Early Summer craft classes at the Arkansas Craft School

It’s been a lovely, cool spring this year, but summer temperatures have now arrived. What are you doing with your summer?

It’s boating season! John Van Orman will be offering his popular ‘Building a Pirogue’ boat-making class on two separate dates: June 25 – 29, and August 6 – 10, 2013. Using contemporary stitch-n-glue techniques, these finished pirogues are sturdier, of lighter weight and more water-tight than traditionally constructed vessels. Students go home at the end of the week with their very own hand-crafted pirogue flat-bottomed canoe, ready for painting and then sailing. Materials fee for the classes is $310.00, and tuition is $275.00. Be sure and call the Craft School soon (870-269-8397) if you would like to enroll in the June session to allow us time to order your materials.

Also during the week of June 25 – 29, Terri Van Orman will be teaching ‘4-Harness Weaving’ at the Craft School’s fiber studio. This is the perfect introduction to weaving on the 4-harness loom, for those who have always wanted to learn to create hand-woven scarves, placemats, rugs or cloth for clothing. Students will be creating a sampler of several different threadings combined with many different treadlings; as well as a final, individual project. In addition, intermediate weavers are invited to expand their skills by exploring more advanced techniques such as lace-weave or overshot weave. Tuition is $275.00 for this five-day initiation into the fascinating world of weaving.

Starting off the month of July, Aileen Anderson will be presenting ‘Beginning Rug Hooking’ July 5 & 6. Many authorities believe rug hooking to be America’s one indigenous folk art. Not the same as latch hooking, rug hooking employs the use of a hand hook, similar in shape to a crochet hook, to form a looped pile from fabric strips or yarn, on an even-weave base fabric. Students can expect to complete a small hooked mat. Tuition for the 2-day class is $125.00, and participants should expect to pay $65.00 materials fee for a starter kit.

Glass artist, Beau Anderson, will be in town July 8 – 12 to present his class on ‘Glass Bead Making’. Beginning glass bead makers can expect to learn the basics of working with molten glass and the torch. Intermediate glass bead makers will have time for individualized instruction to expand their skills and capabilities. Tuition for the 5 day class is $525.00. As with all Arkansas Craft School classes, scholarships are available.

Potters and ceramists – July 13 & 14, Paul Lewing will be at the Craft School to teach ‘Ceramic Glaze Calculations’. Tired of getting your glazes out of a little jar, or of conducting unsuccessful glaze tests? Paul, a former NCECA “glaze doctor” can show you how to successfully navigate the process of calculating glazes to produce the color and surface effects you are looking for. The two-day workshop is $400.00.

Visit the Arkansas Craft School’s website, www.arkansascraftschool.org for more information on these and other upcoming classes, as well as registration forms and scholarship applications. The Arkansas Craft School, located on Main Street in Mountain View, Arkansas is dedicated to the education of aspiring and practicing craft artisans for success in the Creative Economy. The Craft School partners with Ozarka College which offers Continuing Education credits for all of its courses. Support for the Arkansas Craft School is provided, in part, by the Arkansas Arts Council, an agency of the Department of Arkansas Heritage, and the National Endowment of the Arts.