
Members receive 15% off all classes and workshops.
All in-person students must wear masks and follow AVA’s Visitor Guidelines
Covid-19 Vaccination Policy: As of January 1st, 2022, AVA will be requiring all participants in our education programs (ages 12 and up) to either show proof of vaccination against Covid-19, or provide a negative PCR Covid-19 test (taken within 72 hours of a scheduled class session or event). Click here for more information about this policy.
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Workshop Name | Medium / Format | Level | Instructor | Description | Dates | Times | Members' Price (15% Off) | Non-Members' Price | Materials | Registration |
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Spring Daytime Life Drawing Open studio | Drawing / In-person | Continuing | Monitor | Weekly monitored life drawing sessions, without instruction, open to individuals of all levels of experience. We are currently limiting the number of participants to 8 per session. Participants may register in advance for individual sessions on the registration page. Individual session are $20 regardless of membership. Participants are also welcome to "drop-in" to a open studio session and pay in the AVA office, but we cannot guarantee that a spot will be available. | Wednesdays, April 6-June 22 | 9 am-Noon | $204 / $144 for Artist Members / $20 Individual session | $240 / $20 Individual session | Register Now | |
Spring Evening Life Drawing Open studio | Drawing / In-person | Continuing | Monitor | Weekly monitored life drawing sessions, without instruction, open to individuals of all levels of experience. We are currently limiting the number of participants to 8 per session. Participants may register in advance for individual sessions on the registration page. Individual session are $20 regardless of membership. Participants are also welcome to "drop-in" to a open studio session and pay in the AVA office, but we cannot guarantee that a spot will be available. | Wednesdays, April 6-June 22 | 5:30-8:30 pm | $204 / $144 for Artist Members / $20 Individual session | $240 / $20 Individual session | Register Now | |
Through a New Lens – Introduction to Digital Photography | Photography / In-person | Beginning | Cooper Dodds | Gain command of your digital camera and use that knowledge to create photos for discussion and critique. Get your camera ready and have a notebook handy and see the world through a new lens! This class requires a digital camera with manual controls (DSLR or Mirrorless camera recommended) and will be held in-person. | Thursdays, June 2-July 7 | 6-8:30 pm | $204 | $240 | This class requires a digital camera with manual controls (DSLR or Mirrorless camera recommended). | Register Now |
Sculpting with Wool | Fiber Arts / In-person | Beginning / Continuing | Rachel Montroy | With a focus on felting techniques, you will learn wet felting, needle felting, and a combination of both to make irresistibly soft sculptures. You'll be able to explore felting around wire armatures, using resists, and incorporating other materials. You'll also look at contemporary fiber sculpture to jump start your brainstorming process. This workshop will consist of demonstrations, experimenting, and guided work time in which you can follow the instructor's projects or use your own ideas. All abilities are welcome, from absolute beginners to those familiar with fiber art or sculpture. This class takes place in-person at AVA. | Saturday, June 4 | 10 am-4 pm | $102 | $120 | $10 materials fee | Register Now |
Stone Carving - Bird Wings | Stone / In-person | Beginning / Continuing | Sean Hunter Williams | In this weekend workshop you'll examine the morphology of bird wings and how the underlying forms influence their function, as well as the shapes of individual feathers that compose the different wing formations. You'll leave with a better understanding of layering, tucking and folding of forms and techniques to achieve these effects in stone. This class meets in-person in AVA's Sculptural Studies Building. | Saturday & Sunday, June 4 & 5 | 10 am-4 pm | $212.50 | $250 | $40 Materials Fee | Register Now |
Continuing Pottery | Clay / In-person | Beginning / Continuing | Roger Noble | 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. This class meets in-person in AVA's Sculptural Studies Building and is limited to 6 students. No class June 27, Aug 1, or Aug 15.
| Mondays, June 6 - August 29 (No class June 27, Aug 1, or Aug 15) | 9:30 am-12 pm | $361.25 | $425 | $70 Materials fee | Register Now |
Drawing & Painting: The Psychological Still Life | Drawing & Painting / In-person | Continuing | Harrison Halaska | This class will begin with a selection of slides of paintings throughout art history meant to invoke specific psychological reactions. You'll continue with a discussion of the tools and methods used to invoke these responses. Finally, based on prompts (for example: "tranquil", "shocking", or "confused") you'll try to re-create those feelings by bringing in objects and creating your own self-directed still lifes. Weekly critiques will happen before working on your own pieces, helping you become more comfortable discussing artwork. While the Instructor will be discussing oil paintings, and painting in oils, this class is open to any medium! Acrylic, charcoal, pastel, watercolor, etc. The focus of this class is learning how the elements and principles of design can be used to conjure specific feelings in the viewer, and to try that yourself through still lifes. Some painting or drawing experience suggested. | Mondays, June 6 - July 25 | 6-8:30 pm | $272 | $320 | Because the class is dependent on the medium the student chooses to work in, the student may bring any traditional or digital drawing or painting materials they'd like. | Register Now |
Continuing Watercolor | Painting / In-person | Beginning / Continuing | Joan Hoffmann | 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.
