From fitness to art to languages, Adult School has a full slate this spring

The spring quarter at the Davis Adult and Community Education School begins Monday, and there is still time to sign up for classes.

Among the new offerings is a course in oil painting, which will be taught on Tuesday evenings at the King High School campus, Seventh and B streets, by instructor Wes Ruff.

“Students will learn how to incorporate both the direct and indirect approach to oil painting. These techniques are a valuable addition to the artist’s skill set, expanding their ability to depict a variety of subjects,” Ruff said.

The study component of the course will involve considering famous works by artists like Rubens, Rembrandt and Van Eyck, which will help “student develop their mastery of oils. Experience in drawing will provide a solid foundation for this class, but more important is a strong desire to learn.”

Students are responsible for purchasing the required materials for the class, Ruff added.

Other art classes in the spring schedule are Jeanne Pettigrew’s popular course in basic sewing skills (Thursdays at the Davis High campus, 315 W. 14th St.), and three courses taught but instructor Gay Huntley: the long-running creative mosaic course (Tuesdays at DHS), drawing (Thursdays at DHS) and painting with acrylics (Wednesday at DHS).

Other language courses include Italian conversation for travelers (Tuesdays at Davis High), and three levels of Spanish conversation (Wednesdays and Thursdays at Davis High).

With summer travel on the horizon, this is an excellent time for those considering a trip to brush up on their world language skills. Language courses include Arabic conversation, Chinese (Mandarin) and two different levels of French. Instructor Gisela Schubert also will offer her long-running German conversation classes at the beginning and continuing levels.

“In addition to a brief overview of the German sound system, the beginning course also offers an introduction to basic grammar, including articles, gender, adjectives, numbers and present-tense verbs,” the Adult School brochure says. The continuing course expands this focus to cover “language skills needed in common daily situations with emphasis on listening and speaking.”

Fitness and health classes this spring include courses Pilates on Wednesdays, which enhances strength in core muscles, promotes flexibility and improves posture and breathing; qigong on Tuesdays, a Chinese form of exercise that synchronizes breath and gentle-flowing movement to improve health and energy; tai chi on Mondays, choreographed meditation that helps reduce stress and high blood pressure; yoga on Tuesdays, with an emphasis on alignment and body awareness, promoting strength and flexibility; and zumba on Tuesdays and Thursdays, easy-to-follow dance moves set to high-energy Latin/international music.

People who want to get more out of their home computer may want to sign up for courses covering popular software applications like Adobe Photoshop, Adobe InDesign, Excel and website design. There are also courses in data management, and how to use a digital camera.

Other courses of interest include:

* Davis Community Folk Orchestra, meeting Thursdays at King High, featuring traditional acoustic music from all over the world, beginners are welcome.

* Open wood shop, meeting Tuesdays at Holmes Junior High, 1221 Drexel Drive, offering access to “fantastic equipment” and the opportunity to learn how to use various tools.

* Courses in advanced pronunciation and reading and writing for English learners, meeting on various evenings.

* Ethnic vegetarian cuisine, meeting Thursdays at Davis High, examining recipes from Thailand, India, France and countries in Africa. “Come to class with an appetite and be prepared to roll up your sleeves and get chopping,” said instructor Holly Istas.

Students may register at www.djusd.k12.ca.us/adultschool. Or, they can visit the Adult School office on the southwest corner of the Davis High School campus at 14th Street and Oak Avenue, or call 530-757-5380. Spring quarter classes continue through June 6, though some meet for only a portion of the quarter. It’s also OK to register on the first day of class, as long as the class isn’t already full.

Enrolling in an Adult School course involves a fee, ranging from $40 to $85 in most cases. The Davis Adult and Community Education School is part of the Davis school district.