Join us for a hands-on class or workshop in painting, photography, ceramics, metalworking, woodworking and more. Our educational offerings include two- or three-day workshops and weekly classes that meet during daytime or evening hours, ranging in ability from novice to professional. Classes are open to all skill levels unless otherwise noted in the descriptions.
- learn from passionate, accomplished regional and national artists
- actively participate in a low student-teacher ratio setting
- enjoy spacious, light-filled, state-of-of the-art facilities
- draw inspiration from unique, challenging exhibitions
- surprise yourself and make new friends!
Click on the plus sign (+) below for a full class description. Members receive 15% off all classes and workshops.
Become an AVA Member | Apply for a Scholarship (up to 75% toward tuition)
Click Here for all Youth Classes and Winter Vacation Camps
| Workshop Name | Category | Level | Instructor | Description | Dates | Times | Members' Price (15% Off) | Non-Members' Price | Drop-In Fee | Materials Fee | Registration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Art Adventures Session 2 | Youth | Grades 1-4 (Ages 6-9) | Allison Zito | In Art Adventures I & II elementary school-aged artists (ages 6-9) will discover great works of art, observe nature, and refine their artistic skills while exploring new and familiar art materials and techniques. Students will observe, explore, make connections and create their own masterpieces inspired by art history and the natural world. They’ll will draw, paint, sculpt, print, and much more. Each session will culminate with an exhibition at AVA. | Thursdays, Oct 24-Dec 5 (No Class Nov. 28) | 3:30-5:15 PM | $149.00 | $175.00 | NA | NA | IN SESSION |
| Art Academy: Drawing & Painting II | Youth | Grades 5-8 (Ages 10-14) | Lea Wells | Art Academy: Drawing and Painting I & II are great opportunities for middle school-aged artists (ages 10-14) to discover new ways of making 2-dimensional art. Students will use a variety of drawing and painting supplies to develop their skills as visual artists. The classes will emphasize art making, but also the improvement and refinement of art making skills, culminating in an end-of-class exhibition at AVA. | Mondays, Oct 28-Dec 2 (No Class Nov 11) | 3:00-5:15 PM | $149.00 | $175.00 | IN SESSION | ||
| Holiday Gift Making Workshop | Youth | 6-9 Year-olds | Allison Zito | Years of making holiday gifts inspired this wonderful Holiday Gift Making Workshop. Young artists will create dazzling gifts for family and friends in this holiday gift making workshop. There will be an assortment of mixed-media activities available for participants to create real gifts to share with their loved ones. | December 12 & 19 | 3:30-5:15 PM | $68 | $80 | Register Now | ||
| Daytime Open Studio | Open Studio | Adults & Teens | Monitor | Weekly monitored life drawing sessions, without instruction, open to individuals of all levels of experience. | Wednesdays, Sep 11-Nov 13 | 9 AM-Noon | $145 | $170.00 | $20 | Register Now | |
| Evening Open Studio | Open Studio | Adults & Teens | Monitor | Weekly monitored life drawing sessions, without instruction, open to individuals of all levels of experience. | Wednesdays, Sep 11-Nov 13 | 6:30 PM -9:30 PM | $145 | $170.00 | $20 | Register Now | |
| Long Pose Open Studio | Open Studio | Adults & Teens | Monitor | Experienced sculptors and painters looking to work from long poses are invited to practice their art in this weekly session. Participants are responsible for all materials, and instruction is not provided. Tuition includes model fee. | Fridays, Sep 20-Nov 15 | 9 AM-Noon | $136 | $160 | $20 | Register Now | |
| Long Pose Open Studio Session II | Open Studio | Adults & Teens | Monitor | Experienced sculptors and painters looking to work from long poses are invited to practice their art in this weekly session. Participants are responsible for all materials, and instruction is not provided. Tuition includes model fee. | Fridays, Dec 6-20 | 9 AM-Noon | $42.50 | $50 | $20 | Register Now | |
| Fiber Arts Open Studio | Open Studio | Adults & Teens | Meredith Smith | Learn a new skill, rekindle a passion for what you already know, or get advice on how to repair that favorite piece of clothing. Try stitchery, needle felting, art quilts, garment construction and repair, artful embellishment and more! Bring a project or start something new. No experience necessary, everyone welcome! | Mondays, Sep 9-Dec 30 | 9 AM-Noon | Free | $5 Drop-In Fee for Non-Members | $5 | Drop-In; Non-members pay $5 to monitor or in AVA Office | |
| Basic Drawing | Drawing | Adults & Teens | Michael Kraatz | Put pencil (and charcoal) to paper and see where you can go! Learning to draw is learning to see and a wonderful way to slow down. Understand line, contour, gesture and form while using various materials and the unique marks they make. Begin your creative journey at AVA! Working from a model included. | Mondays, Oct 7-Nov 25 | 9:30 AM-Noon | $255 | $300 | IN SESSION | ||
| Continuing Drawing: Stretching Your Line | Drawing | Adults & Teens | Dan Gottsegen | Hone skills as you continue stretching your mastery of line from Beginning Drawing. Poetic contour drawing, various approaches to light and shadow and a closer look at linear perspective will enrich your draughtsmanship. Skill build using interior and exterior views, landscape drawing if weather permits, portraiture, and new approaches to drawing the figure. Ink, oil stick, dry pastel, and oil pastel, are just some of the media at hand. Join the fun and be emboldened! | Mondays, Oct 7-Nov 25 | 6:30-9 PM | $255 | $300 | IN SESSION | ||
