Art Demonstration with Patrick Dennis

Experience the unique process of Patrick Dennis, a longtime oil painter now based in Cambria, as he explores how memory, mood, and time shape his impressionistic landscapes. Patrick’s work often reflects on our precarious relationship with nature, using hard edges and texture contrasted with soft hues and layered compositions. During the demo, Patrick will share insights into this intuitive approach and how living on the Central Coast inspires his ongoing exploration of natural beauty and urban encroachment. His process involves excavating memories of real places, reassembling them from overlapping timelines to create evocative images that feel both familiar and atmospheric.

About the Artist

Patrick Dennis is an American oil painter born in 1955 whose life has taken him through a variety of roles: musician, restaurateur, teacher, museum specialist, gallerist, lobbyist, and founder of thirteen art festivals. Across all these chapters, painting has remained a steady and passionate pursuit for over 30 years. Whether capturing stark environments or exploring layered abstraction, Patrick’s painter’s eye sees the world through the lens of landscape and possibility. He currently lives in Cambria and is represented by Chapman Art Gallery in Massachusetts and Allesandro Berni Gallery in New York.

PatrickGallery.com

$5 for members and $15 for non members

Metalsmithing Morning Workshop- Intro to Soldering

Learn the basics of soldering including torch skills, tools, and safety. Tools will be provided, and project materials are included in the workshop fee. Each participant will solder and finish several rings to bring home. This is a beginner's workshop, no prior experience is needed. An optional tool kit is available for purchase HERE and will be delivered at the workshop. 

Enrollment is limited and all participants must be at least 18 to participate unless prior approval is given. Please contact me at beryljewelrydesign@gmail.com if you have any questions or to be put on a waitlist if your desired time/date is sold out. Also, please add my email to your contacts as I will be sending out an information packet a few weeks before the workshop 

Instructor: Cindy Sassaman is a local jewelry designer and has been teaching workshops on the Central Coast for the last 10 years. 

Fee: $110 - for CCA members $100

Metalsmithing 2 - Intermediate Open Workshop

This is a workshop for prior students to work independently while having assistance and/or guidance. Brush up on your soldering skills, branch out into different metals or just build your confidence while working with others. You will need to bring your tool kit and some ideas of what you'd like to work on. I will be bringing brass wire as well as hand and finishing tools. I will also bring an assortment of stones and fine metals for purchase but you’re welcome to bring your own. 

While this is not a project based workshop, if there is a specific project you’d like to work on please contact me at beryljewelrydesign@gmail.com to discuss. 

Prior enrollment in Metalsmithing 1 and a tool kit required.

Instructor: Cindy Sassaman is a local jewelry designer and has been teaching workshops on the Central Coast for the last 10 years. 

Fee: $90 - for CCA members $80

Metalsmithing 2 - Talisman Workshop

This is an intermediate workshop to further advance basic skills learned during Metalsmithing 1. In this workshop students will learn to fabricate a ring or pendant with multiple solder joints and a prefabricated bezel cup, texturize the metal and then set the stone.  All materials are provided.

Previous enrollment in my Metalsmithing-1 workshop and a tool kit are prerequisites for this workshop.

Please contact Cindy at beryljewelrydesign@gmail.com if you have any questions

Fee: $130 - for CCA members $120

Journeys: Create a Travel Journal with Simple Photography and Thoughtful Text

Give yourself the precious time to take those travel photos you've collected and create a beautiful coffee table book. Guided by Margaret, you will reflect on your journey(s) and create a book. Brainstorm and share stories with others while working through this creative process. Learn how to use Bookwright (with templates similar to PowerPoint) to compose your story and upload for publishing. The published rates are comparable to Shutterfly, but the program gives you much more flexibility to use the written word along with your photos.  

Whether you are a "quick clicker" with your smart phone, or a pro with a set of long lenses; a hesitant writer or a published author; you will find new joy and skills emerge as we blend these two mediums into playful book formats dedicated to your journeys.

Prerequisites/Materials: 

• Laptop computer
• Travel photos downloaded on laptop
• Free software, “Bookwright” downloaded on your computer
• Smart phone or camera to take additional photos if needed

About the instructor:

Margaret Foster is a writer and an emerging photographer. She has explored portrait photography, landscape, and black and white, and has discovered that she can merge all of these in her favorite…travel photography. Formerly from the East Coast, Margaret has been embracing the life and culture here in California over the past four years. Previously, she has displayed her photographs at Rehoboth Beach City Hall in Delaware and sold her work in the galleries at Rehoboth Art League. Margaret also photographs family and business events and sells nature photography online through Shutterstock.

Margaret has been an educator for over 25 years, working with children, adults, and school systems helping them enhance their vision and strengthen their skills. She is excited to join you in a weekend of discovery and reflection as we discuss her favorite…journeys.

To offer a glimpse into her creative journey, here are two of Margaret's travel journals to explore: Rhine, Main, and Danube, and 
Just Pack: The Piedras Blancas Light Station. 

$250 for members and $275 for non-members

Have you always wanted to learn how to provide perspective on your drawings? Make them really come to life?

Learn about multiple vanishing points, light and shadow, reflections, from linear perspective up to multipoint and aerial perspectives, even color blending. Measuring, plotting and problem solving will be covered. The materials used for this workshop will be a variety of pencils and the special watercolor markers and ink pens that Jason specializes in using.

All materials will be provided to use during the workshop.

Jason Knox is a local San Luis Obispo artist who authored “Taria Book One: A Love Story.” Jason has been creating since childhood. Jason is a very talented artist and instructor. He infuses his Joie De Vivre and passion for art into every workshop he teaches.

