CLASSES AND PROGRAMS

Six Wednesdays. Jan 15 to Feb 26, 2025, 9:30 - 11:30 AM

If you can’t draw a straight line, this is the class for you. Watercolor artist Patrick Fanning believes that with the right instruction and a little practice, everyone can learn to draw, and experienced artists can learn to draw better.  Class will cover the basic skills of drawing: seeing edges, spaces, relationships, values, and composition. You’ll practice contour drawing, gesture drawing, upside-down drawing, and sighting relative sizes. You’ll learn how to turn off your analytical brain so that you can more accurately draw what you see, instead of what you think you see. Subject matter will vary widely from still life to landscape to portraits. Later classes will get into value composition and shading with pencils and markers. Time permitting, we might get to perspective and sketching on location. You will need to bring a 8 1/2 x 11” sketchbook with white paper, black ink pen.  $150 ($130 OCA members) due in cash, check or card at first class 

3rd Tuesdays 7-9 PM

In this 2-hour workshop, we'll dive into a new fiddle tune every month. American traditional fiddle music is vast, with deep Celtic roots and a fascinating multi-cultural history that gave birth to old-time music, and later to bluegrass. Each month, we'll work on a new tune from one of these three genres. After learning the basic melody, we'll explore the nuances that make each tune & style come alive.

All stringed instruments and levels are welcome, but students should be comfortable enough on their instruments that they can learn bite-sized phrases of a melody by ear. Led by Dave Pascoe.

Tuesdays 9 AM - 12 Noon, and Thursdays, 7 - 9:30 PM

Live models, 5- to 20-minute poses.All experience & skill levels welcome.Bring your own drawing or watercolor materials.

Founded more than thirty years ago by Bill Wheeler, this group continues in his honor and is coordinated by a dedicated group of local artists.

$20 per person for OCA members, $25 for non-members. Payment accepted at the door, cash or check only. No minimum requirement of participation.

Please contact the coordinator, John James, before attending to ensure that there is space.

2nd & 4th Tuesdays, 4-6 pm

Interested in learning, sharing and reading short plays? Readers Theatre is a fun opportunity to express yourself.

Readers Theatre participants read scripts adapted from literature, while the ‘audience’ pictures the action by hearing the script being read aloud. It requires no sets, costumes, props, or memorized lines. Instead of acting literature as in a play, the performer’s goal is to read a script aloud effectively, enabling the audience to visualize the action. Performers bring the text alive by using voice, facial expressions, and some gestures. $15 particiption fee, $10 for OCA members.

Alternating READER’S CHOICE nights: Can be play, poetry, story, essay, your own writing, OR ??????

For more information, email Joan Ambrosini, coordinator.

1st Tuesdays 7-9 PM

Join local musicians, amateur and professional for a fun monthly bluegrass Jam! All acoustic instruments welcome. Attendees take turns choosing songs to play. Come have fun with us on the 1st Tuesday of each month from 7-9 PM. Led by Dave Pascoe. By donation.

On-Going, Dates and Times TBA

Prose (Fiction, Non-fiction), Poetry and Historical publications will be considered for an event at the discretion of our Literary Committee. Self-help, coaching and instructional publications are not included in this series. Preference will be given to local Sonoma County authors and/or material about Sonoma County. Application Procedure: Send a sampling of 2-3 chapters if prose; 5-10 pages if poetry. Please include brief bio and any writing credits. You can email and/or send hard copy to:

OCA Literary Committee, 3850 Doris Murphy Court, Occidental, 95465

This is an on-going series: Submitted work will be reviewed by the OCA Literary Committee. Writers will be notified as soon as possible. One or two writers will be featured at each reading. If accepted, a $100 facility fee is required. Lead time to schedule an event is approximately six months.

3rd Thursdays 4-6 PM

This fun group meets every third Thursday of the month from 4-6 PM in our auditorium. Bring your Uke and join the fun! All levels of experience welcome. Questions? Contact Jerri Miller, coordinator.

This class is currently on hiatus.

This is a supportive, easy-going group that includes artists with a range of experience….from beginners to professionals. Anyone can join! You’ll need to bring your own materials. Led by Patrick Fanning.

Class tuition fee is $25/class for OCA members, $30/class for non-members. Pay for six classes and get a discount! $100/six sessions for OCA members; $120 /six sessions for non-members.