Teachers, this one’s for you. Throughout February, connect with fellow educators through virtual professional development workshops led by Austin arts organizations.
Free & Affordable Workshops
Want to get the most out of this PD series? Sign up for any of the following optional workshops and opportunities, all led by and directly supporting local teaching artists and arts organizations in Austin, TX. Each of these sessions and DIY kits are offered either free with registration or at a discounted rate. These events are not included with your Cheers to Teachers registration; additional registration is required as listed below.
Scheduled Events
Grab & Carve, Printing at Home w/ Styrofoam
Saturday, February 6
10:30–11:15 am CST
Free with registration
Hosted by Print Austin
Create dynamic compositions by cutting and carving styrofoam plates, then printing them on paper. Get ready to explore, play, and learn the basics of printmaking. This workshop is part of Print Expo Austin and all ages are welcome, no experience necessary.
PrintEXPO 2021 is being reimagined as a virtual experience where artists will have the ability to showcase and sell their latest prints on our online platform. Curated workshops, demos, and talks will feature traditional, unique, and unconventional forms of printmaking during a one-day conference on February 6, 2021.
Led by: Ariel Spiegelman
Supplies needed: TBD
Intuitive Drawing LIVE
Sunday, February 7
1:00–2:30 pm CST
Free with registration
Hosted by The HeART School
Register by Feb 6 at 1:00 pm
A live 90 minute re-introduction to the open-ended mark-making of children. Educators will learn simple tools and techniques for expanding their intuition and trust through drawing.
Led by: Becca Borrelli
Supplies needed: Paper, drawing and/or painting supplies
Mixed Media Mingle
Tuesday, February 9
5:00–6:30 pm CST
Free with registration
Hosted by The Contemporary Austin
Register by Feb 8 at 5:00 pm
The Contemporary Austin is starting a monthly virtual teacher workshop series: Mixed Media Mingle. Each month, we will spend time exploring contemporary art.
The first session is all about looking at and responding to works of art in hybrid learning environments. Join us for an interactive session modeling eight different strategies for responding to works of art.
Led by: Emily Cayton (Associate Director of Education, The Contemporary Austin)
Supplies needed: TBD
Drink n’ Draw
Wednesday, February 10
8:30–9:30 pm CST
$5–10 suggested donation
Hosted by The Art Local
Drop in to have a drink and draw from a live model with us! We have a series of guided prompts and a professional model to work from.
Led by: Renee Lai and Sarah Fagan (Founders, The Art Local)
Supplies needed: Paper and drawing materials
Virtual Figure Drawing Session
Saturday, February 13
10:30 am–12:30 pm CST
$10 drop-in / $45 class pass*
Hosted by Moon Gallery & Studio
20 minutes of 2-minute gestures followed by 20-minute poses thereafter. Model will vary. No screenshots or recordings, please. Class link will be sent upon registration.
Figure drawing sessions take place every other Saturday 10:30 am–12:30 pm CST and every Wednesday 7–9 pm CST.
Led by: Adrienne Hodge
Supplies needed: Paper and drawing materials
*Class pass good for 5 figure drawing sessions. Expires 2 months after purchase. Please RSVP before each class session and notify us 24 hours before each class date if you will not be in attendance.
ST.ART Sketching Social
POSTPONED
Date TBA
Free with registration
Hosted by ST.ART Pre-College
Register by Feb 19 at 4:00 pm
Join UT Austin’s ST.ART Pre-College program every third Thursday of the month for guided sketching sessions. Beyond an opportunity to unwind and get lost in your sketchbook (or on a scrap of paper), each month we’ll discuss different artists and styles to inspire new ideas in your classroom. Come connect with fellow educators and develop a sketching routine! No special materials, skills or previous knowledge needed.
All sketching prompts can be used in your classroom. You can even schedule the ST.ART Pre-College team to visit your classroom and lead a sketch sesh!
Led by: Amelia Fleming (Director, ST.ART Pre-College)
Supplies needed: Paper and your favorite drawing and/or painting materials
Easing into Abstract Art
POSTPONED
Date TBA
$15 with registration
Hosted by Maggie Exner
Learn a new approach to abstract art for your classroom with this hands-on workshop. Explore a variety of methods for teaching 2D abstract art (with traditional or digital methods!) that can be applied in elementary, middle, high school, and adult settings. We’ll discuss sample themes and lesson plans, modern and contemporary abstract artists and more to support you in the classroom.
