DuPage Art League offers painting workshops

The DuPage Art League is offering two opportunities for beginning and advanced artists to learn new techniques.

From 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 8-9, Stella Dobbins will lead a workshop on Chinese Brush Painting. This beautiful, understated style of painting is thousands of years old. The subjects are birds, flowers and landscapes done with simple calligraphic strokes that capture the essence of the subject. After a demonstration, students will learn how to create their own works of art using ink and paint on rice paper. Participants will complete five paintings. The cost for the two days is $140.

Dobbins has taught at many colleges, art leagues and art centers throughout the United States. Her art work has been exhibited locally, regionally and nationally and appears in two books: “The Best of Watercolor, II” and “Watercolor Class.” She is a signature member of the National Watercolor Society.

The second offering is a chance for oil painters to experience the joy of painting a landscape outdoors rather than from a photograph as many artists do. Jacque France will lead a workshop on Plein Air Oil Painting from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 15-16. The emphasis will be on atmospheric perspective, composition, value, contrast and color. There will be a discussion on how to organize and set up for plein air painting and demonstrations by the instructor. The cost for this workshop is $135.

France received her bachelor's of fine arts from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She recently received the Best of Show award at the Elmhurst Art Guild members show. Her work hangs in private collections in Chicago, Peoria and Italy.

To register for the workshops, call (630) 653-7090 or visit the DuPage Art League at 218 W. Front St., Wheaton. The league is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.

The DuPage Art League is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering a love for the arts in the community. In addition to offering classes for adults and children, the league offers members' original artwork for sale at its Wheaton gallery. Visit its website at dupageartleague.org.