Drawing From Nature: Pencil Illustration Workshop with Asia Scudder
Saturday, April 25th, 10am-12pm
The Kittery Art Association Art Hub (Lower Level Studio Space)

Whether you are a professional artist or looking to try your hand at illustration for the first time, this session will guide you through the basics of pencil illustration. Students will have a completed drawing to share and many take-away skills to complement their own work. An item from nature will be provided for the class or students can bring their own. Learn about, and use a range of fine pencils as tools for detailed illustration. Gain advanced skills through a step-by-step, skill-building process including contour drawing, gesture drawing, and the more refined skill-building process of creating a completed drawing. Materials provided.

Registration Fee: $50

Award-winning artist Asia Scudder has trained extensively in pencil illustration, with a focus on capturing natural form. Her background in environmental and wildlife studies informs her work, blending scientific observation with artistic practice. Illustration, for Scudder, is a discipline of seeing—which she integrates into her teaching approach. In addition to illustration, she is a sculptor known for her wire work, often described as “drawings in baling wire,” exploring line, structure, and three-dimensional form.

Watercolor Class #2, Making Progress
Workshop with Bill Paarlberg
Saturday, April 18, 9am - 12pm
The Kittery Art Association Art Hub (Lower Level Studio Space)

Have you taken a beginning watercolor class, and want to learn more? Do you practice painting but find yourself unable to improve? This class will teach you tips and techniques that will immediately give you more control and confidence, and result in better paintings. We’ll discuss paper, brushes, and the rest of your equipment. We’ll learn how to better predict just what color ends up on the paper, and how to make all your colors work together. We’ll learn how to use value studies and there will be suggestions for working en plein air. Each student will be taught at their own level.

Registration Fee: $90

Watercolor for the Absolute (or Frustrated) Beginner
Workshop with Bill Paarlberg
Saturday, March 21, 9am - 12pm
The Kittery Art Association Art Hub (Lower Level Studio Space)

Want to try painting in watercolor? Or maybe you have already tried, but you are frustrated because it was tricky and you made a mess? This class is for you. We start at the very beginning, with how to use a brush to grab water, how to use your palette, how to mix paint, and how to use your brush to make basic marks and washes. Everything will be demonstrated step-by-step, in simple language, and with one-on-one help. Everything will be basic and easy to learn, and will give you the confidence necessary to continue learning and painting. 

Registration Fee: $90

Bill Paarlberg grew up in Hampton, New Hampshire and now lives in Kittery Point, Maine. He likes to paint in watercolor, especially outdoors. He is on the board of the Kittery Art Association. You can see his work at the Kennedy Gallery in Portsmouth, NH, and online at www.paarlberg.com

Paul Hodes and The Blue Buddha Band
Saturday, March 14th at 7pm
The Kittery Art Association Gallery

Former US Congressman Paul Hodes and The Blue Buddha Band serve up a heady brew of originals and interpretations fusing Americana, rock, roots, and blues with songwriting and storytelling that harkens back to the days when music was an engine of change.

Honk Magazine: “Paul Hodes and The Blue Buddha Band take you on an unforgettable musical journey.”
Radio Caviar: “Incendiary guitars and catchy choruses, a statement of rock and roll well done!”
Indie O’clock: “Hot music, full of life, beautiful and full of energy, we love it…” 

Tickets: $15

Paul Hodes and The Blue Buddha Band is an Americana rock band based in the Maine/NH seacoast. They tour throughout New England. Their first Album “Turn This Ship Around” is being streamed in 60 countries. Their recently released second album titled “The Heartland” is in world-wide release through Major Indie, Valley Entertainment.

Doris Rice: Create A Watercolor And Frame It In One Day!
Saturday, March 14th
The Kittery Art Association Art Hub (Lower Level Studio Space)

What a fun day I have planned for you! We will create a painting of under sea, under water rocks, using techniques like wax, salt, lift off techniques, and stencils. Involving painting negative space these are amazing individual paintings. Then with a metal frame, complete with glass and mat, we’ll assemble into a finished work of art!

