Here’s a challenge: take an art workshop!

By Fernanda Noriega

You have surely gone to the Instituto Allende on the Ancha de San Antonio for an event, to visit art exhibitions or a craft bazaar, or to admire the majestic architecture. Did you know that you can take art workshops there as well?

Many foreigners are aware of the Spanish classes at the Instituto Allende, which it pioneered some years ago. However, there are also many visual arts workshops available throughout the year. Here is a partial list of those on offer:

1. Weaving on a frame. Using different colors and stitches, you can create small decorative works on wooden frames. The workshop is taught by Agapito Jiménez, and runs for four weeks (three sessions per week).
2. Traditional Mexican weaving. The focus is on learning how to process natural wool and prepare a traditional loom to create cushion covers, rugs, and other items in a range of colors and shapes. It is also taught by Agapito Jiménez, and runs for four weeks (three sessions per week).
3. Creative jewelry. Abelardo Gil teaches the necessary techniques to create your own jewelry designs with silver and precious stones over four weeks (two sessions per week).
4. Acrylic or watercolor painting. You will learn about composition, visual balance, color, and contrast to understand and analyze painting techniques. Alejandro Palomares directs the workshop, which runs for four weeks (three sessions per week).
5. Stone sculpture. Gerardo Bervera guides you in this workshop that runs for three weeks (three sessions per week). He teaches the power of carving, the hardness and mystery of each stone, from a river stone to a precious one like jade or quartz (three sessions per week).
6. Oil painting. Enrique Guillén teaches everything you need to know about technique, light, volume, color, and basic elements for oil painting in a workshop that runs for four weeks (three sessions per week).
7. Engraving workshop. Monotype and direct carving on linoleum with the correct use of the tools are some of the topics that Cecilia Rodarte covers in this course that runs two weeks (three sessions per week).
8. Live model drawing. Francisco Pedroza helps you take on the challenges of anatomical artistic drawing with live models, from chiaroscuro to gestures to proportions. None of this is easy, and Pedroza will teach everything you need to know in this workshop that runs three weeks (three sessions per week).
9. Cartonería (alebrijes). In ancient beliefs, everyone had protective figures, such as the Toná and Nahual. Applying traditional techniques for creating alebrijes, you will be able to create your own protective figures. Ricardo Martínez will guide you in this workshop that runs for two weeks (three sessions per week).
10. Oil painting in water. Cissy Smith teaches how to work with the smooth flow of oil in water, mastering shapes and light with colors derived from flowers. The workshop runs three weeks (three sessions per week).
11. Outdoor drawing/oil painting. Two workshops are available for enjoying the opportunity of painting the beautiful streets of San Miguel de Allende. Paul Marks and Jonathan Williams will guide you through both workshops. One runs three weeks, the other four weeks (three sessions per week).
    

The workshops are individually priced, and some include the materials. If you are interested, visit the Instituto Allende reception during office hours or go to www.institute-allende.edu.mx.