Step into the vibrant world of art, music, and culture as we unveil this months exciting lineup at Arts Bonita.

Mini Workshops

Medium Paint Fluid Art: Puddle Swipe Dip/Reverse Dip Balloon Smash

July 27 | 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Fluid art is a dynamic form of art that involves manipulating and pouring fluid acrylic paints to create unique abstract art. Learn the fundamentals of fluid art including paint consistency, color combinations, and various pouring techniques to create your own stunning works of art. Students will explore three different techniques: Puddle Swipe, Dip/Reverse Dip, and Balloon Smash creating cells and lacing. BRING BOXES - XL pizza boxes work well to take home wet paintings. Canvases are between 12x12 and 11x14" sizes. They must lay flat so plan accordingly. Four to six canvases will be painted in this class.

REGISTER

One Night Events

Raku & You

July 29 | 5:30 PM

Raku is a centuries old pottery glazing and firing process. The technique produces a lustrous, often metallic, finish. Raku & You is an evening devoted to this ancient process. Attendees choose from a number of bisque fired pots and are introduced to the history of Raku while applying glaze to their pot in their own unique design. While the outdoor kiln heats up to the correct temperature; attendees enjoy a picnic-style meal. Then the fun begins as red hot pottery is plunged into metal containers filled with combustible material. The containers are lidded and the pots rest for a few moments before being quickly cooled with water. The results are spectacular and everyone is invited back into the studio to view each piece. Everyone goes home with their very own raku masterpiece.

REGISTER

Atelier Program

Artist’s Choice

July 25 - August 15 | 1:00 PM

You pick the subject and medium-oil, acrylic, pastel, watercolor- and work from your personal references to explore composition, color, perspective, lighting, brush strokes and more. This is a relaxed atmosphere, offering mentoring to bring out the best of your abilities.

REGISTER

Short Pose Figure Study

July 24 - August 14 | 1:00 PM

All mediums, all levels.

This 4-week session will focus on the initial block-in of the figure from life. Concepts covered include simple measuring techniques, enveloping, shape abstraction, and capturing gesture or the implied energy of a pose. Poses will range in length from 10 minutes to 40 minutes.

REGISTER

Independent Project Mentoring
July 24 - August 14 | 9:00 AM

Introduces the student to the visual language of art making to develop an efficient, analytical process for interpreting form. New students will copy high resolution plates from Charles Bargue Drawing Course and more established students/repeat students will copy plaster reproductions of classical figurative sculpture using two and three dimensional drawing concepts that orient the student to the academic process of comparative measurement, plumb-lining, triangulation, shape finding, value organization and rendering techniques.

REGISTER

Tuesday Night Figure Study
July 23 - August 13 | 6:30 PM

This 4-week session focuses on the development/refinement of the figure from life. Concepts include value organization, shaping light, superficial anatomy and a simple model of light.

REGISTER

More Classes!

Extreme Functional Pottery
July 22 - August 12 | 9:00 AM

Level All Hand builders and wheel throwers unite to design and create fun inventive table wear. Serving dishes, berry bowls, chip n dips, pitchers and flower vases. Combine hand built and wheel thrown pieces, cut pots apart and reassemble, add funky feet, handles, lugs and lids.

REGISTER

Personal Pathways
July 22 - August 12 | 1:00 PM

Level All w/experience - not for beginning wheel throwers. Pursue and explore your own ideas with instructional guidance to achieve your individual goals in wheel throwing or hand building; alter or combine different techniques to create something that is uniquely you. $85 clay glaze firing.

REGISTER

Slab to FAB
July 23 - August 13 | 9:00 AM

Level: All Learn how to create wonderful functional and non-functional clay work using the slab roller and hand-building. The possibilities are endless, this is a fun class for beginners but anyone is welcome! $85 clay glaze firing.

REGISTER

Intro to Stained Glass
July 25 - August 15 | 9:00 AM

Beginner level

Patrick will teach the fundamentals of stained-glass construction. Including: Project layout, Glass cutting and grinding, Copper foiling, Soldering, Framing, Cleaning, and Waxing.

REGISTER

Independent Study: Throwing and Hand-building
July 24 - August 14 | 9:00 AM

All levels are welcome to work on the wheel or hand-building. This will be an individually mentored class. Beginners will have focused instruction and experienced clay artists may work on their own projects.

REGISTER

Introduction to Pointed Pen Calligraphy
July 22 - August 12 | 9:00 AM

Good handwriting is NOT a prerequisite to this course! Learn the basics of pointed pen calligraphy with experienced calligrapher and instructor Megan DeSelms of Inked Romance Calligraphy and Design. In this 4-session course, students will first learn about the history of pointed pen calligraphy, and be introduced to different pointed pen script styles (Copperplate, Spencerian, and Modern Calligraphy). After becoming familiar with the tools of the trade, students will learn to create the basic strokes that form every letter of the Copperplate alphabet. Phase 2 will be putting the basic strokes together to form lowercase letters (minuscules) and Phase 3 is learning the capital letters (majuscules) and numbers. Phase 4 - for intermediate/advanced students - will be creating an exemplar (complete alphabet) suitable for framing. Students of all levels are welcome - this is a semi self-paced course and students will master each phase before moving on to the next.

REGISTER

Exhibitions

Floracion

July 25 - September 5, 2024

Visual Arts Center, Main Gallery
26100 Old 41 Road, Bonita Springs

Group exhibition - Cecilia Valadez, Monika Bokelmann, Sonia Rosa, Julia Da Rocha, and Winnie Purple

This exhibition brings together five Latina artists, each with a unique style yet united by their dedication to their craft. Their introspective works explore deep connections to nature, themselves, and each other through various media. Experience the growth and blooming of these remarkable artists: Cecilia Valadez, Monika Bokelmann, Sonia Rosa, Julia Da Rocha, and Winnie Purple.