By KATE SNYDER

Community Arts Center 

Recognizing that many busy adults feel like their lives are too over-scheduled to allow for art class, the Community Arts Center has started offering more single-session workshops, designed to give art-lovers a much-needed “creativity break” in the midst of their hectic lives.

This Thursday, Creative Director Brandon Long will teach a 2-hour photo editing workshop. The class promises to teach students a few quick and easy tricks to perk up their pictures using a free downloadable software. 

“It’s really amazing what a difference you can make in the quality of your pictures with a few simple adjustments,” says Long. Students must bring their own laptop to class.

On Saturday, CAC will welcome Lexington artist Connie Tucker for a 3-hour workshop on watercolor painting. Connie will teach students how to develop a painting based on a photograph, providing detailed instructions about how she approaches the process. After more than 30 years as a public school art teacher, Connie is now a full-time artist and watercolor workshop instructor.

The Arts Center’s popular Starry Night Studio program invites artists of all ages to create their own masterpiece in a single, guided painting session. In 2018, the Arts Center is expanding its “local masterpieces” series by offering several paintings that are inspired by original artwork by Danville artists. 

“The Ballerina,” on Feb. 28, was adapted from an original painting by Sarah Wiltsee. “Constitution Square” on April 11th was adapted from a photograph by Geri Trinler. SNS painting classes are open to students at all levels of experience — even complete beginners who have never held a brush. Thanks to step-by-step instructions from a professional artists, students leave the workshop with a beautiful finished painting.

For those more interested in learning about art than creating it themselves, CAC’s noontime art history lecture series continues through March 6. From noon to 1 p.m. each Tuesday, CAC will host a Centre College professor who will speak on an arts topic. 

Today, Dr. Barbara Hall will speak on the topic of “Art in Music,” examining the depiction of music, musical instruments and musicians in 21st century artwork. On Feb.27, Dr. Ken Keffer will discuss the theme of ‘time’ in impressionist paintings, including the hours spent making, exhibiting, and viewing the work.

On March 6, Dr. David Hall will lead a discussion on “Lessons in Cultural Flows” using the Great Mosque of Cordoba as his case study. 

“Cultural forms are in constant flow across geographical, social, and political boundaries,” says Davis Hall. “The Great Mosque in Cordoba, Spain is a happy example of the adoption, adaptation, and transformation of a preexisting set of architectural forms that became emblematic of medieval Spanish architecture.”

More information about the Arts Center upcoming classes and workshops for adults, as well as opportunities to register for classes can be found at www.communityartscenter.net/art-for-adults.

IF YOU GO

• Photo Editing Workshop, 6-8 p.m. Thursday, $30/person

• Watercolor Workshop, 1-4 p.m.Saturday, $50/person 

COMING UP 

• Time for Impressionism, an art history lecture with Ken Keffer, noon-1 p.m. Feb. 27, $13/person 

• Lunch with the Arts: Erika Holmquist-Wal on Women Artists in the Age of Impressionism, noon-1 p.m. Feb. 28, $5/person (participants may bring lunch)

• Starry Night Studio: The Ballerina, 6-8 p.m. Feb. 28, $35/person

• The Great Mosque of Cordoba: Lessons in Cultural Flows, noon-1 p.m. March 6, $13/person