Adult and Teen Classes

Welcome to AVA’s 2024 Classes!

AVA Members receive 10% off most classes!

Most classes are for students 16 and older.
All welding classes are for students 18 and older.
Financial Assistance is available for all classes.
Class Information & ScheduleClass ImageClass Medium, Level, & PriceClass DescriptionRegistration

Creativity Workshop: Watercolors

Saturday, Oct 5 

6:15-8:30 pm

watercolor-16x9

One-session Art Class

for Beginning and Continuing Students

$25 for advanced registration / $35 for drop-in registration

Join Us for a Night of Fun, Creative Art-making!

Feeling nostalgic for those carefree days of elementary school art class? Now’s your chance to relive the fun! Whether you’re a total beginner or just looking to loosen up and play with art again, our Open Studio for Novice Artists is the perfect way to spark your creativity in a relaxed, no-pressure environment.

The theme of the October 5th Creativity Workshop is Watercolor Painting.

Beginners welcome; no experience necessary. Just show up, make art, and have fun! Embrace the joy of making without worrying about the outcome. 

Creativity workshop is meant specifically for adults 18 and up.

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Daytime Open Studios

Wednesdays, Sept 11-Dec 18
14 sessions; no class Nov 27

9 am-12 pm

open studio drawing

Drawing Open Studio

for Continuing and Advanced students

$300* / $25 per individual session

Weekly monitored life drawing sessions, without instruction, open to individuals of all levels of experience. 

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Evening Open Studios

Wednesdays, Sept 11-Dec 18
14 sessions; no class Nov 27

5:30-8:30 pm

open studio drawing

Drawing Open Studio

for Continuing and Advanced students

$300* / $25 per individual session

Weekly monitored life drawing sessions, without instruction, open to individuals of all levels of experience. 

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Introduction to Comics
DARYL SEITCHIK

Tuesdays, Oct 1-Nov 5
6 Weeks

5:30-8 pm

comics seitchik

Comics

for Beginning and Continuing students

$325

Click here for a class materials list.

In this class you'll learn the basics of cartooning, and how to tell stories through your drawings. The class will cover the fundamentals of making comics, including character design and backgrounds, story structure and pacing, and the nuts and bolts of laying out a comics page.  You will learn and take inspiration from cartoonists throughout history and from all over the world, and experiment with different drawing tools to help find your own unique line, style, and voice. Most importantly, you'll have fun!

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Introduction to Woodworking: Making a Stylish Serving Tray
MIKE HILLINGER

Tuesdays, Oct 1-29
5 Weeks

5:30-8 pm

wood

Wood

for Beginning and Continuing students

$270

$90 materials fee

In this class you will create a hardwood serving tray using solid-wood construction that allows for seasonal wood movement. You'll also learn about breadboard construction, exposed joints, tapered stock, pinned joints, and cord lashing. This class is perfect for students who have taken other introductory woodworking courses, but will also be accessible to those with no woodworking experience.

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Introduction to Woodworking: Bandsaw Boxes Big and Small
DAVE SHINNLINGER

Thursdays, Oct 17-Nov 15
5 sessions

5:30-8:30 pm

shinnlinger boxes wood

Wood

for Beginning & Continuing students

$325* / $90 materials fee

This course will allow the participant to use some of the power tools in the AVA woodshop to create a “bandsaw box” the participant gets to take home. If time and interest allow, a wooden knob can be turned on a lathe to accent the box and additional bandsaw boxes crafted as well. This class is ideal for beginners, anyone interested in the subject matter, or getting to know the AVA woodshop.

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Inspire Your Creative Practice: Finding Wonder through Bewilderment 
EWA CHRUSCIEL

Sat, Oct 5

4-5:30 pm

bird

Writing

for Beginning & Continuing students

$30

This workshop is intended to inspire the creative practice of both visual artists and writers. Writing begins in wonder. Wonder is demanding; it comes at a cost. It can be disorienting; it can be wounding. Perhaps, the term “bewilderment” better conveys the discomfort of the writing process. The poet Fanny Howe defines “bewilderment” as a loss of one’s sense of where one is. As Howe writes, “Bewilderment is an enchantment that follows a complete collapse of reference and reconcilability. It cracks open the dialectic and sees myriads all at once.” It is resolving the irresolvable. Howe quotes a Muslim prayer: “Lord, increase my bewilderment.”

