The Golden Thread Gallery in West Hartford is excited to announce inspiring new arts programing for artists of all levels.

Submitted by Tricia Haggerty Wenz, The Golden Thread Gallery

The Golden Thread Gallery is excited to announce new art programming highlighting three distinct styles of art from the Renaissance period. Whether you are a professional artists looking for new inspiration or an emerging artist looking to learn a new art form, these hands on demonstrations will provide you with the basic understating of three unusual and celebrated art techniques, Silverpoint, Encaustic and Egg Tempera. The demonstrations will take place on three consecutive Thursdays beginning on Feb. 12 with Silverpoint at 6 p.m. Each Demonstration is $50.00, or $125.00 for all three. A wine reception will follow each of the demonstrations.

Local artist Michael Moran will teach the Silverpoint demonstration. In the early Renaissance era, long before the discovery of graphite and invention of the pencil, Silverpoint emerged as a fine line drawing technique by dragging a silver rod or wire across a surface, often prepared with gesso or primer. Silverpoint is one of several types of metalpoint used by scribes, craftsmen and artists since ancient times.

On Feb. 19, we will have an Encaustic demonstration by artist Gay Schempp. Encaustic painting, also known as hot wax painting, involves using heated beeswax to which colored pigments are added. The liquid or paste is then applied to a surface—usually prepared wood, though canvas and other materials are often used. Because wax is used as the pigment binder, encaustics can be sculpted as well as painted.

On Feb. 26, we will have an Egg Tempera demonstration by artist Nan Runde. Egg Tempera, is a permanent, fast-drying painting medium consisting of pigment mixed with diluted egg yoke, a binder medium. Tempera paintings are very long lasting. Egg tempera was a primary method of painting until after 1500 when it was superseded by the invention of oil painting.

The Golden Thread Gallery, with the mission of connecting the human spirit through the arts, began presenting meaningful work in 2013. The Golden Thread Gallery exhibits professional and emerging artists from various backgrounds and welcomes all mediums, all cultures and religions. By displaying a collection of various perspectives on a common theme, we reveal how art can creatively illustrate the diversity of the human condition. Our name, The Golden Thread, represents the invisible, underlying connection that weaves together the spirit of humanity – through the arts. To date we have had over 175 artists from all over the world present their work at the gallery.

The gallery is located at 303 Tunxis Road in West Hartford, Connecticut. Gallery Hours are: Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., Thursday noon – 6 p.m. and Saturday 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

To register for one or more of the demonstration or for more information regarding Renaissance Arts and the Golden Thread Gallery contact: [email protected], www.goldenthreadgallery.org or 860-760-9766.