Registration Fee: $95 + Materials
See materials list via the link below

Doris Rice: I have been an artist since 'forever'. As a young person, I took ‘after-school art' where and when available. Many hours were spent at the Currier Gallery of Art, Manchester. Then to Moore College of Art in Philadelphia for a BFA Degree. I went on to an art career, in illustration and later painting watercolor Plein Air.  I teach local classes and workshops at home and abroad.

Currently, I  live in North Hampton, NH.

Suminagashi Paper Marbling Workshop with Jade Ruscio
Wednesday, March 4th from 5:30-7:30pm
The Kittery Art Association Art Hub (Lower Level Studio Space)

This hands-on workshop introduces participants to the ancient Japanese art of suminagashi paper marbling, a meditative and expressive process that creates delicate, flowing patterns on water before transferring them onto paper. Participants will learn the fundamentals of floating ink on a water bath, manipulating patterns through gentle movement, and printing one-of-a-kind designs that embrace both intention and chance.

The two-hour format allows ample time for experimentation, skill-building, and the creation of multiple finished prints. The workshop emphasizes mindfulness, exploration, and the beauty of imperfection. It is ideal for beginners and experienced artists alike who are interested in a traditional marbling technique with contemporary applications.

Available for: Adults and teens (ages 14+) of all skill levels. No prior experience is required.

Class Fee: Workshops are offered on a $50–$75 sliding scale to help keep them accessible to all. (Covers all shared materials)

*Note: Rescheduled to 2/28 due to Snowstorm!*

Drawing From Nature: Pencil Illustration Workshop with Asia Scudder
Saturday, February 28th, 10am-12pm
The Kittery Art Association Art Hub (Lower Level Studio Space)

Whether you are a professional artist or looking to try your hand at illustration for the first time, this session will guide you through the basics of pencil illustration. Students will have a completed drawing to share and many take-away skills to complement their own work. An item from nature will be provided for the class or students can bring their own. Learn about, and use a range of fine pencils as tools for detailed illustration. Gain advanced skills through a step-by-step, skill-building process including contour drawing, gesture drawing, and the more refined skill-building process of creating a completed drawing. Materials provided.

Registration Fee: $45

Award-winning artist Asia Scudder has trained extensively in pencil illustration, with a focus on capturing natural form. Her background in environmental and wildlife studies informs her work, blending scientific observation with artistic practice. Illustration, for Scudder, is a discipline of seeing—which she integrates into her teaching approach. In addition to illustration, she is a sculptor known for her wire work, often described as “drawings in baling wire,” exploring line, structure, and three-dimensional form.

Collagraph X Monoprinting Workshop with Jade Ruscio
Wednesday, February 18th from 5:30-7:30pm
The Kittery Art Association Art Hub (Lower Level Studio Space)

This hands-on workshop introduces participants to a dynamic combination of collagraph and monoprinting techniques, offering an accessible, tactile, and experimental approach to printmaking. Participants will create collagraph plates using cardboard and a variety of textured and found materials, then explore monoprinting methods to print, layer, and manipulate imagery using water-based inks.

By combining these two processes, participants will discover how texture, layering, and chance interact to produce expressive, one-of-a-kind prints. The use of cardboard as a plate material emphasizes sustainability and experimentation, encouraging participants to work intuitively and embrace the handmade qualities of the process. The workshop focuses on creative exploration rather than perfect replication, making it ideal for beginners as well as experienced artists looking to loosen up their practice and try new techniques.

Available for: Adults and teens (ages 14+) of all skill levels. No prior printmaking experience is required.

Class Fee: $75 per person (covers all shared materials)

Kids’ Valentine’s Day Art Activities with Betsy Wish
Saturday, February 14th from 9am-12pm
Kittery Art Association Art Hub (Lower Level Studio Space)

Suitable for ages 6 and up. Younger kids are welcome with adult supervision.

