Associated Artists of Winston-Salem, Inc. upcoming events

Lovely Layers: Unlocking the Mysteries of Mixed Media with Brandi Jacques (09/19/2026)

Sat, 19 Sep 2026 13:00:00 GMT

Unlock Mixed Media, Layered Art with Brandi Jacques

Unravel the secrets of multi-layered artwork. Discover ways to draw viewers in and make them wonder. With Brandi's engaging teaching style and encouraging support, artists of all levels will explore playful paths to personal expression through mark-making, collage, painting, and more.

The course will cover which materials are compatible, the optimal layering order, and how to integrate layers into a unified whole. Participants will come away with six layered pieces in progress... maybe even completed!

What to bring: (Suggested but not required. Brandi will have some supplies and papers on hand, which are included in the supply fee.)

Artists may bring their own water-soluble supplies if desired.
A sketchbook/notebook and pen/pencil may come in handy.
Participants may bring any paper materials they wish to use in collage. There will also be plenty of collage material provided.

This class is offered at a drastically reduced price thanks to the generous funding from the Shallow Ford Foundation.

About the Instructor:

Brandi Jacques is an award-winning artist and educator with 40 years of teaching experience. She holds a PhD in Music Education from the University of Toronto and has spent her career inspiring students through both the performing and visual arts. A member of the Associated Artists of Winston-Salem, her paintings have been exhibited at venues including the Milton Rhodes Gallery, the Benton Convention Center, and the Elberson Fine Arts Center.

Equally at home in abstraction and realism, Brandi often blends the two to capture fleeting moments in nature, the play of light and shadow, and the mysterious textures of time—ancient parchments, asemic writing, and surreal landscapes. Her teaching reflects the same spirit of exploration and freedom, encouraging students to discover their own creative voices through the energy and expressiveness of painting, drawing, and mark-making.

Artist Meet Up (09/20/2026)

Sun, 20 Sep 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Join us for our fun, informal artist meet-ups every third Sunday at Broad Branch Distillery from 2pm on.

Plein Air Watercolor Painting (10/10/2026)

Sat, 10 Oct 2026 13:00:00 GMT

Plein Air Watercolor Painting

Course Description:

In this half-day plein air experience, artists will learn how to really observe their surroundings and portray the emotions that they feel while they are there. Participants are invited to bring their own watercolor materials and learn about focusing on the beauty of our own backyard at the Mary Alice Warren Community Center. A view finder will be provided with instructions on finding a good composition and interesting subject matter.

Artist Kara Bugis, painting a green sea turtle on the beach.

Course Itinerary:

9am – 9:30am – Introductions, discussions of materials and composition

9:30am-11:30am– Exploration outside, finding a suitable scene or subject, set up, begin sketching or painting.

11:30am-12:00pm – Feedback and critiques.

Supply List:

Required

o A full set of preferred watercolor paints
Tube option (Kara’s set in use): Indigo, https://amzn.to/45ev5XU Primary set,
https://amzn.to/4xxeVFc
Pan option: https://amzn.to/3UpNlev
o Watercolor brushes:
Any size 0, 2, 8, 12, wash – set option: https://amzn.to/4qgt4UQ
o Watercolor block or pad sized 9x12” and up
Block - does not required taping or a clipboard
Good
https://amzn.to/3S5MAqn
Better
https://amzn.to/4zdKHc0
Unbound Paper- will need to tape to a clipboard to prevent warping
Good
https://amzn.to/4wosaXN
Better
https://amzn.to/4g1SGQC
o Pencil and Erasers: https://amzn.to/3RKECmu
o Watercolor tin and/or palette: https://amzn.to/4bJFcaS
o A bag or backpack that will fit all of these items.

Optional but encouraged:

o Waterproof pens
o Watercolor pencils
o A fold-out chair or bucket to sit on outside
o option with table and storage: https://amzn.to/4fZYw4S
o Umbrella or rain jacket in case of inclement weather
o Camera or cell phone with camera to take reference photographs

Clipboards, painters tape, and 1 piece of loose watercolor paper per student will be available.

The artist has linked to items that she regularly uses in her practice. These include affiliate links, which means she may receive compensation if you click on links to products or services and make a purchase. This comes at no additional cost to you.

Artist Bio:

Growing up in rural Western Pennsylvania, I gained an appreciation for the natural environment and art from my family of farmers, teachers and environmental workers. I was blessed to grow up barefoot in my backyard with access to every type of artistic medium and private lessons from my retired art teacher grandfather and nature loving grandmother. My love of art and the environment has grown throughout my relocations and adventures, and I enjoy teaching my children and others about the importance of conserving our natural resources through my artwork.

The best way for me to appreciate both the outdoors and art is to combine the two through plein air painting. Second to that, painting memories of a place that I’ve visited or animals that I’ve encountered helps make me feel as if I’m there again. I’ve traveled the world and painted the places that I’ve visited in honor and appreciation of our natural environment. I enjoy all types of media, depending on my mood and the season. Ceramics are my medium of choice in the fall and spring when it is cooler to fire my kiln, watercolor when I am traveling or want a painting memory-like painting, and pen and ink, acrylics and pastels when I want a more defined subject.

Artist Meet Up (10/18/2026)

Sun, 18 Oct 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Join us for our fun, informal artist meet-ups every third Sunday at Broad Branch Distillery from 2pm on.

Color Theory: Aerial Perspective in Landscapes (11/07/2026)

Sat, 07 Nov 2026 18:00:00 GMT

Color Theory: Aerial Perspective in Landscapes

with Kimberly Varnadoe

Aerial perspective is described as the use of gradations in color and definition to suggest distance. In addition to linear perspective, the use of parallel lines converging on the horizon to convey depth, this tool will heighten the appearance of distance in your paintings.

Leonardo Di Vinci developed the idea of aerial perspective. It relates to the Munsell color system in that colors generally get Lighter (value), Bluer (hue) and Grayer (chroma) as the space recedes in the distance.

Simply put, aerial perspective is the atmospheric distance between objects in a painting. Depending on our relationship to the objects, and the relative distance involved, this can be quite apparent. The heavier the atmosphere, more moisture in the air, the more pronounced the effect. Lower elevations that commonly have higher amounts of moisture in the air are the easiest to witness the effect. Think of viewing a landscape on a rainy or foggy day. The drier the atmosphere, and the higher the elevation, the less apparent it becomes.

This class will explore the concept of aerial perspective, guiding you through color sequences that can be used as a basis for creating deep space on a 2-D plane. We will work on loose color sketches/paintings in a variety of color schemes so we can experience the process and take this skill back to the studio to apply to our paintings.

We will be working with acrylic paint; however, you may bring your own medium if you prefer to practice with watercolor, colored pencils, etc.

All materials will be provided, but if you have favorite paints and/or brushes you would like to use, feel free to bring them.

This class is offered at a reduced price due to the generous grant from the Shallow Ford Foundation.

Artist Meet Up (11/15/2026)

Sun, 15 Nov 2026 19:00:00 GMT

Join us for our fun, informal artist meet-ups every third Sunday at Broad Branch Distillery from 2pm on.