Teachers learn

Artists and instructors from Fine Arts Blount gather at ArtSpace to discuss upcoming classes. Pictured are Lyda Plemons, Carroll Shope, Grady Caskey, Suzanne Stockfish, Dianna Bishop and Yichen Reneau.

FAB-ulous classes and workshops, FAB-ulous instructors and a FAB-ulous environment are what people can look forward to this Spring with the upcoming schedule from Fine Arts Blount.

FAB has released their Spring schedule of workshops and classes. All classes will be held at ArtSpace, the home to Fine Arts Blount. ArtSpace is located at the corner of Church and College in the bottom of the former Blount County Library and Red Cross building.

“I love teaching because it helps me as an artist,” said Diann Lewis Bishop, one of FAB’s instructors who teaches an adult art class and a children’s class. Throughout the adult class, Bishop said she works with composition, and the students can work in a variety of media.

Bishop, who taught artists in residencies in West Virginia, has experience with portrait work and mural painting. She said when she’s creating a piece, she finds the direction first, then focuses on the movement and examines the limited parameters.

Some of Bishop’s murals can be seen in the Putnam County Library in West Virginia and at the Greenbrier Hotel in West Virginia. She said she paints on canvas and ships it to the location so they can have the mural wallpapered on site.

In the children’s art class, Bishop said she starts the students out with a simple grid. She said that by dividing a paper into four squares, it allows them to visualize using the whole paper. From creating the layout of a computer game, the students learn about developing the layout of a piece of artwork. They also learn about sequencing, predicting and forming judgments, Bishop said. Throughout the classes, the students also learn about shading.

One exercise Bishop uses in her children’s classes is to show the students pictures of a castles. The class then discuss ideas about what might surround the castle. Bishop said that by discussing the potential surroundings -- whether they choose princesses or dragons -- the students learn to create composition and are encouraged to develop images.

“I love interaction with children because their imagination is still intact,” Bishop said. She said throughout the classes, the children are exposed to a variety of media.

In the ArtSpace environment, the children have an opportunity to “exhibit” their artwork. Bishop said the Fine Arts Blount exhibits are changed out monthly in ArtSpace, so children have an opportunity to see an assortment of work.

“We’re all working towards giving something to the community,” Bishop said of the FAB artists.

Lyn Cherry, another of the teachers and artists, says FAB is trying to fulfill an important mission in Blount County.

“FAB is trying to make ArtSpace the place for art in Blount County. We are a not-for-profit entity, and our main objective is to provide affordable art classes, taught by excellent Blount County instructors, for children and adults,” Cherry said. “Also, we provide an attractive gallery in which to exhibit works by our local Blount County members of FAB. Our exhibits are changed monthly, so that there is always something new and exciting to see.”

Gallery hours are Tuesdays through Fridays, 11 a.m. until 3 p.m.; Saturdays, noon until 4 p.m. They also offer private viewings for groups by appointment. Monthly meetings, which are open to the public, are the first Thursdays of each month and usually feature a program before the business meeting.

To find more information on the classes and FAB, go to fineartsblount.com or call 865-982-0898 to reserve a spot in the workshops or classes. Class size is limited so the students receive individual attention.

FAB will also be offering a children’s summer camp based on American folklore. Bishop and other FAB instructors will be working with students to create pieces from several media. The web site will provide more information as it becomes available.

In addition to classes, coming up for FAB is their annual fund-raiser, Art on the Runway on Thursday, April 17, at St. Andrews Episcopal Church. The show, which will be from 6 to 8 p.m., features a fashion show and the auction of hand-painted umbrellas done by FAB artists. Judy Gardner of the Silk Purse will provide the fashions.

Tickets are $25 and can be purchased from FAB members, at the Blount County Chamber of Commerce and at Blount Today.

Proceeds go to fund FAB art activities.

Class Schedule for Spring

• Friday/Saturday March 14-15 - Creative Landscape Oil Painting Workshop

Instructor: Susan Colclough

Age accepted: Adults (teen on individual basis)

Cost: $125 for non-members; $112.50 for members. (Students supply own materials and easels.)

Time: Friday evening March 14 -6 until 9 p.m.; Saturday, March 15 - 9 until 12 noon and 1 until 4 p.m. 6 hours with a break for lunch (workshop is 9 hours long)

Space for only one student left.

All skill levels accepted

• Saturdays March 22, 29, April 5 - Chinese Brush Painting

Instructor: Yichen Reneau

Age accepted: 14 to Adult

Cost: $60 for non-members; $54 for members (Materials Included)

Time: 1 until 3 p.m.

Number of students limited

All skill levels accepted

• March 31, April 1, 2, 3 - Basic Drawing in Charcoal

Instructor: Carroll Shope

Ages accepted: 18 and up

Cost: $75 for non-members; $67.50 for members

Time: 1 to 3 p.m. - March 31, April 1, 2, 3 (four classes in one week)

Number of students limited

No drawing skills needed

• Monday, April 7, 14, 21, 28 -Children’s Art Classes

Instructor: Lyda Plemons

Ages and time: Ages 7 to 9, 4 - 4:45 p.m.; ages 10 to 12, 5 - 6 p.m.

Cost: $40; supplies furnished

All skills accepted

• Friday, April 4 and Friday, April 11 - Oil Painting Workshop - Iris Floral

Instructor: Lyda Plemons

Ages accepted: 18 and up

Cost: $155 for non-members; $139.50 for members

Time: 9:00 - 3:00 each day (total 12 hours)

Number of students limited

Basic painting skills needed

• Tuesday, April 8, 15, 22 - So, You Want To Paint?

Instructor: Suzanne Stockfisch

Ages accepted: 18 and up

Cost: $65

Time: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Number of students limited

No skills needed

• Saturdays, April 19 and 26- School Age Children - Introductory Drawing and Composition - Graphite on Paper

Instructor: Grady Caskey

Ages accepted:

Cost: $15 (materials provided)

Time: 1 until 3 p.m.

No skills needed

• Wednesday, April 2- Silk Scarf Workshop

Instructors: Lyda Plemons and Suzanne Stockfisch

Ages accepted: Adults

Cost: $60 (materials provided)

Time: 10: a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

All skill levels accepted

• Saturdays, May 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, June 7 - Children’s Art Class

Instructor: Diann Bishop

Ages targeted: Elementary to Intermediate School (others accepted by permission of instructor)

Cost: $60

Time: 11 a.m. until noon

• Tuesdays, April 29, May 6, 13, 20, 27, June 3 - Drawing and All Painting Media

Instructor: Diann Bishop

Ages accepted: 18 and up

Cost: $80 - 6 weeks 2 hours per class

Time: 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

All skill levels accepted

• Saturdays, May 10, 17, 24, 31 - Drawing Portraits from Photographs

Instructor: Yichen Reneau

Ages accepted: Adult (other ages by permission of instructor)

Cost: to be announced

Time: 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.