Looking for something engaging for your kid to do while school is out? Have your child join us for Winter Workshop for Kids on Presidents Day! They will explore a variety of art-making methods and materials with their favorite Garrison Art Center teaching artists. Our in-person program for kindergarteners-5th graders will take place in our studios at Garrison Art Center. Please have your child bring lunch, a snack, a water bottle, and coats/clothes for going outside. Price includes all materials.

Signing up for both days? Use the code TWODAYS and receive $10 off!

We believe art should be accessible to all. Financial assistance is available for those that qualify.

Foundational Structure Across Painting Media

Of the many color choices available, how and why do watercolorists choose specific colors? How do painters understand color use without knowing pigment properties? How can students overcome common painting pitfalls when techniques are not clearly taught?

This course addresses the structural foundations that underpin watercolor painting: value, color relationships, and the behavior of light. Students learn to distinguish pigment characteristics, understand value hierarchies, and recognize how color temperature and transparency affect form and atmosphere. These principles apply across painting media, but are examined here through the particular demands of watercolor.

Instruction is systematic and cumulative, guiding students step by step through concepts that are often learned only through years of trial and error. Special emphasis is placed on values, light, color qualities, technique, and composition, while respecting the gradual development of each artist’s personal direction.

This course is designed for students who are serious about painting and wish to establish a strong, professional foundation. Students who believe they already know the basics but sense gaps in their understanding will find those gaps addressed clearly and thoroughly. Materials are not included; here is a suggested supply list.

This class is scheduled to be in our print studio, which is only accessible by stairs. 

Our class/workshop cancellation policy can be found here.

We believe art should be accessible to all. Financial assistance is available for those who qualify.

Have you ever wanted to learn how to knit? Or perhaps you've already made a basic hat or scarf and are ready to take on a new challenge, like learning how to cable, read a chart, or knit in the round? This class caters to all skill levels and goals! Think of this class like a group independent study focusing in knitting. Learn a cozy skill, embrace the hygge hype, and make something cool with others doing the same. We will provide some needles and yarn for folks to use while practicing new skills. Students will be responsible for bringing their own materials for individual projects. This class is for adults and teens of all skill levels.

Our class/workshop cancellation policy can be found here.

We believe art should be accessible to all. Financial assistance is available for those who qualify.

Creative after-school class inspired by artist and engineer Alexander Calder. Using wire, string, found objects, and accents, young artists can explore sculpture, including toy design. Kids get creative with activities grounded in repurposing, imagination, art, and FUN!

Our class/workshop cancellation policy can be found here.

We believe art should be accessible to all. Financial assistance is available for those who qualify.

In this five part workshop, participants will make hand-spun yarn from fleece to fiber. It’s a great fit for complete beginners or fiber lovers of any kind - whether they are a knitter, weaver or even farmer. In any craft, it's important to know the origins of the material you’re working with, and this workshop is the perfect opportunity to form a greater understand of the way wool and other fibers work. It’s hands-on, meditative, and a way to engage with local ecosystems and fiber suppliers. 

On the first day, we will prepare a raw fleece from a nearby farm. Through skirting, separating and scouring, we will end up with a clean fleece no longer covered in dirt and lanolin. Participants will learn about the characteristics of wool and other cellulose and protein fibers. 

On the second day, we will dye the fiber into vibrant colors using natural dyes. 

Then, the next day we process the clean fiber through carders and combs - transforming the fleece into top, roving, and rolags ready to be spun. 

On the fourth day, participants will transform their fiber into yarn by hand using a drop spindle, with a spinning wheel available if anyone feels ready for it. It’s a tricky craft that requires a lot of patience, but participants will leave with a great foundation and an excitement to continue spinning. Making your own yarn is so fulfilling and makes every knitted, woven, or crocheted textile even more personal. 

On the last day, participants will be introduced to different methods of making textiles with wool like wet felting, needle felting, and weaving. There will be free time to explore these techniques to create an artwork with our clean wool and yarn - a labor of love from start to finish.

Our class/workshop cancellation policy can be found here.

We believe art should be accessible to all. Financial assistance is available for those who qualify.

Have you begun to learn the basics of painting and are ready for more? Build on the skills you learned in Learning to Paint Again (or a similar experience) and take your painting to the next level. This class focuses on refining your technique, deepening your understanding of color theory, and experimenting with advanced brushwork and texture. You’ll work from life to improve composition, light, and shadow, while developing a more intuitive and personal approach to painting. Whether you're refining your skills or exploring new techniques, this class offers a supportive environment where you can push your boundaries while continuing to develop your skills and artistic voice. This class is for advanced beginners who are building their confidence and are interested in going beyond an absolute beginner-level class. 

All materials are included. The quality of water-based acrylic paint has improved greatly over the years, and we will be working with acrylic and a slow drying medium that increases paint flow. If you prefer to use oil paint, please email the instructor.

No class on January 31st

Our class/workshop cancellation policy can be found here.

We believe art should be accessible to all. Financial assistance is available for those who qualify.