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 | Medium / Format | Level | Instructor | Description | Dates | Times | Members' Price (15% Off) | Non-Members' Price | Materials | Registration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer 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 10 per session. Participants may register in advance for individual sessions on the registration page. Individual session are $25 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, June 29-Aug 31 | 9 am-Noon | $212.50 / $150 for Artist Members / $25 Individual session | $250 / $25 Individual session | - | 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. | POSTPONED; New dates available soon | 10 am-4 pm | $212.50 | $250 | $40 Materials Fee | POSTPONED; New dates available soon |
| 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 | Click Here For a Materials List | 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 |
| 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. | July 16 & 17 | 10 am-4 pm | $212.50 | $250 | $90 Materials Fee | 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 |
| Painting Architecture and Built Environments | Painting / Online | Beginning / Continuing | Mike Howat | Built spaces are everywhere and are an important element in representational painting and drawing. In this course you'll learn the fundamentals of painting and drawing architecture and built environments--from interior spaces, to windows, houses, and cityscapes. You'll explore the basics of linear perspective and creating light and shadow to make your work feel luminous as well as spatial. Ideas in warping or changing the viewpoint through perspective will also be explored. There will be plenty of room to explore your subject matter of choice within the context of architecture. Some painting and drawing experience is recommended, but the fundamentals of painting and drawing will be covered for any beginners who are eager to learn. This class meets online. | Mondays, Sept 12-Oct 3 | 6-8 pm | $136 | $160 | Click Here for a Class 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 October 10. | Mondays, Sept 19-Nov 14 (no class Oct 10) | 9:30 am-12 pm | $340 | $400 | $70 Materials Fee applied at check-out | 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 |
| Continuing Drawing | Drawing / In-person | Beginning / Continuing | Michael Kraatz | 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 is a great class for beginners as well as more experienced artists. This class meets in-person at AVA.
| Tuesdays, Sept 20-Nov 8 | 6-8:30 pm | $340 | $400 | Click Here for A Materials List | 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 |
| 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. | Thursdays, Sept 22-Nov 10 | 9:30 am-12 pm | $340 | $400 | $70 Materials Fee applied at check-out | Register Now |
| 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 in AVA' Sculptural Studies Building and is limited to 6 students. | Wednesdays, Sept 21-Nov 9 | 6-8:30 pm | $340 | $400 | $70 Materials Fee applied at check-out | 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.
| Thursdays, Sept 22 - Dec 1 (no class Nov 24) | 4:30-7:30 pm | $467.50 | $550 | $85 Materials Fee | Register Now |
| Hand-building with Clay | Clay / In-person | Beginning/Continuing | Karin Rothwell | 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.
| Thursdays, Sept 22 - Nov 17 | 5-8 pm | $425 | $500 | $70 Materials Fee | Register Now |
| Painting New England Architecture in Watercolor | Painting / Online | Beginning / Continuing | Robert O'Brien | Learn to paint the unique beauty of historic New England architecture in this fun and creative two day watercolor workshop. Students will learn elements of composition and perspective as it relates to the subject, as well as painting texture and natural materials, and how to render the unique beauty of light and shadow in a realistic manner. The class will begin with a demonstration by the instructor on the first day., followed by painting on the second. A critique and class discussion will be held at the end of the session. This workshop is open to all levels of painting ability.This workshop meets online via Zoom.
| Thurs & Fri, Sept 22-23 | 10 am-1 pm | $102 | $120 | Click Here for a Materials List | Register Now |
| Introduction to Oil Painting | Painting / In-Person | Beginning | Harrison Halaska | This class focuses on learning about oil painting by painting still lifes. 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.
| Fridays, Sept 23-Nov 11 | 6-8:30 pm | $340 | $400 | Click Here for a Materials List | Register Now |
| Hand-building with Clay | Clay / In-person | Beginning/Continuing | Karin Rothwell | 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.
| Fridays, Sept 30 - Nov 4 | 10 am-1 pm | $280.50 | $330 | $70 Materials Fee | Register Now |