To allow our instructors adequate time to prepare for their class, registrations close 5 days prior to class start date. Classes not meeting the instructor’s minimum enrollment at that time will be cancelled and refunds will be issued. You are not registered until paid in full. Space will not be held for unpaid registrations. Material fees are included in the class price unless otherwise specified.

Upcoming Classes

Clay Open Workshop

Date: Tuesdays in April
Time: 5:30 – 8:30pm
Cost: $30 ($25 BRAC Members) per session
Instructor: Wendy Converse
Skill Level: Some Experience Needed

Join us at the Arts Center on Tuesday evenings for our open clay studio. All supplies, including clay is provided. Just come with an idea and some enthusiasm and Wendy will help you make your ideas reality. Get your hands dirty as you sculpt, carve and create in three dimensions. With Spring just around the corner, why not create some hanging plant pouches or garden stakes or a large planter? Or just have fun, in a relaxing and supporter environment. Some experience is helpful, but our group of artists will help guide you and give you helpful tips to make the best of your experience. All work will dry for several weeks before being fired then you’ll come back to glaze your piece(s).

Wendy’s passion for clay started in college, where she earned a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts with a focus in Ceramics and Printmaking. After which, she spent 14 years in Massachusetts studying under numerous ceramic and sculpture artists in order to expand her vision and skills. In 2014, Wendy relocated to Salem, SC to focus on her art and family. Her work has been shown in galleries up and down the East Coast and resides in private collections across the country.

REGISTER NOW. Maximum Participants: 8

Technique And Critique

Date: Wednesday, April 15
Time: 1:00 – 3:00pm
Cost: $35 ($30 BRAC Members)
Instructor: Chris Cartledge
Skill Level: All Levels Welcome

We will briefly discuss the composition of a Masters’ artwork explaining the composition and design principles, elements and color strategy used at the start of each class. Afterwards, the space will be an open studio and participants will be encouraged to bring in finished or unfinished works for critique and technique advice from a professional artist. Chris has a strong background in visual design as well as experience in drawing, pen and ink, watercolor, acrylics and oils.

This class is designed to benefit beginner level artists through advanced level artists. We will focus on improving your knowledge of the art process and your art through practice and instruction.

Classes will take place on the third Wednesday of each month. While you are not required to attend every month, the sessions will build upon each other with each session including follow up, reinforcement and new material. Masters’ works will be discussed, and handouts will be provided. Plan to bring your own art and ideas for critique and constructive discussion. Participants should bring the materials needed to work on their personal projects.

Chris started painting while a student at Clemson University in the late 80s studying under Professor Ireland Regnier, where he further developed his deep love for the arts and painting. Recently, one of his paintings won honorable mention and was featured in “The Best of Acrylic Artist Magazine and American Artist”. Currently, Chris is on the board of the Blue Ridge Arts Council in Seneca, SC, where he teaches drawing, painting (oil, acrylic, and watercolor), sculpture, and art theory. He creates from his home studio overlooking Lake Keowee.

REGISTER NOW. Maximum Participants: 13

Monthly Soft Pastel Workshop

Date: Thursday, April 16
Time: 1:00 – 4:00pm
Cost: $45 – must be a BRAC Member
Instructor: Cynthia Jones
Skill Level: All Levels Welcome

This workshop meets on the third Thursday of each month (except April and August). Participants should expect a techniques discussion at the beginning of the workshop. Each student, working on their own chosen subject matter, gets individual attention from the instructor as she makes rounds offering help and guidance throughout the studio. If you are new to pastels, a supply list will be provided at your first class. Always bring your reference photos!

Cynthia Jones has been teaching pastel painting to beginner and intermediate artists for the past 15 years, first at Keowee Key and then at BRAC. She has a BFA and teaching certification and has taught “art “ in many mediums to all ages throughout her life. She no longer lives on Lake Keowee, but continues her connection with BRAC by having this monthly workshop.

To register, call or email Cynthia at 404-242-5038 or cpj928@yahoo.com. Payment will be made at the door (please bring 2 checks (or cash) – one for $33 payable to Cynthia and one for $12 payable to BRAC). Maximum Participants: 8.