| 40 Hours: Drawing Seminar | Drawing | Adults & Teens | Michael Kraatz | Drawing Seminar is an extended series of drawing classes, group guided critiques and lively discussions designed to allow motivated participants to develop a body of work during 16, 2 1/2 hour sessions over the course of seven months. Drawing Seminar combines the best of group study and independent study in a supportive and enthusiastic setting. After three sessions over three weeks starting in October, class meetings will be spread at about two week intervals with longer breaks at the holidays. Drawing Seminar will culminate with a group exhibi in the Spring or early Summer. This is an excellent opportunity to engage in an in depth course of study to improve skills regarding all things drawing. | Tuesdays, Oct 15, 22, 29; Nov 12; Dec 10; Jan 7 & 21; Feb 4 & 8; Mar 3, 17, 31; Apr 7 & 21; May 5 & 12 | 6-8:30 PM | $510 | $600 | IN SESSION | ||
| Capturing the Figure with Drawing and Watercolor | Painting | Adults & Teens | Margaret Dwyer | This workshop will focus on drawing techniques that help to capture the gesture of the figure without overdrawing it. This leaves room for basic watercolor techniques as we learn about the vast amount of colors and values you can mix from a limited palette. Small figurative studies will evolve into a larger piece. This class is a good fit for anyone wanting to try their hand, or for those wishing to strengthen their skills and challenge themselves further with this wonderful subject matter. | Fridays, Nov 1-22 | 10 AM-2 PM | $276 | $320 | IN SESSION | ||
| Spontaneity in Oil Painting | Painting | Adults & Teens | Rich Gombar | Intuitive or perceptual painting is based on a strong relationship with your subject, be it landscape, a still life, or the figure. Use alla prima, or wet-on-wet, techniques to dive right into the core of oil painting with little or no preliminary drawing. This process builds confidence in the art of oil painting and it will teach the artist how to work through any problem. | Tuesdays, Nov 5 - Dec 3 | 9:30 AM-Noon | $162 | $190 | IN SESSION | ||
| Making the Ordinary Extraordinary: Painting the Light in Watercolor | Painting | Adults & Teens | Robert O'Brien | Learn how to paint “the light”! This course will explore techniques on how to achieve spectacular light effects from ordinary images through the use of light and shadow. Subject matter will range from landscape, to close focus studies of architectural and agricultural motifs. Composition and values will be explored in this workshop. All levels of painting ability are welcome. Students will work from photo reference. Some drawing experience is recommended. There will be a critique and class discussion at the end of the workshop. | Saturday & Sunday, Nov 23-24 | 10 AM-4 PM | $153 | $180 | Register Now | ||
| Monoprints and Monotypes | Printmaking | Adults & Teens | Mary Mead | In this workshop, using non-toxic Akua Inks, you’ll explore a variety of approaches to creating monoprints: prints based on an underlying matrix that can be printed in multiple different ways, and monotypes, which are completely unique prints. Both are often referred to as “painterly” prints because they frequently defy the strict technical rules that govern many printmaking processes. Come prepared to experiment! | Mondays, Nov 4-Dec 2 | 5:30-8:30 PM | $192 | $225 | $20 | IN SESSION | |
| Writing Memoir: A Sense of Memory | Writing | Adults & Teens | Jenny Gelfan | Our lives are full of stories: comedies, dramas, mysteries, the wonders of everyday moments. This class will guide you to dive in and gather images, sounds, fragrances, feelings, and experiences, that you can capture in words. These fragments together tell a story about each life. The class' focus will be on exploration. You will write from prompts, have an opportunity to read what others have written, and enjoy each other’s creativity. | Tuesdays, Sep 24-Nov 12 | 12-2 PM | $25 | $25 | IN SESSION | ||
| Artist as Small Business | Creative & Professional Practice | Adults & Teens | Kim Bernard | From A-Z, everything an emerging artist needs to know to be a small business: artist-gallery relationships, banking, branding, budgeting, business plan, business structure, contracts, commissions, copyright, federal and state tax ID’s, funding, hiring an assistant, insurance, inventory, licensing, marketing, money management, permits, registering, sale of works and taxes. Bernard will tackle these dry but necessary topics with interactive exercises, humor and dark chocolate. | Saturday & Sunday, April 4 & 5 (new dates) | 9 AM - 5 PM | $370 | $435 | Register Now | ||
| Pixel Perfect - Editing Digital Photographs | Photography | Adults & Teens | Nicholas Gaffney | You know how to use your camera and have taken some great shots. Now what? This class is all about editing your images. You'll leave the class knowing how to control your photos' color and tonal values, when (and when not) to crop, and how to choose the best images from the many you've taken. A variety of image editing software platforms will be covered, but students are encouraged to bring their own laptops so they can get used to controlling their images on the software they use the most. | Mondays Nov 25-Dec 16 (new dates) | 6-8 PM | $128 | $150 | Register Now | ||
| Stone Carving | Stone | Adults & Teens | John Hikory | This weekly workshop on stone begins with a presentation covering mineral content, grain qualities and different carving techniques. Various methods of carving stone, carver’s safety, and the proper use of the tools will be covered. Learn to analyze the shape of the stone in relation to your vision of form, be guided in translating the image on to the stone, and then coached to reveal the form concealed within. For beginners and intermediate carvers. | Tuesdays, Oct 8-Nov 12 | 6-9PM | $255 | $300 | $40 | IN SESSION | |
| Wood Sculpture | Wood | Adults & Teens | Jay Singh | Learn the fundamentals of fine woodworking and transfer these skills to the construction of wood sculpture. Design, shape, texture, and join! Build a take-away three-dimensional piece and learn about color as it relates to sculpture. | Wednesdays, Oct 1-Nov 20 | 6-9 PM | $306 | $360 | $45 | IN SESSION | |
| Wood Projects | Wood | Adults & Teens | Jay Singh | Have an idea for a wood project, and looking for the skills and resources to build it? This is the class for you! Individualized, experienced instruction will help guide you from the project-planning stages all the way to a finished product. Though students new to wood creation are welcome, this class is meant for students with some work-working experience looking to create small-to-medium sized projects. | Thursdays, Oct 3-Nov 21 | 6-9 PM | $306 | $360 | $45 | IN SESSION | |