Led by: Maggie Exner
Supplies needed: Paper and your favorite drawing materials or tablet and stylus
Bookbinding for Teachers
Saturday, February 27
9:00 am–12:00 pm CST
$35 with code FIFTYOFF
Hosted by Austin Book Arts Center
Register by Jan 26 at 5:00 pm
Classroom-tested, kid-approved! Create pamphlets and accordion structures geared to fit into arts/language arts/math/science/social studies programs. You will learn a variety of book structures and ideas for including book arts in your classroom. No prior art or bookbinding experience necessary. Book structures are most appropriate for elementary and middle school students. Level: This class is appropriate for adult students at all skill levels. You do not need to be a teacher to take this class.
Austin Book Arts Center is a Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Provider in the state of Texas. Teachers attending this workshop will receive 3 CPE hours. Additional workshops available in April – learn more.
Led by: Linda Anderson (Austin Book Arts Center)
Supplies needed: This workshop requires a kit that will be mailed to registered students via USPS 2-Day Priority (early registration encouraged!). In addition to a tablet or computer with a reliable Internet connection and a well-lit space in which to work, students will need to provide the following: Sharp pencil with eraser, Metal ruler or straight edge, 12” minimum length, Self-healing cutting mat or several layers of cardboard to protect table surface, Glue brush, PVA or other suitable white craft adhesive, like “school glue,” Awl or needle in cork, Hole punch, Bone folder or back of spoon for creasing, Scalpel or x-acto knife, Waste paper for gluing out. Newspaper or junk mail will work.
Virtual Figure Drawing Session
Saturday, February 27
10:30 am–12:30 pm CST
$10 drop-in / $45 class pass*
Hosted by Moon Gallery & Studio
20 minutes of 2-minute gestures followed by 20-minute poses thereafter. Model will vary. No screenshots or recordings, please. Class link will be sent upon registration.
Figure drawing sessions take place every other Saturday 10:30 am–12:30 pm CST and every Wednesday 7–9 pm CST.
Led by: Adrienne Hodge
Supplies needed: Paper and drawing materials
*Class pass good for 5 figure drawing sessions. Expires 2 months after purchase. Please RSVP before each class session and notify us 24 hours before each class date if you will not be in attendance.
Art Journaling
Saturday, February 27
2:00–5:00 pm CST
$25 with registration
Hosted by Moon Gallery & Studio
Register by Jan 26 at 5:00 pm
Art journaling is a visual conversation you have with yourself. It can be done anywhere, and it is a perfect way to express and process big emotions in challenging times. In this three-hour workshop on Zoom, we will discuss the positive effects of keeping a visual diary to document your experiences, moods, and thoughts along with prompts, springboards, and techniques for creating satisfying mixed media works in a handheld journal. Class link will be emailed after registration.
Led by: Adrienne Hodge
Supplies needed: A small mixed media or watercolor sketchbook (or any size that you prefer), watercolor, gouache, or liquid inks, paintbrushes, water cup, paper towel , waterproof pens (Faber Castell or Micron are recommended brands), pencils, eraser, white gel pen
Optional supplies: Magazines, assorted papers for collage, scissors/x-acto knife/safe cutting surface, glue stick, mod podge, gesso
On-Demand Workshops, Kits & More
Intuitive Drawing ON-DEMAND
$25 for 5 recorded sessions
Use code VIRTUALEDUCATOR
Hosted by The HeART School
Register by Feb 5 at 12:00 am
A virtual on-demand workshop that you can take at your own pace. Join Austin artist-educator Becca Borrelli for five weeks of pre-recorded audio and video modules focusing on expanding your intuition and trusting yourself through drawing.
Led by: Becca Borrelli
Supplies needed: Paper, drawing and/or painting supplies
Portrait Drawings from Photographs: Capturing Likeness
$20 for 5 recorded sessions
Hosted by Moon Gallery & Studio
Each session is just under an hour long and contains step-by-step instruction and demos without students present. Capturing likeness in a portrait all boils down to familiarity with facial proportions and learning to render observable value shapes. This class covers the fundamentals of these skills using photo references.
Led by: Adrienne Hodge
Supplies needed: High-contrast portrait photographs/print outs, Tracing Paper, Graphite pencils (2H, 4H, 2B, 4B, 6B), A set of Micron or Faber-Castell pens, Synthetic eraser, Drawing Paper, Toned Paper, White chalk pastel or pastel pencil, White gel pen, Charcoal or charcoal pencils, Gum eraser, Blending stumps
Cheers to Teachers: Celebrating Educators Through the Arts is organized by ST.ART Pre-College and the Visual Arts Center in collaboration with colleagues at the Blanton Museum of Art, Landmarks, The Contemporary Austin, and Women & Their Work.