Classes & Workshops

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

We are not currently allowing drop-ins for our life drawing open studios. To attend the full season must be purchased.

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

We are not currently allowing drop-ins for our life drawing open studios. To attend the full season must be purchased.

This fun and engaging workshop will surely get your creativity flowing. Learn sketching and painting tips and techniques to create lively and beautiful works of art that reveal an integral visual dialog between drawing and painting. Sketch and paint along, step-by-step, with noted artist Robert Carsten, using a combination of pencil, pen and watercolor. Working on a small scale, we will create two works of art: an expressive quick sketch and a detailed study sketch. Weathered barn photos provided via email. All levels welcome. This class meets online via Zoom. 

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. This class meets in-person at AVA.

Learn to throw the natural way, using techniques like rhythm, mechanical advantage, fingertip sensitivity, and collaring to center clay on the potter's wheel and make vases, mugs, bowls, pitchers, casseroles and much more. Complete beginners to experienced potters can gain ease and control and have fun. Gain mastery through group exercises that break throwing down to discrete skills. Receive personal instruction tailored to your skill level; beginners and more experienced potters welcome.  This class meets in-person in AVA's Sculptural Studies Building and is limited to 5 students. No class February 14. $70 materials fee applied at check-out.

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 oxyacetylene torches. Safety, fun and learning are the priorities. Beginners welcome. This class meets in-person in AVA's Sculptural Studies Building and is limited to 6 students. $85 Materials Fee applied at checkout.

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. This class meets in-person in AVA's Sculptural Studies Building and is limited to 6 students. $85 Materials Fee applied at checkout.

Continue your watercolor journey and move beyond the basics. Technique demos, along with critiques and discussions, will guide you through a painting each class. Beginning and more experienced students are welcome. This class meets in-person at AVA.

Learn to throw the natural way, using techniques like rhythm, mechanical advantage, fingertip sensitivity, and collaring to center clay on the potter's wheel and make vases, mugs, bowls, pitchers, casseroles and much more. Complete beginners to experienced potters can gain ease and control and have fun. Gain mastery through group exercises that break throwing down to discrete skills. Receive personal instruction tailored to your skill level; beginners and more experienced potters welcome.  This class meets in-person in AVA's Sculptural Studies Building and is limited to 5 students. No class February 17. $70 materials fee applied at check-out.

You've earned AVA’s “Metal Head" badge, now learn to weld “out-of-position.” After this class you'll be able to fix your tractor or build your sculpture with confidence. Learn to weld vertically, diagonally, overhead, and in the round, using flat steel, rod, and pipe. Prerequisite: Welding for Beginners class or equivalent experience. This class meets in-person in AVA's Sculptural Studies Building and is limited to 6 students.

Begin learning basic sculptural form with plaster of paris, cloth, and mud. This material and basic additive process is an age-old method making sculpture. Under the expert tutelage of Amber Geneva, your sturdy armatures will reach upward and outward like a tree whose limbs gesture as volume is fleshed out with chicken wire, foil fabric and plaster. This class will take place in-person in AVA's Sculptural Studies Building.

Save your milk carton! Use it to make a solid plaster block, then learn the reductive, sculpting technique by removing material to create a form. A continuing student might recreate their sculpture from Sculpting in Plaster I, or chisel their way toward a new creation. Use traditional carving chisels and build your gateway into the world of traditional sculpting. This class will take place in-person in AVA's Sculptural Studies Building.

Bring your ceramic ideas alive as we explore methods of creating with clay without using the wheel. Modeling, coiling, and building with slabs are techniques that have been used throughout time to make diverse objects for both functional use and art to behold. Each class will begin with a demonstration and group time before working on individual projects that are open to student expression, while incorporating our weekly lesson. After building, the class will cover decorating and glazing techniques, and students will go home with completed projects at the end of the session. Open to all skill levels. This class meets in-person at AVA's Sculptural Studies Building.

Learn some of the fundamentals of fine woodworking and transfer these skills to the constructions of wood sculpture. Design, shape, texture, carve and join. Build a take-away piece and learn about color as it relates to sculpture. Tool use will include hand machine tools, including chisels, sanders, joiner, bandsaw, Dremel, and pneumatic grinders. This class meets in-person in AVA's Sculptural Studies Building and is limited to 6 students. $85 Materials Fee applied at checkout.

Paint the beautiful New England winter landscape in watercolor. The subtle tints of snow will be teased out using glazing techniques and layering, and you'll learn how to use tonal value, composition, light and shadow to capture your scene. Learn to create a finished painting using a photographic reference (provided a few days before the class begins). Robert O'Brien will demonstrate his approach and provide hands-on guidance to each student. This class will meet online via Zoom.

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. This class will meet in-person at AVA.

Whether you are new to painting in acrylics or experienced, this fun and engaging zoom workshop will surely get your creativity flowing. Working on a small scale on your choice of paper, canvas or board, paint along, step-by-step, with noted and popular artist Robert Carsten. We’ll create a stunning skyscape from a photo provided by the instructor. Learn painting tips and techniques in this fun and easy-to-use medium. Photo and a materials list provided via email. All levels welcome. This class meets online via Zoom. 

Hone your skills as you continue stretching your mastery of line from beginning drawing. Poetic contour drawing, various approaches to light and shadow and linear perspective. Individual instruction will encourage a personal style and approach to drawing. Bring whatever drawing material you are comfortable using to start. Drawing from model included. Prepare for lively discussions, hard work and fun. This class meets in-person at AVA.

What does one do with all the lines? The class will try to answer that question with two sessions exploring line with graphite and charcoal pencils, followed by a shift to mild steel and aluminum wire. As your 2D work on paper guides your 3D drawings, a bridge will be built in your mind, on paper, and in space. Objects from nature, still life sets, and a live model may be sources of inspiration and analysis. All levels and ability welcome. The class meets in-person at AVA's Sculptural Studies Building.

Encaustic is an ancient method of painting with hot wax that results in luminous, layered works of art. Beginners will learn about choosing appropriate work surfaces, application of pigment and medium, how to mix colors, fuse layers and create texture. Image transfer, stencils and collaging will be included. If you have experience with encaustics and want to work with support and guidance from an experienced practitioner and learn more advanced techniques, this workshop is also for you. This class meets in-person at AVA.

Metal heads: Design, measure, fit, and weld. Work on a whimsical or functional project that will also teach your about accuracy and metal craftsmanship. Some welding experience preferred: Welding for Beginners class or equivalent. This class meet in-person at AVA's Sculptural Studies Building. Click here for a class syllabus.

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 oxyacetylene torches. Safety, fun and learning are the priorities. Beginners welcome. This class meets in-person in AVA's Sculptural Studies Building and is limited to 6 students. $85 Materials Fee applied at checkout.