The ArtsNatchez Education Committee and the Natchez Art Association are cosponsoring an art workshop, that will be open to the public. The mission of both nonprofit organizations, is to stimulate art and art appreciation in the Natchez area and to provide the opportunity for training, education and practice of art through workshops and demonstrations.

Due to Hurricane Gustav, The Introduction to Oil Painting Workshop was rescheduled; the new time is from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Saturday at the Priest House, 205 Canal St., next to The House on Ellicott Hill. The cost of the workshop is $35 each and $20 for high school students.

We are extremely happy to have artist Shawn Crowe volunteer his time and talent to teach this oil painting workshop. Crowe is a graduate of Cathedral High School in Natchez and he received his Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from Louisiana State University, with a focus on oil painting, watercolor, gouache and mixed media. Crowe has exhibited his work in several galleries in the South Louisiana area.

In this beginning oil painting workshop, participants will learn color mixing, paint application techniques and fundamentals. Also covered, the color wheel, monochromatic, cool, and warm paintings, as well as color value, hue and tertiary colors.

Art materials will be furnished at the workshop, but for those who would like to purchase supplies here is a list of recommendations from the instructor — an 18 by 24 multipurpose drawing pad; diamond shaped palette knife or similar (a necessity); palette or palette paper; small container of odorless mineral spirits (must be odorless); one roll of paper towels; one container of liquin (type of medium used for paints); one drawing pencil and gum eraser; if owned, portable easel; small bottle of Murphy’s oil soap; a rag or two and four primed canvases 8.5 inches by 11 inches or larger.

The oil paints recommended include, red, blue, yellow, green, orange, violet (purple), black and white. Recommended brushes are No. 2 and No. 4 and please bring several of each. Also, a fan, lay in and pointed brush.

Instructor Shawn Crowe sent this message: “Don’t feel the least bit intimidated or worried if this is the first time you will be painting. This class is for all of us to concentrate on the basics with hands-on training. If you can’t find the exact material or paint you need not worry. The most important thing is to relax and enjoy yourselves, but work hard. Remember, all the most successful painters and masters throughout history were painting for their first time at some point!”

We hope many of you will attend the workshop and help support the arts in Natchez. High school students are welcomed and encouraged to attend. The Natchez Art Association will host an open house, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Friday at their new studio at the Priest House; this is a great opportunity to view Crowe’s work, as well as other artists, who will have work on display. Refreshments will be served.

The ArtsNatchez Gallery, located at 110 N. Union St., is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The gallery provides a place for local artist to display and sell their work. Please visit the Web site at www.artsnatchez.org.

To reserve your spot at the workshop, please call Brenda Hicks at 601-446-5202 or drop by the ArtsNatchez Gallery for more information.

Jane Gardner is a member of the ArtsNatchez Education Committee.