| Woodworking 1: Hand Tools | Wood | Adults & Teens | Chris McGrody | Learn to square up rough boards, lay out and cut a variety of wood joints including lap joints, bridle joints, mortises, tenons, and dovetails. Use the hand-joinery skills of a professional to complete a take-home project that demonstrates the skills you're learned. | Tuesdays Oct 29-Nov 19 | 6-9 PM | $204 | $240 | $30 | IN SESSION | |
| Welding 2 | Metal & Glass | Adults & Teens | Jimmy Martell | Strike the torch and spark your imagination. AVA's metal studio offers everything you need to learn welding basics. Get hands-on practice measuring, cutting and joining metal using MIG and "stick" welders, plasma cutters and oxy-acetylene torches. Safety, fun and learning are the priorities. | Wednesdays Nov 6-Dec 11 (No Class Nov 27) | 5:30-8:30 PM | $247 | $290 | $75 | IN SESSION | |
| Be There, Be Square – Metal Fabrication (F19) | Metal & Glass | Adults & Teens | Jimmy Martell | Metal heads: Design, measure, fit, and weld. Finish a project – whimsical or functional that relies on accuracy and your newly refined craftsmanship. Will it fit through your doorway or on your living room shelf? You have the skills to make it so! Some experience preferred, but beginners are also welcome. | Saturday & Sunday, Dec 14 & 15 (new dates) | 10 AM-4 PM | $192 | 225 | $75 | Register Now | |
| The Cutting Edge: Stained Glass with Copper Foil | Metal & Glass | Adults & Teens | Stephanie Gordon & Sue Martin | You can do it! In this weekend workshop, you will learn the fundamentals of stained glass panel design, glass cutting, and the copper foil construction method developed by Louis Comfort Tiffany to get a complete introduction to this exciting medium. You will learn about safety and how to create a pattern, choose glass, cut, foil, assemble, solder and patina to complete your own small stained glass panel in this fun beginner class. No experience is needed. Tools and materials will be supplied. Bring your own apron. Wear shoes with closed toes and comfortable working clothes. | Saturday & Sunday, Nov 16 & 17 | 10 AM-4 PM | $213 | 250 | $75 | FULL; Please call AVA at 603.448.3117 to be placed on the wait list | |
| Introduction to Wheel Thrown Pottery (F19) | Pottery & Modeled Scuplture | Adults & Teens | Evan Williams | Learn the basics of working on the potters wheel. Anyone can learn to throw but it takes lots of practice and persistence! We will cover centering, basic throwing technique, trimming, handles, and glazing. All work will be fired and taken home by students. | Fridays, Oct 4-Nov 15 | 5:30-7 PM | $153 | $180 | $30 | IN SESSION | |
| Intermediate Pottery (F19) | Pottery & Modeled Scuplture | Adults & Teens | Evan Williams | Anyone with some wheel throwing experience will learn more advanced pottery techniques. The clas will explore forms such as lidded jars and boxes, pitchers, plates and platters, bottles, and maybe even a teapot. | Mondays, Sep 30-Nov 11 | 5:30-7 PM | $153 | $180 | $30 | IN SESSION | |
| Pottery for All | Pottery & Modeled Scuplture | Adults & Teens | Evan Williams | Anyone with some wheel throwing experience will learn more advanced pottery techniques. The clas will explore forms such as lidded jars and boxes, pitchers, plates and platters, bottles, and maybe even a teapot. | Mondays, Nov 18-Dec 30 | 5-7 PM | $192 | $225 | $40 | FULL; Please call AVA at 603.448.3117 to be placed on the wait list | |
| Sculpting Portraits with Clay and Plaster | Pottery & Modeled Scuplture | Adults & Teens | Sande French-Stockwell | Learn how to use clay and plaster to create 3-dimensional portraits. Students will work from a live model to create and armature sculpt their own likeness, spending three weeks with plaster and three with clay. | Thursdays, Jan 23-Feb 27 | 6:00 PM-9:00 PM | $272.00 | $320.00 | $40.00 | Register Now | |
| Hand-building with Clay | Pottery & Modeled Scuplture | Adults & Teens | Kärin Rothwell | Build with clay to create one-of-a-kind objects of beauty and wonder - and for the practically minded, items ready to use in the kitchen or home as well. Learn the basic hand-building methods of pinching, coiling, molding and slab construction. Discover ways to enhance the surface with various treatments and concoctions as each will react in different ways with the final glazes. | Wednesdays, Jan 15-Feb 12 | 6:00 PM-9:00 PM | $246.50 | $290.00 | $40.00 | Register Now | |
| Introduction to Wheel-Thrown Pottery | Pottery & Modeled Scuplture | Adults & Teens | Evan Williams | Learn the basics of working on the potters wheel. Anyone can learn to throw but it takes lots of practice and persistence! We will cover centering, basic throwing technique, trimming, handles, and glazing. All work will be fired and taken home by students. | Fridays, Jan 24-Mar 06 | 5:00 PM-7:00 PM | $153.00 | $180.00 | $40.00 | Register Now | |
| Intermediate Pottery | Pottery & Modeled Scuplture | Adults & Teens | Evan Williams | Anyone with some wheel throwing experience will learn more advanced pottery techniques. The class will explore forms such as lidded jars and boxes, pitchers, plates and platters, bottles, and maybe even a teapot. | Mondays, Jan 27-Mar 09 | 5:30 PM-7:00 PM | $153.00 | $180.00 | $40.00 | Register Now | |
| Introduction to Wheel-Thrown Pottery | Pottery & Modeled Scuplture | Adults & Teens | Evan Williams | Learn the basics of working on the potters wheel. Anyone can learn to throw but it takes lots of practice and persistence! We will cover centering, basic throwing technique, trimming, handles, and glazing. All work will be fired and taken home by students. | Fridays, Mar 13-Apr 24 | 5:00 PM-7:00 PM | $153.00 | $180.00 | $40.00 | Register Now | |
| Intermediate Pottery | Pottery & Modeled Scuplture | Adults & Teens | Evan Williams | Anyone with some wheel throwing experience will learn more advanced pottery techniques. The class will explore forms such as lidded jars and boxes, pitchers, plates and platters, bottles, and maybe even a teapot. | Mondays, Mar 16-Apr 27 | 5:00 PM-7:00 PM | $153.00 | $180.00 | $40.00 | Register Now | |