After examining some poems by Polish and American poets and doing some writing, you'll attempt to arrive at your own formula of bewilderment. Based on a prompt, we’ll compose a collaborative poem, and one poem of your own. The main objective will be to dwell in the present moment, find bliss and sparks of bewilderment.

This Workshop will be followed by some light snacks and a reading by Ewa at 5:30 pm. If they choose, workshop participants will also be able to share their own poems at the reading. 

 

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Beginning & Continuing Watercolor: Complementary Colors
JOAN HOFFMANN

Wednesdays, Oct 16-Nov 6
4 sessions

6-8:30 pm

hoffmann joan watercolor

Painting

for Beginning & Continuing students

$215*
Click here for a class materials list. 

Begin your watercolor journey or continue beyond the basics! Technique demos, along with critiques and discussions, will guide you through a painting each session. In this class there will be an emphasis on exploring complementary colors. Beginning and more experienced students are welcome.

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Beginning & Continuing Watercolor: Complementary Colors
JOAN HOFFMANN

Fridays, Oct 18-Nov 8
4 sessions

9:30 am-12 pm

hoffmann joan watercolor

Painting

for Beginning & Continuing students

$215*
Click here for a class materials list. 

Begin your watercolor journey or continue beyond the basics! Technique demos, along with critiques and discussions, will guide you through a painting each session. In this class there will be an emphasis on exploring complementary colors. Beginning and more experienced students are welcome. 

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Portrait Painting in Watercolor 
ROBERT O'BRIEN

Sat-Sun, Oct 26-27

10 am-4 pm

obrien-watercolor-portrait

Painting

for Beginning & Continuing students

$260*

Click here for a class materials list

In this weekend workshop the human portrait will be explored with all its nuances. Students will learn to paint using the layering process to capture likeness, skin tones, and all other facets of portraiture. While this workshop is open to all levels of ability, some drawing and watercolor experience suggested. The class will start with a demonstration by the instructor with class painting to follow. A critique will be held at the end of the session.

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Zen Archery: A “First Shot” at Kyudo
RAY CHIN

Sat, Oct 19

9 am-4 pm

Archery

Archery

for Beginning & Continuing students

$100 regardless of membership

Kyudo 弓道means "the way of the bow" and is an ancient form of Japanese archery.  It is also a moving meditation practice, and is often referred to as “Zen archery.”  Practicing kyudo involves focusing attention and calming one’s mind for precise drawing of the bow and releasing the arrow.  It is a path to opening one's heart and mind to the natural dignity of being human, beyond the obstacles of ambition, doubt, and anger.  Hitting the target is not considered as important as coordinating body and heart/mind.  

Those interested in learning kyudo can sign up for "First Shot," a daylong program to be held at AVA. Adults and older teenagers are welcome up to a maximum of 10 participants. "First Shot" gives the beginner an introduction to the Seven Coordinations (Shichido), the basic form of kyudo, as well as the meditation aspects. "First Shot" is required before one can practice regularly with other kyudokas (practitioners). Tuition is $100 for instruction, use of equipment, and lunch.

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The Cutting Edge: Stained Glass with Copper Foil 
SUE MARTIN & STEPHANIE GORDON

Saturday & Sunday, Oct 26 & 27

10 am-4 pm

stained glass sue martin

Stained Glass

for Beginning & Continuing students

$290* / $75 materials fee

In this weekend workshop for beginning or continuing students, 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 complete your own small panel in this fun class. Tools and materials will be supplied. If you have some experience with stained glass and want to create more complex pieces with expert support, this class is for you, but no experience is needed to get started. Tools and materials will be supplied. Bring your own apron. Wear shoes with closed toes and comfortable working clothes.

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Making a Wearable Garment
MEREDITH SMITH

Thursdays, Oct 31-Nov 21

9:30 am-12:30 pm

Meredith Smith

Fiber Arts

for Continuing students

$260* 

Click here for the class materials list

In this workshop participants will learn basic garment-making skills with the goal of creating a one-of-a-kind garment from the fabric and pattern of their choice. Students will learn about fabric selection, pattern selection, cutting of fabric, assembling and sewing garment pieces, interfacings, seam finishing, pressing, machine tricks and techniques, embellishments, and much more to create a successful wearable.

