Rossmoor Art Association

Beginning/Intermediate Watercolor Painting _ Ronald Pratt_ June 26-Aug 28 _Thursdays 9 to 11:30 _ Studio 1
2025-08-16 00:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Gateway Art Studio 1, 1001 Golden Rain Road, Walnut Creek, CA, CA, 94595, United States
Summer 2025
Ronald Pratt
Rossmoor Activities Center, Painting Studio 1
Long, warm summer days filled with plenty of sunlight are the source of much inspiration for creative people. The hours spent outside observing and exploring our surroundings are perfect for the aspiring artist. While being no rush, we can take in what nature has to offer us and use this to stimulate our artistic nature. For me there is nothing more enjoyable than painting in summer.
To encourage your summertime creativity, The Rossmoor Art Association is offering a watercolor painting class at the Activity Center on Thursday Mornings where you will be surrounded by likeminded artists. The focus of this class is to teach the fundamentals of painting while motivating your creative muse. You will be given step by step demonstrations of watercolor painting to inspire you in a friendly atmosphere that will encourage you to explore your own individual creativity. Subject matter will include a stand of flamingos, a lake scene, a mountain meadow and a still life.
This watercolor painting class will be at the Rossmoor Activities Center, Painting Studio 1 on Thursday Mornings from 9 am to 11:30 am. This 10 week class will run from June 26th to August 28nd at a cost of $160. For Non-Rossmoor Residents the class fee is $180. Priority will be given to Rossmoor Residents. Suggested materials will be discussed at the first class.
To register go to the Rossmoor Art Association Website and click on classes on the header bar. Scroll down until you come to Beginning/Intermediate Watercolor Painting with Ron Pratt and follow the instructions to enroll. The class maximum is 20 students due to space limitations so get your registration in to reserve your seat in the class.
To see Ronald’s Watercolors go to www.ronaldpratt.com. Please direct questions to Ronald at ronpratt14@gmail.com or call him at (510) 366-7740. Further information on all RAA activities can be found at www.rossmoorart.com.

More About Color and Acrylic Painting with Marcy Wheeler_ July 11- August 15_ 9:30 to 12:00_ Friday_ Studio 2
2025-08-15 09:30 - 12:00, 2025-08-08 09:30 - 12:00, 2025-08-01 09:30 - 12:00, 2025-07-25 09:30 - 12:00, 2025-07-18 09:30 - 12:00, 2025-07-11 09:30 - 12:00 | Gateway Art Studio 1, 1001 Golden Rain Road, Walnut Creek, CA, CA, 94595, United States
More About Color and Acrylics with Marcy Wheeler
Fridays 9:30-Noon. Studio 2
July 11 to August 15
6 classes $120 Members__ $140 Non-members
Acrylic paints are amazing! Learn about the paint and mediums that are essential to a rich and deep acrylic painting.
Acrylics are wonderful and flexible. It washes up with water, but when it dries, it is a water proof polymer, so wear “painting clothes”!
There are 6 session in this class. Any Student may make up a missed Friday class in Marcy’s Thursday afternoon class (2:30- 5) in Studio 2. This should be done during the weeks of the class dates. Just let me know.
Ongoing Students, continue on their road as “not quite” beginners, intermediate, or advanced painters, and cheer the beginners on! Learning continues with individual guidance from Marcy, as usual. We often share our work at the end of the class and learn more about our own work from the other class members.
Beginners: This six-week session of Marcy Wheeler’s Friday Morning Class is focused on showing Beginners how to mix colors and play with acrylic paints. The beginners will work in the heart of the class together and will be greeted with fun projects to teach them the ins and outs of color and acrylic paints. Bring the paints and supplies listed for beginners in the blue section in this listing. (There is a Blick’s store at 5301 Broadway in Oakland.) You can order from DickBlick.com, or Amazon. Marcy suggests you order 2oz tubes of paint until you commit to Acrylic Paints, but you will use more of Titanium White than any other color, so it won’t be wrong to buy a 5oz tube of Titanium White. Marcy may have some sets of Golden Paint colors for sale for $60 for 5 tubes. Email her to see if any are available. Her email address is: Marcy@marcywheeler.com. See some of her work at www.MarcyWheeler.com