| Cast Your Concept in Clay! | Pottery & Modeled Scuplture | Adults & Teens | John David O'Shaughnessy | Experience the magic in modeling and mold-making! Students will create their own unique designs in low relief by using fine plasticine clay and potter’s plaster. Take your model, mold your design, and create a casting. These designs may be used for conceptual projects, jewelry, tiles or incorporated into larger wheel thrown pottery pieces or hand built ceramic projects. | Saturdays, Mar 21-Mar 28 | 10:00 AM-4:00 PM | $221.00 | $260.00 | $40.00 | Register Now | |
| Introduction to Pal Tiya Premium | Pottery & Modeled Scuplture | Adults & Teens | Amber Erkiletian | Pal Tiya Premium is a new modeling cement designed for large sculptures that can withstand the elements. In this class you will learn the techniques for armature construction, handling and modeling. | Tuesdays, Jan 21-Feb 11 | 6:00 PM-9:00 PM | $204.00 | $240.00 | $70.00 | Register Now | |
| Introduction to Pal Tiya Premium | Pottery & Modeled Scuplture | Adults & Teens | Amber Erkiletian | Pal Tiya Premium is a new modeling cement designed for large sculptures that can withstand the elements. In this class you will learn the techniques for armature construction, handling and modeling. | Saturday and Sunday, Feb 01-Feb 02 | 10:00 AM-4:00 PM | $204.00 | $240.00 | $70.00 | Register Now | |
| Continuing Pal Tiya Premium | Pottery & Modeled Scuplture | Adults & Teens | Amber Erkiletian | Building their Pal Tiya Premium skills, students will work on a larger sculpture of their own design. The focus of this class will be learning principles of sculpture such as design, proportion, attaching multiple pieces, and best structural practices. | Tuesdays, Feb 25-Mar 17 | 6:00 PM-9:00 PM | $204.00 | $240.00 | $70.00 | Register Now | |
| Continuing Pal Tiya Premium | Pottery & Modeled Scuplture | Adults & Teens | Amber Erkiletian | Building their Pal Tiya Premium skills, students will work on a larger sculpture of their own design. The focus of this class will be learning principles of sculpture such as design, proportion, attaching multiple pieces, and best structural practices. | Saturday and Sunday, Mar 07-Mar 08 | 10:00 AM-4:00 PM | $204.00 | $240.00 | $70.00 | Register Now | |
| Stretching Your Line: Continuing Drawing | Drawing | Adults & Teens | Michael Kraatz | Hone skills as you continue stretching your mastery of line from Beginning Drawing. Poetic contour drawing, various approaches to light and shadow and a closer look at linear perspective will enrich your draughtsmanship. Skill build using interior and exterior views, landscape drawing if weather permits, portraiture, and new approaches to drawing the figure. Ink, oil stick, dry pastel, and oil pastel, are just some of the media at hand. Join the fun and be emboldened! | Mondays, Jan 20-Mar 16 | 9:30 AM-12:00 PM | $323.00 | $380.00 | Register Now | ||
| The Active Observer – Basic Drawing | Drawing | Adults & Teens | Dan Gottsegen | Put pencil (and charcoal) to paper and see where you can go! Learning to draw is learning to see and a wonderful way to slow down. Understand line, contour, gesture and form while using various materials and the unique marks they make. Begin your creative journey at AVA! Working from a model included. | Mondays, Jan 20-Mar 16 | 6:30 PM-9:00 PM | $323.00 | $380.00 | Register Now | ||
| Feel the Power! Drawing from Memory and Observation | Drawing | Adults & Teens | John David O'Shaughnessy & Rachel O'Shaughnessy | Get everyone drawing! Enjoy the dynamism of mixed media drawing from observation and memory. Work with charcoal, ink, acrylic and graphite, expand your ability to see, perceive, and make strong, convincing drawings. Draw from nature and memory with increased confidence. Enjoy responding to the changing phenomena of the natural world. | Thursdays, Mar 12-Mar 26 | 6:00 PM-9:00 PM | $212.50 | $250.00 | Register Now | ||
| Steeling Nature | Metal & Glass | Adults & Teens | Sabrina Fadial | Using nature as our inspiration, students will create playful and engaging sculptures from found and stock materials. Starting with the basics, this workshop will cover a range of metal fabrication and forming techniques, as well tips and tricks for working wisely with a variety of tools. Techniques will include fabrication, welding, plasma cutting, basic forging, and cold connections. | Saturday and Sunday, Jan 11-Jan 12 | 10:00 AM-4:00 PM | $221.00 | $260.00 | $75.00 | Register Now | |
| Welding for Beginners | Metal & Glass | Adults & Teens | Jimmy Martell | Strike the torch and spark your imagination. AVA's metal studio offers everything you need to learn welding basics. Get hands-on practice measuring, cutting and joining metal using MIG and "stick" welders, plasma cutters and oxy-acetylene torches. Safety, fun and learning are the priorities. | Wednesdays, Jan 22-Mar 25 | 5:30 PM-8:30 PM | $425.00 | $500.00 | $75.00 | Register Now | |
| Introduction to TIG Welding | Metal & Glass | Adults & Teens | Jimmy Martell | TIG Welding is a specialized kind of welding used with Aluminum and other delicate metals. Student in this class will have the opportunity of learning about this unique tool while working with Dartmouth College's welder at his shop at Dartmouth. | Saturday and Sunday, Jan 25-Jan 26 | 10:00 AM-4:00 PM | $221.00 | $260.00 | $75.00 | Register Now | |
| Glass Beads | Metal & Glass | Adults & Teens | Stefania Urist | Discover the art of lampwork bead-making! First melt glass by using a torch or “lamp”. Once molten, the glass is rotated around a rod or mandrel forming the base bead. Using a specialized torch to flamework soft glass beads students will learn different techniques to create a collection of beads with a variety of patterns and shapes using glass rods and select variety of hand tools. Now, as novice lampworkers add swirls, dots, flowers and many other patterns to the base creating a unique design. | Saturday and Sunday, Jan 25-Jan 26 | 10:00 AM-4:00 PM | $221.00 | $260.00 | $100.00 | Register Now | |
