Mackay Art Exhibition

Pick-up at Mackay for 2024 show...

• Tuesday, February 18th, 10:00am - noon
• Friday, February 21st, 11:00am - 4:00pm
• Saturday February 22nd 8:30am - 11:00am

Charcoal Portraiture Drawing Classes
with William Araujo

4-weeks, Tuesday evenings, begin, February 18th, 6:00-8:00pm, and finish March 11th.

Join us at Ridge Art for a unique art class where you'll explore the beauty of portraitures using a limited palette of four captivating colors on paper. Let your creativity flow in a welcoming and inspiring environment under the guidance of William, a seasoned artist known for his engaging and informative classes.

In this class, you'll delve into the intricacies of creating striking portraitures with colored charcoal, learning techniques that will enhance your artistic skills and expand your creative horizons. Whether you're a beginner or experienced artist, this class offers a stimulating experience for all levels of proficiency.

All materials supplied. You are welcome to bring your materials.

ART PICKUP

$85.00/Month

Monthly Pottery Studio Membership

Unlock your creativity with our Monthly Pottery Studio Membership! This membership gives you unlimited access to our fully-equipped studio, where you can explore the art of pottery at your own pace. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced potter, you'll have everything you need to create beautiful, handcrafted pieces.

What’s Included:

• Unlimited Studio Access: Come in as often as you'd like during open hours, with no time limits.
• Expert Guidance: Access to workshops & classes, plus the option to book one-on-one lessons with Austin Snedden, Studio Manager.
• Kiln Firing: We’ll fire your pieces in our professional kiln, ensuring top-quality results.
• Community & Events: Be part of a vibrant community of artists. Participate in special events, pottery nights, and gallery shows.

Whether you want to hone your skills, work on personal projects, or just explore pottery, our membership provides the perfect space and support to help you create and grow. Join us today and start your pottery journey!

**This is not a guaranteed form for access to the studio. All inquires will be contacted to finalized studio membership.** 

Exhibition Details

Receiving........Friday, February 21st, 11:00 am - 4:00 pm

Receiving........Saturday, February 22nd, 8:30am-11:00am

Judging......................Saturday, February 22nd, 11:30 am

Our judge is Sally Evans (below)

Critique........................Saturday, February 22nd, 2:30pm

Show Opens.................................Thursday, February 28th

Awards & reception................Thursday, March 27th 5:30pm

Show Closes .........................................February 15, 2026

Pick-up at Mackay for art in the 2024 show (last year):

Friday, February 21st, 11:00am - 4:00pm

Saturday February 22nd 8:30am-11:00am

AWARDS

Best of Show - $400.00

Second Place - $300.00

Third Place - $200.00

Awards of Excellence (3) - $75.00

Honorable Mention (3) - $50.00

Click below to download the prospectus:

Mackay Prospectus R1.pdf

Demo by Janet Rogers

This dynamic workshop is designed to enable participants of all levels to quickly gain confidence in approaching the head and figure in a more spontaneous, intuitive and expressive way.

Janet will teach how to paint a “head and figure”, with expressive and loose techniques inwatercolors. We will learn how tocapture the gestures, the changing colors in palette and on paper, all painted in a spontaneous manner.  Janet likes to capture the person in a “moment” that is in the middle of a breath and wants the painting to exude that “life”.  Her workshops are highly sought after and usually fill up quickly.

Demonstrations, class instruction, individual assistance, “show and tell”, and a series of “fun” exercises, will weave into class painting time.  Special emphasis will be on achieving a fresh look of translucent flesh tones in the portrait with unique color changes, which will add to the excitement of capturing the essence of the subject.  Painting Children will be covered also.  Many “features” will be covered!  All levels will benefit, and help is available to those who are new to the portrait.  No Fear!!

Students will have an opportunity to work from their photographs or Janet’s.  (a photograph of the demos that Janet will be painting will be provided to all.)  Our goals will be to “see” in new ways -- bringing “life” and interpretation to the portrait, and to discover intuitive color and design.  ALWAYS FUN!!!

JANET ROGERS has been a working professional artist for over 40 years, and is a nationally recognized instructor, conducting workshops throughout the United States, Canada and in Europe.  She has been awarded SIGNATURE MEMBERSHIP of the American Watercolor Society, Transparent Watercolor Society of America, Florida Watercolor Society, as well as others – also winning many honors and awards for her paintings.  As well as a National Instructor, she has demonstrated extensively for various groups and exhibitions.