Beginning Watercolor_ Kathleen Stumpfel_August 5 to September 16_ Tuesdays_ 9 am- 11:30_ Studio 2
2025-08-12 09:00 - 11:30, 2025-08-05 09:00 - 11:30 | Gateway Art Studio 1, 1001 Golden Rain Road, Walnut Creek, CA, CA, 94595, United States
Do you want to paint in watercolor?
This class will show beginners, even if you have never painted in watercolor, the techniques to use with paint and water. The goal is to have fun with the creative process. We will have step-by-step projects with short demonstrations and plenty of time to paint a variety of subject matter including florals, still lifes, and landscapes. Most importantly, this class will give you a start in the creative process needed for your art. This seven-week session will meet on Tuesday mornings in Studio 2 from August 5 to September 16 for $120. For Non-Rossmoor Residents the class fee is $140. Priority will be given to Rossmoor Residents. Suggested materials will be emailed before the start and discussed in the first class. Bring any watercolor materials you already have.
Kathleen Stumpfel
August 5 to September 16, 2025
9 am- 11:30, Studio 2
Tuesday
Maximum spaces – 12
Price for members – $120
Price for non-members – $140

Creekside Exhibit
2025-08-04 10:00 - 13:00 | CA
Members of RAA who wish to participate in the show are asked to bring their artwork to the Creekside Club room for jury selection. Each artist may submit up to two pieces for consideration. Only one piece per artist may be selected. All received artwork should be framed, wired per specifications, labeled on the back with the artists’ name, title of work, price, and contact info. Volunteers will be on hand to assist you. Please follow the Exhibit Guidelines (Below)
Download & Submit artwork with a completed RAA Release Form. (Below)
Receiving begins 10.00 AM to 11 AM at Creekside.
Pick-up all artwork unselected and from previous show on the same day by at the latest 1 pm.
​Contact: Ann Elliott at 707-694-1914

Pop Up Art Workshop_ Colleen Gianatiempo_Wednesday July 23_ 1-4pm_ Studio 1
2025-07-23 13:00 - 16:00 | Gateway Art Studio 1, 1001 Golden Rain Road, Walnut Creek, CA, CA, 94595, United States
Pop up Art Workshop
Wednesday July 23
1-4pm
$60 Member, $80 Guest
Studio 1

A Mixed Media Beach Scene
We’ll create a whimsical beach scene featuring abstracted figures, bold patterns, and layered textures that celebrate the joy of summer.
Using acrylic paint, collage elements, and mark-making tools, you’ll learn how to:

Sketch simple forms in a stylized way
Build an ocean background with soft brush strokes
Create movement and personality through pattern and color
Layer textures using stencils, stamps, and mixed media techniques
Add finishing details that bring your scene to life—like clouds, boats, towels, and accessories

No realism, no pressure—just pure summer vibes and creative expression!
Perfect for all skill levels—whether you’re brand new to painting or a seasoned artist looking to loosen up and have fun.

