Ellen Little - "Breaking the Rules of Watercolor Painting"
San Francisco based artist Ellen Little grew up in Los Angeles CA and earned her BFA from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena CA. Upon graduating she moved to New York to work as an art director at Ogilvy and Mather and teach at the School of Visual Arts. Next she moved to San Francisco and founded the graphic design firm, Little Design Group and taught at the Academy of Art. After 10 years Ellen closed Little Design and has been painting full time ever since.
In 2017 Ellen founded Dogpatch Collective, a community of 17 artist studios in the Dogpatch neighborhood of San Francisco. In 2022 she was awarded a grant from the San Francisco Arts Commission to start the Dogpatch Collective Artist Residency program which provides free studios and mentorship to artists from historically underserved communities.
Her work has been exhibited in museums and galleries around the country including DeYoung Museum CA, Milton Art Museum MA, Napa Valley Museum CA, Marin Museum of Contemporary Art CA and Triton Museum CA. Ellen’s work is included in over 500 private collections around the world as well as the public collections of UCSF Mission Bay, San Francisco CA, the University of Iowa, Iowa City IA, Phipps Botanic Garden, Pittsburgh PA, and multiple Kaiser Permanente hospitals throughout CA.
For more information, check out the article in LUXE magazine, which talks about her work
https://luxesource.com/article/ellen-little-san-francisco-watercolor-artist
Anyone Can Learn to Draw!
Anyone Can Learn to Draw!
Instructor: Julie Abels
Date & Time: Thursday, November 6, 1–4 pm
Location: St. Francis in the Foothills Church, Celebration Room
4625 E River Rd (NW Corner River & Swan), Tucson, AZ
Class Fee: Members Only – $48 per person
Registration: Opens September 4 | Closes November 1 (or when class is full)
Minimum/Maximum Students: 7–20
Supplies: None required – instructor will provide all handouts
Class Overview
Do you wish you felt more confident in drawing? For many of us, drawing feels intimidating—but the truth is, it’s a skill anyone can learn! In this engaging workshop, you’ll explore:
How to shift your mindset about drawing
The hand-eye connection that unlocks accuracy
Practical foundational techniques that make drawing feel approachable
Whether you’re brand-new to art or an experienced maker wanting to refine your skills, you’ll leave with tools and insights to make drawing easier, more enjoyable, and more empowering.
About the Instructor
Julie Abels is a Tucson-based instructor who has been teaching in many forms throughout her adult life—corporate training, homeschool groups, and her own art business. Art wasn’t something that came naturally to her, but when she was asked to teach art in 2012 for her local homeschool co-op, she dove deeply into learning everything she could. Now, Julie is passionate about helping “non-artists” discover the joy of drawing and creativity while guiding experienced artists to strengthen foundational skills that don’t always come naturally.
Learn more at: RidgeLightRanch.com | JulieAbels.com
Show & Sell
SHOW & SELL — December 4 PW Meeting
Members are invited to participate in our Show & Sell event on December 4. Each participant will receive half a table to display and sell their work. Please bring cash for making change or a card reader/app if you plan to accept credit payments.
Event Schedule — December 4:
8:30 – 9:00 Set-up
9:00 – 10:00 Show & Sell
10:00 – 10:30 Business Meeting
10:30 – 11:00 Show & Sell
11:00 – 12:00 Speaker
12:00 – 12:30 Show & Sell
Sign-Up Information:
Sign-ups begin at the Nov. 6 meeting or by contacting:
Lynda Henderson — lynda.funkystuff@gmail.com
Doreen Rogers — doreen.rogers214@gmail.com
Sign-up deadline: November 24
SCRAP WRAP: A play on collage and gift wrapping.
SCRAP WRAP
A Play on Collage and Gift Wrapping
Instructor: Vera Gates
Date: Thursday, December 4
Time: 1:00–4:00 PM
Class Fee: $20.00
Location:
St. Francis in the Foothills • Celebration Room
4625 E. River Rd. (NW corner of River & Swan)
This class will be held in-person immediately following our monthly December PW meeting.
Registration:
Opens: November 6 (at the PW meeting at noon)
Closes: December 1 or when class is full
Min/Max: 10 / 20 students
Waitlist: None
Materials
Provided by Instructor:
• Handouts
Participants Bring:
• A few small gifts to wrap (books or boxed items work best)
• A variety of personal materials for creative wrapping such as:
Wire
Beads and buttons
Found objects
Corrugated cardboard
Other collage-friendly scraps or embellishments
Class Description
In this hands-on workshop, we will explore playful and inventive ways of assembling and securing materials so that the wrapping becomes the most delightful part of the gift. Learn how to elevate your presentation using collage-inspired layering, found textures, and dimensional materials that turn each gift into an art piece.
