Adult Fine Art Classes
Explore and develop your art skills in our oil and acrylic painting, watercolor, plein air, drawing, sculpture, textile, mixed media, print making, photography and digital media classes. Adult art classes and workshops are available to students 16 years and older with the exception of Life Drawing (18 and up). Some art classes have a materials list (see description). Click on the link to download file.
HYS Class Updates: Register for notifications about class registrations, rescheduling, parking and other relevant information for students attending, or who would like to attend, Chester Springs Studio. Register
Spring Semester
Open Sculpture with George McMonigle
Monday
Skill Level: All Levels
Class Capacity: 8 students
Instructor: George McMonigle
Length: 6 weeks
Mondays, Apr. 29 – Jun. 10, 2024 (No class on Memorial Day)
Time: 6:30pm – 9:30pm
Location: Chester Springs Studio, Fine Art Studio
Tuition: $194 Member, $216 Non-member
Whether you are a beginner or an experienced sculptor, you will expand your sculpting potential in this hands-on workshop led by the renowned George McMonigle, former head of sculpture for the Franklin Mint. Working with water-based modeling clay, bring your artistic ideas to life. Whether it's birds, animals, portraits, or even a relief or plaque, join us to relish the process of sculpting while gaining skills applicable to your future masterpieces – bring your creativity to the first class and let's shape your artistic journey together! Enroll now for a sculpting experience like no other!
Material List:
- Water-based modeling clay can be purchased at the first class ($25 for a 25 lb. bag of stoneware or terra cotta)
- Wood Base and aluminum armature wire
- Clay modeling tools sets of wood or metal and wire hoops and scrappers
Intro to Pastel
Tuesday
Skill Level: All levels
Class Capacity: 8 students
Instructor: Louise Dusinberre
Length: 4 weeks
Date: Tuesdays, May 7 - May 28, 2024
Time: 9:30am - 12:00pm
Location: Chester Springs Studio, Fine Art Studio
Tuition: $144 Member, $160 Non-member
Join a 4-week pastel exploration, starting in the studio with still life drawing to understand application, light, and value, we'll learn the fundamentals of this versatile material. Develop confidence in seeing, interpreting, and recording, while capturing the play of light surface, and blending. Sharpen skills in composition, shape, value, color, edges, and mark making. Benefit from weekly demonstrations and personalized attention, ensuring a fulfilling and artistic journey.
Beginning Oil Painting
Tuesday
Skill Level: Beginner
Class Capacity: 8 students
Instructor: Martin Pieczonka
Length: 10 weeks
Tuesdays, Mar. 19 – May 21, 2024
Time: 6:30 - 9:30pm
Location: Chester Springs Studio, Fine Art Studio
Tuition: $317 Member, $353 Non-member
Unlock the world of oil painting in a welcoming class designed for beginners like you! Dive into the basics with small weekly paintings from fresh still lifes, gaining valuable insights into paint behavior, palette preparation, color mixing, and brushwork. Achieve impressive results using basic materials while painting uncluttered still lifes featuring fruits or vegetables – no intimidation, just creativity! Enroll now to explore the art of oil painting and discover the artist in you! A basic level of experience in drawing is needed.
Beginning Drawing
Wednesday
Skill Level: Beginner
Class Capacity: 8 students
Instructor: Martin Pieczonka
Length: 10 weeks
Wednesdays, Mar. 20 – May 22, 2024
Time: 9:30am - 12:30pm
Location: Chester Springs Studio, Fine Art Studio
Tuition: $317 Member, $353 Non-member
Draw what you see by learning to see what you draw. Learn visual techniques that make drawing rewarding and fun. Discover ways to draw by establishing the underling structure from a variety of still life objects. Focus on drawing a new, uncluttered still life each week using graphite, charcoal, or the drawing material of your choice. Get individual encouragement and support as you progress at your own pace, with instructor demonstrations to guide you through techniques and materials. A materials list is provided.