| Fusing Glass Plates | Metal & Glass | Adults & Teens | Stefania Urist | Fuse and slump colored glass to create your own glass plate or bowl. In this two-day workshop you will learn how to cut, assemble, fuse, and slump glass. Fusing is the technique of joining two or more pieces of glass in a hot kiln. Learn different glass fusing techniques to create any number of things: from slumped bowls and platters, to bullseye glass, to anything else the mind can conceive and make. | Saturday and Sunday, Feb 15-Feb 16 | 10:00 AM-4:00 PM | $221.00 | $260.00 | $100.00 | Register Now | |
| Full of Hot Air | Metal & Glass | Adults & Teens | Sabrina Fadial | Explore the possibilities of creating inflated steel forms. Using sheet steel, heat, and air, participants will create three dimensional forms. Welding experience is helpful. | Saturday and Sunday, Feb 22-Feb 23 | 10:00 AM-4:00 PM | $221.00 | $260.00 | $75.00 | Register Now | |
| Introduction to TIG Welding | Metal & Glass | Adults & Teens | Jimmy Martell | TIG Welding is a specialized kind of welding used with Aluminum and other delicate metals. Student in this class will have the opportunity of learning about this unique tool while working with Dartmouth College's welder at his shop at Dartmouth. | Saturday and Sunday, Feb 29-Mar 01 | 10:00 AM-4:00 PM | $221.00 | $260.00 | $75.00 | Register Now | |
| Be There, Be Square – Metal Fabrication | Metal & Glass | Adults & Teens | Jimmy Martell | Metal heads: Design, measure, fit, and weld. Finish a project – whimsical or functional that relies on accuracy and your newly refined craftsmanship. Will it fit through your doorway or on your living room shelf? You have the skills to make it so! Some experience preferred, but beginners are also welcome. | Saturday and Sunday, Mar 14-Mar 15 | 10:00 AM-4:00 PM | $221.00 | $260.00 | $75.00 | Register Now | |
| Introduction to Glassblowing | Metal & Glass | Adults & Teens | Michael Kraatz | In this workshop you'll have the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of the hot glass studio and will sample ample time working with hot glass. You'll learn the basics to the melting furnace, the reheating oven (glory hole) and cooling oven (annealing oven). Hot glass is also a great team building activity for up the six participants, as it necessitates communication and teamwork. If your office or team is looking for a workshop opportunity please contact AVA. This class meets off-site at the Kraatz-Russell Studio in Enfield, NH. | Saturday and Sunday, Mar 28-Mar 29 | 10:00 AM-4 PM | $297.50 | $350.00 | Register Now | ||
| Fiber Arts Open Studio | Open Studio | Adults & Teens | Meredith Smith | Learn a new skill, rekindle a passion for what you already know, or get advice on how to repair that favorite piece of clothing. Try stitchery, needle felting, art quilts, garment construction and repair, artful embellishment and more! Bring a project or start something new. No experience necessary, everyone welcome! | Mondays, Jan 06-Jun 15 | 9:00 AM-12:00 PM | $0.00 | $5.00 | $5.00 | Please pay drop-in fee to AVA Office. | |
| Daytime Open Studio | Open Studio | Adults & Teens | Monitor | Weekly monitored life drawing sessions, without instruction, open to individuals of all levels of experience. | Wednesdays, Jan 15-Mar 18 | 9:00 AM-12:00 PM | $148.75 | $175.00 | $20.00 | Register Now | |
| Evening Open Studio | Open Studio | Adults & Teens | Monitor | Weekly monitored life drawing sessions, without instruction, open to individuals of all levels of experience. | Wednesdays, Jan 15-Mar 18 | 6:00 PM-9 PM | $148.75 | $175.00 | $20.00 | Register Now | |
| Long Pose Figure Sculpture and Painting Open Studio | Open Studio | Adults & Teens | Monitor | Experienced sculptors and painters looking to work from long poses are invited to practice their art in this weekly session. Participants are responsible for all materials, and instruction is not provided. Tuition includes model fee. | Fridays, Jan 17-Mar 13 | 9:00 AM-12:00 PM | $136.00 | $160.00 | $20.00 | Register Now | |
| Watercolor: The Basics and Beyond | Painting | Adults & Teens | Margaret Dwyer | Do you love watercolor? Have you only dabbled a bit? Then take this workshop! Numerous watercolor techniques will be demonstrated and the differences between paints, brushes, and papers defined. Try your hand at simple studies. Use a variety of watercolor paints, papers, and brushes that will be provided. Watercolor is so accessible and so very satisfying. | Saturday, Jan 11 | 10:00 AM-2:00 PM | $68.00 | $80.00 | Register Now | ||
| An Experimental Approach to Watercolor | Painting | Adults & Teens | Jennifer Brown | Finding your way with watercolor is fun if its broken down into joyful parts. Each class will be carefully constructed based on fundamental art principles but also encouraging students to experiment and explore the medium. We will begin by working from still life in order to strengthen drawing skills and follow up with watercolor studies. Students will be expected to keep a sketchbook for gathering material and for maintaining their practice during the week. | Tuesdays, Jan 14-Mar 10 | 9:30 AM-12:00 PM | $340.00 | $400.00 | Register Now | ||
| Introduction to Watercolor | Painting | Adults & Teens | Joan Hoffmann | Learn the basics of watercolor painting, including flat wash, wet-in-wet, and dry-brush techniques. Technique demos, along with critiques and discussions, will guide you through a painting each class. There is no experience necessary, but experienced students are also welcome to brush up on the basics. | Mondays, Jan 13-Mar 02 | 6:00 PM-8:30 PM | $340.00 | $400.00 | Register Now | ||