A Call to Paperworks Artists: Paperworks Members Exhibit at the Jewish Community Center
Call to PaperWorks Artists
PaperWorks Members Exhibit at the Tucson Jewish Community Center
Exhibit Title: Renewal
Exhibit Dates: October 23 – November 30, 2025
Reception: Sunday, November 2 | 2:00–3:30 PM
Location: Jewish Community Center, 3800 E River Road, Tucson, AA
Japanese Marbling — The Art of Suminagashi
Japanese Marbling — The Art of Suminagashi
with Catherine Nash
Fold, Glue, Sew
Fold, Glue, Sew meets in person monthly to make both the content and the structure of handmade books. Hardcover, softcover, and folded book structures are included. All levels of expertise in bookmaking are welcome.
DATE: 2nd Thursday of the month
TIME: 10:30 - 12:30
PLACE: Dusenberry River Library
This meetup is currently at capacity but a waitlist is available.
Contact: Diane Cheshire
Layers of Gelprints with Penny Buckley
Layers of Gelprints
Instructor: Penny Buckley
Join printmaker and collage artist Penny Buckley for a fast and fun dive into gel plate printing, a versatile and accessible printmaking technique. In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn the fundamentals of gel plate printing and explore ways to take it further with techniques such as ghost prints, stencils, found object printing, and more!
Gel plate printing is a non-toxic, playful, and experimental process that can be done entirely at home with materials readily available at craft stores. Penny’s free-form, explorative teaching style encourages creativity, allowing you to embrace layering, texture, and color confidently. Whether you’re looking to create stand-alone monotypes, backgrounds for mixed media, or unique collage papers, this class will provide techniques, inspiration, and hands-on practice.
This 4-hour workshop is designed for all levels, from beginners to experienced artists looking to expand their printmaking skills.
Class Details
Date: Monday, June 2
Time: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Location: Pastel Society, Los Altos
Fee: $95 (Members) | $135 (Non-Members)
Class Size: Minimum 6, Maximum 12
Registration Opens: Friday, April 4, 8 AM
Waitlist Contact: Terry Enfield
Supply List
Gel plate
Brayer
Acrylic paint
Baby wipes or paper towels & spray bottle of water
Paper in various weights & textures (copy paper, tissue paper, rice paper, bristol vellum, cardstock, etc.)
Optional: Stencils, stamps, and textured materials for added effects
About the Instructor
Penny Buckley is a self-taught artist with a background in leatherwork, stained glass, pottery, and mosaics. She discovered her artistic voice in gel plate printing, where she combines intuitive play with intentional design to create rich, layered works. Penny's passion for art deepened while working with women experiencing chronic homelessness and trauma, using creativity as a means of emotional restoration. Now retired, she is dedicated to her art practice and sharing her knowledge through teaching.
📌 Website: pennybuckleyart.com
📌 Instagram: @pennybuckleyart
Bits and Pieces
At this meetup we’ll come together to explore collage creations focused on selected themes, styles, genres, and formats. It will be exciting to see where this takes our artistic imagination.
DATE: Starts fourth Wednesday of the month
TIME:10:15-12:15
PLACE: Kirk Bear Canyon Library
Meetup is at capacity but a waitlist is available!
Contact: Suzanne Stock , Emily Sullivan
Collage Creations
This is a group where artists of all levels come together to explore the medium of collage. This will be a relaxed environment where participants can work on their own collages while enjoying the company of fellow creatives. While the co-leaders may offer prompts for inspiration, or brief tutorials, they won’t conduct formal “teaching” sessions. They do welcome any member to share their expertise or demo a technique.
DATE: 4th Monday of the Month
TIME: 1:00 - 3:00
PLACE: Dusenberry - River Library
This meeting is currently at capacity. A waitlist is available.
Contact Michele Vaughan
Art Book Club
Art Book Club
Members read and discuss a book a month. Open to those interested in art history, artists and general artistic practices. Books are selected on a monthly basis.
DATE: 3rd Tuesday of the month
TIME: 1:00-3:00
PLACE: PaperWorks ZOOM - or in person at a venue TBD.
This Creative Meetup is currently full
Contact: Mimi Kurtin
Handmade Books
The making of handmade books is so popular that Handmade Books is Paperworks third book making Creative Meetup. Handmade Books will focus on both the content and the structure of handmade books. Hardcover, softcover, and folded book structures are included. All levels of expertise in bookmaking are welcome.
DATE: 3rd Monday of the month
TIME: 10:00-12:00
PLACE: Dusenberry-River Library
This Meetup is currently at capacity. A waitlist is available.
Contact: Teresa Smith
Fabulous Folds: Bags, Boxes, and Cards
Fabulous Folds will use folded paper to make gift bags, boxes, and gift cards in a variety of unique patterns and shapes. Each person will create their version of the project.
Date: 2nd Wednesday of the month.
Time: 1:00
Place: The home of Terry Hyer. The address will be sent to Fabulous Folds members once the roster is set. The home is in the Star Pass area.
Contact: Terry Hyer
Book Arts
Book Arts members meet in person every month to explore the structure and content of handmade books. Through discussions, demonstrations, and hands-on projects, we create handmade books. Committed attendance each month gives us the ability to work on projects across several meetings.