Suggested Donation: $5

Questions? Please contact Betsy Wish:
bjwish@gmail.com / (978) 857-6783

Save The Date!
FREE Framing & Hanging Hardware Demo by David Pratt and Becky Florence from D.Pratt Framer
Wednesday, February 4th at 6:30pm at The KAA

David Pratt is an international award winning Master Certified Picture Framer and is the the founder of D.Pratt Framer. Becky Florence is a Master Certified Picture Framer with over 30 years of experience in the industry. On February 4th, they will be offering a free demo at The Kittery Art Association for artists to learn about the process of preparing a piece for exhibition. This demo will cover framing and hardware and provide KAA members with the knowledge necessary to submit artwork that is professionally and securely presented.

You are welcome to bring a piece of your own to examine alongside the demo. All attendees may participate in a raffle for a $100 gift certificate to D.Pratt Framer. More details to follow at the event.

This workshop is open to all. Members of the KAA and non-members are welcome!

www.dprattframer.com

D.Pratt Framer has two locations:
Kittery: 50 State Road, Kittery, ME 03904
Rye: 101 Lafayette Road, Rye, NH  03870 

Please Register for the Demo using this form:

We are so excited to be collaborating with the Kittery Historical & Naval Museum for a FREE Children's Holiday Decoration Workshop (Grades 1-6). Join us in the Art Hub (lower level studio space at The Kittery Art Association, 2 Walker Street, Kittery, ME), from 10am-12pm on November 15th.

Drop in and make some decorations!

The KAA is so excited to host the 2025 Buoy Tree in memory of Harold Niles. Join us for an open studio session in the Art Hub (lower level studio space) to decorate your buoy!

We will be holding open studio sessions on Wednesday, November 12th from 6-8pm and on Friday, November 14th from 10am-12pm. Paints, brushes, stencils, and the space to paint will be provided! No reservation needed.

Buoys for the Buoy Tree are available for a $20 donation, with proceeds to assist Jen Gray with her cancer treatments, and to support the Marcia Abigail Ryder Scholarship Program. To learn more about the Buoy Tree and reserving a buoy, please visit: www.kitteryartassociation.org/buoys

The deadline to drop off completed buoys for the tree is Sunday, November 30th. Completed buoys may be dropped off anytime during regular gallery hours for the KAA (Thursday through Sunday, 11am-5pm).

Questions? Contact Betsy Page Wish - bjwish@gmail.com / 978.857.6783

The KAA is so excited to host the 2025 Buoy Tree in memory of Harold Niles. Join us for an open studio session in the Art Hub (lower level studio space) to decorate your buoy!

We will be holding open studio sessions on Wednesday, November 12th from 6-8pm and on Friday, November 14th from 10am-12pm. Paints, brushes, stencils, and the space to paint will be provided! No reservation needed.

Buoys for the Buoy Tree are available for a $20 donation, with proceeds to assist Jen Gray with her cancer treatments, and to support the Marcia Abigail Ryder Scholarship Program. To learn more about the Buoy Tree and reserving a buoy, please visit: www.kitteryartassociation.org/buoys

The deadline to drop off completed buoys for the tree is Sunday, November 30th. Completed buoys may be dropped off anytime during regular gallery hours for the KAA (Thursday through Sunday, 11am-5pm).

Questions? Contact Betsy Page Wish - bjwish@gmail.com / 978.857.6783

Avalyn Reed Trio Presents: A Night at the Opera
Saturday, November 8th at 5:00pm
The Kittery Art Association Gallery
2 Walker Street, Kittery ME

The popular local Avalyn Reed Trio presents A Night at the Opera (in the evening): Beautiful operatic melodies of Puccini, Mozart, Verdi, Handel and more all performed on perfectly blended clarinets and bassoon.

