Description
I’m blown away by Harold Fisk’s 1944 folio of graceful illustrations that document changes to the course of the Mississippi River over thousands of years. Come explore Fisk’s techniques that express space and time in a single image. We’ll start by selecting a few pages from vintage sources—encyclopedias, sheet music, ledgers, and even maps! Reference the twists and turns of today’s Mississippi and create your own river on one sheet by drawing and cutting it out. Then, on another page, start imagining where that river flowed before. We’ll be painting with only four colors of watercolor and/or gouache, and drawing with Micron pens and graphite pencils. When your painted page is complete, you’ll glue your river on top for a unique, meandering mixed media piece.
Some familiarity with water-based paint is helpful. All materials and tools provided, but if you have favorite old papers, feel free to bring them.
Check out the inspiration for this class and Harold’s maps (pictured in the second and third images at left) here:
Class size 8
Level Beginner and above
Student Supply List
Reading glasses if you use them. Favorite vintage books or papers if you’d like.
- Tuition $140
- Materials Fee $12
Registration Policies & Waiting Lists
Class Confirmation
You will receive a registration confirmation via email. If you do not have an email address, you will receive a snail-mail confirmation.
Please read your class confirmation carefully as it may include a supply list and other important details, and note our current COVID-19 protocols on our Planning Your Workshop Experience page.
Materials Fees
Many classes have materials fees in addition to the tuition. These are identified in the class listing and are usually paid with the tuition payment, however in some cases materials fees are paid directly to the instructor at class time (check the class listing).
Cancellation Policy
While we recognize that life intrudes and plans change, in consideration of the time and energy instructors invest in preparing for classes, we must adhere to the following cancellation policies:
Student cancellations
> Cancellations made 31 days before the published registration deadline date for any given workshop are eligible for a full refund less 25% of the workshop fee OR a gift certificate in the full amount of the workshop fee. The gift certificate can be applied to workshops or lodging through Dec. 31 of the following year and is transferable.
> Cancellations made 30 days or less than the published registration deadline date for any given workshop are not eligible for refunds. We encourage all students to purchase trip insurance.
> Cancellation requests must be made by calling our office at (608) 987-3292.
> If you have booked lodging with Shake Rag Alley in conjunction with your class, please refer to our lodging page for the lodging cancellation policy.
Cancellations by Shake Rag Alley
> If Shake Rag Alley must cancel a class you will be notified immediately via email or phone and will receive a full refund.
> If a class does not meet a minimum number of students, it may be cancelled. A decision to cancel a class due to under enrollment will be made on the day following the published registration deadline.
> If you have booked lodging with Shake Rag Alley in conjunction with a class cancelled by Shake Rag Alley, you may receive a full refund on lodging should you wish to cancel the lodging. Please call the office at (608) 987-3292.
Waiting Lists
If a workshop you are interested in is sold out, please fill out this waiting list form. We will contact you if a spot becomes available. The class code requested on the form is the Workshop ID shown at left, beneath the Add to Cart button.