Community Calendar

Join instructor Tanya Ehrsam for a two-part workshop featuring one-of-a-kind dyed fabrics pieced into a fanciful mandala. Students will spend the first session learning the dyeing process and utilizing fiber-reactive procion dye to capture brilliant, saturated color on their quilting fabrics. Students will be provided with rinsing and cutting instructions for the following session.

Students will piece and assemble their quilt top the following week in a mandala pattern. The finished three-yard quilt top will be ready to layer, bind, and quilt at home for the finishing touch. Dye, patterns, and instruction will be provided. Students will be responsible for bringing fabric to the first session to dye, as well as a sewing machine and coordinating thread. If you do not have a machine, please reach out to Art Reach, and we can provide one. Students should have some quilting and/or machine sewing experience.

Supply List:

3 yd of white cotton PFD (prepared for dyeing) fabric or cotton/muslin, pre-washed with NO fabric softener

This course will be held on Mondays, from noon to 2 pm, September 8 for dyeing and 10 am-2 pm, September 15 for piecing, in the Idonea Hersee Classroom at Art Reach, 111 E. Broadway in Mount Pleasant

Recommended age: 16 and up

Teens/Young Adults are invited to join instructor Matt Grimmer for an overview of comic drawing. You’ll be guided through the steps of making a small comic, which will then be printed and handed back to students during the final session. We will cover key concepts such as working with comic panels, story pacing, and many different design techniques so students can feel confident portraying whatever type of story they wish. We'll touch upon subjects such as drawing landscapes, characters, and dialogue as students learn to illustrate their world and characters in the comic-style using both pencil and pen (comics are created and printed in black and white).

This 4-week course will be held weekly from 4-6 pm, Tuesdays, August 26-September 16, in the Idonea Hersee Classroom at Art Reach, 111 E. Broadway in Mount Pleasant

Recommended age: 13 and up

The 1842 historic Dougherty Mission House built by Rev. Peter Dougherty, Chief Agosa, the Ottawa and Chippewa opens for tours on Wednesday, June 12th Wednesdays through Saturdays, 11am until 4pm. Tour the former Inn where the fruit industry began in the Traverse City region.
Discover the ties to the Old Mission Peninsula Lighthouse while you tour the house, summer kitchen, carriage shed, icehouse, and demonstration garden. See the new Old Mission Agricultural Heritage exhibit where Old Mission Peninsula earned its name.

Dive into the vibrant world of alcohol inks with instructor Judi Steffke in this beginner-friendly class designed to spark your imagination and ignite your creative spirit! Alcohol inks are a bold, expressive medium known for their fluidity, unpredictability, and stunning, abstract effects. Whether you're an experienced artist or trying something new, this class offers a fun and relaxed environment to explore the magic of inks on non-porous surfaces, such as Yupo paper, ceramic tiles, or glass. This class will offer themed sessions recreating imagery on posterboard or ceramic tiles, and will be finished with a spray-on topcoat for durability.

You may select sessions individually or as a full course for a discounted rate:

September 3 (5:30-7:30 pm): Abstracts
September 10 (2-4 pm): Dragonflies
September 18 (11 am-1 pm): Hummingbirds
September 23 (5:30-7:30 pm): Florals

These workshops will be held in the Idonea Hersee Classroom at Art Reach, 111 E. Broadway in Mount Pleasant.

Recommended age: 16 and up

Mini Masters is a delightful monthly acrylic painting class designed to inspire creativity in artists of all skill levels. With step-by-step guidance, participants will create an 8x10 canvas masterpiece to take home. Perfect for beginners, this class offers a welcoming environment where no experience is necessary, and all supplies are included. Whether you’re discovering art for the first time or nurturing a growing passion, Mini Masters is a wonderful way to enjoy a fun and fulfilling creative experience.

Mini Masters will be held from 5:30-7 pm Wednesday, September 10, in the Idonea Hersee Classroom at Art Reach, 111 E. Broadway in Mount Pleasant.