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Beginning & Continuing Watercolor: Backgrounds & Foregrounds
JOAN HOFFMANN

Wednesdays, Nov 13-Dec 12 (no class Nov 27) 
4 sessions

6-8:30 pm

jhoffmann-Redwoods-16x9

Painting

for Beginning & Continuing students

$215*
Click here for a class materials list. 

Begin your watercolor journey or continue beyond the basics! Technique demos, along with critiques and discussions, will guide you through a painting each session. In this class there will be an emphasis on how to create dynamic foregrounds and backgrounds. Beginning and more experienced students are welcome.

Register Now

Beginning & Continuing Watercolor: Backgrounds & Foregrounds
JOAN HOFFMANN

Fridays, Nov 15-Dec 13 (no class Nov 29) 
4 sessions

9:30 am-12 pm

jhoffmann-Redwoods-16x9

Painting

for Beginning & Continuing students

$215*
Click here for a class materials list. 

Begin your watercolor journey or continue beyond the basics! Technique demos, along with critiques and discussions, will guide you through a painting each session. In this class there will be an emphasis on how to create dynamic foregrounds and backgrounds. Beginning and more experienced students are welcome.

Register Now

Hot Wax: Encaustic Painting for Beginning and Continuing Students
STEPHANIE GORDON

Saturday & Sunday, Nov 16-17

10 am-4 pm

gordon encaustic

Painting

for Beginning & Continuing students

$260* / $70 materials fee

Encaustic is an ancient method of painting with hot wax that results in luminous, layered works of art. Learn to choose appropriate work surfaces, application of pigment and medium, mix colors, fuse layers and create texture. Image transfer, stencils and collaging will be included. 

 

This class is for both beginners and experienced artists. Learn to work in an exciting and versatile medium or find a new direction for your art work. If you feel stuck, this class is likely to provide you with some new avenues to explore.

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Introduction to Printmaking: Paper, Plate, and Press
DEREK BELL

Saturday & Sunday, Nov 16-17

10 am-3 pm

derek bell print bee

Printmaking

for Beginning & Continuing students

$220* / $30 materials fee

Get ready to have fun and learn different printmaking methods with AVA’s new press. In this workshop you'll explore etching and collagraph techniques. Discover what be done with colorful inks, rollers, and a press!

 

This class is for both beginners and experienced artists. Learn to work in an exciting and versatile medium or find a new direction for your art work. If you feel stuck, this class is likely to provide you with some new avenues to explore.

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Intensive Figure Drawing
CHALICE MITCHELL

Saturday, December 14

10 am-4 pm

chalice mitchell figure drawing

Drawing

for Beginning & Continuing Students

$185

Click here for a class Materials List

Open to artists at all levels of experience, this day long workshop will start with quicker gesture drawings and lead up to several long poses. Working with a live model, the instructor will do short demos and provide instruction in gesture, proportion, and anatomy to help students study the human form and focus on the practice of seeing and drawing. 

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MORE INFORMATION

AVA Faculty

Derek Bell received his BFA in Painting in 2008 from the Rhode Island School of Design with a BFA in Painting and spent three of his years there as a Teaching Assistant. As a painter, Derek prefers landscape, portraiture, and animals, as well as an occasional still life. Since graduating from RISD, Derek has worked primarily in oils, watercolor, gouache, and more recently egg tempera. https://www.instagram.com/perfectpoultryportraits/

Jennifer Brown began her art career at a young age making woodblock prints in her family kitchen. She majored in Visual and Environmental Studies at Harvard University and earned a degree in art and education from Vermont College as a parent and working adult. Most recently she has taken painting and printmaking workshops at Art New England in Bennington, VT, as well as continuing to study oil painting with painter, Peter Granucci. She uses watercolor and gouache to explore nature, landscapes, and figures in the landscape.

Cooper Dodds is a photographer and book artist living in Lebanon, New Hampshire. He received a BFA from Carleton College in 2013. His first monograph, Jumper: Flying in the Heartland, was published by Daylight Books in 2019. Cooper has a decade of experience working as a commercial photographer and he currently balances his time between commissions, personal work, and teaching.