| Oil Painting: A Little Square of Blue | Painting | Adults & Teens | Meg McLean | Long before people discovered Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain Monet advised artists to approach painting the same way. He said: "Try to forget what objects you have before you - a tree, a house, a field or whatever. Merely think, ‘here is a little square of blue, here is an oblong of pink, here a streak of yellow’ and paint it just as it appears, the exact color and shape." In this class we will work on 12 exercises to quiet the bossy left side of the brain, so unhelpful in creating art, and let the right side have its day. You’ll see form, color, and light in whole new way and turn your painting upside down. Literally. On the last class, weather permitting, we’ll go outside for a plein air session. | Thursdays, Jan 16-Feb 20 | 6:00 PM-9:00 PM | $289.00 | $340.00 | Register Now | ||
| Riding the Watercolor Wheel: Using Color Effectively | Painting | Adults & Teens | Margaret Dwyer | Do you really know what you’re reaching for when you choose a color of paint to use? Watercolor is an inherently a transparent medium, but there is a big difference between transparent, translucent, and opaque watercolor paints. The same colors can be drastically different from one manufacturer to the next. This class will explore the many different colors of paints out there by creating a painting each week that highlights one or two specific colors at a time. Students will bring their own paints but additional color samples will be on hand for all to try. | Fridays, Jan 17-Jan 31 | 10:00 AM-2:00 PM | $212.50 | $250.00 | Register Now | ||
| Encaustics and Oils: Mixing Media | Painting | Adults & Teens | Debra Claffey | In this two-day workshop you'll explore some of the many ways of combining encaustic and oil paints. Students will work with four panels, combining encaustic painting, drawing, and monotype printmaking. Come learn from and see how this exhibiting AVA artist makes her own work! | Saturday and Sunday, Jan 18-Jan 19 | 10:00 AM-4 PM | $306.00 | $360.00 | $50.00 | Register Now | |
| Painting the Winter Landscape with Watercolor | Painting | Adults & Teens | Robert O'Brien | Paint our beautiful winter landscape in watercolor. The subtle tints of snow will be teased out using glazing techniques and layering. One's captivating scene will utilize tonal value, composition, light and shadow. Learn to create a finished painting from a favorite winter subject, using a photographic reference. Robert will demonstrate his approach and provide hands-on guidance to each student. | Saturday and Sunday, Jan 25-Jan 26 | 10:00 AM-4:00 PM | $153.00 | $180.00 | Register Now | ||
| Winter Whites: Painting the Frozen Landscape with Watercolor | Painting | Adults & Teens | Margaret Dwyer | If you spend the winters in the mountains of New England, then you know how the visual landscapes around us change dramatically. Suddenly, we live amidst icicles, frozen ponds, hoar frost, and snow. We are surrounded by white. In this class, we will explore both transparent and opaque ways to capture the elements of the frozen landscape. Techniques will include, graded washes, glazes, negative painting, and how to use making fluid. Color choices will be discussed in depth to achieve moody, dramatic effects. | Saturday, Feb 08 | 10:00 AM-4:00 PM | $127.50 | $150.00 | Register Now | ||
| Exploring the Abstract in Watercolor | Painting | Adults & Teens | Margaret Dwyer | Abstract art the relationship of form, color, and composition without recognizable images, allowing viewers more space for personal interpretation. Most artists will agree that, to create great abstract art, one must have a heightened awareness of the elements/principles of composition and design throughout the painting process. Abstract art encourages an expressive freedom that we do not always allow ourselves when painting representational imagery. You will better understand how the elements and principles of design work together to build stronger images without leaning on the crutch of representational expectations. A variety of techniques will be demonstrated and applied to this theory. | Saturday and Sunday, Feb 22-Feb 23 | 10:00 AM-4:00 PM | $212.50 | $250.00 | Register Now | ||
| Spontaneity in Oil Painting | Painting | Adults & Teens | Rich Gombar | Intuitive or perceptual painting is based on a strong relationship with your subject, be it landscape, a still life, or the figure. Use alla prima, or wet-on-wet, techniques to dive right into the core of oil painting with little or no preliminary drawing. This process builds confidence in the art of oil painting and it will teach the artist how to work through any problem. | Tuesdays, Feb 25-Mar 24 | 9:30 AM-12:00 PM | $178.50 | $210.00 | $30.00 | Register Now | |
| Dramatic Effects in Watercolor | Painting | Adults & Teens | Margaret Dwyer | In this workshop, we will experiment with techniques both traditional and unconventional. Backlit woodland scenes, stormy skies, glowing horizons, and night skies are among the themes that will be demonstrated and developed through individual studies. Watercolor encourages a responsive interaction between the artist and the wet surface of the painting that has a life of its own. It requires a blend of control and freedom. | Fridays, Mar 06-Mar 20 | 10:00 AM-2:00 PM | $212.50 | $250.00 | Register Now | ||
| Oil Painting with Cold Wax Medium | Painting | Adults & Teens | Helen Shulman | In this workshop you'll learn and be challenged by three consecutive days of exploration and experimentation with different methods of combining Oil and Cold Wax medium. Time will be divided among individual work, demonstrations and discussions. Each student will be offered an optional 15 minute private session to discus works in progress or any issues of their choice. | Friday-Sunday, Mar 27-Mar 29 | 10:00 AM-4:30 PM | $425.00 | $500.00 | $30.00 | Register Now | |
| Through a New Lens – Introduction to Digital Photography | Photography | Adults & Teens | Nicholas Gaffney | Gain command of your digital camera and use that knowledge to create photos for discussion and critique. Bring your DSLR camera and a notebook and see the world through a new lens! | Thursdays, Jan 16-Feb 20 (no class Jan 30) | 6:00 PM-8:00 PM | $170.00 | $200.00 | Register Now | ||
