Events

Monthly basketry gathering! Bring a Work in Progress or learn the Technique of the Month...weaving is always better with other weavers! March technique: Woven Bird. Marcia Morse Mullins will demonstrate and teach how to make a woven bird with watercolor paper. Materials provided. FREE, but please register so we have a rough head count.

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Meet the Artist!

Darlene’s watercolor paintings preserve the spirit of Old Florida through landscapes, seascapes, wildlife, and rural life—ranches, roundups, reflections on water, and changing light. 

Exhibit open Saturdays, 10am to 4pm. Don't miss her reception on March 9!

Monthly basketry gathering! Bring a Work in Progress or learn the Technique of the Month...weaving is always better with other weavers! February technique: Looping (AKA Knotless Netting). Marcia Morse Mullins will demonstrate and teach the basic looping technique that is used in basketry. Waxed polyester thread and needle provided; students will have their choice of several forms to loop around. FREE, but please register so he have a basic head count.

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In this class we will fractal burn a cutting board to create a cheese display board. We will learn about the burning process and use a hands-off process for creating our designs. We will also learn the steps to clean the burns and fill with color if you desire. Finishing by sealing with a food safe sealer. Each class participant will leave with their very own one of a kind board.  This class will held mostly be outdoors, so please dress for the weather. 

Class fee: $30

Instructor: Connie Combs

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Connie’s mixed media works fuse the warmth of wood with the spark of electricity through Lichtenberg burning, creating vivid, lightning-etched compositions inspired by emotion, travel, and nature. Opening reception and Meet the Artist February 9 from 6–8 pm.

Connie’s mixed media works fuse the warmth of wood with the spark of electricity through Lichtenberg burning, creating vivid, lightning-etched compositions inspired by emotion, travel, and nature. Exhibit open on Saturdays from 10am to 4pm. Opening reception and Meet the Artist February 9 from 6–8 pm.

Back by popular demand is this opportunity to learn the ins and outs of Plein Air painting with award-winning plein air artist Wayne Chunat! This class will begin indoors for an overview of equipment, short cuts, paints, and mediums. Then we will move outdoors for 2+ hours of painting onsite with each student receiving individual input from Wayne. Class fee is $40 per student. 

Meet the Artist! Tony’s evocative photography captures the quiet tension between motion and stillness, where the seen dissolves into the felt. Through blurred light and softened edges, The In-Between invites viewers to linger, slow down, and rediscover presence. Opening reception and Meet the Artist January 12 from 6–8 pm.

Tony’s evocative photography captures the quiet tension between motion and stillness, where the seen dissolves into the felt. Through blurred light and softened edges, The In-Between invites viewers to linger, slow down, and rediscover presence. Exhibit open Jan 3-24 on Saturdays from 10am to 4pm. Opening reception and Meet the Artist January 12 from 6–8 pm.

Learn pine needle coiling from Marcia Morse Mullins! She will teach us how to start, stitch, and finish a pine needle medallion while working around a metal filigree center. Students may choose whether they want to make an ornament or necklace. We will work with locally collected Longleaf pine needles and waxed thread. Class Fee: $25 per student. All materials provided. 

CLICK HERE to Register

This class is perfect for beginners curious about gel plate printing and for those curious about how to create a multi-colored finished art piece in one pull. Join in on the fun. Instructor gives fair warning that gel plate printing is highly addictive! All supplies included for class, but plates will also be available for purchase.

Class fee: $25 per person. 

CLASS IS FULL. If you are interested in another gel plate class, please let us know by emailing bartowartguildpres@gmail.com

Meet and talk with a collection of talented artists who tend to see life in a most different, usually whimsical, way! Connie Combs, Peggy Gallaher, Terisa Glover, Rita McIntyre, and Ellen Simms.

Remember Shrinky Dinks? Let's reboot that fun in this playful workshop! You'll design, color, and bake shrink plastic florals, then transform them into jewelry charms or mixed media embellishments. Cheryl will show us coloring tips, cutting tricks, and how to turn your tiny blooms into finished pieces you can wear or display. Perfect for all skill levels - come ready to play and leave with one-of-a-kind creations! Class fee: $25 per person, including supplies. 

CLICK HERE to Register

In this in-person travel sketching session, Cheryl will show you how to capture everyday moments in a fun, approachable way using a sketchbook, pencil, pen, and an little paint. You'll learn how to simplify what you see, sketch, add watercolor, and create pages full of personal memories. No drawing experience needed - just bring your curiosity and a sense of adventure. Class fee: $25 per person, supplies included

CLICK HERE to Register

Join a collection of talented artists that tend to see life in a most different, usually whimsical, way! Exhibiting Artists include Connie Combs, Peggy Gallaher, Terisa Glover, Rita McIntyre, and Ellen Simms.

The Best of Polk Exhibit was created to showcase the highest level of visual artistry in Polk County. The exhibit will be open to the public during regular library hours in the Pamplin Gallery on the 2nd floor of Bartow Public Library from Oct 16 through Nov 29. Library is closed on Sundays. This is a juried and judged show featuring a $2500 prize for Best in Show. In all, $5,000 in prizes will be awarded to Polk County artists. Awards will be announced at the event's Awards Reception on Oct 22 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm.

The Best of Polk Exhibit is in its second year of showcasing the highest level of visual artistry in Polk County. The exhibit will be open to the public during regular library hours in the Pamplin Gallery on the 2nd floor of Bartow Public Library from Oct 16 through Nov 29. Library is closed on Sundays. This is a juried and judged show featuring a $2500 prize for Best in Show. In all, $5,000 in prizes will be awarded to Polk County artists. Awards will be announced at the event's Awards Reception on Oct 22 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm.

Meet the Artist!

Exhibit featuring the watercolor critters and portraits of Candi Cardenas