Acrylic Painting with Marcy Wheeler_ July 10th to August 14_ Thursdays_ 2:30 pm -5:00 pm_ Studio 2
2025-07-17 14:30 - 17:00, 2025-07-10 14:30 - 17:00 | Gateway Art Studio 1, 1001 Golden Rain Road, Walnut Creek, CA, CA, 94595, United States
Acrylic paints are amazing! My job is to teach you to become a beginning painter or a better painter, with a style that feels like your own, with the tools you need.
Learn about the mediums that are essential to a rich and deep acrylic painting.
You may be a beginner, intermediate or advanced artist. Enroll in this class and if you like it, stay in the class and keep growing. Group discussion is helpful, and your fellow painters grow to understand your process. If you are a true beginner, also check out my Friday Beginning with Color class.
This is an 6 session class. The class is on Thursdays 2:30-5 pm. in Studio 2. You can make up missed classes in Wheeler’s Friday morning class in studio 2 at 9:30 to noon.
Just let me know. Make ups should be within the current class sessions.
Wheeler’s style is warm and friendly. She focuses on individual instruction, group discussion and occasional class demonstrations. Students learn the quick and creative qualities of acrylic paints and mediums and how to turn acrylic paints into a flexible and luscious way to paint.
Wheeler encourages students to try new tools, explore new ways of working and move toward their own style. She gives the encouragement needed to stay with a painting until it is done, perhaps exceeding the class members expectations. And she helps some students learn how to stop when it is finished! It is an engaging activity, and time flies.

“En Plein Aire” Outdoor Painting or Drawing _Afsaneh Michaels_ July 7- July 28_ Monday 9:30-11:30
2025-07-14 09:30 - 11:30, 2025-07-07 09:30 - 11:30 | Gateway Art Studio 1, 1001 Golden Rain Road, Walnut Creek, CA, CA, 94595, United States
“En Plein Aire”
Outdoor Painting or Drawing around Rossmoor
July 7- July 28, 2025
Mondays 9:30-11:30
The plain air class taught by Afsaneh Michaels will take place at locations around Rossmoor including the gardens of the Rossmoor Garden Club nearby. Artists will paint or draw directly onto canvas or paper using a medium of their choice (students must be comfortable and familiar with their own medium), and learn how to frame a painting or a drawing from an outdoor scene.
For further information contact Afsaneh Michaels. AfsanehAm@gmail.com
Afsaneh will notify you about where to meet for the first session.
Instructor: Afsaneh Michaels, AfsanehAm@gmail.com
July 7- July 28, 2025
Mondays: 9:30-11:30
Cost: $80.00 residents, non-residents $100.00
Place: Afsaneh will notify you about where to meet for the first session.
Number of Students: 10
Materials: Your medium of choice and setup (including an outdoor easel if you have one and a view finder) a hat is highly recommended.

Landscapes from Photographs_ Carol Tarzier_ June 6th - July 11_ Fridays_ 12:30 - 4:30_ Studio One
2025-07-11 12:30 - 16:30, 2025-07-04 12:30 - 16:30, 2025-06-27 12:30 - 16:30 | Gateway Art Studio 1, 1001 Golden Rain Road, Walnut Creek, CA, CA, 94595, United States
Landscapes from Photographs
June 6th – July 11 (6 sessions)
Fridays 12:30 – 4:30
$120/Members
$140/ Guests
Studio One
Max students 20

Landscape from Photographs” is about using photographs to create fresh and lively landscapes with the energy and color of Plein Air work. The series covers color mixing and creating color tones with a limited palette of three primary colors. The class begins with materials and equipment that make painting fun, and with designing the value structure in monochrome. It moves to color mixing using atmospheric perspective – creating depth using soft edges, muted tones, and soft grays. Students will use saturation to create space, with bright colors in the foreground. The class discusses colors for specific effects, for example color changes in the sky as it moves toward the horizon, how to make a flat plane recede into the distance, and which colors create a dynamic foreground. Time permitting, the class will cover transparency: how to make water look transparent, how to paint waves, and painting reflections.
Students bring their landscape photos to each class, on a tablet or printed photos. Oil and acrylic painters of all levels welcome. Class demonstrations are in oil. Acrylic instruction is individual. Oil painters please use odorless thinner only.
Carol Tarzier has taught painting for many years at the Academy of Art University. Her paintings have been represented in national shows and museums, including the Salon International at the Greenhouse Gallery, the Haggin Museum, Oil Painters of America Western Regional Exhibition and at the California Art Club’s Gold Medal Show.

