We believe that no matter what their area of emphasis, every emerging artist needs a strong foundation in Drawing and Painting. It is a learned skill that relies heavily upon on hand-eye coordination and which is an ability that, in time, can be mastered by just about everyone. We build upon the basic foundation by further encouraging students to experiment with style, form, and structure.
Classes not listed here will either have required materials in the class description, discuss needed materials during the first class, or the materials will be supplied.
Class details (meeting times, tuition, etc.) are listed below.
View Materials List Class Guidelines
Current Studio Practices: Separate open studio times for Drawing and Painting classes are not available but students may arrive 30 minutes prior to their class time to begin working. Students should plan on transporting their work and supplies with them following their class.
Classes are open-enrollment to the community. Class registration is a simple process. Read 'How to Register' below to get started. Click here to view all registration policies and guidelines, including information on payments, class withdraws and cancellations, refunds, and more.
Have you always wanted to draw? Get a step-by-step, hands-on guided tour of line drawing with charcoal and pencil—all supplies provided! Grasp an understanding of observational drawing, translating what the eye sees on to the page, as well as the design and composition principles that lie beneath all art: line, color, texture, and values. Let this non-judgmental introductory class be the stepping-stone to future art classes.
Student-artists of all media are welcome since this class is about the creative process of art making, not the medium with which you choose to create. Perception and creativity are the cornerstones of an artistic style. It is the interpretation and visualization of the subject that moves artwork from ordinary to extraordinary. Focus on refining your artistic vision to create unique artwork that communicates to others with emotional resonance. Aspects of visual design will be examined, as will how the creative experience works for each student-artist individually. Through assignments, exercises, and concrete constructive critiques, you will sharpen your personal artistic vision.
Drawing is a learned skill based on hand-eye coordination. Through free-hand drawing, you will develop skills to render three-dimensional objects—using drawing principles of line, shape, value, texture, perspective, and composition.
Two-dimensional design is an essential foundation for all studio art courses. This basic design course introduces the elements and principles of two-dimensional art and explores how they are applied in creative works. Emphasis is on developing strong design concepts, compositions, and color while experimenting with a variety of materials. No drawing or painting experience is required.
Every face is unique and individually expressive. Discover the fundamental of portraiture as you expand your observational drawing skills. Learn about facial proportion and structure, and how to draw basic facial features while expanding that skill to capture the personal qualities of each face. Students will receive direct guidance from the instructor as they work from photographs, self-studies, and direct from models. Previous drawing experience recommended.
Take drawing with new approach as you experiment with different media and application techniques. Traditional and non-traditional ways of making marks on paper will be covered along with use of mixed media combinations, and how to achieve textured grounds on the paper before beginning to draw. Prerequisite: Basic Drawing or equivalent prior experience.
Explore various approaches to interpreting the landscape plein air style. Spend the weekend drawing and/or painting (in water-based media) with focus on developing a personal style while learning basic landscape principles. Various methods of rendering from observation will be covered. Previous drawing or painting experience recommended, but not required.
This multi-level class is for beginners with some drawing background or for experienced student-artists who would like to refresh their drawing skills or learn about different drawing styles and materials. Students will move beyond using drawing merely to render objects accurately and will come to view drawing as a challenging vehicle for expression of both form and narrative. Prerequisite: Basic Drawing or equivalent prior experience.
Cartooning, or visual storytelling, is more than just an enjoyable indulgence of the imagination; it speaks to interests such as editorial illustration, children’s book illustration, comic strips, comic books, and storyboarding. Its various forms combine caricature, figure drawing, and illustration through the medium of ink and watercolor on paper. Instruction will focus on character development, illusions of movement, sequential staging, setting management, inking, and coloring―all aimed towards the refinement of narratives and ideas.
This class offers a non-traditional, fresh approach to an old traditional medium. Learn how to create vivid pastel paintings by exploring basic techniques and a variety of underpainting formulas. Students will learn the versatility of using soft pastels by pushing the medium using various art mediums, tools, and supports. Prerequisite: Some drawing experience is helpful.
This course is geared to empower artists with the many possible creative approaches used in abstract expression from narrative, figurative or landscape. Working with acrylic medium on paper or canvas, as well as mixed media applications, the course will concentrate on color relationships and gradations to provide a foundation for abstract exploration.
Painting is an ideal class for the beginning student who wants a structured approach to painting with acrylic paints. The all-levels class will cover color mixing, paint application, selection and use of brushes, and other painting tools, as well as painting composition for the beginning student. Students with prior experience can work independently with guidance from the instructor. A limited color palette is encouraged to learn how to mix a variety of colors. See website for materials list. There are no prerequisites; however, Basic Drawing is recommended.
Designed for beginners or for those that have minimal painting experience. Oil paints—known for their flexibility, slower drying and working time, opacity, and depth of color—offer the painter a variety of application methods from thin glazes to thick impasto painting. Students will learn the basics while exploring a variety of techniques (glazing, layering, alla prima, and more) and foundations. Prior drawing and painting experience helpful but not required.
This class is for both the first-time painters, as well as the student who would like to learn more about the various approaches to painting in this very direct water-based medium. Demonstrations will be given on how to paint wet-on-wet washes, dry-on-wet washes, and with a dry brush. Color theory as it relates to watercolor will be discussed. Intermediate level students, while developing an independent vision, will learn ways to improve their painting skills through advanced demonstration, practice, and critique.
In this non-traditional contemporary approach to watercolor painting. Through self-guided study, students will create work that reflects feelings, experiences, and heavily abstracted symbols drawn from their own personal lives. Traditional and non-traditional watercolor techniques will be covered and use of other materials with an emphasis on compositions, color theory, and supportive creative exploration. Students should be comfortable with the unique nature of watercolor and be willing to let that guide them through visual experiences of self-discovery and self-expression. Jungian concepts regarding symbolism and creativity will be introduced. Some watercolor or visual experience is preferred, but not required.