Recommended age: 6 and up

Celebrate the shifting of the season with color, creativity, and a flock of feathered inspiration! Led by instructor Cheryl Meyer, you’ll focus on capturing the charm, movement, and personality of birds through expressive painting techniques. Each week in this 4-session course will feature a different feathered friend, and this class will guide you in bringing them to life on paper.

Perfect for beginner to intermediate artists, we’ll explore watercolor fundamentals—such as wet-on-wet, layering, and texture—while also learning how to sketch dynamic bird forms, render feathers, and create harmonious backgrounds.

The class will be held weekly from 2-5 pm on Thursdays, September 4-25, in the Idonea Hersee Classroom at Art Reach, 111 E. Broadway, Mt. Pleasant, MI. You may select individual classes or enroll in the series for a discounted rate!

September 4: Screech Owl
September 11: Wood Duck
September 18: Cardinal
September 25: Pheasant

Recommended age: 16 and up

Club Create is a Michigan Arts Access program for adults with disabilities. Club Create provides opportunities for adults with disabilities to have hands-on experiences in the arts provided by professional artists. Club members participate in an art experience at each meeting, as well as have time to socialize with other club members. Club Create of Mid Michigan meets 5:30-7 pm on the second Thursday of each month. Caregivers are welcome to participate as well.

Club Create of Mid Michigan members will meet from 5:30 pm-7 pm, Thursday, September 11, in the Idonea Hersee Classroom at Art Reach, 111 E. Broadway in Mount Pleasant.

Club Create is sponsored in part by MyMichigan Health.

Students looking to improve their skills in drawing portraiture are invited to join instructor Matthew Grimmer for this 4-week introductory course. Students will begin by exploring the basic anatomy of the skull and facial muscles, and learn how to apply this knowledge as they begin building their portraits. This class is meant to cover the basic building blocks for self-portraiture, and is open to beginners or those with basic drawing experience. We will cover how to build and shape in 3-D using pencils and will cover basic areas of drawing, such as overall composition, cross-hatching to create form, and making the most of light and shadow, all within the context of the figure.

Utilizing small exercises throughout the course, you will work on a single long-form drawing throughout the course. The course will focus on achieving anatomical realism through a slow-paced practice that is based on measurements, comparison, and thoughtful mark-making. By the end of the course, students should have an understanding of the anatomy of the head, the complexity of shapes that create the face, and its relationship to drawing their portraiture, as well as improved confidence in their pencil handling.

This course will be held weekly from 5:30-8 pm on Thursdays, September 4-25, in the Idonea Hersee Classroom at Art Reach, 111 E. Broadway in Mount Pleasant.

Recommended ages: Adults only

Immerse yourself in the beauty of nature while exploring the art of plein air watercolor painting with instructor and CWC Artist in Residence awardee Cheryl Meyer. This course offers a unique opportunity to connect with the landscape as we paint in the protected natural areas of the Chippewa Watershed Conservancy preserves. Learn how to capture in watercolors the tranquil Chippewa River and the serene surroundings of Sylvan Solace, Halls Lake Recreation Area, and Bundy Hill.

Whether you're a beginner or an experienced artist, this class will guide you through the fundamentals of plein air painting, including sketching, color mixing, composition, and watercolor techniques. We’ll explore how to work with natural light, the changing weather, and the dynamic environment around us to create stunning, atmospheric pieces of art that reflect the beauty of our local Chippewa watershed preserves.

This course takes place from 9 am to noon on Fridays, September 12-26, at the following three Chippewa Watershed Conservancy preserves in Isabella County. Students may register for individual sessions or select the full three-session course for a discounted rate.

September 12: Sylvan Solace

September 19: Halls Lake Recreation Area

September 26: Bundy Hill

Note: all painting supplies will be provided. If you have supplies, we suggest one pan watercolor set for outdoors, assorted brushes, & water. All students should bring a camp chair, drinking water, sunblock, and bug spray. Each location will have a short hike into the preserve. Students will meet the instructor at the parking area for each site at 9 am sharp.

Recommended age: 16 and up