Inter/Adv Watercolor Painting _with Ronald Pratt_ Thurs June 26 -Aug 28_ 12:30-3:00_ Studio 1
2025-07-10 12:30 - 15:00, 2025-07-03 12:30 - 15:00, 2025-06-26 12:30 - 15:00 | Gateway Art Studio 1, 1001 Golden Rain Road, Walnut Creek, CA, CA, 94595, United States
Beginning/Intermediate
Watercolor Painting
Summer 2025
Ronald Pratt
Gateway Activities Center, Painting Studio 1
Long, warm summer days filled with plenty of sunlight are the source of much inspiration for creative people. The hours spent outside observing and exploring our surroundings are perfect for the aspiring artist. While being no rush, we can take in what nature has to offer us and use this to stimulate our artistic nature. For me there is nothing more enjoyable than painting in summer.
To encourage your summertime creativity, The Rossmoor Art Association is offering a watercolor painting class at the Activity Center on Thursday Mornings where you will be surrounded by like-minded artists. The focus of this class is to teach the fundamentals of painting while motivating your creative muse. You will be given step by step demonstrations of watercolor painting to inspire you in a friendly atmosphere that will encourage you to explore your own individual creativity. Subject matter will include a stand of flamingos, a lake scene, a mountain meadow and a still life.
This watercolor painting class will be at the Rossmoor Gateway Center, RAA Painting Studio 1 on Thursday Mornings from 9 am to 11:30 am. This 10 week class will run from June 26th to August 28nd at a cost of $160. For Non-Rossmoor Residents the class fee is $180. Priority will be given to Rossmoor Residents. Suggested materials will be discussed at the first class.
To register go to the Rossmoor Art Association Website and click on classes on the header bar. Scroll down until you come to Beginning/Intermediate Watercolor Painting with Ron Pratt and follow the instructions to enroll. The class maximum is 20 students due to space limitations so get your registration in to reserve your seat in the class.
To see Ronald’s Watercolors go to www.ronaldpratt.com. Please direct questions to Ronald at ronpratt14@gmail.com or call him at (510) 366-7740. Further information on all RAA activities can be found at www.rossmoorart.com.

Portraits from Photographs_ Carol Tarzier_ June 5th - July 10_ Thursdays 10:30 - 1:45 _ Studio Two
2025-07-10 10:30 - 13:45, 2025-07-03 10:30 - 13:45, 2025-06-26 10:30 - 13:45 | Gateway Art Studio 1, 1001 Golden Rain Road, Walnut Creek, CA, CA, 94595, United States
Portraits from Photographs
Carol Tarzier
June 5th – July 10 (6 sessions)
Thursdays 10:30 – 1:45
120. for members 140 for guests
Studio Two
Max students 15

As with Landscapes from Photographs, the class would alternate demos and lab days. I’ll start with a demo from a photo in black and white, covering the basics of facial structure and proportion. Subsequent demos would cover brushstrokes, paint technique, composition. We’d move on to the Zorn palette of black, white, Cad Red Light and Yellow Ochre. One session would feature self-portraits – we’d take photos with strong lighting in the class, and students would work from their iPads or laptops. The class would give students an opportunity to finish their own portraits from photographs as well. I’ve seen beautiful photos of people’s children and relatives, and this class would give people the opportunity to turn these photos into paintings.

General Painting-with Afsaneh Michaels_June 24-August 5_ Tuesday 9:30-12:30 pm
2025-07-08 09:30 - 12:30, 2025-07-01 09:30 - 12:30 | Gateway Art Studio 1, 1001 Golden Rain Road, Walnut Creek, CA, CA, 94595, United States
General Painting- Landscapes, Still life, Portraits, Abstracts. with sketches, photos, etc.
Beginner to advanced

June 24-August 5, 2025
Tuesday 9:30-12:30 pm

This painting course starts you with detailed introduction of materials from brushes to colors and helps you understand the painting process from beginning to end. You’ll learn about preparing the painting surface, composition, sketching your subject, color theory and the use of color, paint-handling, how brushes work as well the basics: form, line weight, volume and shading with paint. You will have at least one or two completed paintings at the end of the class.