Acrylic Painting for Beginner & Intermediate Artists

Date: Wednesday-Friday, April 22-24
Time: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm (each day)
Cost: $190 ($180 BRAC Members)
Instructor: Martha Driscoll
Skill Level: Beginner & Intermediate

No matter what medium you work in, it’s impossible to overstate the importance of the foundation of good art. As we search to understand our own creative voice, how we express ourselves through art, it is critical to ingrain in our minds the fundamentals of a good painting. First, we look at the foundation of a good painting – composition. Then we look at the tools, the elements and principles of art. In this class we will be reinforcing the foundation of good art. We will individually explore a composition of your choosing, or you can select from my large supply of landscape and still life images. If you bring your own reference, have it in both color and black and white. Come and have fun creating with friends.

Supplies Needed:

Paints – One warm and one cool color of red, blue and yellow, plus white and black. Any additional colors are up to you.
Brushes – Think large. I like to have at least 3 large brushes (¾” up to 2 ½”) for large paintings and 2 or 3 small brushes (about 1/4”) for the detail. I like square shaped brushes for large work and at least one round and one square brush in a smaller size plus one round, pointed tip for detail and signatures.
Bring an ebony pencil and a kneaded or soft eraser. I’ll provide paper unless you want to use your own sketch book. I will also provide canvas paper for our 3 preliminary color studies.
On day two, bring a large, stretched canvas. (Suggested sizes: 24×24 or 22×28, or larger) By the end of day one, after your preliminary work in class, you will know if you want a rectangular or a square canvas for our final project
We will break for lunch each day, so bring something to eat and drink. We have access to a refrigerator, a microwave and a Keurig coffeemaker.

Martha has served on the BRAC Board and is a past president and her reputation as an excellent teacher and an award-winning, innovative painter are recognized by her previous students, fellow artists, and the community at large. As the facilitator of BRAC’s Critique Inspired Support, Life Drawing, and Life Painting Artists Groups, her guidance is sought by professional and amateur artists alike.

Class is full

Open Studio

Date: Monday-Friday, April 27 – May 1
Time: 9:00am – 8:00pm
Cost: $100/full session or $25/day (must be a BRAC Member)
No Instructor
Skill Level: All Levels Welcome

Immerse yourself in creating! Grab your supplies and head over to the Arts Center. We’ll get you set up with a space to spread out. Then, it’s time to get to work. You can come and go as you please and leave all your materials in place, so that you can quickly restart on your return the next day. There is no instructor and no formal program, just you and your fellow artists creating in a collaborative atmosphere. Need help resolving a particular area in your piece? There are ample opportunities to learn from the wisdom and support of other artists any time you feel the need. And typically, the group does a critique session around lunchtime, for those interested in participating.

All mediums are welcome. Bring all your own supplies and we’ll supply the table, chair, and easel (if needed). Sign-up for the full session or just a day or two, it’s up to you!

REGISTER NOW. Maximum Participants: 8

Click Clack – What to take after Watercolor for Dummies

Date: Wednesday & Thursday; April 29 – 30
Time: 1:00 m – 4:00 pm (each day)
Cost: $100 ($90 BRAC Members)
Instructor: D Percy
Skill Level: Beginner & Intermediate

Are you a true beginner or intermediate on your watercolor journey? This class is for you! Our focus will be on reinforcing basic techniques of speed/ timing of execution and paint consistency, PLUS learning how to create “carrot people” (figures). You will learn different applications of strategy along with new brush types to obtain the rainy reflective nature of this scene.

This class is a great follow on to our Watercolor for Dummies class. There’s no preparation other than procurement of materials in advance (list to be provided)

**** Enrollment will close April 19 to allow time for procurement of items.*****

Supplies Needed (download here)

D. Percy Watercolor Artist dpercy@yahoo.com | 678.350.1175 Artist Statement From the wild landscapes of my youth to the vibrant cultures I’ve encountered across the globe, my journey has always been rooted in a deep reverence for the natural world. Though my early path led me into Wildlife Biology and a decades-long international career far from the studio, the call of creativity never left me—it simply waited for the right moment to resurface. Now, as a watercolor artist, I bring a lifetime of observation, curiosity, and global perspective to each piece I create. Watercolor, with its luminous unpredictability and delicate precision, has become my chosen medium, a perfect match for both my scientific eye and my artistic soul. I’m drawn to its ability to evoke depth and emotion within the constraints of two dimensions, and I embrace its challenges as opportunities for growth. My work is rooted in realism, not as a pursuit of photographic replication, but as a tribute to the intricate beauty of nature. Each brushstroke is a study in detail, a meditation on form, and a celebration of the palette that the natural world offers. I strive to create art that is instantly recognizable yet emotionally resonant. I want to create art that invites viewers to reconnect with the landscapes and creatures that surround us. As an emerging artist, I’ve begun exhibiting and selling professionally, with my first works featured at the Blue Ridge Arts Center. I’m an active member of the South Carolina Water Media Society and the National Watercolor Society, and I continue to refine my craft through ongoing study and exploration. This next chapter is not a return—it’s a reinvention. I paint to honor the wild, to share its stories, and to inspire others to see the world with fresh eyes. Exhibitions /Participation • Blue Ridge Arts Center – 2024, 2025 Memberships • South Carolina Water Media Society • National Watercolor Society

