Members receive 15% off all classes and workshops.
All in-person students must wear masks and follow AVA’s Visitor Guidelines
- 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 in person or online
- draw inspiration from unique, challenging exhibitions
- surprise yourself and make new friends!
Become an AVA Member | Apply for a Scholarship | Youth Classes & Camps | AVA Faculty
| Workshop Name | Medium / Format | Level | Instructor | Description | Dates | Times | Members' Price (15% Off) | Non-Members' Price | Drop-In Fee | Materials | Registration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continuing Pottery | Clay / In-person | Beginning/Continuing | Ara Cardew | Learn to center clay on the potters wheel, make mugs, bowls, pitchers, casseroles and much more. If you are a beginner or more advanced you will enjoy the clay experience. Acquire the skills of throwing, trimming, making handles, glazing and kiln firing. This class meets in-person and is limited to 4 students. | Wed, May 5-June 23 | 6:30-9 pm | $289 | $340 | A $40 Materials Fee will be included at check-out | IN SESSION | |
| Hand-building with Clay | Clay / In-person | Beginning/Continuing | Kärin Rothwell | As the long winter subsides with the grips of covid isolation along with it, this class will focus on the transition to the great outdoors as we create items for flowers, the garden, returning birds, and planting. Bring your own design ideas as projects are presented with each session. Using ancient methods of creating with clay including coils, slabs and pinching, we will be making vases, bird baths, bird houses, planters and unique sculpture for your garden. Glazing and decorating techniques will also be covered. Please bring hand towel and journal to class. This class meets in-person and is limited to 5 students. | May 20-July 8 | 5 pm-8 pm | $306 | $360 | $40 Materials fee | IN SESSION | |
| 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 and is limited to 4 students. | Tues, May 25-July 27 | 6-9 pm | $425 | $500 | A $45 Materials Fee will be included at check-out | FULL; Please email nick@avagallery.org to be placed on a wait list | |
| 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 oxy-acetylene torches. Safety, fun and learning are the priorities. This class meets in-person and is limited to 4 students. | Thurs, May 27-July 29 | 4:30-7:30 pm | $425 | $500 | A $75 Materials Fee will be included at check-out | FULL; please email nick@avagallery.org to be placed on a wait list. | |
| 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. | Tues, June 1-July20 | 6-8 pm | $272 | $320 | Click here for a class materials list. | Register Now | |
| The Cyanotype: Capturing Light On Paper | Alternative Photography / In-Person | Beginning/Continuing | Linda Bryan | This workshop will introduce you to one of the first photographic printing process; the Cyanotype. Known for its rich indigo hues, the Cyanotype has many artistic applications. After a brief history of the process, you'll learn how to hand coat papers, make images using plants and other three dimensional objects, learn how to make and print digital negatives, and learn toning techniques to change traditional blue into other colors. No photography experience necessary! This class meets in-person at AVA. Weather dependent, the class will meet under the tent over our new outdoor patio classroom. | Saturday & Sunday, June 12 & 13 | Sat: 10 am-4 pm; Sun: 10 am-1 pm | $153 | $180 | $25 Materials Fee | FULL; please email nick@avagallery.org to be placed on a wait list | |
| Continuing Pottery | Clay / In-person | Beginning/Continuing | Roger Noble | Learn to center clay on the potter's wheel, make vases, mugs, bowls, pitchers, casseroles and much more. Beginners to advanced you will enjoy the clay experience. Acquire the skills of throwing, trimming, making handles, glazing and kiln firing. This class meets in-person and is limited to 5 students. | Thurs, June 17-Aug 19 (no class July 1 or Aug 5) | 9:30-Noon | $289 | $340 | A $40 Materials Fee will be included at check-out | Register Now | |
| Mordant Printing and Painting with Natural Dyes | Fiber Arts / In-Person | Beginning/Continuing | Berkley Heath | In this class, you'll create thickened mordant pastes to paint and print designs on cotton cloth. Inspired by traditional surface design techniques, we will work with three dye vats (madder, weld, and sumac) to create a wide range of shades and patterns on cloth. Mordants are substances used in combination with natural dyes to create lasting colors on cloth. They can shift the tone and saturation of natural dyes such that a wide range of colors can be created in a single dye vat, and even on a single piece of cloth! This class will cover fabric preparation, making a printing surface, natural dye chemistry and history, as well as post dyeing fabric care. You'll create a color reference chart on cloth to use in future dyeing endeavors, as well as your own uniquely patterned pieces. This class meets in-person at AVA. Weather dependent, the class will meet under the tent over our new outdoor patio classroom. | Saturday & Sunday, June 19 & 20 | 10 am-3 pm | $170 | $200 | $25 Materials Fee | Register Now | |
| Atelier Methods in Drawing | Drawing / Online | Continuing | Mike Howat | Explore contemporary and experimental approaches to classical drawing methods. Working from sculpture, still lives, portrait, or other subject matter of choice, students will be guided through a series of drawing and sighting techniques to create developed but expressive drawings. Originally developed in 19th century studio schools in France and Italy, the atelier method is a tried-and-true approach to creating highly life-life drawings and paintings, and is used today by most contemporary realists. The course is open to all skill levels, and will be held online via Zoom. | Mon, June 21-July 12 | 6-8 pm | $136 | $160 | Click Here for a Class Materials List | Register Now | |
