Expressive Acrylics, Kerry Didday 2025-2026
Expressive Acrylics
Kerry Didday
Saturday: 9:30 – 12:00
Are you a beginning painter that has been playing but wishes to learn where to go next? Maybe you are an intermediate painter looking to expand and explore new avenues and directions. Or, an experienced artist looking to expand the portfolio, or create a mind-blowing series. That’s my role, to move each individual painter forward in their painting endeavors. I promote a creative environment where artists are inspired by each member of the class. We start each morning with a class review of current work as I critique and provide helpful comments. Our students have an open mind and look forward to new and exciting painting avenues. I hope you will join us. This is an ongoing weekly class with the development of individual skills over time. Sometimes there may be homework to help in the artistic growth and development. At times we may explore…. Mixed Media, Collage, Materials, Color Mixing, Brush Strokes, Acrylic Mediums, Gels and Pastes, Importance of Underpainting, Palette Knife vs Brushes, Lot to a Little Design Concepts.
S1: Sep 6, 13, (no Sep 20), 27, Oct 4, 11
S2: Oct 18., 25, Nov 1, 8, 15
S3: Nov 22, 29, Dec 6, 13, 20
S4: Jan 10, 17, 24, 31, Feb 7
$155 Member
$180 Future Member
Color Simplified-Mountains, Impressionism Style Book, Joanna Coke 2025-2026
Joanna Coke B-I
Tuesdays 1:00-3:30
For Acrylics, Oils and Pastels
Painting landscapes in the Impressionistic style is so rewarding because it is loose, colorful and fun to paint. Using the Smokey Mountains as the 1st class subject, your sample painting will incorporate various techniques in brush strokes, broken color and color theory. After that, you can apply what you’ve learned to your next painting from your landscape photo references.
S1: Mar 3, 10, 17, 24
$140 ACM Members
$165 Future Members
Simplified Acrylics, Really, Helen Solomon 2025-2026
Simplified Acrylics, Really. B-I
Helen Solomon
Thursdays: 1:00 – 4:00
This course is designed for beginners and those seeking to enhance their acrylic painting skills. Students will explore various techniques and styles unique to acrylics, covering topics such as canvas preparation, color mixing, composition, and paint application. The class will feature demonstrations, discussions, and personalized instruction, allowing students to develop their painting styles at their own pace. You can use your photographs or explore images from Unsplash.com and Pixabay.com for inspiration.
S1: 4 wk: Sep 4, 11, 18, 25
S2: 5 wk: Oct 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
S3: 4 wk: Nov 6, 13, 20 (no Nov 27), Dec 4
S4: 4 wk: Jan 8, 15, 22, 29
S5: 4 wk: Feb 5, 12, 19, 26
S6: 4 wk: Mar 5, 12, 19, 26
S7: 4 wk: Apr 2, 9, (no Apr 16), Apr 23, 30
4 wk: $137 HC Members
$162 Future Members
5 wk: $171 HC Members
$196 Future Members
Simplified Acrylics II, Helen Solomon 2025-2026
Simplified Acrylics II I-A
Helen Solomon
Thursdays: 9:00 – 12:00
Participants will delve into the details of preparing a canvas and learn how to transfer their references using their photographs or freely available online resources. This intermediate to advanced class comprehensively examines various acrylic techniques, aesthetic concepts, and mediums. Participants will enjoy three hours of dedicated studio time with fellow acrylic enthusiasts, fostering an environment rich in creativity and camaraderie among like-minded artists. Throughout the class, students will have the valuable opportunity to engage in constructive discussions about their artwork, provide critiques on their peers’ pieces, and benefit from the instructor’s demonstrations.
S1: 4 wk- Sep 4, 11, 18, 25
S2: 5 wk- Oct 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
S3: 4 wk- Nov 6, 13, 20, (no Nov 27), Dec 4
S4: 4 wk- Jan 8, 15, 19, 26
S5: 4 wk- Feb 12, 19, 26
S6: 4 wk- Mar 5, 12, 19, 26
S7: 4 wk: Apr 2, 9, (no Apr 16), 23, 30
4 wk: $137 Member
Future Member: $162
5 wk: $171 Member
Future Member: $196
Purely Pastels, Dawn Geradot 2025-2026
Purely Pastels B-A
Dawn Geradot
Tuesdays: 1:00 – 3:30
Using soft pastels, we will learn to layer colors to create depth, contrast and color distribution while creating balance and focus as well. Pastels are a very forgiving medium. We will be working on sanded U-ART, 400 or 500 grit.