| Wednesdays, June 8 - July 27 | 6-8:30 pm | $272 | $320 | Register Now | Register Now |
The Active Observer – Basic Drawing | Drawing / In-person | Beginning | 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. This class meets in-person at AVA.
| Tuesdays, June 7 - July 26 | 6-8:30 pm | $289 | $340 | Register Now | Register Now |
Introduction to Oil Painting & Still Lifes | Painting / In-person | Beginning | Harrison Halaska | This class focuses on on painting still lifes, in oil paint, from life. The class will cover composition, color temperature, paint application and technique, oil painting materials and practices, and the mood of the painting. The history of still life painting and historical and contemporary masters of the genre will also be covered. This class meets in-person at AVA.
| Thursdays, June 9 - July 28 | 6-8:30 pm | $272 | $320 | CLick Here for a Materials List | Register Now |
Continuing Pottery | Clay / In-person | Beginning / Continuing | Roger Noble | 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. This class meets in-person in AVA's Sculptural Studies Building and is limited to 6 students. No class June 30, Aug 4, or Aug 18.
| Thursdays, June 9 - Sept 1 (No class June 30, Aug 4, or Aug 18.) | 9:30 am-12 pm | $361.25 | $425 | $70 Materials fee | Register Now |
Steeling Nature - Forging Steel Influenced by Nature | Metal / In-person | Beginning / Continuing | Sabrina Fadial | Using nature for inspiration, you'll 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. This class meets in-person in AVA's Sculpture Building. $85 materials fee applied at check-out. | Saturday & Sunday, June 11-12 | 10 am-4 pm | $212.50 | $250 | $85 Materials Fee | Register Now |
Welding for Beginners | Metal / In-person | Beginning | 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 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.
| Tuesdays, June 14 - August 16 | 6-9 pm | $467.50 | $550 | $85 Materials Fee | Register Now |
Introduction to Woodworking with Hand and Power Tools | Wood / In-person | Beginning | 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. This class meets in-person in AVA's Sculptural Studies Building and is limited to 6 students.
| Tuesdays, June 14 - August 16 | 6-9 pm | $467.50 | $550 | $85 Materials Fee | Register Now |
Continuing Pottery | Clay / In-person | Beginning / Continuing | Tyler Morrison | 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. This class meets in-person in AVA's Sculptural Studies Building and is limited to 6 students. | Wednesdays, June 15-August 17 | 6-8:30 pm | $361.25 | $425 | $70Materials Fee | Register Now |
Hot Wax: Encaustic Painting for Beginning and Advanced Students | Painting / In-person | Beginning / Continuing | Stephanie Gordon | 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. | New Dates: Saturday & Sunday, June 25 & 26 | 10 am-4 pm | $212.50 | $250 | $90 Materials Fee | Register Now |
Painting the Everyday (in Plein Air) | Painting / In-person | Beginning / Continuing | Mike Howat | Paint what’s around you and embrace all things familiar and everyday. Sometimes the most seemingly mundane, everyday things can make the most interesting paintings. In this two-day immersive painting workshop, you'll create paintings based on their surroundings as well as places, people, or scenes close and familiar to them. Using a combination of photo reference, still lives and plein-air work on-site, students will be guided through various representational painting techniques to accurately express what they’re seeing. Students will also explore how things like memory can play a role in bringing a painting to life, or how choices in color palette and lighting affect the mood of a painting. Short walks in the downtown area surrounding AVA will allow outside work on-site to capture the light and colors from life to help inform paintings worked on in the studio. Basic drawing, color mixing and other painting techniques will also be covered, so all skill levels are welcome. | Saturday & Sunday, June 25-26 | 10 am-2 pm | $136 | $160 | Click Here for a Materials List | Register Now |
Plein Air with Watercolors | Painting / In-person | Beginning / Continuing | Jennifer Brown | Explore the joy of painting outside this summer in this outdoor watercolor Plein air class. Emphasis will be on gathering an outside painting kit for easy travel, finding a focus in the outdoor landscape, and capturing a sense of place. Each class will begin at AVA, and then take walks, exploring the nearby landscapes. Make sure to wear good walking shoes! | Tuesdays, June 28-July 19 | 10 am-12 pm | $136 | $160 | A Materials list will be available soon. | Register Now |
3D Printing | Digital Arts / In-person | Beginning | Laurel Pollard | Learn how to use using 3D printing technology! In this class you'll draw in 3 dimensions on a computer, and learn how prepare and print to turn your models and drawings into physical objects! The class will survey a variety of 3D model creation and customization apps. You'll also learn techniques for getting good results from a 3D printer. This class meets in-person at AVA. | Tuesdays, July 5-26 | 6-8 pm | $136 | $160 | $20 Materials Fee | Register Now |