The Avalyn Reed Trio is Christine Fell and Nancy Fiske, clarinets; and Maria Isaak, bassoon. Each an experienced performer, they came together as a trio (and friends) and have been delighting audiences with music, commentary and humor throughout the Seacoast since 2023.  For individual bios and to hear the trio, visit their website: www.avalynreedtrio.com

Tickets: $20

The Kittery Art Association Presents: Caroline Cotter
Wednesday, November 5th at 7pm
The Kittery Art Association Gallery

Join us for an intimate acoustic concert with singer songwriter, Caroline Cotter. Caroline’s sunlit songs honor the countless ways of being human. With her honeyed voice and disarmingly honest lyrics, Cotter sings about connection, nostalgia, gratitude, loss and wanderlust. Lyrics like, “Find me somewhere out on the road / Take me into your heart and into your home,” make perfect sense from a touring artist who has played over 1000 shows in 46 states and 18 countries. Cotter has released three records; Dreaming as I Do (2015), Home on the River (2018) and Gently as I Go (2023). Under the Radar magazine says her music, “brings forth an abiding sense of warmth and welcome, offering an uplifting reminder to make the most of every moment.” In 2025 she spent months crisscrossing the US, two months touring in Germany, as well as two months performing at The World Expo as an artist in residence in Osaka, Japan. Everywhere she goes, her oracular songs elicit emotion and spark insight—medicine for our collective longing. Cotter is a longtime member and supporter of the KAA.

Tickets: $20

Pat O'Brien and Gary Cassidy Live at The Kittery Art Association
Saturday, October 25th at 7:00pm
The Kittery Art Association Gallery

Pat O'Brien and Gary Cassidy offer an acoustic presentation of  a variety of original songs and folk songs, sung with depth and emotion, in beautiful harmony, with a distinct flair for humor and a cross section of the many phases of life. Those in attendance will enjoy songs and stories that transport the listeners to a simpler, easier time. Your evening will be filled with nostalgia, laughter, tears and dreams. 

Tickets: $10

Pat O'Brien and Gary Cassidy, both singer/songwriters who performed separately for years, combined their talents about a year ago, and have played for very enthusiastic audiences at Hesky Park, the High Street Coffeehouse, Avaloch Music, Ragged Mountain Lodge, and other venues in NH. They describe themselves as two old folkies from New Hampshire, with a shared love of folk music and their original songs. Gray-haired, wrinkled and arthritic, they don't always remember the words but they make up for that by laughing! Simply put, they are two singers with two guitars, an abundance of songs, and a love for sharing their music. 

Will Lawrence is a NY-based songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. His fifth studio album, “Rooftops in the Centerfold,” is out on September 19th, 2025 on Triangle House/Sophomore Lounge Records. He is also a member of The Felice Brothers, Ryan Davis and the Roadhouse Band, and many more.

"With Rooftops in the Centerfold, Lawrence crafts more than just a collection of songs—he creates a reflective journey that lingers between reality and imagination. Through its blend of melancholic tones, dreamlike imagery, and occasional bursts of brightness, the album captures the fragile persistence of love and memory. 
By the time the final notes of True Love Don’t Disappear fade out, listeners are left with the reminder that even when love slips into the realm of dreams, its resonance endures."
- Tara Sharil, NYS Music

Tickets: $12 advance | $15 day-of  | $8 student
*fees not included

Pamela duLong Williams Oil Painting Demo
First Impressions: The art of stating and executing my first inspiration-impression of the set up
Friday, October 17th from 6:30-8:30pm
The Kittery Art Association
2 Walker Street, Kittery, ME 03904

The demonstration will begin with developing the best composition for my idea while laying out the drawing and palette. I will then demonstrate how to “knock in” the painting while sharing my thought process as I proceed to execute the painting, making decisions that strengthen my first impression.

Attendees of the demo will receive a promo code to take $25 off of the cost for the weekend workshop, which will follow on Saturday and Sunday October 18th & 19th. To learn more about the two day workshop, visit this link!