| Pixel Perfect - Editing Digital Photographs | Photography | Adults & Teens | Nicholas Gaffney | You know how to use your camera and have taken some great shots. Now what? This class is all about editing your images. You'll leave the class knowing how to control your photos' color and tonal values, when (and when not) to crop, and how to choose the best images from the many you've taken. A variety of image editing software platforms will be covered, but students are encouraged to bring their own laptops so they can get used to controlling their images on the software they use the most. | Mondays, Feb 24-Mar 16 | 6:00 PM-8:00 PM | $136.00 | $160.00 | Register Now | ||
| Monoprints and Monotypes | Printmaking | Adults & Teens | Mary Mead | In this workshop, using non-toxic Akua Inks, you’ll explore a variety of approaches to creating monoprints: prints based on an underlying matrix that can be printed in multiple different ways, and monotypes, which are completely unique prints. Both are often referred to as “painterly” prints because they frequently defy the strict technical rules that govern many printmaking processes. Come prepared to experiment! | Mondays, Feb 10-Mar 09 | 5:30 PM-8:30 PM | $212.50 | $250.00 | $30.00 | Register Now | |
| Introduction to Printmaking | Printmaking | Adults & Teens | Derek Bell | Get ready to have fun and learn different ways to create your visual ideas in AVA's print shop. Topics will include relief, monotyope, and collagraph printmaking. Discover what can be done with colorful ink and a press! | Thursdays, Feb 20-Mar 19 | 5:30 PM-8:30 PM | $212.50 | $250.00 | $30.00 | Register Now | |
| The Thriving Artist: Making Your Creative Life Work for You | Creative & Professional Practice | Adults & Teens | Katrina Geurkink | How close are you to being the prolific and fulfilled artist you set out to be? Do you feel like your artistic life/career might have more traction if you had more time to spend on it? Do you feel overwhelmed by everything you are trying to juggle in your life and throw up your hands at your attempts to get “better organized”? You are not alone. Managing multiple priorities is an ongoing struggle for many artists. The goal of this class is to help you learn how to tap your most useful resource - you! - and find ways to structure your work and shape your time effectively so you can overcome what is holding you back from being productivity and achieving your artistic aspirations. | Wednesdays, Feb 05-Mar 11 | 6:00 PM-8:00 PM | $204.00 | $240.00 | Register Now | ||
| Mixed Media Explorations | Mixed-Media | Adults & Teens | Allison Zito | In this class you'll work with a variety of media, including clay, ebony pencil, collage, pastels, painting, printing, and sculpture. You'l learn about and be inspired by great works of art from the past and present, and will make observations and connections that inform your explorations. All students will be encouraged to bring images that inspire them and are always welcome to use images brought to the class by the teacher. Everyone will be encouraged to develop their own personal style. | Wednesdays, Jan 08-Feb 05 | 10:00 AM-12:30 PM | $221.00 | $260.00 | Register Now | ||
| The Nuts and Bolts of Sculpture | Wood | Adults & Teens | Michael Kraatz | Participants will learn the basics of many and various types of mechanical fasteners for sculpture applications, as well as the safe and efficient use of tools and machines to prepare students for future sculpture projects. Everything from wood screws to carriage bolts, machine screws to pop rivets and button head cap screws to acorn nuts will be covered. Aesthetic considerations of different fasteners will also be part of the class. Learn the many ways to fasten a piece of metal to a piece of wood to a piece of glass and much more | Saturdays, Feb 08-Feb 29 | 9:00 AM-3:00 PM | $212.50 | $250.00 | $45.00 | Register Now | |
| The Intricacies of Stone and Stone Carving | Stone | Adults & Teens | John Hikory | This weekly workshop on stone begins with a presentation covering mineral content, grain qualities and different carving techniques. Various methods of carving stone, carver’s safety, and the proper use of the tools will be covered. Learn to analyze the shape of the stone in relation to your vision of form, be guided in translating the image on to the stone, and then coached to reveal the form concealed within. For beginners and intermediate carvers. | Tuesdays, Feb 18-Mar 17 | 6:00 PM-9:00 PM | $212.50 | $250.00 | $40.00 | Register Now | |
| Woodworking with Hand and Power Tools | Wood | Adults & Teens | Chris McGrody | Learn to square up rough boards, lay out and cut a variety of wood joints including lap joints, bridle joints, mortises, tenons, and dovetails. Safely learn about jointers and planers, table saws and drill presses, band saws and routers. Use skills of a professional to complete a take-home project that demonstrates the skills you're learned. | Tuesdays, Jan 14-Mar 17 | 6:00 PM-9:00 PM | $425.00 | $500.00 | $45.00 | Register Now | |
| Design, Shape, Texture, and Build – Wood Sculpture | Wood | Adults & Teens | Jay Singh | Learn the fundamentals of fine woodworking and transfer these skills to the construction of wood sculpture. Design, shape, texture, and join! Build a take-away three-dimensional piece and learn about color as it relates to sculpture. | Wednesdays, Jan 15-Mar 18 | 6:00 PM-9:00 PM | $425.00 | $500.00 | $45.00 | Register Now | |
| Wood Projects | Wood | Adults & Teens | Jay Singh | Have an idea for a wood project, and looking for the skills and resources to build it? This is the class for you! Individualized, experienced instruction will help guide you from the project-planning stages all the way to a finished product. Though students new to wood creation are welcome, this class is meant for students with some workworking experience looking to create small-to-medium sized projects. | Thursdays, Jan 16-Mar 19 | 6:00 PM-9:00 PM | $425.00 | $500.00 | $45.00 | Register Now | |