See materials list for other needed supplies. No experience necessary. Come & enjoy!
S1: Nov 4, 11, 18
S2: Jan 6, 113, 20
S3: Feb 17, 24, Mar 3
Member: $115
Future Member: $139
Loosen Up the Landscape, Maggie Bosco 2025-2026
Loosen Up the Landscape B-A
Maggie Bosco
Thursdays: 9:30 – 12:00
Let’s break down the beautiful chaos of landscape painting into manageable, expressive steps. Whether you’re working in oils, acrylics, watercolors or pastels, this course is about building a strong foundation starting with thumbnail sketches and ending with a finished piece. We’ll start with the building blocks of compelling landscapes: composition, light, movement and atmosphere. Then we’ll learn from the masters through guided copies and finally bring your own reference photo to life on canvas. Perfect for painters ready to loosen up, trust their instincts, and breathe life into their landscapes.
S1: Nov 6, 13, 20, (no Nov 27), Dec 4
S2: Jan 8, 15, 22, 29
Member: $123
Future Member: $148
Passion of Soft Pastels, Helen Solomon 2025-2026
Passion of Soft Pastels B-I
Helen Solomon
Tuesdays: 1:00 – 4:00
Whether you’re new to soft pastels or looking to expand your existing skills, these lessons will enhance your painting experience. Pastels are sticks of pure powdered pigment combined with a binder, which determines the type of pastel (soft, semi-soft, hard, or pan pastels). The smoother the pastel, the higher the ratio of pigment to binder. In this class, you will build a solid foundation in the fundamentals while developing your unique style. You’ll master painting techniques that enable you to create stunning landscapes, portraits, and mixed-media applications. Pastels are an excellent medium for techniques such as composition, capturing light, and transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary.
S1: 5 wk: Sep 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
S2: 4 wk: Oct 7, 14, 21, 28
S3: 4 wk: Nov 4, 11, 18, 25
S4: 4 wk: Jan 6, 13, 20, 27
S5: 4 wk: Feb 3, 10, 17, 24
4 wk: Member: $135
Future Member: $ 160
5 wk: Member: $169
Future Member: $194
Greeting Cards with Alcohol Inks, Dawn Geradot 2025-2026
Greeting Cards with Alcohol Ink B-A
Dawn Geradot
Tuesdays: 1:00 – 3:30
Come & experience alcohol inks! We will make several greeting cards while showing you a variety of techniques. This is a class of happy accidents as well as happenings you could never imagine. Just bring a black FineLine SHARPIE and I’ll supply the rest for a class fee of $6.00. I promise you, it will be a blast!
S1: Oct 28
Member: $55
Future Member: $80
Acrylic Palette Knife, Dawn Geradot 2025-2026
Acrylic Palette Knife B-A
Dawn Geradot
Fridays: 1:00 – 3:30
This class covers basic techniques of palette knife application. Other steps along the way include different strokes for varied application, texturing and layering. Classes start with a critique period to help the student direct their focus for the day based on good design principles. This type of painting can create thick, interesting textures and patterns that are not possible with a brush. We watch for those “happy accidents” that create such excitement.
Come and learn something new each week. Check the material list!
S1: Sep 26, Oct 3, 10, 17
S2: Oct 24, 31, Nov 7, 14
S3: Dec 5, 12, 19, 26
S4: Jan 2, 9, 16, 23
S5: Feb 6, 12, 20, 27
S6: Mar 6, 13, 20, 27
Member $123
Future Member $148
Sensational Silks, Dawn Gerardot 2025-2026
Dawn Gerardot B-A
Wednesdays, 1:00-3:30
If you have never painted on silk before, you need to give it a try! The colors are so bright & bold and the process is addictive. The theme is of your choosing. I can help you with that. No previous experience necessary. Each session is 4 weeks long. To help with supply costs of the class, I offer a kit which includes everything you need to complete a 22×22 inch project. See class material for details.