$185 for members and $200 for non-members

Discover the stories behind Curious Constructs / Digital Dreams with artist Dena Mara Kuhn. In this interactive talk and guided tour, Dena will share how she blends traditional and digital craftsmanship across photography, digital painting, writing, and 3D sculpting and printing.

Highlights include:

• Digital Still Lifes — contemporary compositions in the style of Dutch Masters, paired with short written vignettes and displayed in custom 3D-printed frames.

• 3D Curious Cabinets — playful, one-of-a-kind boxes designed for jewelry, chocolate, or phone “detox,” each accompanied by an Artist Book and reflecting themes of duality, memory, and mystery.

• Creators On & Beyond the Central Coast — twelve double-sided panels inspired by Michelangelo’s The Creation of Adam, celebrating the creative lives of regional artists and makers.

The talk will give visitors a deeper view into Dena’s process—how ideas move from concept to digital canvas, and from design to tangible 3D-printed objects—while inviting conversation about the intersection of tradition and technology in contemporary art.

DenaMaraKuhn.com

Fee: $10 - CCA members Free

In a peaceful setting in the coastal town of Cambria, find time to write in a relaxed and supportive group environment.

With three half days dedicated to writing and reflection, you will cultivate your inner voice while crafting stories that are important to you.  All are welcome––those new to writing, as well as those who yearn to rekindle their  writing practice.

​At the end of our retreats, participants have noted the following...do any sound familiar?

I used to think I didn't know what to do with my mother's letters, but now I think I have a place to start with them.

I used to think I could write alone, but now I think I love being among friends.

I used to think that important change only happens slowly, but now I think that it can jump start almost overnight.

I used to think, "See Spot run," but now I think, "The dust kicked up on a country road as my little beagle chased ducks."

I used to think that I had to know the whole story in my head before I could write it, but now I think that real and powerful stories can spill out of me and tell themselves in fifteen minutes!

As a writer and an educator, I have enjoyed years of writing and workshopping, witnessing how we can each find our own voice through story.  I have been a writer for years, both professionally and for leisure. Publications include a NYT Reader’s article about Thanksgiving (MAF, Delaware), another about Carthusian Monks, and a Delmarva Public Radio reading of one of my memoir pieces in progress (to hear my story, begin at 49:50).  Recently, I co-authored a book for educators called,  Boosting Executive Skills in the Classroom: A Practical Guide for Educator. and have produced an educational column in MedCentral called Mental Health Matters in the Classroom. Catchy little titles, eh?

But enough about me––come write your stories one weekend in January nestled in the town of Cambria.

$250 for members and $275 for non-members

At the Threshold Between Impressionism and Realism 

Learn how to paint lively, expressive paintings with a focus on colour accuracy, mark making and the interconnection of all elements. Value, colour mixing, edges, principles of design and composition, as well as concepts of light and shadow are all part of this workshop and considered part of a solid foundation in painting. In this workshop you'll learn Alla Prima/ wet on wet style techniques which will help bring your painting skills to the next level! Frank's classes reach beyond technique, observing the elusive balance of forces that create beauty in painting.He has 15 years of teaching experience around the USA and Europe.

Portfolio: www.frankeber.com

Small class settings only. Please sign up early!

$350 for members, $375 for non members

At the Threshold Between Impressionism and Realism 

Learn how to paint lively, expressive paintings with a focus on colour accuracy, mark making and the interconnection of all elements. Value, colour mixing, edges, principles of design and composition, as well as concepts of light and shadow are all part of this workshop and considered part of a solid foundation in painting. In this workshop you'll learn Alla Prima/ wet on wet style techniques which will help bring your painting skills to the next level! Frank's classes reach beyond technique, observing the elusive balance of forces that create beauty in painting.He has 15 years of teaching experience around the USA and Europe.

experience around the USA and Europe.

Portfolio: www.frankeber.com

Small class settings only. Please sign up early!

$350 for members, $375 for non members

Two Day Workshop 

Photos are a terrific tool for a painter. They provide reference and angles that would be difficult to get, including action. 

The key is to know how to work from a photo and the FOCUS of this workshop.

This two day workshop is divided into THREE parts. 

PART ONE. I’ll talk about what type of camera equipment I use, including cell phones, still and video cameras and some things to look out for including taking photographs at night. One tip - most cell phones tend to shoot images that are slightly distorted, very wide angled, creating distortion in your painting if you’re trying to copy it exactly.

PART TWO. In the second part of the workshop I'll be talking about how to prepare the photo, either as a print or working from a computer image. In the workshop we’ll be working from printed still images that I’ll provide. (If you have an image you’d like to paint from that’s fine). I encourage you to try and work from a photo with strong lights and dark values and sufficient color information. Most photographs tend to wash out the color and the dark areas tend to go overly dark. For example, shadow areas in an image have a lot more color in them (from reflected light) than the photographs reveal.

PART THREE. I’ll focus on the actual process of painting from the photograph including tips on transferring the image to your canvas. I’ll also cover probably the biggest problem working from a photo - Focus. Unlike a photograph, which is generally all in focus, the human eye sees roughly 20% in focus and the rest is peripheral vision and slightly blurred so the key is to paint like your eyes see and not what the photograph is telling you.

It’s also best to work from your own photographs. Not only do you own the rights to the image but since you’ve taken the picture, you’ve already pre-composed the image.

I’ll begin the workshop with a short slideshow and a simple demonstration painting from a photo. To see more of George Scribner's work visit: scribnerart.com

$250 for CCA members, $275 for non-members