| Carving Masks: An Introduction to Wood Carving | Wood | Adults & Teens | Dave Hurwitz | While creating masks, this 3-day class will cover basic carving techniques, the carving properties of wood and the tools of the trade, including hand and power tools. We will also cover sharpening of hand tools. While power tools will be covered and demonstrated, the focus of the class will be on hand carving. Provided with a piece of basswood, students will carve masks of their own design and may incorporate other materials like wire, beads, feathers, found objects, etc. Students will be encouraged to base their masks on their own designs. | Saturday and 2 Sundays, Feb 08-Feb 16 | 10:00 AM-4:00 PM | $255.00 | $300.00 | $45.00 | Register Now | |
| Art Adventures | Youth | 6-9 Year-olds | Allison Zito | Art Adventures is an opportunity for elementary school artists to discover great works of art, observe nature, and refine their skills while exploring new and familiar art materials, methods and techniques. Students will observe, explore, investigate, make connections and create their own masterpieces inspired by great works of art and the natural world. We will draw, paint, create sculptures, print, make toys, and much more. Lessons will include cultural storytelling, games, history, and lots of fun. | Thursdays, Jan 09-Mar 19 | 3:30 PM-5:15 PM | $255.00 | $300.00 | Register Now | ||
| Art Academy: Portraying the Human Character | Youth | 10-14 Year-olds | Karl Neubauer | for 10-14 Year-olds: This class will include lessons in portraiture, figure drawing, painting and sculpting. Many of the classes will feature live models dressed in themed costumes. Students will explore several different media and study techniques that will enhance their creative practices. | Wednesdays, Jan 15-Feb 12 | 3:00 PM-5:15 PM | $191.25 | $225.00 | Register Now | ||
| Art Academy: Welding | Youth | Teens | Jimmy Martell | Teens: AVA's metal studio offers everything you need to learn welding basics. Get hands-on practice measuring, cutting and joining metal using MIG and "stick" welders, plasma cutters and oxy-acetylene torches. Safety, fun and learning are the priorities. | Wednesdays, Jan 15-Feb 12 | 3:30 PM-5:30 PM | $148.75 | $175.00 | $75.00 | Register Now | |
| Art Academy: 3D Printing (W20C) | Youth | 10-14 Year-olds | Laurel Pollard | for 10-14 Year-olds: Learn how to draw in 3 dimensions on a computer, and to turn those drawings into physical objects - including characters, words and letters, and even jewelry - using 3D printing technology! | Thursdays, Jan 16-Feb 13 | 3:00 PM-5:15 PM | $148.75 | $175.00 | $20.00 | Register Now | |
| Art Academy: Stone Carving | Youth | 10-14 Year-olds | Heather Ritchie | for 10-14 Year-olds: Wield hammers, chisels, files and rasps! Create a stone sculpture using a variety of techniques. Bring your ideas or an image or drawing or let the stone dictate your design. Learn how to use simple hand tools in the reductive method of sculpture. Novice and experienced artists are encouraged to join in making small scale full round or relief carvings. | Fridays, Jan 17-Feb 07 | 3:30 PM-6:00 PM | $212.50 | $250.00 | $40.00 | Register Now | |
| Art Academy: Painting Animals | Youth | 10-14 Year-olds | Lea Wells | for 10-14 Year-olds: Do you love animals? In this class, you will learn techniques for drawing and creating paintings of the animals we live with and those in the wild. Students will work towards creating a final painting of an animal of their choice. | Mondays, Jan 20-Feb 10 | 3:00 PM-5:15 PM | $136.00 | $160.00 | Register Now | ||
| Art Academy: Painting Seascapes | Youth | 10-14 Year-olds | Lea Wells | for 10-14 Year-olds: Want to take an ocean adventure? In this class, students will explore the unique light and colors of the sea, sea coasts, and sea life. Our painting and sketching explorations will lead us to create a final ocean inspired painting. | Mondays, Feb 24-Mar 23 | 3:00 PM-5:15 PM | $148.75 | $175.00 | Register Now | ||
| Art Academy: Crazy Comix | Youth | 10-14 Year-olds | Karl Neubauer | for 10-14 Year-olds: Ever wanted to make your own comic? In this camp, you'll will create your own visual story and develop characters that can be easily re-drawn while exploring figure drawing, gesture, story boards, and lettering. | Wednesdays, Feb 26-Mar 25 | 3:00 PM-5:15 PM | $148.75 | $175.00 | Register Now | ||
| Lego Robotics for 9-12 Year-olds | Youth: Vacation Camp | 9-12 Year-olds | Ed Fielding | for 9-12 year-olds: In this camp children will design, build and program Lego Mind-storm Robots to solve challenges with motors, sensors and a simple to learn visual programming language. The focus is to have a lot of fun while learning programming and engineering concepts. | Monday-Friday, Feb 17-Feb 21 | 1:00 PM-4:00 PM | $148.75 | $175.00 | Register Now | ||
| Let's Get Rolling: Cars and Gliders for 9-12 Year-olds | Youth: Vacation Camp | 9-12 Year-olds | Karl Neubauer | for 9-12 year-olds: Harness the power of gravity and the lightness of air. Campers will overcome the forces of friction and wind resistance when they design and build vehicles from reused and recyclable materials. They will test and innovate to make their creations go faster and farther. Finally, they'll get an introduction to aerodynamics, discovering how they can use the forces of gravity and thrust to make their creations fly. But as always, aesthetics rule. The coolest looking cars and planes are always winners! | Monday-Friday, Feb 17-Feb 21 | 9:00 AM-12:00 PM | $148.75 | $175.00 | Register Now | ||
| Stories in Art for 6-9 Year-olds | Youth: Vacation Camp | 6-9 Year-olds | Allison Zito | for 6-9-year-olds: Art often has a story to tell or a hidden message, if a person looks closely. In this camp, children will look at great works of art and develop a keen eye for seeing some of the underlying secret codes and stories. They will explore cultural themes through storytelling and create works of art that tell a story or have an important message to share. | Monday-Friday, Feb 17-Feb 21 | 1:00 PM-4:00 PM | $148.75 | $175.00 | Register Now | ||
| Winter Wonderland for 6-9 Year-olds | Youth: Vacation Camp | 6-9 Year-olds | Lea Wells | for 6-9 year-olds: Mythical themes and magical realms will be explored as children learn about collage, painting and sculpture projects that can be done in winter! | Monday-Friday, Feb 17-Feb 21 | 9:00 AM-12:00 PM | $148.75 | $175.00 | Register Now |