DATE: 2nd Monday of the month
TIME: 1:00 - 3:00
PLACE: Dusenberry River Library
This meetup is at capacity, but a waitlist is available.
Contact: Maureen Houlahan or Gale Sherman
Collage Montage
Come join the fun and explore new collage techniques. You are encouraged to share the richness of what works for you in your artistic endeavors. We will create and play together.
Membership is limited to 10 persons.
This meetup is currently at capacity but a waitlist is available
DATE: The meeting will be on the second Monday of each month.
TIME: 12:30-3:30
PLACE: To be determined
Contact: Heidi Archdeacon and Megha Morganfield
Mark Making Studies
Mark Making Studies meets in person monthly to explore the creative possibilities of mark making. We share current works, processes, tools, and various substrate including paper, textile, more.
DATE: 2nd Monday of the month
TIME: 10:00 - 12:00
PLACE: Dusenberry River Library
This meeting is currently at capacity but a waitlist is available.
Contact: Terry Enfield
Fold, Glue, Sew
Fold, Glue, Sew meets in person monthly to make both the content and the structure of handmade books. Hardcover, softcover, and folded book structures are included. All levels of expertise in bookmaking are welcome.
DATE: 2nd Thursday of the month
TIME: 10:30 - 12:30
PLACE: Dusenberry River Library
This meetup is currently at capacity but a waitlist is available.
Contact: Diane Cheshire
Patti Gardner
Patti Gardiner
Creative Freedom and My Artist Residency Experience
Join us for a special presentation by Patti Gardiner, a multidisciplinary artist whose creative journey centers around capturing the hidden beauty of the natural world.
Last summer, Patti was awarded an artist residency along the Tongue River, where she explored the intricate relationship between water and the life it sustains. This experience led to her newest body of work, "Taking Root"—a powerful visual meditation on nature’s resilience and grace.
Patti will also share her experimental digital cyanotype series, "After the Bloom," which pairs the delicate shadows of wildflowers with macro photographs of their seeds and pods. The result is a striking reflection on the quiet transformation that follows the peak of bloom.
With a focus on the unseen, the overlooked, and the quietly magnificent, Patti’s work invites us to reconnect with nature, to pause in wonder, and to consider what’s worth protecting.
Come be inspired by her story, her process, and the vision behind her work.
Junk Journaling
Junk Journaling uses found and recycled materials as a way to collect and record a persons thoughts, memories, ideas and inspirations.
DATE: 4th Tuesday of the Month
TIME: 10:00-12:00
PLACE: TBD
This meeting is currently at capacity but a waitlist is available.
Contact: Karin DiMenna or Susan Kraus
Class #3: Beyond Blue – Introducing More Color into Cyanotypes
Class #3: Beyond Blue – Introducing More Color into Cyanotypes
Instructor: Vicki Donkersley
Date: Monday, April 22, 2024
Time: 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM (Includes a 30-minute lunch break; bring a brown bag lunch & drink)
Location: Tucson Pastel Society, 2447 N. Los Altos, Tucson, AZ 85705
Class Size: Minimum 6, Maximum 10
Cost: Members: $85 | Non-Members: $125 (Fee includes pre-treated papers, fabrics, cyan and color dyes, and toning ingredients.)
Registration: Opens March 7 | Closes March 25
Class Description:
Ready to take your cyanotypes beyond blue? In this hands-on workshop, you'll start with traditional Prussian-blue cyanotype prints, learning exposure techniques using a light-sensitive solution and sunlight. Then, expand your creative possibilities with wet cyanotypes, double exposures, and experimental methods like color dyes, bleaching, and toning.
Various papers and fabrics will be provided for exploration, allowing you to create a diverse collection of one-of-a-kind prints. By the end of the class, you'll have a set of unique samples and the knowledge to continue experimenting on your own. A resource list for materials and supplies will also be provided.
Questions? Contact: Patty Berdine – pandpintucson2005@gmail.com
Supply List:
Participants should bring the following items:
Pane of non-UV glass or plexiglass (10" x 12")
Tip: Apply masking tape around the edges for safety.
Available at Ace Hardware (custom cut for ~$9) or Home Depot (pre-cut ~$5).
Sturdy flat sheet of corrugated cardboard
Must match the size of your glass/plexiglass.
Plastic garbage bag or grocery bag
Used as a waterproof barrier for wet exposures.
4 Large Binder Clips
Dollar Tree Recommendation: Jot brand set of 8 for $1.25.
Plastic Tub or Tray (for rinsing chemicals)
Dollar Tree Recommendation: Sure Fresh brand, 24-cup or 14.6-cup shallow bins ($1.25 each).
2 old clean towels
Hand-size or larger for blotting wet papers.
Roll of paper towels
Scissors
Apron
Optional Supplies:
Disposable gloves (thin; extras will be available if needed).
Spray bottle for light misting.