S1: Sep 24, Oct 1, 8, 15, 22
S2: Nov 19, 26, Dec 3, 10, 17
S3: Jan 21, 28, Feb 4, 11, 18
S4: Mar 4, 11, 18, 25, Apr 1
$146 ACM Members
$171 Future Members
Note-able Art, Elise Manieri 2025-2026
Elise Manieri B-I
Wednesdays 1:00-3:30
Create handmade cards for family and friends for holidays or any other occasion to write a note! Using acrylics, watercolors, and mixed media materials, design one of a kind cards to insert in die cut window cards (students to purchase blank cards).
S1: Nov 5 & 12
$69 Members
$94 Future Members
Watercolor – Boats, Improving Composition, Joanna Coke 2025-2026
Watercolor
9:30-12:00
Compositions can make or break an image. How to improve your paintings from your photos is the focus of this class. You will learn to redesign a photo reference given in the 1st class. It is important to bring your sketch book for thumbnails and tracing paper. From your thumbnails, you will choose the redesign and then paint it. After that, you can apply what you’ve learned to your next painting from your marine photo references
S1: Jan 6, 13,20, 27
$140 ACM Members
$165 Future Members
Color Simplified – Barns – Impressionism Style, Joanna Coke 2025-2026
Joanna Coke B-A
Tuesdays 1:00-3:30
For Acrylics, Oils and Pastel
You will learn how to use short brush strokes of color to recreate the impressionistic style. Painting loosely and applying broken color is part of the techniques. We will use a barn image for a reference in our 1st class as a sample. After that, you can apply what you’ve learned to your next painting from your building/landscape photo references.
S1: Jan 6, 13, 20, 27
$140 Members
$165 Future Members
Study of Moving Water, Helen Solomon 2025-2026
Helen Solomon B-A
Tuesdays 1:00-4:00
To create a more dynamic and fluid representation of a running creek, waterfall, or crashing waves, it’s essential to incorporate a blend of soft and hard edges along the waters contours. Experiment by twisting or dragging your brush along the edges to mimic the natural flow of water. Vary your brush’s speed and direction, allowing it to glide or whip across the canvas surface to capture the lively movement of the water. This piece is a month-long acrylic study that explores the vibrant beauty of a cascading waterfall, a meandering river, and the rhythmic dance of the ocean.
S1: Mar 10, 17, 24, 31
$137 Member
$162 Future Members
Layers of Thought – Developing an Abstract Painting, Elise Manieri 2025-2026
Elise Maneri I
Wednesdays, 1:00-3:30
Using the principles taught in The Abstract Essentials, students will focus on building depth in their work through creative thinking, process and materials. A variety of art mediums will be used.
S1: Feb 4, 11, 18
$115 Members
$139 Future Members
Chaos & Composition-Creating Spontaneity and Structure in your Abstract Paintings, Elise Maneri 2025-2026
Elise Maneri I
Wednesdays, 1:00-3:30
Through experimentation with materials and art process discussed in The Abstract Essentials, students will learn how to bring more order to their abstract work. Harness your energy to create gestural movements, color and textural interest.
S1: Mar 4, 11, 18
$115 Members
$139 Future Members
Mixed Media Mayhem, Elise Manieri 2025-2026
Elise Manieri B-I
Wednesdays 1:00-3:30
Experiment with paint, collage, ink, found objects, and any other mixed media to create small (possibly giftable) art works. Explore fearless creativity!
S1: Dec 3, 10, 17
$115 ACM Members
$139 Future Members
The Abstract Essentials, Elise Manieri 2025-2026
Elise Manieri B-I
Wednesdays 1:00-3:30
Learn and practice the fundamentals of non-representational art through guided exercises and discussion. Explore tools and techniques to develop abstract art paintings.
S1: Jan 7, 14, 21, 28
$131 ACM Members
$156 Future Members

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