Art Department

10/14/2026

On Saturday, October 24, join artist Glenda Goodrich for an afternoon of folding, layering, tucking, hiding, and creating as you make your own 4" x 4" pocketed Leporello accordion book.

These little books unfold and expand to reveal pockets, surprises, artwork, words, images, and tiny treasures. Turn yours into a miniature visual journal, a portable gallery, a collection of secrets, or a one-of-a-kind gift.

We’ll also play with assorted papers, ephemera, images, stickers, and fabric to create little works of art to tuck inside the pockets.

Glenda is even making several this year as Christmas gifts for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren—with a little cash tucked inside. ❤️

No bookmaking experience necessary. Just come ready to make something unexpected.

Saturday, October 24 | 11:15–4:45
Ages 14+
Taught by Glenda Goodrich

Come discover where the next fold takes you.

https://artdepartmentsupply.com/collections/classes/products/pockets-folds-possibilities-leporello-accordion-bookmaking-with-gg

10/04/2026

Join artist Dayna Collins for Lexicon of Collage, a two-day mixed-media workshop where you’ll build your own visual vocabulary—one 4 × 6" collage at a time.

Working loosely and intuitively, you’ll create a deck of small collages using scraps of paper, worn ephemera, discarded books, and hand-painted papers you’ll make in class.

Expect two wonderfully creative days of cutting, tearing, drawing, gluing, painting, writing, scraping, sanding, layering and revealing. Rather than laboring over one finished piece, you’ll get to experiment with lots of ideas and techniques, building a collection you can display, revisit, and use as inspiration for future work.
This is a great class for anyone who loves paper, texture, found materials, mixed media—or simply wants permission to loosen up and see what happens.

Lexicon of Collage: Creating a Deck of Mixed Media Collages
Saturday, Oct. 17 | 11:30am–5:30pm
Sunday, Oct. 18 | Noon–4pm
Taught by Dayna Collins
Ages 16+ | $180

Come make your own lexicon of marks, layers, textures and happy accidents.

https://artdepartmentsupply.com/collections/classes/products/lexicon-of-collage-creating-a-deck-of-mixed-media-collages-with-dayna-collins

10/03/2026

10/02/2026

Ready to take your Gelli printing to the next level?

Join us for a two-day Gelli Printing Retreat with Jessica Ramey, designed for artists who already know the basics and want time to really dig into image transfers, layering, and painting with their prints.

Over the weekend, Jessica will demonstrate techniques including magazine transfers, transfers from photocopies, choosing and editing images for better results, layering color, and ways to turn your prints into more developed pieces.
And because this is a retreat, there’s plenty of time built in to play and explore. Spread out, experiment, make a pile of prints, follow an unexpected direction, and get individual help from Jessica along the way. She’ll even have a printer available so you can experiment with your own images.

We’re limiting the retreat to just 10 people, giving everyone lots of room to work and plenty of individual attention.

Gelli Printing Retreat: Transfers + Paintings
Saturday, Oct. 10 | 11–4:30pm
Sunday, Oct. 11 | 12:30–4pm
Taught by Jessica Ramey
Ages 18+ | $180

Previous Gelli printing experience is required. If you’re brand new to Gelli plates, start with our Gelli Printing Basics class.

Come spend two days making, experimenting, and seeing just how far you can take a Gelli print.
https://artdepartmentsupply.com/collections/classes/products/gelli-printing-retreat-transfers-and-gelli-paintings-with-jessica-ramey

10/01/2026

Monsters are taking over the Concrete Gallery this First Friday

Join us for a pop-up with Jesús Santillanes of Santillanes Arte, whose horror and fantasy artwork draws inspiration from 80s movies, Mexican culture, metal, video games, H.P. Lovecraft, John Carpenter, and a lifelong love of really good monsters.

Jesús started drawing Spider-Man and giant robots at age five. After watching The Thing, Alien, and Predator at the tender age of eight, there was probably no turning back.

His work ranges from original creatures to fantastical, wonderfully creepy worlds, created with colored pencil, markers, acrylic and acrylic gouache.
Come meet Jesus, see his work in person, and celebrate local artists with us during the First Friday Art Walk!

Jesús Santillanes Pop-Up
Friday, October 2 | 5–8 pm
Concrete Gallery at Art Department
Downtown Salem

https://artdepartmentsupply.com/blogs/news/jesus-santillanes-pop-up
Follow Jesús on Instagram:
Come for the art. Stay for the monsters.

09/29/2026

Want to loosen up a little?

Dip your toes into abstract painting with What If: A Workshop in Abstract Acrylic Painting, a two-day class with Cynthia Herron.

If you already have some experience with acrylics but find yourself wondering how to move from painting what you see to something more abstract, this workshop is a great place to explore.

You’ll play with color, line, shape and texture, learn about different approaches to abstraction, and experiment with ways to make your paintings more expressive and playful. Over the weekend, you’ll complete two paintings and share in supportive group critiques along the way.

What If: A Workshop in Abstract Acrylic Painting
Saturday, Oct. 3 + Sunday, Oct. 4
1–4pm
Taught by Cynthia Herron
Ages 14+
$145

Come with some acrylic painting experience—and a willingness to ask, “What if I tried this?”

https://artdepartmentsupply.com/collections/classes/products/abstraction-in-painting-simplify-through-color-and-shape-with-cynthia-herron

09/23/2026

New in the shop! Carnival Wet Strength Tissue Paper

I’ve been playing with our new Carnival Papers wet strength tissue, and I’m impressed! I used it to cover these reed moon forms I’ve been building.

Unlike ordinary tissue paper, it stays surprisingly strong when wet, making it great for lanterns, sculpture, papier-mâché, collage and other mixed-media projects. I applied mine with Lineco Neutral pH Adhesive, and it wrapped beautifully around the forms.

09/22/2026

There’s still room in my I Spy Sketching Retreat this weekend, and I’d love to have a few more sketchers join me!

This is a weekend for slowing down, looking closely, and filling a sketchbook with the little things that catch your eye. We’ll sketch together indoors and out, play with line, color, texture and observation, and work on getting more comfortable drawing on location.

You absolutely do not need to be “good at drawing” to come. Beginners are very welcome. The goal isn’t perfect drawings, it’s learning to see more, loosen up, and enjoy your sketchbook.

Saturday, Sept. 26, 11–4
Sunday, Sept. 27, 1–4
Ages 14+ • $180

Come spend the weekend sketching with me!

Slow down, look closely, and discover the joy of sketching what catches your eye. Whether you're new to sketching or looking to build confidence drawing on location, this weekend retreat is about seeing the world differently. Through demonstrations, guided exercises, and plenty of time to sketch, we...

09/15/2026

Gelli Printing Basics with Jessica Ramey

Spend a fun afternoon learning the basics of how to use a Gelli Plate to print beautiful and quick collage papers to use for cardmaking, journaling, bookmaking, scrapbooking, washi tape, or any art project.

In this class, we will use stencils and regular household objects to create layered colors and textured images on collage paper. Everyone will create a fun pile of papers that are suitable for collaging or framing. 

Saturday, September 19 | 1-5 pm
Ages 16+, $75

09/11/2026

I made my own giant oil crayons—and I LOVE them. 🎨

Want to make your own? Comment CRAYON and I’ll send you the recipe + instructions.