Click Here for all Youth Classes + Summer & Vacation Camps
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)
| Workshop Name | Category | Level | Instructor | Description | Dates | Times | Members' Price (15% Off) | Non-Members' Price | Drop-In Fee | Materials Fee | Registration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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-June 15 (excluding Holidays) | 9 AM-Noon | Free | $5 Drop-In Fee for Non-Members | $5 | Drop-In; Non-members pay $5 to monitor or in AVA Office | |
| 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, Dec 6-Dec 20 (new December dates!) | 9 AM-Noon | $42.50 | $50 | $20 | 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, 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 | |
| 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 | ||
| 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 | IN SESSION | ||
| 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 | IN SESSION | ||
| Feel the Power! Drawing from Memory and Observation | Drawing | Adults & Teens | John David O'Shaughnessy & Rachael 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 | ||
| 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 | IN SESSION | ||
| 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 | IN SESSION | ||
| 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 | IN SESSION | ||
| 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 | IN SESSION | ||
| 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 | 1:30-4 PM (new times) | $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 | |
| 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 PM-7:30 PM (new times) | $195.50 | $230.00 | $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 | IN SESSION | ||
| 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 | ||
| Artist as Small Business | Professional Development for Artists | 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 | ||
| Writing Poetry: Matter of Life and Verse | Writing | Adults & Teens | Michael Metivier | "Tell all the truth," wrote Emily Dickinson, "but tell it slant." Poetry, through wordplay and its various forms, allows us to experiment artfully with the matter of life - our loves and losses, fears and dreams and every mundane thing in between - so as to give it better resonance, a heightened urgency, and a timeless quality. In this class, our reading and discussion of good poems will frame in-class writing exercises and the creation and sharing of our own good poems. | Tuesdays, April 14-May 19 | 6-8 PM | $25 | $25 | Register Now | ||
| The Intricacies of Stone and Stone Carving | Stone Carving | 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 | CANCELED | |
| 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 | IN SESSION | |
| 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 | IN SESSION | |
| 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 | FULL. Please call AVA at 603.448.3118 to be placed on a 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, Feb 20-March 26 (new dates) | 6:00 PM-9:00 PM | $272.00 | $320.00 | $40.00 | 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 | |
| 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 | FULL; Please call AVA at 603-448-3117 to be placed on a waiting list | |
| 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 Glassblowing (section 1) | Glasswork | 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-4:00 PM | $297.50 | $350.00 | FULL. Please call AVA at 603-448-3117 to be placed on a waiting list. | ||
| Introduction to Glassblowing (section 2) | Glasswork | 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. | Wednesday and Thursday, April 1-2 | 10:00 AM-4:00 PM | $297.50 | $350.00 | Register Now | ||
| Introduction to Glassblowing (section 3) | Glasswork | 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, April 4-5 | 10:00 AM-4:00 PM | $297.50 | $350.00 | FULL. Please call AVA at 603-448-3117 to be placed on a waiting list. | ||
| Welding for Beginners | Metalwork | 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 | IN SESSION | |
| Full of Hot Air | Metalwork | 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 | Metalwork | Adults & Teens | Jimmy Martell | TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) 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 | Metalwork | Adults & Teens | 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. | Saturday and Sunday, Mar 14-Mar 15 | 10:00 AM-4:00 PM | $221.00 | $260.00 | $75.00 | Register Now | |
| The Nuts and Bolts of Sculpture | Wood & Metal | 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 | CANCELED | |
| Woodworking with Hand and Power Tools | Woodworking | 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 | IN SESSION | |
| Wood Projects | Woodworking | 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 | IN SESSION |