Registration Fee: $25

The Seasmoke Trio
Saturday, October 11th at 7:30pm
The Kittery Art Association Gallery
2 Walker Street, Kittery, ME 03904

The Seasmoke Trio joins us for a night of live music in The Kittery Art Association Gallery! David Graf brings exceptional skill and originality to his finger-style electric guitar playing and composing. He is joined by Peter Braddock on the drums and Douglas Green on the electric bass. Seasmoke plays jazz, swing, blues, and traditional American songbook tunes. The repertoire includes original compositions as well as selected songs by notable American and international composers and popular artists.

The members of Seasmoke live in Kittery Maine. 

Tickets: $15

A limited number of tickets will be available at the door on the night of the concert.

David Graf gigs regularly in the Seacoast, Boston, and Washington DC areas, and has toured with notable bands through his career. David restores tower clocks across New England, including Portsmouth’s North Church on Market Square. 

Peter Braddock plays for Seasmoke, the Dylan band, Maggie’s Farmstand, The Dead Give-Aways and other groups on the Seacoast. Peter is a published cycling expert, and an award-winning video producer. 

Douglas Green plays for Seasmoke and other groups in the area. Douglas was Network Architect for the UNH statewide fiber network, and now does audio production for area musicians and the Rice Pudding Poetry Podcast.

Margaret Dwyer Workshop: The Fall Garden In Watercolor
Saturday, October 4th from 9:30am-2:30pm
The Kittery Art Association Art Hub (Lower Level Studio Space)

The fall garden includes a splendid variety of flowers, fruit, and vegetables unique to the season. Sunflowers, gladiolus, peppers, tomatoes, apple tree branches…whatever is in bloom or ready to harvest will be our inspiration. Set up your own fall still life or examine individual specimens in depth to reveal the patterns and textures inside. The fall palette is a rich one. Deep purples and crimson, glowing golds, greens, and reds. We will focus on making informed color choices (transparent vs. opaque), and mixing clean, vibrant colors. Demonstrations of brushwork and techniques will be ongoing throughout our painting process. Understanding the timing of techniques is essential to get the most out of this wonderful medium. Feel free to bring in treasures from your garden to add to the cornucopia of samples and references that will be on hand. This class will offer challenges to all levels of painters.

Registration Fee: $125

Christopher Volpe Art Lecture: Ten Steps to Working in Series - and Why You Might Want To!
Thursday, October 2nd at 6:30pm
The Kittery Art Association Gallery

Working in series – creating a group of thematically unified paintings – can be a tremendous opportunity to develop a body of work that shows self-awareness, seriousness, and commitment to your craft. In addition to practical benefits, such as approaching galleries and demonstrating artistic development, working in series allows you to challenge and expand your own creative limits, assumptions, and explore who you are as a creative individual. The deeper you go, the more exciting the possibilities and the more individualized and recognizably yours your work becomes.

Following a slide show of inspiring examples, we’ll get everyone started on their own path with a practical exercise designed to identity a potential series to experiment with on your own.

Tickets: $20

Mary Preble Workshop: Funky Florals with Gelli Plate
Saturday, September 20th from 10am-3pm
The Kittery Art Association Art Hub (Lower Level Studio Space)

Spend time with artist and children’s book illustrator, Mary Preble, as you learn the amazing art of Gelli Plate Printing. This is a fun, easy, no-mistake way of creating beautiful papers that can then be collaged in an 8x8" Funky Floral piece of artwork. Our four hour class will begin with learning to layer paint and fun textures to create one of a kind painted paper that we will then collage to create a Funky Floral piece of artwork.

If you have always wanted to create but are afraid to even start – or want to add a new repertoire to your art journey – this is the class for you. 

Registration Fee: $65

Dee Burdick: Acrylic Painting + Collage Workshop
Wednesday, September 10th from 10:00am-1:00pm
The Kittery Art Association Art Hub (Lower Level Studio Space)

Discover the dynamic world of acrylic painting and collage in this hands-on mixed media class. Perfect for beginners and experienced artists alike, this course explores the vibrant possibilities of acrylic paint combined with the rich textures of collage. Students will learn essential techniques such as layering, brushwork and composition while incorporating found materials, paper and more into their artwork. Students will also explore different methods to create their own collage papers. Perfect for anyone looking to grow artistically and rediscover the joy of making art.