Amber Geneva Erkiletian received her BFA at the School of the Art Institute, Chicago where she gained a passion for working in large-scale steel sculpture. Her curiosity about the range of materials available for sculpture caused her to pursue diverse fields that feed her professional development and her application of technical knowledge. Amber’s experience ranges from casting aluminum and bronze for art and industry to fine woodworking and fiberglass construction to refining microscopic precision components for the Mars mission. As an artist, Amber is drawn to the minute subtleties of expression in human body language. Her art practice uses welded steel and Pal Tiya Premium, a unique sculpting cement, to create chimerical animal sculptures for outdoor installation. As an independent art teacher, Amber considers it her mission to ensure that everyone who wants to make sculpture can, at any scale and for any environment. For more information about Amber, please visit her website.

Fred Faudie works out of his studio in Norwich, Vermont where he lives with his wife and teenage son who share his painting, photography, and design studio: SeeingMind. He has exhibited his drawings, prints, and paintings in numerous juried shows across the country, including having his work accepted to group and one-person exhibitions in Washington, D.C., Andover, Massachusetts, Boston, and New York City. He is a Professor Emeritus with the Art Department of the University of Massachusetts Lowell where he taught studio courses for thirty-four years. During his tenure there he taught basic, intermediate, and advanced studio courses, various art history courses, set up several analog darkrooms, and taught the first computer art course. He was a key player in developing their accredited B.A. and B.F.A. degrees. Fred Faudie holds an A.B. in Art History from Cornell University, an M.A. in painting from the University of Iowa; participated in post-graduate studies in photography at the University of Iowa, and holds an M.F.A. in Illustration from Syracuse University.

Nick Gaffney received his M.F.A. in Fine Arts/Photography from the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY, in 2002. Since then he has taught Photography, Studio Art, and Digital Media at various places. He has exhibited his photography throughout the country, including solo shows at AVA and the Vermont Center for Photography, in Brattleboro, VT. He is currently on the board of the Vermont Center for Photography and is also a member of the Lebanon Arts and Culture Commission. He lives in Lebanon with his wife, two daughters, and dog Ruby. ngaffney.net

At the age of eight, Olivia Janna Genereaux took her first after-school art class painting. She learned to paint from life and to mix colors. She loved the control of building her world and found her place. She chose to attend Rhode Island School of Design, where she studied textiles and illustration, majored in painting, and graduated in 1986. Four decades later in 2014, she earned a Master’s Degree from Lesley University, College of Art and Design. Her love of art is a gift she gives to herself and shares with others every day.

Stephanie Gordon received her BFA from the University of Michigan. Stephanie taught art at Hanover High School for 18 years before retiring. She currently teaches community art classes for adults and teens. Stephanie has most recently been making encaustic paintings. She exhibits work locally and regionally and her art is in many private collections. sbgordonart.com

Joan Hoffmann paints impressionistic oil and watercolor landscapes and birds in plein air. She is dedicated to painting, teaching, and preserving the wild landscapes that she explores. Joan lectures on the History of American Landscape Painting, National Parks, Public Lands, and the Art of Landscape and teaches and exhibits her work in UT, CO, CA, and at her studio in South Royalton. www.joanhoffmann.com

Mike Howat is a New Hampshire-based painter and printmaker. His work explores themes of urbanization, Americana, and collective memory. Since earning his B.F.A. from the New Hampshire Institute of Art in 2014, he has been actively engaged in the growing New England art scene. He exhibits regularly with Kelley Stelling Contemporary and Mill Brook Gallery & Sculpture Garden and has shown with Chase’s Garage, Rochester Museum of Fine Arts, and Nahcotta, among others. He is the current artist-in-residence at Kimball Jenkins School of Art, where he teaches classes and workshops in painting, printmaking, and drawing. mikehowat.com

Michael Kraatz holds a BS in Art from the University of Wisconsin and an MFA from the Rhode Island School of Design. He has been a roster artist with the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts for many years, completing numerous Arts in Education residencies in public schools. He works in 2-D and 3-D and is particularly known for his blown glass. Kraatz’s work has been shown nationally and regionally, including at AVA. www.kraatzrussell.com

Maggie mayfly Kundtz Joseph: Visual artist; AVA studio tenant since 2013; AVA instructor.  Strives to nurture & empower young and old in the creative process.  Earned a BFA from the University of Michigan in painting & photography; Master’s in photography from Maine Media College.  Early life, worked in the gallery/ museum arena and NYC photography scene; Currently, immersed in art making and raising a family.  Created the artist persona, mayfly, to better embody the ideas of ephemerality and transformation in her art. Read more about Maggie mayfly Kundtz Joseph’s life and work here.