Beginners start painting from still life set ups in the studio_sketching for painting then onto painting on canvas with acrylics, oil colors or water-based oil paints. Materials are discussed along with how to plan and compose a painting and various painting techniques. Watercolorists: Please join if you already know how to use your medium.
Intermediate and advanced artists may paint two or three paintings and use more advanced techniques.

Come with your existing setup with colors, brushes, pencils, and other tools plus your
sketchbook and canvas. The first class will include a discussion of materials and supports (canvas, paper or boards). For questions please email the instructor.

Instructor: Afsaneh Michaels, AfsanehAm@gmail.com
June 24-August 5, 2025
Tuesday 9:30-12:30 pm
Cost: $210.00 residents, non-residents $230.00
Place: Studio 1
Number of Students: 14
Materials: Your medium of choice and your setup plus your sketchbook and a canvas or a support of your choice. For more information about colors and brush and other painting materials please email the instructor

Art Talk - Wayne Thiebaud Peacock Hall
2025-07-02 13:00 - 15:00 | CA
Art Talk Title: Wayne Thiebaud Art comes from Art
Place: Peacock Hall
Date: July 2 nd
Time: 1:00 pm
Duration: Approx. 1 hour and 15 minutes
Lecturer: Anne Burns Johnson, Legion of Honor
Exhibit at: Rosekranz Court and Special
Exhibition Galleries, Legion of Honor
famsf.org

Beginning with Color and Acrylics with Marcy Wheeler_ Fridays _ May 23- June 27 _ 9:30 to 12:00 noon_ Studio 2
2025-06-27 09:30 - 12:00 | Gateway Art Studio 1, 1001 Golden Rain Road, Walnut Creek, CA, CA, 94595, United States
Beginning with Color and Acrylics with Marcy Wheeler
Fridays 9:30-Noon. Studio 2
May 23 to June 27, 2025
6 classes $120 Members__ $140 Non-members
Acrylic paints are amazing! Learn about the paint and mediums that are essential to a rich and deep acrylic painting.
Acrylics are wonderful and flexible. It washes up with water, but when it dries, it is a water proof polymer, so wear “painting clothes”!
There are 6 session in this class. Any Student may make up a missed Friday class in Marcy’s Thursday afternoon class (2:30- 5) in Studio 2. This should be done during the weeks of the class dates. Just let me know.
Ongoing Students, advanced beginners , intermediate advanced, continue on their road as “not quite” beginners, intermediate, and advanced painters, and cheer the beginners on! Learning continues with individual guidance from Marcy, as usual. We often share our work at the end of the class and learn more about our own work from the other class members.
Beginners: This six-week session of Marcy Wheeler’s Friday Morning Class is focused on showing Beginners how to mix colors and play with acrylic paints. The beginners will work in the heart of the class together and will be greeted with fun projects to teach them the ins and outs of color and acrylic paints. Bring the paints and supplies listed for beginners in the blue section in this listing. (There is a Blick’s store at 5301 Broadway in Oakland.) You can order from DickBlick.com, or Amazon. Marcy suggests you order 2oz tubes of paint until you commit to Acrylic Paints, but you will use more of Titanium White than any other color, so it won’t be wrong to buy a 5oz tube of Titanium White.

