The Artists League of the Sandhills announces its schedule of summer mini-classes.

These classes are designed to give the new artist an introduction to painting or the experienced artist a one-day focus on a particular subject. Sessions are held at the Artists League's facility on Exchange Street in Aberdeen. All sessions are open to nonmembers. Discounts are available to League members.

Betty Hendrix will conduct a session on ink and wash drawing, Wednesday, July 14, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This technique is excellent for journaling or sketching and makes delightful small works for framing. Most supplies will be provided. There will be demonstrations of techniques. The class fee is $35, plus a $5 supply fee.

On Friday, July 16, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Bob Way will conduct a class titled "Making Mud Work for You." This class will reveal why muddy and chalky color mixtures happen and how to avoid not only the unintentional mixing of such colors, but how to use them to your artistic advantage. Way will teach the student to see "mud" in the environment and demonstrate how to use the colors of mud when creating beautiful and appealing oil or watercolor paintings. Fee for this session is $55.

Instructor Barbara Sickenberger will reprise her popular class on portrait drawing, Tuesday, July 20, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The fee is $55.

An introduction to botanical illustration in watercolor will be presented from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 24, by Emma Skurnick. Students will learn the basics of traditional botanical illustration, how to create a clear and accurate pencil sketch of a living flower and transfer that drawing to watercolor paper. Techniques for applying watercolor in controlled, smooth layers, using both wet-on-wet and dry brush, will be practiced. The fee is $55.

"Printmaking Made Easy - Monoprints" by Sandy Stratil is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 2, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The class discusses this form of printmaking and creates monoprints of several types. Several common art materials such as pen and ink, colored pencils, markers, etc. will be used to enhance this versatile and artistic art form. The fee for the class is $45, plus a $5 supply fee.

Interested in working outside the proverbial box? "Fundamentals of Abstraction" will help the artist explore something different: free oneself from representation and to be more expressive when designing paintings. Instructor Linda Bruening conducts this class from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 4. Class fee is $45.

"First Timers to Watercolor" is for those wishing to try this popular medium for the first time. Brushes, paint, paper and palette will be provided. The class will be held Saturday, Aug. 14, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Noted area watercolorist Elda Hiser offers this class for $45, plus a $6 supply fee.

Artist and computer expert Tommy McDonell offers a two-day class Tuesday, Aug. 17, and Thursday, Aug. 19, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day on "Creating Your Own Blog/Website." This is a user-friendly class for both beginner and experienced computer users. Students will learn the steps needed to create their own blog and/or website. The instructor will review computer technology terms and demonstrate the necessary steps. Fee for the class is $75. A computer rental fee of $30 is charged for students needing computer equipment for the class.

Karen Walker offers two of her popular alcohol ink classes. "Exploring Alcohol Inks" will be offered on Tuesday, Aug. 24, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., where students will learn the techniques for applying and controlling ink to create expressive and beautiful paintings. The fee is $45 for the class, $5 for supplies. The second class, "Inks on Different Papers," will be offered from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Aug. 27. Students will experiment with alcohol inks on a variety of surfaces from clayboard to glass ornaments. The materials fee of $6 covers seven different substrates. The class fee is $55.

Contact the League at (910) 944-3979 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday for additional information and to enroll.

The Artists League of the Sandhills is a nonprofit organization founded in 1994 to promote interest in the visual arts by providing art education and a friendly environment in which to work, exhibit and sell members' artworks. It is located in historic downtown Aberdeen at 129 Exchange St., in the old Aberdeen Rockfish Railroad storage terminal. Visit the website at www.artistleague.org. Regular gallery hours are Monday through Saturday from noon to 3 p.m.