Artist Roster

Mary Jane Arden  earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Delaware, where she studied under Anne Krohn Graham and Rosemary Lane. Some years later, she was awarded a Master of Education in Applied Technology from Wilmington University. She is also a graduate of the University of Delaware’s Webmaster Certification Program.

The early years of her career were spent at the Delaware Museum of Natural History (now the Delaware Museum of Science and Nature), where she was the Director of Exhibits and Graphic Arts for 14 years. In 2000 she joined Delaware Technical Community College as a member of its Marketing Department until her retirement in 2022.

Additionally, for ten years, Mary Jane was an adjunct instructor at Willmington University, where she developed and taught a course on User Centered Design for the University's College of Technology. She developed two versions of this course, one to be taught face-to-face and the other exclusively online.

During her years at Delaware Tech, she also worked as an adjunct instructor developing and teaching the Computer Graphics Specialist Certification Program, the Graphic Design Certificate Course, and Introduction to Drawing.

Mary Jane is the recipient of numerous awards for her graphic design. Her artwork has been featured in national publications: Somerset Studio, Belle Armoire, and Art Doll.

Favored Mediums and Current Directions
For the last five years, Mary Jane has focused her artistic energies on creating mixed-media assemblages and collages. She uses her skills working in digital photography and editing, graphic design, and drawing to create the elements that she incorporates into her finished artwork.  

Found objects also play an important part in her work. When traveling, she is always on the lookout for paper ephemera and searching woods and beaches for bits of natural elements to incorporate into her work.

Creative Aging Workshops Offered:

• Introduction to Drawing
• Introduction to Collage

Introduction to Drawing
If you can write your name, you can draw! Drawing is a learnable skill just like learning to write or driving a car. It’s an accessible and expressive art form that helps improve creativity, memory, and coordination. In this hands-on eight-week workshop, students will learn and practice basic drawing techniques. Final projects will be exhibited in a final ninth session that will be the culminating event for the workshop. Absolutely no previous art experience is necessary.

Workshop Information:

• The workshop consists of eight two-hour classes and a final culminating event (an exhibit celebration) taking place in the ninth week.
• Workshop classes are sequential. Every week, new art making skills build upon the ones learned in the previous week.
• Social interaction is stressed with ample and intentional opportunities throughout the workshop for students to talk about their work and the process of art making and learning.
• Supplies will cost $60 per student. An Amazon link to a complete list of the required supplies will be provided to the sponsoring organization.  
• Maximum students in each workshop: 12
• Workshop location requirements: enough tables and chairs (or desks) to accommodate all students. Trash can or waste paper basket. One electrical outlet.
• Mileage reimbursement is required for travel beyond New Castle and Kent County.

Drawing Workshop Fees WITH supplies provided to students: $2,260 (based on 12 students)

$   960            16 hours of instruction
$   480            8 hours of curriculum development and class preparation
$   720            Supplies for 12 students ($60 each)
$   100            Culminating event

Drawing Workshop Fees with students providing their OWN supplies: $1,540 (based on 12 students)

$   960            16 hours of instruction
$   480            8 hours of curriculum development and class preparation
$   100            Culminating event

Introduction to Collage
Collage is an exciting and expressive art form using common, inexpensive materials. In this hands-on eight-week workshop, students will learn and practice the techniques needed to create their own collages. Final projects will be exhibited in a final ninth session that will be the culminating event for the workshop. No previous art experience is necessary.

Workshop Information:

• The workshop consists of eight two-hour classes and a final culminating event (an exhibit celebration) taking place in the ninth week.
• Workshop classes are sequential. Every week, new art making skills build upon the ones learned in the previous week.
• Social interaction is stressed with ample and intentional opportunities throughout the workshop for students to talk about their work and the process of art making and learning.
• Supplies will cost $70 per student. An Amazon link to a complete list of the required supplies will be provided to the sponsoring organization.  
• Maximum students in each workshop: 12
• Workshop location requirements: enough tables and chairs (or desks) to accommodate all students. Trash can or waste paper basket. One electrical outlet.
• Mileage reimbursement is required for travel beyond New Castle and Kent County

Collage Workshop Fees WITH supplies provided to students: $2,380 (based on 12 students)

$   960            16 hours of instruction
$   480            8 hours of curriculum development and class preparation
$   840            Supplies for 12 students ($70 each)
$   100            Culminating event

Collage Workshop Fees with students providing their OWN supplies: $1,540 (based on 12 students)

$   960            16 hours of instruction
$   480            8 hours of curriculum development and class preparation
$   100            Culminating event

Short Workshop Information: If you are interested in workshops that only meet once I can accommodate you, please get in touch!