REGISTER NOW. Maximum Participants: 12 **** Enrollment will close April 19 to allow time for procurement of items.*****

Renaissance Oil Painting Workshop

Date: Monday-Friday, May 4 – 8
Time: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm (each day)
Cost: $475 ($465 BRAC Members)
Instructor: Tom Humbert
Skill Level: All Levels

Immerse yourself in the timeless techniques of the Old Masters in this intensive one-week oil painting workshop. Designed for artists of all levels, this course guides students through the classical Renaissance method step by step. Beginning with a foundational under-drawing, you will learn to create a structured and accurate composition before developing a monochromatic underpainting to establish form, value, and light.

With this solid groundwork in place, we will then explore the rich world of color application, layering, and glazing. These are the traditional techniques used by master painters for centuries to achieve depth, luminosity, and subtle transitions. Each day includes hands-on instruction, demonstrations, and personalized guidance, with a midday break for lunch.

By the end of the week, you should have a finished oil painting using authentic Renaissance methods and gained a deeper understanding of classical craftsmanship that you can apply to your own artistic practice. Click here to download the supply list.

Tom Humbert is an accomplished conservation and portrait artist with years of experience restoring and preserving fine art. He has cleaned and restored well over a hundred paintings and antique picture frames, bringing new life to artworks that span centuries.

In addition to restoration, he is passionate about teaching the traditional oil painting techniques of the early Italian Renaissance masters. His goal is to pass along the timeless skills and methods that defined that era — techniques that create depth, realism, and enduring beauty in every painting. Additional information about Tom’s workshop can be found online at tomhumbert.com.

REGISTER NOW. Maximum Participants: 20

Beginning Pencil Portraits

Date: Wednesdays, May 13, 20, 27 & June 3
Time: 10:00 am – Noon (each day)
Cost: $130 ($120 BRAC Members)
Instructor: Liz Purcell
Skill Level: Beginner

In this four session class students will be taught the basics of drawing a realistic pencil portrait from a reference photo. The instructor will provide reference photos of faces and demonstrate a systematic approach to capturing a good likeness. There will be a focus on learning to draw what is seen rather than “symbols” of features. Students will be provided with reference photos to work with between sessions. All materials provided by instructor

Liz Purcell is a native of Clemson who has been drawing and painting portraits for 30 years. Liz has exhibited her work in juried shows at the Blue Ridge Arts Center, Anderson Arts Center, Gateway Arts Center and the South Carolina Watermedia Society’s annual show. She was a selected artist in the Las Vegas Portrait Project in 2018.

REGISTER NOW. Maximum Participants: 8

Technique And Critique

Date: Wednesday, May 20
Time: 1:00 – 3:00pm
Cost: $35 ($30 BRAC Members)
Instructor: Chris Cartledge
Skill Level: All Levels Welcome

This class is designed to benefit beginner level artists through advanced level artists. We will focus on improving your knowledge of the art process and your art through practice and instruction.

REGISTER NOW. Maximum Participants: 13

Monthly Soft Pastel Workshop

Date: Thursday, May 21
Time: 1:00 – 4:00pm
Cost: $45 – must be a BRAC Member
Instructor: Cynthia Jones
Skill Level: All Levels Welcome

Bob Ross Landscape Class

Date: Saturday, June 6
Time: 1:00 – 4:00pm
Cost: $95 ($85 BRAC Members)
Instructor: Andrea Williams
Skill Level: Beginner

Learn to oil paint with Bob Ross’ wet-on-wet technique from the Joy of Painting PBS show. “The creative process is therapeutic and healing. It makes you take pause and be in the moment. It really is about enjoying the steps and learning to move the paint with purpose.” Andrea is a Bob Ross Certified Instructor (CRFI, CRI) who loves to share the Joy of Painting! In this 3 hour oil painting class, she will lead you on a step-by-step journey thru the whole process, teaching you all the valuable Bob Ross techniques and tips!