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Art Lessons Notebook Workshop at Watauga Library July 22

Registration Deadline July 19

Story by Celeste von Mangan

Teaching art can be challenging, even for the most experienced instructor, and that is exactly why Cathy Futral wrote 101 Art Lessons. The book describes 101 lessons that homeschool parents and teachers can use as guidelines to teach their children and students drawing, design, watercolor painting, crafts and sculpture. To demonstrate how to use the book and teach art, Futral is holding a workshop on Tuesday, July 22, at the Watauga County Public Library from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m.

“I will be presenting 8 to 10 art lessons from my book,” said Futral. “I’ve been an art teacher for over 30 years, and the notebook is 101 lessons for all levels. The book can be used as a resource for teachers or homeschool parents, or for artists themselves. At the workshop, I will have various stations set up focusing on a variety of art lessons—samples from my book.

“People will choose a station and proceed with the lesson. Parents can bring their child because if you are going to teach someone how to do something, you need to know how to do it yourself. That’s kind of the premise of teaching all levels. It’s meant to be fun, and there are will be a lot of different things going on around the room.”

Futral developed the idea for 101 Art Lessons when a high school art teacher handed her a pack of lessons.

“It was my first job in high school,” said Futral. “I asked her what her favorite lessons were and one week later, she handed me all of her lessons. She just hand wrote them on that long, yellow legal-size paper. Something I realized was that even as a teacher myself, I still needed her advice.”

Futral wrote out 101 lessons that she taught to students over the years and teamed up with her daughter—a graphic artist—to create her book.

“I do print the book myself and it is bound and all color,” said Futral. “My daughter was my graphic designer and there are digital photographs of art lessons. The book took about eight months to complete and some of the lessons are taken from what I taught my child when she was growing up.”

The lessons emphasize drawing, painting and design and are suitable for all ages.
“I’ve had more teachers tell me that the book has helped them,” said Futral. “It’s not a money-making venture; there is a need for this sort of book and it does fill that need.”

Originally from Asheboro, Futral graduated from Appalachian State University with a degree in art education. From there, she earned a master’s in art education at Florida State University, followed by a master’s in fine arts. Although Futral is a full-time resident of Florida, she has two months off each summer from her teaching duties at South Florida Community College where she teaches painting, design, pottery and art history.

“I come up here in the summer and stay in a little house,” said Futral. “I teach workshops at Cheap Joe’s and I really stay busy getting painting done and giving classes.”

The workshop is free except for a $1 fee charged to each participant—parent and child are considered as one—to help cover the cost of paint, brushes, crayons and other supplies used at the art stations. Books will be available for purchase at a cost of $29.95 each plus sales tax.

Participants must register for the Art Lessons Notebook workshop at the Watauga Public Library by Saturday, July 19. For more information or to register, call 828-264-8784.

Want To Go?
Date: Tuesday, July 22
Time: 6:30 to 7:45 p.m.
Location: Watauga County Public Library
Cost: $1