Acrylic Painting with Marcy Wheeler_May 22- June 26 _Thursdays 2:30- 5:00 pm_ Studio 2
2025-06-26 14:30 - 17:00 | Gateway Art Studio 1, 1001 Golden Rain Road, Walnut Creek, CA, CA, 94595, United States
Acrylic paints are amazing! My job is to teach you to become a painter, with a style that feels like your own, with the tools you need.
Learn about the mediums that are essential to a rich and deep acrylic painting.
This is an 6 session class. The class is on Thursdays 2:30-5 pm. You can make up missed classes in the Friday morning class in studio 2 at 9:30 to noon. Just let me know. Make ups should be within the current class sessions.
You may be a beginner, intermediate or advanced artist. Enroll in this class and if you like it, stay in the class. Group discussion is helpful, and your fellow painters grow to understand your process. If you are a true beginner, also check out my Friday Beginning with Color class.
Wheeler’s style is warm and friendly. She focuses on individual instruction, group discussion and occasional class demonstrations. Students learn the quick and creative qualities of acrylic paints and mediums and how to turn acrylic paints into a flexible and luscious way to paint.
Wheeler encourages students to try new tools, explore new ways of working and move toward their own style. She gives the encouragement needed to stay with a painting until it exceeds the class members highest expectations. And she helps some students learn how to stop when it is finished!

Nature Drawing and Fundamentals of Drawing _Afsaneh Michaels _ June 25- August 6_ Wednesdays 9:30-12:30 Studio 1
2025-06-25 09:30 - 12:30 | Gateway Art Studio 1, 1001 Golden Rain Road, Walnut Creek, CA, CA, 94595, United States
Nature Drawing and Fundamentals of Drawing
June 25- August 6 , 2025
Wednesdays 9:30-12:30
Studio 1
Nature drawing has a way of bringing your body and soul in synch with nature and helps you stay in the calm and quiet of the moment. Drawing concentrates your mind and helps you see the world in a new way. In nature drawing you can bring natural things into your home, on vacation, outdoors with friends, anywhere you wish with just a small sketchbook and some pencils.
We learn the fundamentals of drawing and visual thinking in a detailed and methodical way over several weeks with a lot practice and attention from the instructor. You will learn about form, shading, line weight, and composition and color and make lively, interesting and beautiful drawings. A wide range of materials and mediums are gradually introduced along with demonstrations.
In my classes we work together in a cohesive environment without judgement where you get to see and appreciate a variety of art and inspire each other. You draw as beginners, intermediate students, and more experienced students all in one class, each group working on material appropriate to their group, overlaps are encouraged among the various levels.
Beginners learn the basics of form, line and value/shading and learn to draw branches, leaves, small flowers, fruits or vegetable, and an animal, bird or insect. At the end of class you’ll have at least one drawing with three or four components and probably more. Beginners come to the first class half an hour early to meet and greet and to get the beginner materials.
Intermediate students draw more complex scenery or a still life with natural elements in it, perhaps work on a series and learn to use color (optional) with colored pencils, pastels, or watercolor. This group produces several drawings, some in color and some in graphite or charcoal pencil.
More advanced students work with scale, tonal variation and more detail and color. A recent group of students made a series from four different flowers.
We will use pencils, charcoal, colored pencils, pens, but a lesser extent watercolor ( always combined with pencils or pens). Great emphasis is on drawing real specimens and not necessarily working from photos. Small things are brought into the studio or from your home as models.
Please come with your materials or at least a sketchbook and some pencils to the first class and learn about materials then.
Instructor: Afsaneh Michaels AfsanehAm@gmail.com
Dates: June 24- August 6, 2025
Wednesdays: 9:30- 12:30
Class Fee: $210.00 Members. $230.00 Non-members
Place: studio 1
Number of students: 18
Materials: Sketchbook: 93-120 Ibs. weight of your choice. Pencils: 6B, 5B, 4B, 3B, 2B, B, F, H, 2H, 4H. Set of charcoal pencils. Pink/white eraser. kneaded rubber eraser. Pencil sharpener. Gray scale. Blending stumps. Small ruler,
Set of colored pencils if you choose color (Prismacolor is ideal but other brands work too).