Full of Hot Air - Inflating Steel Forms | Metal / In-person | Beginning / Continuing | Sabrina Fadial | Create inflated steel forms using our plasma cutter, welders, sheet metal and compressed air. You'll design patterns and trace-cut them with the plasma cutter. Two or more matching shapes are then welded together, heated in our whisper forge, and made ready to inflate. Like magic, using compressed air, the flat welded pieces expand into delightful three-dimensional forms. Add some simple forged rod and these forms can become flowers, wands, or whimsical garden ornaments. Some welding experience helpful, but not required. This class meets in-person in AVA's Sculpture Building. $85 materials fee applied at check-out. | Saturday & Sunday, July 9 & 10 | 10 am-4 pm | $212.50 | $250 | $85 Materials Fee | Register Now |
Seeing With Your Camera – Documentary Photography | Photography / In-person | Beginning / Continuing | Nicholas Gaffney | Expand your knowledge of photography and use your camera to engage with and interpret the world around you. In-class work will combine technical instruction, viewing examples from photography's history, and class critiques. While some photography will happen during class, students should expect and be prepared to spend time out of class making photographs to be critiqued during class. This workshop assumes a basic knowledge of how a camera works, but is open to all levels and abilities. Basic photography experience suggested. Students should own a digital camera with manual controls (DSLR or Mirrorless preferred.) | Wednesdays, July 13-August 17 | 6-8:30 pm | $204 | $240 | Students should own a digital camera with manual controls (DSLR or Mirrorless preferred.) | Register Now |
The Cyanotype: Capturing Light On Paper | Photography / In-person | Beginning / Continuing | Linda Bryan | Expand your knowledge of photography and use your camera to engage with and interpret the world around you. In-class work will combine technical instruction, viewing examples from photography's history, and class critiques. While some photography will happen during class, students should expect and be prepared to spend time out of class making photographs to be critiqued during class. This workshop assumes a basic knowledge of how a camera works, but is open to all levels and abilities. Basic photography experience suggested. Students should own a digital camera with manual controls (DSLR or Mirrorless preferred.) | Saturday & Sunday, July 16-17 | 10 am-3 pm | $204 | $240 | $25 Materials Fee | Register Now |
Painting the Everyday (in Plein Air) | Painting / In-person | Beginning / Continuing | Mike Howat | Paint what’s around you and embrace all things familiar and everyday. Sometimes the most seemingly mundane, everyday things can make the most interesting paintings. In this two-day immersive painting workshop, you'll create paintings based on their surroundings as well as places, people, or scenes close and familiar to them. Using a combination of photo reference, still lives and plein-air work on-site, students will be guided through various representational painting techniques to accurately express what they’re seeing. Students will also explore how things like memory can play a role in bringing a painting to life, or how choices in color palette and lighting affect the mood of a painting. Short walks in the downtown area surrounding AVA will allow outside work on-site to capture the light and colors from life to help inform paintings worked on in the studio. Basic drawing, color mixing and other painting techniques will also be covered, so all skill levels are welcome. | Saturday & Sunday, July 30-31 | 10 am-2 pm | $136 | $160 | Click Here for a Materials List | Register Now |
Intensive Figure Drawing | Drawing / In-person | Beginning / Continuing | Michael Kraatz | Join us every Tuesday evening in August to explore figure drawing. All elements of drawing, proportion and perspective, shading and shadow, foreshortening and use of value will be covered as they pertain to drawing from a model. There will be long poses, short poses, both clothed and unclothed poses and lots of lively discussion as we work together to enhance our seeing and drawing skills. Primary materials will be graphite and charcoal but all mediums are welcome. All skill levels are also welcome. This class meets in-person at AVA, and a live model will be present at all sessions. | Tuesdays, August 2-30 | 6-8:30 pm | $255 | $300 | Click Here for a Class Materials List | Register Now |
Welding for Beginners | Metal / In-person | Beginning | 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 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.
| Tuesdays, Sept 20 - Nov 22 | 4:30-7:30 pm | $467.50 | $550 | $85 Materials Fee | Register Now |
Introduction to Woodworking with Hand and Power Tools | Wood / In-person | Beginning | 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. This class meets in-person in AVA's Sculptural Studies Building and is limited to 6 students.
| Tuesdays, Sept 20-Nov 22 | 6-9 pm | $467.50 | $550 | $85 Materials Fee | Register Now |
Be There, Be Square – Metal Fabrication Techniques | Metal / In-person | Continuing | Jimmy Martell | 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.
| Tuesdays, Sept 22 - Dec 1 (no class Nov 24) | 4:30-7:30 pm | $467.50 | $550 | $85 Materials Fee | Register Now |