Santa Paula Art Museum — It’s the Purr-fect Week to Make Some Art!

Art creates community.

Self-Portrait with Sespe Red by John Nichols, 2009, photograph. Collection of the Santa Paula Art Museum.

It’s the Purr-fect Week to Make Some Art

Our recent, adorable visit from Lucky the dog got us thinking about how artists celebrate pets and animals in art, so with the help of Santa Paula Animal Rescue Center, the Museum’s August Art To-Go Bag is all about animals (see below). We also took a moment to appreciate the animal art in the Museum’s permanent collection. You’re probably quite familiar with Jessie Botke’s birds, but do you know about John Nichols and his beloved cat, Sespe Red? Hear the story behind the artwork. It’s part of our collection of local artist self-portraits. And be sure to check out this week’s outdoor art classes at the Museum below.

Free Art To-Go Bags Giveaway

Saturday, August 22, 2020, at 10:00 a.m.

The Museum will be giving away free Art To-Go Bags on Saturday, August 22, at 10:00 a.m. The bags will be available via a drive-thru only pick up in the parking lot behind the Museum (while supplies last – limit 5 bags per family). For this month’s bag, the Museum partnered with Santa Paula Animal Rescue Center to inspire the projects. Inside the bag you’ll find a mix of art media including watercolors, crayons, and air-dry clay. Projects include a watercolor resist peacock inspired by the work of Santa Paula’s most famous artist, Jessie Arms Botke, as well as 3D pet portraits using clay and puppetry. There will also be a special surprise from S.P.A.R.C. inside each bag and during pick up! Plus, we’ll be giving away free face masks while supplies last.

Thank you to our sponsors Brianne McGrath, Kai and John Blanchard, Fran and Jim Christiansen, Kathy Good, Willa and Earl McPhail, Michael Pulliam, and Dorcas Thille for making the bags possible.

Outdoor Art Class: $5 Craft Night – Zen Doodling (Ages 16+)

Thursday, August 20, 2020, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Join teaching artist Mariann Romero in the Museum’s outdoor courtyard for an evening of Zen Doodling. Learn the tips and tricks of patterning, shaping and defining doodles, and tap into your creative flow to create one-of-a-kind artworks. The cost of class is only $5.00 per person and all students ages 16 and over are welcome. Space is extremely limited as class sizes are being kept small to maintain social distancing. You can read more about our new class policies for maintaining a safe learning environment here.

Outdoor Art Class: Monotypes Using Gelatin Plates (Ages 16+)

Saturday, August 22, 2020, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

We have more than one outdoor class to choose from this week! Join us in the Museum’s outdoor courtyard for a fast, fun, color-filled experience in printmaking. Learn how to make your own gelatin plate and use water based inks to create multiple prints to take home. The cost of this class is $80.00 per person. Space is extremely limited as class sizes are being kept small to maintain social distancing. You can read more about our new class policies for maintaining a safe learning environment here.

Outdoor Art Class: Plein Air Sketch and Paint (Ages 16+)

Three-part course: Saturday, September 5, 2020; Saturday, September 12, 2020; and Saturday, September 19, 2020, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. each day

Ask most of our artist-friends and they’ll tell you that plein air sketching and painting is one of the best ways to develop as an artist. In the Museum’s newest outdoor art class, teaching artist Rebecca Stebbins will show you how to capture the spirit of a place while honing your skills in observation, composition, value, and color. Students will meet at the Museum and then walk to nearby vistas for inspiration. The cost of this three-part course is $40.00 per person. Space is extremely limited as class sizes are being kept small to maintain social distancing. You can read more about our new class policies for maintaining a safe learning environment here.

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