A wide variety of classes, exhibits and contests for beginners to experienced artists are planned at Enjoy The Journey Art Gallery, located at 1168 Orchard Park Road in West Seneca.
“We have an Amateur Photography Contest scheduled in January,” said gallery owner and artist Paulette Krakowski. “The contest features four different categories and participants can enter up to five 8x10 photos for just $20. Photos may be dropped off on Jan. 12 or 13 and the exhibit will be on display from Jan. 16-27, with an awards ceremony at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20. Cash prizes will be awarded.”
In February the gallery will display artwork created by Art Academy students from West Seneca West and West Seneca East High School. Many of the participating student artists will be continuing their art education in college. An opening reception will take place from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 2, at the gallery.
The gallery’s March exhibit, "Landscapes, Cityscapes & Seascapes,” is currently open to all artists who work in colored pencil, pastels, gouche, and pen and ink. Artists may submit up to three entries and the cost is $30. Drop-off dates are Friday, Feb. 23 and Saturday, Feb. 24.
Upcoming classes and workshops at Enjoy The Journey Art Gallery will include the following:
Colored Pencil Studio Night, open to those who would like to work in colored pencil, will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 11 and 25. Bring your pencils, paper or board, and a photo to work from. There is no cost for this class.
Wine, Women & Art with Andrea Oswald will be offered from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18. This evening’s group will be painting beautiful wine glasses for Valentine’s Day. Supplies and refreshments are included and the cost is $30 per person.
On Friday, Jan. 19, stop by for a Cherokee Wheel Basket Class with Maureen Quale from 6 to 9 p.m. This basket will work as a nut bowl, on your office desk, in your cupboard for gravy mixes and seasoning packets, in the bathroom to hold all those little items that clutter your vanity … the options are endless! The cost is $40.
Beginner Acrylics with Bernice Smith will be offered from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan 23 and 30 and Feb. 6 and 13. Participants will learn about color, mediums, mixing, how to use light and dark to your advantage, and basic techniques. The goal of this class is to learn to paint and then expand on that by learning real, practical art basics, and the cost is $80.
A Saturday workshop, Making Fabric from Fluff with Suzanne O’Brien, will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 27, and the cost is $40. Guests will learn the process of creating wool felt via wet felting in this introductory class. This class will focus heavily on the process of creating a uniform piece of felt rather than a product. The sample created in class can be incorporated into future creative activities.
On Saturday, Feb. 3, 10 and 17, a Painted Papers Workshop with Suzanne Borowicz will be offered from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. In this workshop, participants will use the method of painting with paper as taught by Elizabeth St. Hilaire. This is a free flow, no stress, no mistake method of paper painting that will inspire your creativity beyond your class experience. Guests will create beautiful hand-painted collage papers and a one-of-a-kind piece of art. The cost is $120.
Studio Acrylics with Bernice Smith will be offered from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 20 and 27 and March 6 and 13. Studio is for those who have taken the beginner class and feel they are ready to move on or seasoned painters who want to work more on their own personal growth. More information is available on the gallery’s website, and the cost is $80.
February’s Wine, Women & Art with Andrea Oswald will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 22. Participants will paint a beautiful glass dish featuring their favorite saying. Refreshments and supplies are included in the $30 class fee.
A Wet Felted Wool Bird House Pod workshop will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 24. In this workshop guests will learn about the properties of wet felting and will then use those techniques to create a wool vessel in the form of a hanging bird pod. Hand-dyed wool and all necessary materials will be supplied, and the cost is $68. Wet felting can get wet and soapy at times, and hand-dyed wool can sometimes bleed dye, so please wear appropriate clothing and bring two old bath towels to this workshop.
Enjoy The Journey Art Gallery also features a beautiful gift shop featuring a wide variety of unique products made by local artisans. For more information, please call 675-0204, visit http://etjgallery.com or follow the gallery on Facebook for frequent updates.