Students are encouraged to bring in existing pieces -finished or in-progress- that could benefit from
new techniques, bold experimentation, or a shift in perspective.

Registration Fee: $65.00

Monoprint Magic: A Hands-On Exploration of One-of-a-Kind Prints
Tuesday, August 19th from 5:30-7pm
The Kittery Art Association Art Hub (Lower Level Studio Space)

This hands-on workshop introduces participants to the expressive and experimental art of monoprinting, a form of printmaking that results in unique, one of a kind prints. Participants will explore direct printing techniques using a plexiglass plate, water-based inks, and a variety of textures, stencils, and natural materials. No two prints are ever the same, making this an exciting and spontaneous creative process. The workshop is ideal for beginners and seasoned artists looking to loosen up and explore new techniques.

Guitarist and composer Aaron Larget-Caplan performs Tangos and Spanish dances, songs and dreams of America, and the music of Bach in Dance-Dream-Fugue in the Kittery Art Association Gallery on Saturday, July 26th.

This exciting solo guitar program combines the new and the well-known into an adventurous program for music and art lovers of all ages, and features music from his forthcoming 12th solo album Hymns to Hellfire.

$20 for Adults
Free for attendees under the age of 17!

A limited number of night-of tickets will be available at the door
Doors: 6:30pm

American classical guitarist and composer Aaron Larget-Caplan has performed over 1000 concerts across Europe, Russia, Taiwan, and the US. He directs and curates the Spanish dance ensemble ¡Con Fuego!, regularly performs chamber music, and has multiple contemporary music projects. His 11 solo albums have earned over 12 million streams, and he has multiple publications of John Cage, Alan Hovhaness, and contemporary composers. Raised in Colorado, he makes his home in Boston where he is on faculty at the New England Conservatory.

ALCGuitar.com • twitter/IG/FB/Patreon: @ALCGuitar • YT/TT: aaronlcguitar

We are so excited to welcome Alice Lee Timmins and Marlane Bottino for an evening of poetry in The Kittery Art Association Gallery at 2 Walker Street on Friday, July 18th from 5-7pm. Alice will be reading from her new book Leaning on a Blue Door, which was published in March 2025 by Finishing Line Press. Marlane will be reading from Orphan Psalm, a self-published chapbook released in 2024.

Admission to this event is FREE, and the public is welcome.

Healing is the theme in Marlane Bottino's chapbook, Orphan Psalm, healing for ourselves and also for nature.  Her poems are windows into healing through love, friendship and compassion. Closely bound to these are poems of connection to the healing spirit of nature---a spirit that lies beneath the surface of everything.

Alice Lee Timmins' collection Leaning on a Blue Door weaves together the personal and the collective, the natural and the technological. With deep compassion, Timmins explores love, loss, memory, and responsibility, revealing fragile truths that endure across time.  She writes poetry from her riverside cottage, sharing quiet, creative days with her partner Margaret, their dog Quincy, and sweet old cat Molly Blue.

Both poets are also longtime visual artist members here at the Kittery Art Association.

Leaning on a Blue Door by Alice Lee Timmins and Orphan Psalm by Marlane Bottino will be available for purchase at the event.

Monoprint Magic: A Hands-On Exploration of One-of-a-Kind Prints
Tuesday, July 15th from 5:30-7pm
The Kittery Art Association Art Hub (Lower Level Studio Space)

This hands-on workshop introduces participants to the expressive and experimental art of monoprinting, a form of printmaking that results in unique, one of a kind prints. Participants will explore direct printing techniques using a plexiglass plate, water-based inks, and a variety of textures, stencils, and natural materials. No two prints are ever the same, making this an exciting and spontaneous creative process. The workshop is ideal for beginners and seasoned artists looking to loosen up and explore new techniques.