Sue Martin majored in art at a teacher training college in Ripon, Yorkshire, England. Currently retired as a classroom and reading teacher, she has time to rekindle and expand her artistic interests to include stained glass. She finds great delight in incorporating found objects into her work and she has exhibited her stained glass panels, in the Upper Valley.

Chris McGrody has been building custom furniture and handcrafted cabinetry professionally in his shop for 15 years. Before starting his shop, Chris worked for several years at a local furniture studio building high-end traditional Shaker furniture. While working there as a craftsman, he also ran the workshop program and taught week-long and weekend workshop courses. Chris also instructs regularly at the Dartmouth College Student Woodshop. Chris enjoys passing along his knowledge of woodworking through project-based classes. www.chrismcgrody.com

Robert O’Brien received his BA from S.U.N.Y. at Buffalo and has worked in watercolor for 40 years. Since moving to Vermont in 1977, he has focused his work on the landscape and architecture of New England. He studied with James Whatford, Tony Couch, and Marshall Joyce. He is a member of many watercolor societies and has won numerous awards. www.robertjobrien.com

Tracy Penfield has a history with AVA going back to 1985. She exhibited her fiber art, taught and modeled at AVA until founding SafeArt in 2000, based in Chelsea VT, where she resides. She passed SafeArt on to the next generation in 2020 and has a private practice in trauma healing at the Center for Integrative Health in Hanover and in Chelsea. She is also a dancer and the Artistic Director of the Passing Project: www.passingproject.org.     Kärin Rothwell became a student of clay under the tutelage of Karen Williamson at the Davidson Pottery at Dartmouth College in 1981, followed by post-grad classes at UNH and workshops at Haystack Mountain School in Maine and ‘Phoenix’ with Gerry Williams in Goffstown. Surrounded by the rich history of strong clay cultures while living in the Middle East, Holland, Spain, and Mexico in her early years led to her desire for personal exploration in the medium. Kärin was a teacher/trainer at Dartmouth for many years and began the children’s program at the League of NH Craftsmen in 1984.

Meredith Smith holds a BFA and MAT from the Rhode Island School of Design and did postgraduate study in costume and theater design at Brown University. She has worked as a costume and jewelry designer, college professor, and owner of a London-based clothing company. Meredith is a juried member of the League of NH Craftsmen.

Teaching and Modeling at AVA

Modeling: If you are interested in modeling for art classes at AVA (clothed or unclothed), please contact our Education Manager, Nick Gaffney, at nick@avagallery.org.

Teaching: AVA is always interested in learning more about creative educational experiences for our community. If you are interested in teaching a workshop at AVA, please email nick@avagallery.org.

Financial Assistance

Legacies Live On

Thanks to the generosity of family and friends of prominent past AVA supporters, AVA is honored to offer financial assistance to mitigate the cost of classes and workshops.

Click here to apply for Financial Assistance.

AVA Financial Assistance Fund

The AVA Financial Assistance Fund provides eligible individuals of all ages and abilities with tuition assistance in any of AVA’s art camps, educational workshops, or outreach programming. Funds donated for financial assistance but not specifically directed to the Al Quirk or Aya Itagaki funds are allocated to this fund. Click here to donate to the AVA Financial Assistance fund.

Al Quirk Financial Assistance Fund

The Alfred T. Quirk Senior Student Financial Assistance Fund was established to support seniors (60 and over) in their artistic endeavors. After his retirement from a thirty year career at Dartmouth College, Al Quirk began a new calling as a watercolor artist, taking classes at AVA and eventually serving on AVA’s Board of Directors. Recognizing the significance art and AVA played in Al’s later life, eligible seniors can apply for financial assistance for any AVA class or workshop.

Aya Itagaki Financial Assistance Fund

The Aya Itagaki Financial assistance Fund provides eligible individuals of all ages and abilities with tuition assistance at either AVA or the Okinawan Karate Academy. Aya was an AVA founding member, artist, teacher and AVA board member for over four decades. Her family established this fund to continue her legacy of support. Applicants may receive financial assistance toward classes at either AVA or the Okinawan Karate Academy.

All financial assistance funds help provide creative opportunities for those who would otherwise not be able to participate due to financial concerns. Contributions can be made to any of these funds by phone (603) 448-3117, online by clicking here, or by mail: AVA Gallery and Art Center, 11 Bank Street, Lebanon, NH 03766.