GCAA artists schedule winter classes with snowbirds in mind

The Gulf Coast Art Alliance, located at 225 East 24th Ave. in Gulf Shores, will again host a series of art workshops aimed at our snowbird residents beginning the first week of January. The workshops will feature award winning artists, most of whom are featured in the gallery. The workshops should appeal to winter guests and locals who want to explore their creative side as a new year’s resolution. To schedule a workshop or for more info, call 251-948-2627, stop by the gallery, visit gulfcoastartsalliance.com or email gulfcoastartsalliance@gmail. com. A supply list and more info are available at gulfcoastartsalliance.com
Tommy Vogel
Tommy Vogel is a self-taught artist from Gulf Shores, painting sea life, landscapes and still life, mostly in pastel. His first love is teaching adults and students the true joy of creating a beautiful piece of art. Wednesdays: Painting in Pastel; Jan. 9-Feb. 13, 10am-12pm, Gulf Coast Arts Alliance, $120.00 for the six week course, all supplies included.
Mary Lou Nicolai
Nicolai began taking art lessons at age 11 at the Adelee Wendel School of Art in Indianapolis, Indiana. She also attended the John Herron Art Institute. Nicolai went back to college, studied watercolor, drawing and airbrush and earned her degree in Graphic Design and Illustration. She loves teaching art classes and workshops. Thursdays: The Beauty of Water Color: Jan 17-Feb 21, 1pm-4pm, Gulf Coast Arts Alliance Gallery, $120 for the six week class.
Thurdays: Drawing With Mary Lou: A supply list is available at gulfcoastartsalliance.com.
Kevin Cobb
Kevin Cobb has always been an artist at heart and more recently has pursued his love of creating full time. Cobb enjoys working with pastels, acrylics, watercolors, and loves to balance real life with make believe. His art ranges from portraits and landscapes to the abstract. He always paints from his heart and strives to give all who see his work a new appreciation for all art. Fridays: Creative Acrylics: Jan 11-Feb 15, 1pm-3pm, Gulf Coast Arts Alliance Gallery, $120 for the six week class. A supply list is available at gulfcoastartsalliance.com.
Patricia Sheehan
With over 35 years experience, Patricia Sheehan teaches the dip method (as scribes of old) of calligraphy. Sheehan teaches how to master the technique by lettering Chancery Italic on worksheets, envelopes and in poetry. As a bonus, each student will receive a CD Tutor at the conclusion of her class. Saturdays: Calligraphy, The Art of Beautiful Handwriting – Jan 19-Feb 9, 10am-12pm, Gulf Coast Arts Alliance Gallery. $150.00 for the four- week class. Supplies needed include Higgins Calligraphy waterproof black ink, 2 ½ ounce and Speedball Calligraphy Set with nib holder and 6 nibs. Special accommodation for the left-handed.
Greg Cartmell
A professional artist for over forty-five years, Greg Cartmell is nationally recognized as one of the country’s foremost landscape painters.
A true impressionist, Cartmell paints in broken color whereby engaging the viewer to mix the color with one’s own eye.  At times, the quality of light becomes the main focus of his work. Cartmell currently resides in Meridian, MS., where he has a studio and teaches art to adults. Jan. 14: Creating A Painting In 20 Minutes – a demonstration at the Gulf Coast Arts Alliance, which is free and open to the public. 6-7:30 pm, refreshments served. Jan. 15 – Art With A Flair: oil or acrylic, 9am-4pm, Gulf Coast Arts Alliance Gallery. A supply list is available at gulfcoastartsalliance.com, click on “Adult Classes”. 251-948-2627
Craig Reynolds
A resident of Gulf Shores, Craig Reynolds travels the country to find the best places to paint outdoors. His work has earned many awards throughout the southeast and along the eastern coast. He has a deep appreciation for “old stuff”, loving the history, texture and patina of a bygone era. Reynolds is a strong proponent of preserving history through his work as an artist. He believes every painting should tell a story, categorizing his work as representational impressionism. Feb. 18-19 – The Essentials Of Oil Painting – 9am-4pm each day, Gulf Coast Arts Alliance Gallery, $200.
Dorie Parsons
Dorie Parsons of Orange Beach received her bachelor of fine arts and master of art education degrees from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. She has taught art, photography and humanities to students in grades kindergarten through graduate school. Dorie joined the U. S. Department of Defense Dependents Schools and taught on U. S. overseas military bases for 30 years. A world traveler, her trusty camera is always by her side and she loves teaching how to use this memory catcher. Wednesday, Feb. 20 – Tips & Tricks With Digital Photography. 10am-12pm. $30, bring your digital camera. Wednesday, Feb. 27 – Mardi Gras Beading Class, 10am-12pm, Gulf Coast Arts Alliance Gallery. $30, bring your Mardi Gras beads.if you have them.