Almanac

Whether you're an art enthusiast eager to explore a new medium or a complete novice looking to embark on a creative journey, this workshop will provide you with a solid foundation in the techniques, tools, and principles of painting in oil or acrylic.

Join award-winning artist and educator Jeannette Pomeroy for a three-day workshop designed to help you build essential painting skills through hands-on practice and expert guidance. Set in a warm, welcoming studio environment, you'll gain confidence in your abilities while connecting with fellow creatives from around the world.

You'll explore the different types of brushes, paints, and surfaces, and learn how to mix colors, prepare your canvas, and apply the five basic rules of composition. Through a series of guided projects, you'll experiment with color theory to develop your eye and technique.

To support your creative decision-making, you'll learn how to create viewfinders and draw thumbnail sketches to plan your compositions. You'll then work on composing and completing a still life painting that incorporates all the techniques you've learned. Whether you're seeking a new hobby or preparing for more advanced study, this immersive workshop will provide the foundation and inspiration you need to grow as a painter.

Strengthen your foundational skills in drawing from observation.

Whether you're a complete beginner or an experienced artist looking to revisit the essentials, this workshop offers a comprehensive exploration of key principles of drawing. We’ll explore the basics of materials, techniques, and concepts, including line, value, form, composition, and creating visual impact.

Throughout the workshop, you’ll complete a series of guided drawings that build upon one another, focusing on cultivating a strong understanding of observation and technique. This structured approach ensures that you leave with a deeper grasp of drawing as both a standalone practice and the foundation of many other art forms.

This workshop is perfect for anyone with an interest in drawing or painting, whether you're starting from scratch or seeking to strengthen your artistic foundation. The goal is to provide you with not only hands-on experience but also transferable skills that you can apply to various artistic pursuits, from painting to sculpture and beyond.

Studio Open House: Artist Douglas Racich welcomes you to visit his studio in the historic 1870s Leelanau County barn at 6411 N Overlook Road, Northport.

Featured art will include egg tempera and watercolor paintings by Racich.

This September, the studio welcomes very special guest artist Moira Racich. Her paintings will include works from her ongoing DARK SKY series.

In recognition of Eileen Kelly's 96th birthday, The Oliver Art Center is excited to host this retrospective exhibit of her work from the past several decades.

The exhibit will be open:
Sundays 12:00-4:00pm
Mondays-Thursdays 10:00am-4:00pm

From pastels to oils, still life to landscape, Eileen has a diverse range of subjects and styles – each brought to life by her keen eye for composition and seemingly effortless brushstrokes. Eileen Kelly had an early fascination with the arts and design. At 19, her design for a women’s fashionable shoe was manufactured under mysterious circumstances. She married soon after and explored drawing and painting with her sons. In her 40’s, Eileen pursued art at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, Manhattanville College in Harrison, New York, and the Silvermine Art Center in New Canaan, Connecticut. She studied with watercolorist, Charles Reid, Russian iconographer Vladislav Andreev, watercolorist Roland Roycraft and artist Charles Murphy.

Second Sunday Art Project
September 14 — December 14 | 1 - 3:00 PM
Please pay museum admission upon arrival

Come to the museum and take part in a vibrant participatory artistic experience every second Sunday of the month! From printmaking to painting and weaving, each session offers a unique and creative activity. Second Sundays are supported by the Linda O'Meara Fund for Arts Education. Second Sunday Art Projects are included with museum admission. Please pay admission when you arrive.

The Oliver Art Center's annual juried show highlights impeccable work across a range of media. An independent juror select works submitted from across Michigan, and awards are presented in several categories. Don’t miss this exceptional exhibit!

Every week through Oct 10, 2025.
Sunday: 12:00 PM - 04:00 PM
Monday: 10:00 AM - 04:00 PM
Tuesday: 10:00 AM - 04:00 PM
Wednesday: 10:00 AM - 04:00 PM
Thursday: 10:00 AM - 04:00 PM

Opening reception is September 12th from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm. Refreshments will be served; admission is free.

Beginning October 6th the Oliver Art Center will be closed on Mondays

Something To Smile About: Mixed Media Paintings By Carol C Spaulding

Leelanau County artist Carol C Spaulding brings Something To Smile About, a small group of new mixed media paintings, to the Glen Arbor Arts Center’s Lobby Gallery. The exhibition runs September 2 - December 17.

Working intuitively, Spaulding combines cut-paper collage with exuberant painting. She creates lively compositions in a bright, uplifting palette, full of expressive lines, inserting an array of delightful marks and icons. “I like to begin with an open mind and a playful attitude,” Spaulding said.

Something To Smile About may be viewed in the Lobby Gallery or online, GlenArborArt.org / EXHIBITS.

The GAAC is open:
Monday - Friday, 9 am - 3 pm
Saturday and Sunday, noon - 4 pm

This is a free program being presented by Torch Area Artisans Guild and held at Helena Township Community Center, 8751 Helena Rd, Alden. Sponsored by Alden District Library, 231-331-4318.

Come visit Alden District Library and see Cassie Axtell’s collection of carved elephants.

The display can be viewed during normal library hours:
Monday 9:30a-5p
Tuesday 9:30a-6p
Wednesday 9:30a-5p
Thursday 9:30a-5p
Friday 9:30a-5p
Saturday 9:30a-2p

The library is located at 8751 Helena Rd, Alden, 231-331-4318.

Free Event.

At a later date, a video of the display can be viewed on the library's website, aldenlib.info and look for "On Display" link at left.

Sponsored by Alden District Library, 8751 Helena Rd, Alden.

Ohio artist Nicholas Hill brings the 19th century to his Glen Arbor Arts Center residency in September. Hill, a resident of Granville, Ohio, has developed a practice around the combining of intaglio printmaking and cyanotype photography, a plein air approach to cameraless photography. Hill will talk about the resulting collages he’ll make while in Northern Michigan at a presentation on September 18, 10 am.
The program takes place at the GAAC, and is open to the public at no charge.

“I use the concept of ‘plein air’ in a distinctive manner,” he said. “I work outside when creating plates and cyanotypes. I use the studio for the printing phase. I return to outside to create the finished collages. This use of direct observation is unique because I am creating the finished images as ‘printerly’ collages in nature.

The GAAC has been hosting visiting artmakers as part of its residency program since the 1990s. For more information about the GAAC’s AIR Program go to GlenArborArt.org / ARTISTS.