Events at Push/Pull Ballard

This is a 21+ event, and you are welcome to bring your own alcoholic or nonalcoholic beverages.
This is a free event sponsored by Bal-Art, a project of Push/Pull dedicated to creating sustainable careers for artists and to connecting artists and the community. Help support our free programs with an optional donation.

This is a paid class that requires registration. Sign up here.

A monthly watercolor paint-along that will build your painting muscles! Join Max Mandell, "The Bob Ross of Watercolor," each month to paint a landscape. This class is beginner-friendly, but more experienced watercolor artists are sure to learn something! Come learn about color theory, composition, sketching for painting, and more while you paint along with Max!

Join us each month for a new color palette and theme!

February: Stunning Skies: In this class, we will practice wet-into-wet techniques to create distinct and beautiful clouds. Create gorgeous gradients to make a subtle, realistic effect.

March: Soft Winter: These paint colors are easy to find and a fantastic entrance into color theory. Learn how to create close-to-black neutrals with two colors. In this month’s class we’ll create a wintry scene in shades of blues, greys, and browns. We’ll add some other colors to create a moody atmosphere, too.

April: Golden Hour: Found in most standard sets, these colors are powerhouses when it comes to painting the natural world. We’ll paint an atmospheric scene of a forest at golden hour, featuring yellow ochre and sap green.

May: Wildflowers: CMY color mixing lends itself to saturated, rich colors. Learn a little color theory about these primary colors, and enjoy the vivid tones they create when mixed. We’ll create a painting featuring wildflowers.

June: Seattle Skies: Render distant mountains in this month's class. We’ll create a scene reminiscent of Seattle skies on a clear day and cerulean blue will take center stage as we lift fluffy clouds and create a pretty lakeside scene.

July: Lake Day: Don’t you wish Seattle summer could last forever? Capture the memory of a beautiful day at the lake in watercolor form! We will use simple techniques to create an atmospheric view of Lake Washington and Mt. Rainier.

August: Stunning Skies: In this class, we will practice wet-into-wet techniques to create distinct and beautiful clouds. Create gorgeous gradients to make a subtle, realistic effect.

Max Mandell, who coworkers call "the Bob Ross of Watercolor," has been exploring the watercolor medium for 8 years. He's delighted to share his love for watercolor with you.

This is a paid class that requires registration. Sign up here.

So you like needle felting? Join us to continue tying in those skills!

Join Maxx FG, crafter and creative director of Push/Pull, to add more detail and depth with your needle felted creations. You'll create a medium-sized needle felted sculpture and build layers of color to create more complex shapes.

This class is ideal for students of our Intro to Needle Felting class, or for those who have already tried out needle felting at home and want to learn more.

Plus, as with all our classes, you'll get 15% off art supplies on the day of your class.

All materials are provided. This class uses sharp tools; we ask that attendees under 14 have a ticketed adult with them.

IMPORTANT: This event is held in our upstairs classroom space. The space is not ADA accessible and is up a narrow set of stairs. The space also does not have windows. We have masks available for those who wish to use one.

Maxx Follis-Goodkind is Push/Pull's founder, Director, and felter. She loves sculpting creations out of felt and also loves that it involves lots of stabbing. She recommends this method of creation to anyone that has stabby urges.

This is a paid class that requires registration. Sign up here.

Learn the art of capturing the natural environment on paper while getting to know one of Ballard's most beautiful spaces.

Maxx Follis-Goodkind will show you how to look at plants in a scientific way to improve your art. You'll also learn cultural and historical information about plants to help you better appreciate their context in the garden. Beyond drawing, you'll get guidance in selecting paint colors and watercolor sketching techniques.

Classes meet Fridays at the entrance of the Ballard Locks at 11am, rain or shine! We will walk together to a location in the garden/park area to draw and learn. Class ends at 12:30pm.

Get the most out of this Botanical Sketching course by signing up for our Botanical Watercolor classes!

Suggested supplies: Small sketchbook, small watercolor pad or sketchbook, round and flat/wash watercolor or mixed media brushes, variety of graphite pencils, variety of charcoal pencils, pencil sharpener (with container to capture waste), variety of erasers, container for water, watercolor paints, a board to clip work to in the field, clips to hold paper. (Show a copy of your ticket confirmation at Push/Pull to receive a 15% discount on class supplies)