Casual Canvas: Wind Down Wednesdays with Kelsey Stap - Spring 2

Casual Canvas: Wind Down Wednesdays is an easygoing, paint-and-sip–style painting class designed to offer adults a creative, low-pressure way to relax, socialize, and explore painting in a supportive environment. Students are encouraged to bring a beverage and/or a snack to enjoy while they paint, making each class feel like a weekly self-care night rather than a traditional art class.

Over the course of five weeks, students will learn foundational acrylic painting techniques, including color mixing, brush handling, layering, creating depth, and simple composition strategies. Each week, the instructor will guide students step-by-step through the creation of a finished landscape painting, with an emphasis on exploration, enjoyment, and personal expression rather than technical perfection. Students will leave each class with a completed painting.

Each session will include four instructor-guided seasonal landscape paintings, one inspired by each season, and a final week that is student-driven. During the final class, students and the instructor will decide together what subject matter to explore, such as a pet portrait, a fantasy or sci-fi landscape, or a copycat version of a famous painting.

This class is offered in two separate five-week sessions. While both sessions follow the same structure and format, the specific paintings taught will differ between sessions, allowing returning students to enjoy a new experience each time. 

Wind Down Wednesday is designed as an accessible entry point for adults who may be new to painting or new to the Kimball Jenkins campus. The class emphasizes creativity, community, and relaxation, offering students a welcoming opportunity to unwind, try something new, and build a consistent creative practice in a fun and social setting. 

Supplies: supplies are provided by the instructor