Landscape Painting en Plein Air
Thursday
Skill Level: All levels
Limit: 8 students
Instructor: Martin Pieczonka
Length: 10 weeks
Thursdays, Mar. 21 – May 23, 2024
Time: 9:30am – 12:30pm
Location: Chester Springs Studio, Fine Art Studio
Tuition: $317 Member, $353 Non-member
Enjoy the beauty of spring in the vicinity of Chester Springs as we explore and express the landscape in oil paint. In this class, learn visual skills to compose a strong composition to create space and mix colors. Sky, clouds and atmosphere and their effect on the landscape will be the core of the class. Drawing with the brush will be emphasized to develop brushwork techniques and skills. Demonstrations will be conducted in simplifying and blocking in the painting with bold brush strokes and color mixing. A materials list is provided.
Life Drawing, Painting and Sculpture
Thursday
Level: All levels
Limit: 8 students
Class Monitor: Martin Pieczonka
Thursdays, Mar. 21 – May 23, 2024
Time: 6:45 – 9:45pm
Location: Chester Springs Studio, Fine Art Studio
Tuition:
10-week card: $144 Member, $160 Non-member
5-week card: $99 Member, $110 Non-member
This class presents the opportunity to draw, paint or sculpt from the human figure without formal instruction. Students may pre-register for a 5 or 10-week class card. Cards are good for one year from date of purchase. They may be used during any semester until the expiration date. Drop-ins are welcome at $22 member and $25 non-member per class and must pay the monitor at the beginning of each class.
Summer Semester
Drawing and Painting Basics
Monday
Age Level: Adult
Skill Level: All Levels
Class Capacity: 8 students
Instructor: Rhona Candeloro
Length: 8 weeks
Wednesdays, June 10 – July 29, 2024
Time: 10:00am - 1:00pm
Location: Chester Springs Studio, Fine Art Studio
Tuition: $254 Member, $282 Non-member
Welcome to the learning opportunity where you'll start with simple drawing lessons and transition to painting with oils or acrylics when you're ready. Whether you choose from provided still life setups, bring your own objects, or work from photos using a tablet, you'll explore traditional techniques, studying how light defines shape and color, allowing form to emerge. No prior experience is required, and you'll progress at your own pace – seize this opportunity to unleash your creativity! Enroll now and let the artistic journey begin!
Expressionistic and Abstract Painting
Tuesday
Skill Level: All Levels
Class Capacity: 8 students
Instructor: EO Omwake
Length: 8 weeks
Tuesdays, June 11 – July 30, 2024
Time: 12:30pm – 3:30pm
Location: Chester Springs Studio, Fine Art Studio
Tuition: $254 Member, $282 Non-member
Unlock the secrets of abstract and expressionistic painting with EO Omwake's tailored classes, designed to cater to each student's unique preferences. Dive into the essence of creativity, regardless of your painting experience, and learn foundational and advanced skills in the historic Chester Springs Fine Art Studio. Join a community of artists of all levels, working together to explore the nuts and bolts of painting, receiving personalized guidance from EO Omwake, and culminating in a valuable end-of-class critique. Elevate your artistry and enrich lives through your creations – take the plunge and enroll now to unleash your creative potential!
Beginning Oil Painting
Tuesday
Skill Level: Beginner
Class Capacity: 8 students
Instructor: Martin Pieczonka
Length: 10 weeks
Tuesdays, June 11 – August 13, 2024
Time: 6:30 - 9:30pm
Location: Chester Springs Studio, Fine Art Studio
Tuition: $317 Member, $353 Non-member
Unlock the world of oil painting in a welcoming class designed for beginners like you! Dive into the basics with small weekly paintings from fresh still lifes, gaining valuable insights into paint behavior, palette preparation, color mixing, and brushwork. Achieve impressive results using basic materials while painting uncluttered still lifes featuring fruits or vegetables – no intimidation, just creativity! Enroll now to explore the art of oil painting and discover the artist in you! A basic level of experience in drawing is needed.
