River Arts of Damariscotta, which offers classes and open studios year-round, announces its fall line-up of classes. From acrylics to encaustics, stone carving, ceramics and several fiber arts classes, the offerings also include a serious, but fun, course in color theory as well as open studios in ceramics, life sculpture and life drawing. Registration forms for all classes are on River Arts' website.

“Functional Pottery with Nathan Willever” meets Monday evenings from 5-7 p.m. and has 4 weekly sessions.

Students will start developing skills with the cup form and move onto more challenging forms - the bowl, pitcher and plate on the wheel. Students will work with cone 5 white stoneware to create durable, food safe pots. All experience levels welcome. $120 members – $135 non-members. For more on Willever, visit www.natewillever.tk.

“Watercolor Workshop: Illustrated Journaling with Hannah Ineson” meets Sept. 23-25 or Oct. 7-9 for a 3-day session. Fee: $180.

This is a great class for beginning or accomplished painters looking for a fun way to find new images. Learn some easy decorative lettering, drawing and watercolor techniques, composition and more.

“Acrylic Painting for Beginners with Deb Arter” meets Sept. 16, 23 and 30 from 1-4 p.m.

Learn how to mix colors, find pleasing compositions indoors and out, understand technical aspects of acrylic paint on various surfaces, and work on a triptych exercise, as well as using acrylics like watercolors. Materials list will be sent to participants. Class fee is $60 per class, plus $7 materials fee. Class limit: 10. For more on Arter, visit www.mgne.org/artistpages/DArter.shtml.

“Gourd Design with Sandi Cirillo” is a one day call meeting Sept. 20 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Gourds can be painted, etched, drilled into, etc. for a variety of different effects. In this class, participants will explore surface design on their gourd using a variety of materials. Some small power tools may also be used. Students are encouraged to bring items from home to embellish their gourds, like bits of yarn, dried flowers, etc. Fee: $35 members $40 non-members plus $8 materials fee.

“Watercolor — Exploring Possibilities with Elaine Reed” is an intensive 2-day workshop that meets Sept. 27-28 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Designed for artists at the intermediate or advanced levels who already understand the basics of painting in watercolor and wish to challenge themselves to explore new possibilities. Fee: $150 members/$175 non-members.

“Learn to Paint in the Language of Color Theory with Kerstin Engman” meets for 8 sessions beginning Sept. 27, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Subjects covered: saturation, spatial location, complements, transparency, neutrals, value, interaction, color communities, temperature, nature of white, assimilation, simultaneous contrast, color voice, intergration, harmony, diads and light condition. All are welcome. Fee: $250 members/ $275 non-members. For more on Engman, visit www.kerstinengman.com.

October classes

“Life Sculpture Studio” meets for 4 weekly sessions on Thursdays, starting Oct. 9 at 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Participants will work, without instruction, from a long-term pose over a six-week period. There are no formal critiques, but participants are free to ask other members or the monitor for help or advice whenever needed. Students encouraged to bring their own tools, armatures, and preferred sculpting medium. Most participants use water based clay (self hardening or firing), or oil based clay (plasticine, plastilina), and some prefer wax. There are some tools and supplies available to borrow until you can get your own, but the selection is limited. Fee: $80

River Arts also offers open studios in life drawing and ceramics. The times are listed on www.riverartsme.org.

“Stonecarving with Andy Seferlis” is the first week of October, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Bring your own stone, or let Seferlis know if you need one. Limestone and/or marble can be provided at cost. Sizes and shapes will vary. If you have tools, bring them. Tools will be provided if you don’t own them: chisels, hammers, power tools, angle grinders, extension cords, small compressors. Bring a pencil, notebook, charcoal, gloves, safety glasses, dust masks, all available at your local hardware. $300/week for beginners or practiced hands.

“Silk Paper with Sandi Cirillo” meets Oct. 26 from 1-3 p.m.

Learn about silk fusion, the process of creating silk paper using various types of silk fibers. Silk paper can be used to make books, note cards, for a variety of mixed media art projects or for the creation of three-dimensional pieces. Cost is $25 members $35 non-members, with an $8 materials fee.

“Encaustics with Camille Davidson” meets Oct. 26 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

This encaustics workshop is a follow-up to the workshop offered earlier this year, but beginners are welcome. Layers of color, in oils and encaustics, are scraped away and built up in order to achieve the effect of a specific time and place. Fee: $75 members, $90 non-members, plus a materials fee. For more on Davidson, visit www.cameedavidson.com.

“Japanese Shibori with Sandi Cirillo” meets Nov. 9  from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

A hands-on workshop for adults only. Participants will learn about “shibori,” the Japanese resist method of dyeing silk scarves using a PVC pipe. A unique process in which silk is wrapped around the pipe. Color is spilled onto the pipe in layer after layer. Students can also paint directly onto the silk. All will produce two finished scarves. Class size limited. $30/members $45/non-members. Materials fee per person: $8 (covers expenses and cost of scarves) For more on Cirillo, visit www.especially-for-ewe.com.

“Felted Bowls with Sandi Cirillo” meets Dec. 7 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Learn how to create felted bowls using soap, water, wool and some agitation, starting with a small bowl, working up to larger bowl forms. Embellishments, such as beads, scraps of yarn, buttons, natural materials, will be added. Students are asked to bring an old towel and scissors. Fee: $35 members/$40 non-members, plus materials fee of $5.

River Arts is located at 241 US Route 1 in Damariscotta and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For more information and registration forms. visit www.riverartsme.org or call 207-563-1507.