces are helpful but optional. Bring a lunch or snack if desired.
FOR ADULTS AND TEENS AGES 16+
ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR
“Creating art has always been a main focus in my life. Professionally, I worked as a graphic designer for many years while also pursuing other creative activities. I moved to Virginia 20 years ago and spent the first 6 years as a wildlife rehabilitator raising mostly orphaned baby squirrels. In 2012 I returned to art in the form of drawing in graphite, charcoal, and colored pencils. Fiber art has always interested me and Idiscovered felting in 2015. Creating in fiber – wet and needle felting as well as tapestry weaving – is currently where my journey has taken me. I enjoy the challenge of starting with loose wool fibers and in the case of wet felting, work with soap, water, and agitation to form my vision into a picture or vessel. In needle felting I also start with loose fibers but a barbed needle is my tool and with many needle stabs I create a picture or sculpture. I find both felting and weaving meditative in its repetitiveness and I like that I am using ancient art forms to create something contemporary. But no matter what form creation takes, for me, it is always about the joy of finding that seed of inspiration and seeing it come into form. My art has been accepted in many juried shows and has won awards. I am a member of the Williamsburg Spinners and Weavers and exhibit at the Art Speaks Gallery in Mathews. I have also taught classes in felting and weaving.”
2025 Annual Juried Show
2025 Annual Juried Show!
Opening Reception: Friday, October 3
5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Congratulations to the artists featured in this year’s 2025 Annual Juried Show at Arts on Main!
Sammy Anderson, Jody Ball, Canan Boomer, Beth Anne Booth, Barbara Brecher, Laurie Breakwell, Judy Bumgardner, Sarah Bushey, Brenda Clark, Jim Dees, Donald Dransfield, Jan Finn-Duffy, Carolyn Thompson Dudley, Mary Ellis, Jordan Flower, Mary Huennekens, Nancy Jacey, Anne Jackson, Bonnie-Leigh Jones, James Warwick Jones, Seth Jason Leslie, Lindsay Manzlak, John Maples, Kate Marrier, Mary McCormick, Gayle Merrill, Jackie Merritt, Lauren Oliver, Patricia Owens, Robert Placky, Tamara Priestley, Jennie Richards, Heather Salvador, Juli Schuszler, Collin Scott, Lauren Sowder, Patricia Spayd, Ron Spence, Theresa Wells Stifel, Brenda Sylvia, Lilyann Teifer, Gigi Vranian, Carol Whitney, Patricia Zavada
The 45+ artists in this show use fiber, metal, oil, watercolor, pastel, wood, and more to create stunning and unique art. The pieces range from the whimsical and humorous to the thought-provoking and insightful. You don’t want to miss this one-of-a-kind show!
This exhibition will run from October 3rd to November 1st. Three winning artists will be awarded a cash prize at the First Friday opening reception on Friday, October 3rd from 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM at Arts on Main. Juror and Judge Trent Nicholas will discuss his jurying process and announce the winning artists around 6:30 PM. Light bites will be served and beer + wine will be available for purchase. Nathan Stephenson will be performing live music.
Many Thanks to our October 2025 Exhibition Sponsors, Joan Bevelaqua & Robert Pagelsen!
MEET YOUR JUROR & JUDGE
Trent Nicholas received a BFA in Painting and Printmaking from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1974 and an MA in Cinema Studies from New York University in 1986. He is currently the Statewide Media Programs Coordinator at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and teaches film history for the VCU Art History Department as Adjunct Faculty.
Live music will be performed by Nathan Stephenson at the opening reception!
Many Thanks to our First Friday Music Sponsor, Martha Matthews!
Open Studio
Bring your art & supplies and paint from 12:00pm-2:00pm. You’ll work alongside other artists in the community, create new friendships, and get great advice on your next masterpiece. There is no cost to attend and no need to make reservations.