| Introduction to Watercolor | Watercolor Painting / In-person | Beginning | 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. This class meets in-person at AVA. | Tues, June 22-July 20 | 6-8:30 pm | $212.50 | $250 | Click Here for a Class Materials List | Register Now | |
| Sketch and Paint: Weathered Barns | Painting / Online | Beginning/Continuing | Robert Carsten | 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. This class meets online via Zoom. | Wed, June 23 | 1:30-3:30 pm | $51 | $60 | Click here for a materials list. | Register Now | |
| Continuing Pottery | Clay / In-person | Beginning/Continuing | Tyler Morrison | Learn to center clay on the potters wheel, make mugs, bowls, pitchers, casseroles and much more. If you are a beginner or more advanced you will enjoy the clay experience. Acquire the skills of throwing, trimming, making handles, glazing and kiln firing. This class meets in-person and is limited to 5 students. | Mondays and Wednesdays, July 5-21 | 2:30-5 pm | $216.75 | $255 | A $40 Materials Fee will be included at check-out | Register Now | |
| Continuing Pottery | Clay / In-person | Beginning/Continuing | Tyler Morrison | Learn to center clay on the potters wheel, make mugs, bowls, pitchers, casseroles and much more. If you are a beginner or more advanced you will enjoy the clay experience. Acquire the skills of throwing, trimming, making handles, glazing and kiln firing. This class meets in-person and is limited to 5 students. | Wednesdays, July7-Aug 25 | 6-8:30 pm | $289 | $340 | A $40 Materials Fee will be included at check-out | FULL; Please email nick@avagallery.org to be placed on a wait list | |
| Katazome Rice Paste Resist with an Indigo Vat | Fiber Arts / In-Person | Beginning/Continuing | Berkley Heath | Katazome is an ancient Japanese printmaking technique, traditionally using indigo and other plant-derived pigments to create highly detailed patterns on cloth. In this class you'll learn the traditional methods used for creating these prints, as well as some modern techniques that can be used in a home studio. The class will also briefly cover natural indigo vat-making and the chemistry involved, as well as fabric preparation, preparing a printing surface, stencil carving, rice paste making and application, and post-dye fabric treatment. Students will be provided with cotton cloth to print and dye. This class meets in-person at AVA. Weather dependent, the class will meet under the tent over our new outdoor patio classroom. | Saturday & Sunday, July 17 & 18 | 10 am-3 pm | $170 | $200 | $25 Materials Fee | Register Now | |
| Sketch and Paint: Fabulous Fruit | Painting / Online | Beginning/Continuing | Robert Carsten | 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. This class meets online via Zoom. | Wed, July 21 | 1:30-3:30 pm | $51 | $60 | Click here for a materials list. | Register Now | |
| Plein Air in the Summer with Watercolors | Plein Air Watercolor / In-person | Beginning/Continuing | Joan Hoffmann | Spend the morning outside, while painting the incredible Vermont summer landscape with watercolors! Bring your energy, curiosity and personal expression to the water and woods of the beautiful grounds of the Montshire Museum. Class will start with a short pastel demonstration and culminate with supportive critique. Open to all levels. This class will be in-person and take place at the Montshire Museum. | Sat & Sun, July 17-18 | 10 am-1 pm | $153 | $180 | Click here for a materials list. | Register Now | |
| Plein Air in the Summer with Pastels | Plein Air Pastels / In-person | Beginning/Continuing | Jonathan Rose | Spend the morning outside, while painting the incredible Vermont summer landscape with pastels! Bring your energy, curiosity and personal expression to the water and woods of the beautiful grounds of the Montshire Museum. Class will start with a short pastel demonstration and culminate with supportive critique. Open to all levels. This class will be in-person and take place at the Montshire Museum. | Sat & Sun, July 24-25 | 10 am-1 pm | $153 | $180 | Click here for a materials list. | Register Now | |
| Plein Air in the Summer with Oils | Plein Air Oil Painting / In-person | Beginning/Continuing | Derek Bell | Spend the morning outside, while painting the incredible Vermont summer landscape with oils! Bring your energy, curiosity and personal expression to the water and woods of the beautiful grounds of the Montshire Museum. Students are welcome to bring drawing materials as well. Class will start with a short painting demonstration and culminate with supportive critique. Open to all levels. This class will be in-person and take place at the Montshire Museum. | Sat & Sun, July 31-Aug 1 | 10 am-1 pm | $153 | $180 | Click here for a materials list. | Register Now | |
| Painting Water with Watercolors | Watercolor Painting / Online | Beginning/Continuing | Robert O'Brien | This workshop will focus on the many moods and facets of painting water in the watercolor medium. Students will learn techniques from rendering a simple reflective pond to a swift moving mountain stream and everything in between. Foreshortening and the ability to suggest a flat plane will be taught when painting a meandering river or a lake. Water provides the artist with an endless variety of interpretations given its reflective qualities as well as its restlessness. The class will start with a demonstration by the instructor followed by class painting. A critique will be offered at the end of the session. Reference photos will be provided and students are encouraged to bring their own as well. This workshop meets online via Zoom. | Thursday & Friday, August 19 & 20 | 10 am-1 pm | $93.50 | $110 | Click Here for a Class Materials List | Register Now | |
| Fiber Arts Open Studio | Open Studio / Online | All Levels | 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! | Ongoing; Mondays | 9 am-Noon | Free | $5 Drop-In Fee for Non-Members | $5 | Drop-in at AVA |