ARTIST’S STATEMENT: 

“I LOVE THE QUALITIES OF WATERCOLOR – ITS FLUID NATURE.  TO ME, THE INTERACTION OF ARTIST WITH THE MEDIUM IS LIKE A DANCE – FULL OF MOTION, FEELING AND EXPRESSION.  I LOVE TO WATCH THE PAINTING DEVELOP AND TO DISCOVER NEW COLOR AND COMPOSITION.  AS A TEACHER, I WOULD LIKE TO ENABLE STUDENTS TO FIND THEIR CONNECTIONS WITH WATERCOLOR IN A NEW AND EXPRESSIVE WAY”. --JANET ROGERS, AWS

Beginner's Pottery Wheel Course
Unleash your creativity and learn the art of wheel throwing!

Course Overview:
This hands-on pottery course is designed for beginners who are eager to explore the fundamentals of throwing clay on a pottery wheel. Whether you’ve never touched clay before or have a bit of experience, this course will guide you through each step with personalized instruction and plenty of practice time. You'll learn essential techniques to create functional and decorative pieces, from centering the clay to shaping, trimming, and glazing your final creations.

What You'll Learn:

• Introduction to the Pottery Wheel: Learn how to set up your workspace, center the clay, and throw basic shapes.

• Shaping Techniques: Develop your skills in creating bowls, mugs, and simple vessels.

• Trimming and Finishing: Discover the basics of trimming, adding handles, and refining your pieces.

• Glazing: An introduction to glazing techniques to bring your pieces to life with color and texture.

• Basic Clay Knowledge: Understand the types of clay, how to care for your tools, and how to maintain your wheel.

• Studio Membership: ALL currently enrolled students will get access to the studio on weekdays 12pm-6pm.

Course Format:

• Price - $220 Members, $260 Non-Members

• Duration: 4 weeks, 3-hour sessions

• Class Size: Small group setting for individual attention

• Materials: All materials, including clay and tools, are provided. Just bring an apron or towel that you don't mind getting dirty!

• No Experience Needed: Ideal for beginners!

What to Expect:

• Hands-on learning in a supportive, creative environment.

• Step-by-step demonstrations and personal guidance from experienced instructors.

• Opportunities to experiment and develop your personal style.

• A chance to make and glaze several pieces you can take home and enjoy.

Beginner's Hand Building Ceramics Course
Explore the art of creating unique pottery without a wheel!

Course Overview:
In this beginner-friendly course, you'll learn the basics of hand building, a traditional pottery technique that involves shaping clay by hand rather than using a wheel. Perfect for those who prefer a tactile, slower approach to ceramics, this class covers a variety of hand building techniques that allow you to create functional and artistic pieces. Whether you're interested in making mugs, bowls, sculptures, or other clay creations, this course will provide you with the foundational skills to bring your ideas to life.

What You'll Learn:

• Pinching: Master the simple yet versatile technique of pinching to create small vessels and sculptures.
• Coiling: Learn how to build larger pieces like bowls, vases, and planters using coils of clay.
• Slab Building: Discover how to roll out clay slabs and join them to create geometric forms, boxes, trays, and other flat or boxy shapes.
• Surface Decoration: Experiment with carving, stamping, and texture techniques to add visual interest to your pieces.
• Assembly and Joining: Understand how to properly join different parts of your pieces to create stable, durable constructions.
• Basic Glazing: Introduction to glazing techniques to finish your pieces with color, texture, and shine.

Course Format:

• Duration: 4 weeks, 3-hour sessions
• Class Size: Small group for more individualized attention
• Materials: All materials, including clay and tools, are provided.
• No Experience Needed: Ideal for beginners or anyone interested in learning more about hand building techniques.
•  ALL currently enrolled students will get access to the studio weekdays 12pm-6pm.

What to Expect:

• Hands-on guidance and demonstrations from experienced instructor.
• A creative and welcoming environment where you can explore your personal style.
• Opportunities to create both functional pieces (like mugs and bowls) and decorative sculptures.
• Time to experiment with different textures, shapes, and finishes for your work.
• Finished pieces that you can take home, ready for use or display.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

This show is displayed in the Ridge Art Gallery and features art from middle school and high school students. Polk State joins Ridge art in sponsoring this event to encourage development of visual art in our schools. Polk County teachers make this event possible by collecting and transporting art for display.  Most pieces are for sale. Each year over $2000 in prize money and scholarships are given. This exhibition is presented each year by the Ridge Art Association. 

Note date:

Wednesday, March 19, 6:30 pm

Live Pottery Wheel Demonstration
by Austin Snedden