2013-14 Kids' Arts Programs Coming to Watchung Arts Center

Registration is underway for a new year of the Watchung Arts Center's art workshops for children.

The center presents a Drawing Enrichment Workshop with instructor Monica Schraiber Otero that begins Sept. 24. In the class, young artists develop natural ability, improve skills and explore new techniques as they learn the fundamentals of drawing. Students will use dry and wet media such as pencil, charcoal, oil or chalk pastels, India ink and watercolors as they discover how to sketch, shade and use perspective. Projects will include still life drawings, portraits, landscapes in natural settings (if/when weather permits), optical illusions, abstracts and more.

The 10-week drawing workshop will meet Tuesdays from 4:30-6 p.m. on Sept. 24, Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29; Nov. 5, 12, 19 and Dec. 3. A 10-week winter session moves to Thursdays from 4:30-6 p.m. on Jan. 9 16, 23, 30; Feb. 6, 13, 20, 27 and March 6 and 13. For spring, there will be an eight-week session, again on Tuesdays from 4:30- 6 p.m., operating April 1, 8, 22 and 29 and May 6, 13, 20 and 27.

If oil and canvas are your child's speed, the Watchung Arts Center also provides a Painting Enrichment Workshop. In this class, students create realistic pieces or let their imaginations go as they learn how to use non-toxic acrylics on canvas boards. Young artists will produce colorful works as they learn the basics of traditional techniques used by masters Cezanne, Matisse and Picasso.

The painting workshop runs Thursdays from 4:30-6 p.m. in the fall on the following dates: Sept. 26; Oct. 3, 10, 17 and 24; Nov. 7, 14 and 21 and Dec. 5, 12. Winter painting classes will move to 4:30-6 p.m. Tuesdays on Jan. 7, 14, 21, 28; Feb. 4, 11, 18 and 25 and March 4 and 11. The spring painting workshop will run eight weeks on Thursdays between 4:30 and 6 p.m. on April 3, 10 and 24 and May 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29.

The fee for each of the fall and winter sessions is $140 and there is a $15 supply fee. For spring, the cost is $105 plus the $15 supply fee. Arts Center members get a $5 discount on the program cost, and there is a sibling discount of $10 after the first sibling is paid in full. If you wish to sign up your child for multiple sessions, a fall-winter combo runs $285, and the costs to attend all three season session is $390.

For registration and information, contact Renata at 908-754 -8433 or send email to yoreca@aol.com. Make checks payable to the Watchung Arts Center.  The Watchung Arts Center is located at 18 Stirling Road in Watchung.