CLASSES FOR THE CREATIVE YOU

Abstract Painting

Using acrylic paint, you will explore ways to communicate through abstract and symbolic design elements. Develop beginning acrylic painting skills, experimental painting techniques and an understanding of basic design elements: color, line, texture and more. No art experience is necessary! Click here for supply list.

NEW! Basic Drawing: Pastel, Charcoal, Pencil, Pen and Ink…Try them All!

Jump into creating with this beginning drawing class. Experiment with pastel, charcoal, pencil, and pen and ink while learning basic drawing skills. No art experience is necessary, just a desire learn! Click here for supply list.

Beginning Digital Photography

Photographer Jason Savage teaches the fundamentals of digital photography in a class that takes you from basic camera operation to professional composition & lighting techniques. If you are new to digital photography or looking to improve your skills, this class will have you taking better photographs and is designed to move you beyond the basics. Click here to see instructor's website.

Learning to Appreciate Art History of the World

Why have people, since the beginning of time, placed so much importance on art? They used it to tell stories before written language, sent it with their loved ones after death, and collected it for private and public display. By learning about art history, you will gain a greater understanding of different time periods and cultures. This is a survey of art from thousands of years B.C. to the present.

NEW! Unique Polymer Clay Creations

Looking for a unique way to enhance your decor or a fun, personal, homemade gift? Polymer clay is easy, affordable, and fun! Learn to create simple but attractive household items using polymer clay. In this introductory class, you will embellish a light switch plate cover and a cabinet door knob cover. Your instructor will provide more examples for inspiration, along with the door knobs and beads. You need to bring your choice of two or more colors of Sculpey or Fimo, a small jar of varnish (near the clay at the craft store), a plastic lightswitch cover, and your own special beads or buttons if you like. Your potential creations are almost unlimited! Find supplies at JoAnn Fabrics or Ben Franklin. See instructor's examples here.

Painting Flowers in Oil

You will learn how to draw, compose and paint flowers with oil paints. Flowers offer the beginning and intermediate painter the opportunity to create textures and experiment with styles in order to render the beauty of their shapes. Paint real flowers singly and in bouquets, and investigate their varied structures and colorations - stopping along the way to paint vases and backgrounds suitable for paintings.

Helena Fall Landscapes in Oil

Experience the bold richness of oil painting! This medium lends itself so well to depicting outdoor space and landmarks - we will explore various techniques such as palette knife painting and glazing while taking in the beautiful fall trees, water, clouds and other features “en plein air.” Painting in the outdoors is inspiring and requires a quick but steady hand and eye for planning your composition. Beginners will gain a foundation for outdoor painting and intermediates will have the opportunity to stretch their abilities. We will meet first in a two hour session at school for beginning exercises and discussion. Then we will meet oudoors for two 4 hour sessions of painting!

Beginning Watercolor with Landscapes and Architecture of Helena

Learn to paint landscapes and architecture from multiple photographs, with special emphasis on understanding how your light source affects the subject of your work. You will have the chance to paint from photos of several familiar (and some not-so-familiar) spots around the Capital City.

Instructor: Barbara Keith.
15 hours. Tuesday, October 12th to November 16th; 9am-noon. (No class Nov. 2nd)
Tution: $89 plus materials

Learning to Appreciate Art History - American Expressionism

Would you like to deepen your understanding of American art during the early 1900’s? From the period before World War I past the end of World War II, American artists were often inspired visually by the French Impressionists, but their approach to art disregarded any set of closely guarded rules. They used this new style to express their social and political beliefs. View and discuss the works of influential artists such as Thomas Hart Benton, Robert De Niro Sr., Mark Rothko, Jackson Pollock, and Willem de Kooning, among others.

Painting Flowers with Watercolor

Apply your beginning or intermediate watercolor painting talents to beautiful flowers. You will learn more about the color palette, color mixing, and watercolor techniques. Your pictorial composition will be complemented by additional emphasis on backgrounds and vases.