Why do people take art classes?

Art classes provide several things and most people don’t realize it. Besides learning how to look and observe, you also learn how to make a 3D object look 3D on a 2 dimensional plane. But besides learning to draw, paint, sketch, mold, form, or sculpt. You also learn to use your creative side, studies have shown that people of other trades that create art outside of their normal 9-5 job, solve problems faster, are more engaging, and can see solutions from another angle.   

Art classes allow you to meet and create with others also interested in art and learning the ability to create. Art classes also allow us to bring the inner child out. Remember when you were a kid and mom would let you draw with crayons, color or best yet finger-paint, well you can do this in an art class.

 We have several to choose from.

Mondays we have a Adult Multi Media class that runs for 10 weeks and starts at 7 p.m. If you are not sure what medium you are interested in? This class is for you. Working in different mediums, which may include pen and ink, printmaking, watercolor, collage, fabric arts and sculpture, you will create original works of art.

On Tuesday evenings we offer two classes. The first is Watercolor and here you will learn color theory and composition basics. Utilizing a variety of subject matter, including your own photos, still life and your imagination, experiment with various painting techniques.  We are also offering a NEW class titled Sculpture in the class we offer an introductory course to multimedia sculpture and will start with individual projects and ends with collaborative pieces using found objects. No previous experience required. This class will also run for 10 weeks and starts at 7 p.m.

But, if you can’t make any of these we have Thursday. On Thursday we will offer an 8 week session on Ceramics. Introduction into “hand building”: pinch, coil and slab methods. Explore new techniques with both red clay which is native to our area and white clay. Open studio for advanced students. Basic potter’s wheel available for experienced students. All levels welcome. Again the class starts at 7 p.m.

We will also offer two NEW different work shops that will run for 5 weeks each. These too are scheduled for Thursday evenings. The first 5 week workshop  is titled Figure Drawing. In this workshop you will draw a professional model, step by step with an instructor. The first class: artistic anatomy, techniques & supplies. Begin a portfolio. All levels welcome.

When the first 5 weeks are over we also offer a second workshop titled Graphic Novel/Journaling. Topics include sketchbooks, journals, sequential drawing, exotic papers, wet/dry color mediums, pens, photos, collage, paste up, calligraphy & typography. All levels welcome. During the workshop you will Illuminate a book.

We also offer children classes on Saturdays for Multi Media, Drawing,  Cartooning, and Oil/Acrylic Painting. The Multi Media class is an introduction to making art using various mediums and techniques that include paints, printmaking, pastels, markers, clay and more. This class is broken into two , one and a half hour sessions, one at 9 and the other at 11 students from grades K to 6 can attend.

We also have two drawing classes available on Saturdays the first session is for those beginning to draw and is geared for grades 2- 5 the class for this group on the Registration is called Drawing. Students will explore basic drawing skills to experience self expression! In this class we will draw with assorted mediums and learn to draw “what you see” in nature. This class will start at 9 a.m. and will be an hour and a half for 8 weeks. Then for those in grades 6 & up we have Drawing for Kids. This class is designed for the motivated art student. Basic as well as advanced skills will be explored using assorted mediums to inspire complete works of art. This class will start at 11 a.m. and finish at 12:30p.m.

For those students interested in Cartooning we have a class titled, Cartooning for Kids. In this class we will explore about penciling, inking, materials, Manga & American character design, action poses, storytelling, drawing & making comics. This class will run for 8 weeks and is available for students ages 6 – 18. The class starts at 9 a.m. and finishes at 10:30 a.m.

Finally for Saturday we have an Oil/Acrylics Painting classes available for ages 10 to Adult. Beginning and skilled artists will learn basic oil painting techniques, color theory, composition and rules of perspective. This class runs for 10 weeks and starts at 11 a.m. and finishes at 1 p.m.

Please visit http://www.northpenncep.org and look at Spring 2017 for a list of categories and choose Arts and Crafts for the evening classes or Just for Kids for the Saturday classes. Registration is going on this week and the Saturday classes start February 25th. If you have any questions please call us at 215-393-9110 or email at info@northpennarts.org.

Thank you.