Community Calendar

Learn about local wildlife and ways to support your local bird population with the Augusta Bird Club. Learn about apps to help track your birding finds and how to participate in "citizen science" with the annual Backyard Bird Count.

Shenandoah Valley Art Center presents: Compositions that Work with Peg Sheridan. Do you wonder why your paintings don't seem to "pull together" at the end? Would you like to understand how to use compositional tools to make your paintings better? In this hands-on class, you will learn powerful, practical compositional tools that work. Whether you are painting landscapes, figures, still life or abstracts, you will learn how to arrange shapes for better impact and balance. Through guided exercises, you will learn compositions that are proven winners. Peg will provide weekly demonstrations for each of the six weeks of class. She will provide color worksheets, one-on-one help and weekly reviews of student paintings. She has been painting in watercolors for 45 years, and teaching watercolor painting for 35 years, and is known to be the most popular watercolor instructor in the Piedmont/Blue Ridge region. See Peg's work, and more about her classes and materials list at www.pegsheridan.com . (Fee: $250, Tuesdays, September 23, 30, October 7, 14, 21, & 28, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm, at 126 S. Wayne Avenue., Waynesboro, VA 22980, register: www.pegsheridan.com or call SVAC at 540-949-7662)

Shenandoah Valley Art Center presents Advanced Skills in Watercolor II, a six week course with Peg Sheridan. Are you seeking to advance your skills in watercolor painting and increase your confidence with the medium? This course offers a structured exploration of watercolor techniques, emphasizing both creativity and technical competence. Participants will explore wet-in-wet as well as dry brush methods, negative painting approaches, layering color, the use of additional mediums, and the integration of lines using watercolor pencils and crayons. The curriculum also includes practice with larger-scale paintings. Instruction consists of demonstrations, color worksheets, and individual support. Students will have the opportunity to select their subject matter, with an emphasis on experimentation throughout the course. A materials list is available at www.svacart.com or call 540-949-7662. (Register with Peg Sheridan directly at www.pegsheridan.com, and click on “Upcoming Classes” and then "Registration for Advanced Skills in Watercolor II," follow the instructions. Register by January 20th. Refunds of a $50 deposit cannot be issued for cancellations after January 20th. Fee $260, Tuesdays, January 27, February 3, 10, 17, 24, March 3, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., 416 Classroom, 416 W Main St, Waynesboro, VA 22980)

Shenandoah Valley Art Center presents a free Bi-Monthly Printmaking Demonstration! These sessions are not only free but open to the public. Our goal is to have you join us to learn more about this amazing medium and experience the possibilities of the Tom Brown Printmaking Studio! (Tuesdays, January 13 and 27, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m., 416 W. Main St. Waynesboro, VA 22980.)

Shenandoah Valley Art Center presents a Monthly Print Demo. Free and open to the public! Come join us and learn about the wonderful world of printmaking. Print Club Demos are held every second Tuesday from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. in the 416 Print studio. (416 W. Main Street, Waynesboro, VA 22980)

Shenandoah Valley Art Center presents Stretch & Release Yoga with Paula Figgatt & Leslie Chisnell. Gather in the Heart of Downtown Waynesboro for a meditative experience that benefits the mind while increasing your range of flexibility and centeredness in the body. Stretch & Release Yoga targets the fascia and connective tissues including tendons, ligaments and bones while creating suppleness, openness and health for our inner organs and muscles. By stilling the mind, bring the awareness deeply inward to create peace and relaxation. Restore and Renew the Spirit. Tuesday, January 27, 6:05 - 7:00 p.m., (Fee: $10, 12 weeks pass January 27 – April 14, $100, Register: www.svacart.com or call 540-949-7662, 416 Gallery, 416 W Main St, Waynesboro, VA 22980)

Shenandoah Valley Art Center presents: The Artist’s Sketchbook: Foundations in Color, Texture and Techniques with Rainbow Willard. Whether you are just getting started or want to reignite your creativity , this six week class is designed to help artists build technical skill while developing a personal visual voice- all within the pages of a working sketchbook. You will explore foundational techniques like color mixing, layering, and value studies using accessible materials like graphite, colored pencil, and acrylic paint. Each class includes a worm-up prompt, a focused technique or concept, and time for play, exploration, and reflection. This course is ideal for anyone seeking structure inspiration, or a return to joyful artmaking. You will leave with a sketchbook full of creative breakthroughs and a toolbox of techniques to keep your practice going strong. Rainbow Willard is a practicing artist and art educator with a BFA in Art Education from Virginia Commonwealth University. She has experience teaching all ages and specializes in drawing, painting, mixed media, and printmaking. Rainbow creates a welcoming, encouraging space where students can build confidence, explore new techniques, and make art that feels personal and fun.( $175, material fee $10, Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., October 8, 15, 22, 29, November 12, 19, register: www.rainbowwillard.com/shop )

SVAC Thursday’s Painting Group is a meeting of artists who want to paint! Artists bring their own supplies and gather at SVAC on Thursdays, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at no cost to participants. Take advantage of your fellow painters for inspiration and light critique if you are interested. Come relax, share ideas or techniques, and independently work in the medium of your choice! Please call Shenandoah Valley Art Center if you are interested in joining and reserving a space! (540-949-7662, January 8, 15, 22, 29, 416 W. Main St., Waynesboro, VA 22980)

SVAC Thursday’s Painting Group is a meeting of artists who want to paint! Artists bring their own supplies and gather at SVAC on Thursdays, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at no cost to participants. Take advantage of your fellow painters for inspiration and light critique if you are interested. Come relax, share ideas or techniques, and independently work in the medium of your choice! Please call Shenandoah Valley Art Center if you are interested in joining and reserving a space! (540-949-7662, February 5, 12, 19, 26, 416 Gallery, 416 W. Main St., Waynesboro, VA 22980)

Shenandoah Valley Art Center presents Painting Floral Still Life in Pastels with Julia Lesnichy. Join Julia Lesnichy in exploring color and technique in pastel painting. The focus of this class will be colorful floral still lifes! Julia will show you how to balance colors and values and use an impressionistic technique of breaking colors. She will instruct you in using colors and values to create depth and contrast. Students of all levels are welcome. They may use their own or the artist's reference photos. Students should bring their own pastel sets and paper. Recommended are Unison landscape pastel set and a hard Nupastel set plus UART pastel paper of any size.
Julia Lesnichy works in oil and pastel as an artist in Crozet, Virginia. She creates mostly plein air landscapes, indoor and outdoor still life and florals. She also enjoys creating portraits of people and animals in oils as well as soft and oil pastels. (Register: Email, Text, or Call instructor at (434) 806-3134 or julialesnichy@aol.com, Fee: $65, Thursday, February 12, 11:00a.m. – 3:00p.m., 416 Classroom, 416 W. Main St., Waynesboro, VA 22980)