Stone Tower Studio

The Stone Tower Studio and Gallery at Glen Echo Park houses resident artists who bridge representational and abstract approaches to artmaking. The gallery showcases work in both traditional and nontraditional methods using a variety of media. Through instruction, artists champion experimentation and innovation in the artmaking process and promote these concepts through the “Art Clinic” program.

Full vaccinations are required for all Stone Tower classes and programs.

Visitors are always welcome to see what the Stone Tower Studio has to offer.

Studio Director and Resident ArtistJ. Jordan Bruns

Resident Artist - Mariana Kastrinakis

STUDIO HOURS:

Wednesday through Sunday from 12pm-5pm or by appointment (excluding class time)

301.634.5379

Chautauqua Tower 2nd and 3rd floors

Contact: J. Jordan Bruns - jordan@jjbruns.com or Mariana Kastrinakis - mkastrin@gmail.com

(sorted by start date within each category)

Alla Prima: Figure and Light $325

Jordan Bruns

Class: Th, Sep 7-Nov 2, No Class: Oct 12, 1:30-4pm, Stone Tower Studio

This fascinating Art Clinic class explores the dynamic interplay between light, color, and emotion in your figure paintings. Using a variety of light bulbs with different kelvin outputs and filters we will manipulate color temperature and light intensity to evoke powerful emotional responses. Discover how to choose limited palettes and use color symbolism to unlock your full creative potential. Enjoy immersive two-week model sessions to keep your figure painting fresh and dynamic. Class Level: intermediate to advanced. Please note there is a $60 model fee paid in class. More info: jjbruns.com/class-notes/alla-prima/ Minimum age 14. 8 sessions.

Classes with the Zoom icon next to the title are taking place online.

Alla Prima: Plein Air

Jordan Bruns

$325

Class: Tu, Sep 12-Oct 31, 10am-12:30pm, Stone Tower

Studio and/or Brookside Gardens

When painting the great outdoors, alla prima techniques are key. As the sun moves across the sky, our painting method must be quick to capture all the moments of dramatic light and shadow. We’ll practice the three steps in creating a fresh plein air painting: 1) identification of the color, 2) mixing the color, and 3) putting the color in the right spot. More info: jjbruns.com/class-notes/alla-prima/. Class Level: intermediate to advanced. Minimum age 14. 8 sessions.

Just Add Water Art Clinic: $215

Watercolor Pencils + Acrylics

Jordan Bruns

Class: W, Sep 13-Oct 11, 10am-12:30pm, Stone Tower Studio

Watercolor Pencils and Acrylics go together like peas and carrots. Use watercolor pencils to create a fantastic foundation while mapping/sketching out both the still life and figure. Acrylic paints are then added right on top of your watercolor pencil foundation in selective areas, bringing attention and focus to specific areas. It’s the perfect marriage of expressive and detailed painting. Please note there is a $20 model fee paid in class. Class Level: intermediate to advanced. More info: jjbruns.com/class-notes/just-add-water/. Minimum age 14. 5 sessions.

Jordan Bruns

Class: W, Oct 18-Nov 15, 10am-12:30pm, Stone Tower Studio

Join us for the ULTIMATE art materials experimentation Art Clinic. We’ll work with you to find what mixed media technique works best for you. We have broken the options into “color” and “black and white.” From there, we’ll devise a plan of attack on the best method to create fun and beautiful works of art. Explore one option for all four classes or try a variety of different approaches. Please note there is a $20 model fee paid in class. Class Level: intermediate to advanced. More info: jjbruns.com/class-notes/just-add-water/. Minimum age 14. 5 sessions.

Jordan Bruns

Class: W, Jan 10-Feb 7, 10am-12:30pm, Stone Tower Studio

This Art Clinic is designed to help you fully understand the versatility of this amazing painting medium. Whether you want to create abstract or representational imagery, we’ll cover all the practical methods of using water-based acrylics. Discover what makes acrylics so awesome, including the use of “mediums” as additives. We’ll help you find the best type of acrylics to meet your artistic goals, whether you prefer heavy body or fluid acrylics. Class Level: all welcome. More info: jjbruns.com/class-notes/just-add-water/. Minimum age 14. 5 sessions.

All the Acrylics + Sandpaper

Jordan Bruns

Class: W, Feb 21-Mar 20, 10am-12:30pm, Stone Tower Studio

Our Acrylic Art Clinic is all about breaking free from your preconceived notions of this amazing and versatile painting medium. We encourage you to take an orbital sander to your surface and see what chance has in store for you! Whether you’re interested in creating abstract or representational imagery, this clinic will guide you through a process that blends happy accidents with intentional techniques. It’s the perfect next step for those who have completed “Just Add Water: All the Acrylics” or for artists with prior experience using acrylics. Class Level: beginner to advanced. More info: jjbruns.com/class-notes/just-add-water/ Minimum age 14. 5 sessions.

Mariana Kastrinakis

Class: Tu, Jan 9-Feb 6, 10am-12:30pm, Stone Tower Studio

Watercolor (WC) has an undeniable magical quality that can bring your artwork to life. In this class, you will learn essential WC techniques to help your watercolors burst forth from your materials. Discover the art of painting wet to wet effects, creating stunning graded washes, and using edges to convey depth and hierarchy. We will also explore multiple methods for editing your work to correct mistakes or intentionally create new ones. By the end of the class, you’ll have a whole new set of skills to take your WC artwork to the next level. Class Level: beginner to intermediate. More info: jjbruns.com/ class-notes/watercolor-witchcraft/ or MKastrin@gmail.com Minimum age 14. 5 sessions.

Watercolor Witchcraft: Foundations

Mariana Kastrinakis

Class: Wed- Sep 13-Oct 11, 1:30-4pm, Online

If there ever is proof that magic is real, it resides in watercolor. When in the right hands, color springs from the brush like fireworks, pigment meanders through washes like it’s alive, and accidents strangely become the most interesting part of the painting. You will learn everything you need to know from brush types, to pigments, to paper weights, to handling the “wetness” of the paper, and how to create different WC effects, so you can feel comfortable with this beautiful medium. Class Level: beginning and intermediate. More info: jjbruns.com/class-notes/watercolor-witchcraft/ or email MKastrin@gmail.com. Minimum age 14. 5 sessions.

Mariana Kastrinakis

Class: Tu, Feb 20-Mar 19, 10am-12:30pm, Stone Tower Studio

Watercolor (WC) is perhaps the closest thing we have to tangible proof of magic. In this class, we will cover everything you need to know about mixing, judging, and matching colors. By tapping into the psychology of colors, we will create specific moods and enhance them through the use of limited palettes or maximal color harmony. We will explore how to traverse the color wheel to lighten or darken specific areas, and how to leverage color temperature to our advantage. Class Level: beginner to intermediate. More info: jjbruns.com/class-notes/ watercolor-witchcraft/ or email MKastrin@gmail.com. Minimum age 14. 5 sessions.