Beginning Drawing
Wednesday
Skill Level: Beginner
Class Capacity: 8 students
Instructor: Martin Pieczonka
Length: 10 weeks
Wednesdays, June 12 – August 14, 2024
Time: 9:30am - 12:30pm
Location: Chester Springs Studio, Fine Art Studio
Tuition: $317 Member, $353 Non-member
Draw what you see by learning to see what you draw. Learn visual techniques that make drawing rewarding and fun. Discover ways to draw by establishing the underling structure from a variety of still life objects. Focus on drawing a new, uncluttered still life each week using graphite, charcoal, or the drawing material of your choice. Get individual encouragement and support as you progress at your own pace, with instructor demonstrations to guide you through techniques and materials. A materials list is provided.
Drawing and Painting Basics
Wednesday
Age Level: 16+ years
Skill Level: All Levels
Class Capacity: 8 students
Instructor: Rhona Candeloro
Length: 8 weeks
Wednesdays, June 12 – July 31, 2024
Time: 6:30 - 9:00pm
Location: Chester Springs Studio, Fine Art Studio
Tuition: $212 Member, $235 Non-member
Welcome to the learning opportunity where you'll start with simple drawing lessons and transition to painting with oils or acrylics when you're ready. Whether you choose from provided still life setups, bring your own objects, or work from photos using a tablet, you'll explore traditional techniques, studying how light defines shape and color, allowing form to emerge. No prior experience is required, and you'll progress at your own pace – seize this opportunity to unleash your creativity! Enroll now and let the artistic journey begin!
Landscape Painting en Plein Air
Thursday
Skill Level: Beginner
Limit: 8 students
Instructor: Martin Pieczonka
Length: 10 weeks
Thursdays, June 13 – August 22, 2024
Time: 9:30am – 12:30pm
Location: Chester Springs Studio, Fine Art Studio
Tuition: $317 Member, $353 Non-member
Enjoy the beauty of summer in the vicinity of Chester Springs as we explore and express the landscape in oil paint. In this class, learn visual skills to compose a strong composition to create space and mix colors. Sky, clouds and atmosphere and their effect on the landscape will be the core of the class. Drawing with the brush will be emphasized to develop brushwork techniques and skills. Demonstrations will be conducted in simplifying and blocking in the painting with bold brush strokes and color mixing. A materials list is provided. No class July 4th.
Calligraphy: The Copperplate Alphabet
Thursday
Level: All levels
Limit: 10 students
Instructor: Kathy Hughes
Length: 5 weeks
Thursdays, June 13 – July 18, 2024
Time: 1:30 – 3:30pm
Location: Chester Springs Studio, Fine Art Studio
Tuition: $100 Member, $120 Non-member
Materials Fee: $30 (payable to instructor on first day of class) includes all supplies for workshop
When lettering in copperplate calligraphy, your pen dances on your paper, flowing and curving, flexing and flourishing, and tailing. In my many years of working as a calligrapher, this has been the most enjoyable style to do. While it's the closest style to handwriting, dip pen performs in a way that could never be achieved by the best fountain pens. Uses include greeting cards, envelopes, place cards, wedding invitations, quotations, notes, letters and poetry. This five-week class will cover the upper- and lower-case alphabets of the classic copperplate style. All supplies are provided by the instructor (pay $30 materials fee to instructor at the workshop). Beginners and people who are new to this alphabet are welcome. Many students find the act of calligraphy relaxing and meditative. In this workshop you will: Review the entire Copperplate alphabet, Learn about materials and tools used in calligraphy, View instructor demonstrations, Learn how to hold your pen and paper, Receive instruction sheet for the alphabet. No class July 4th.
Life Drawing, Painting and Sculpture
Thursday
Level: All levels
Limit: 8 students
Class Monitor: Martin Pieczonka
Thursdays, June 13 – August 8, 2024
Time: 6:45 – 9:45pm
Location: Chester Springs Studio, Fine Art Studio
Tuition:
10-week card: $144 Member, $160 Non-member
5-week card: $99 Member, $110 Non-member
This class presents the opportunity to draw, paint or sculpt from the human figure without formal instruction. Students may pre-register for a 5 or 10-week class card. Cards are good for one year from date of purchase. They may be used during any semester until the expiration date. Drop-ins are welcome at $22 member and $25 non-member per class and must pay the monitor at the beginning of each class. No class July 4th.