Upcoming Classes
Tuned-In: The Soundtrack of Your Life
Tuned-In... where psychology meets the music you love. Discover what really happens when music crawls inside your head. Two wildly fun, life-changing days with very cool people and intriguing dialogue offer life-altering insights and deep music listening from Bach to Rock. Explore how six human behavior patterns (archetypes) –the victim, wanderer, warrior, caregiver, innocent, and magician–aim to run your life's show. Discover how to choose music to positively direct that show to the outcome you desire. Lunch, refreshments, and supplies are included. Adults
Summer Camps!
Join our exciting theatre and visual art camps perfect for all ages! Kids can dive into musical theatre, acting, dancing, drawing, painting, mixed-media, and more in our vibrant theatre and art camps. New mix and match options! Combine a half-day of theatre with a half-day of art for a full day of creativity and fun. Ages 5-18
La Foret – Art and Acting in the Forest
Enjoy an outstanding arts education with instructors from the Fine Art Center’s Bemis School of Art set in the lush forest at the 400-acre La Foret Conference and Retreat Center. Stretch your imagination! Experience a variety of artistic styles and techniques, including painting, printmaking, and mixed-media art while exploring elements of composition and design. Cultivate your acting skills, voice, movement, and characterization with theatre games, mime, and improvisation. Art and acting will come together on Fridays with a special showcase performance and art exhibit for friends and family. Ages 6-11
Monday-Friday @ 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
June 9-June 13 ($390/$410)
Instructor: Bemis Instructors
Monday-Friday @ 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
June 16-June 20 ($390/$410)
Instructor: Bemis Instructors
Monday-Friday @ 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
June 23-June 27 ($390/$410)
Instructor: Bemis Instructors
Monday-Friday @ 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
July 7-July 11 ($390/$410)
Instructor: Bemis Instructors
Monday-Friday @ 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
July 14-July 18 ($390/$410)
Instructor: Bemis Instructors
Monday-Friday @ 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
July 21-July 25 ($390/$410)
Instructor: Bemis Instructors
Kids Clay Camp
Get ready to shape your imagination at Clay Camp! This hands-on camp is perfect for young artists eager to explore the world of clay and ceramics. Over the week, you will learn handbuilding techniques to create unique sculptures, functional pieces, and imaginative artworks. At Clay Camp, you will build confidence, develop new skills, and have fun while making lasting friendships. Join us for a week of creativity, exploration, and the joy of working with clay! Ages 9-12
Clay Camp
Dive into the art of ceramics! This immersive camp is designed for teens eager to explore the world of clay and unleash their creativity. You will learn a variety of handbuilding techniques to create unique sculptures, functional pieces, and artistic expressions. Enhance your skills, build confidence, and connect with fellow young artists in a supportive environment. Join us for a class of creativity, exploration, and the transformative power of working with clay! Ages 12-16
Drips, Drops, and Strokes of Color
Dive into new ways of blending and applying color to your fabulous collages. Learn how to layer colorants, achieve visual texture with paints, pastels, spray inks, and more. Blend and resurface magazine sheets, metallic tissue paper and create your own designs papers. Adults
How to Draw a Dragon Eye
Have you ever wanted to draw a realistic dragon eye? Learn to bring a dragon eye to life using colored pencils and your imagination! We will begin by exploring the process of sketching a plan, understanding the value scale, and learning the proper techniques for using colored pencils effectively. No prior skills are required—just your enthusiasm and creativity! By the end of the class, you will have a solid foundation in demonstrating value in your colored pencil drawings, empowering you to create stunning lifelike artwork. Join us for a fun and inspiring experience as you unleash your artistic potential! Ages 9-12
Live Model Portrait Drawing
This workshop will allow you to practice the traditional method of portrait drawing in charcoal with a live model! The first day we will focus on the line drawing and achieving the correct proportions of the model. The second day will focus on adding shadow and value to render our portraits lifelike. Leave this class with some new skills or sharpen your existing skills for a great weekend of portraiture! Ages 16-Adult
Sense of Place: Painting the Garden
Join us for these two classes where you will get an introduction to acrylic painting and learn how to sketch and compose a painting of our own local Garden of the Gods. You will learn how to block in shapes, and mix colors. Together we will explore creative ways to approach acrylic painting that will inspire and give you the freedom to create your own unique landscape paintings going forward! Ages 16-Adult
Simplifying Figures in Watercolor
Bring your watercolor paintings to life by incorporating a figure or figures. The properly placed figure can suggest movement and action. Lose the fear and learn techniques to create simple shapes quickly and convincingly. The pressure is off. The creativity is on. There will be a 30-minute lunch break, so please bring food and drink. Ages 16-Adult
How to Draw Your Eye
Have you ever wondered how to draw a more detailed eye? You try and, without fail, it looks like a cartoon eye? In this one-day class, you will learn, step by step, how to draw your own eyes and find the common shapes that are within your eyes. Through this class you will gain basic knowledge of how to draw all eyes, starting with your own! Ages 12-16
Springtime Splendor Acrylic Painting
The beautiful flowers...The smell of fresh rain...Yes! Springtime is here! Join us to bring the springtime colors to life with an exciting acrylic painting class. We will practice many techniques and skills such as how to apply proportion, value, texture, color, and much more. Ages 6-9
Faceting Pottery
In this course, you’ll refine your pottery skills and dive into exciting new techniques like faceting. Faceting transforms the surface of your pottery by carving it into striking, geometric shapes—adding bold texture and dimension. You’ll also sharpen your throwing skills as we explore these creative methods to craft unique, eye-catching forms. Ages 16-Adult
Mini Fresco Paintings
Join us for an exploration of painting with tempera paint on a plaster surface, the way the old masters did in the early centuries, but on a smaller scale. You will be provided with the knowledge, tools, and materials to make several or more projects using joint compound, Styrofoam, and tempera paint to produce bright, vibrant pieces. Together we will explore creative ideas to inspire you to create your own works of art that will be treasured for a lifetime. Ages 12-16
Still Life Oil Painting
Join us as we develop skills and begin painting in oils with confidence! No matter if you are a beginner or ready to freshen up your painting skills. Using a minimal color pallet, you will learn how to approach painting a still life set up in a clear logical progression. Ages 16-Adult
Partners in Art: Let’s Make a Flower
Have you ever wanted to learn how to make felted creations? Well, look no further! In this one-day felting class we will create simple flowers together as we welcome spring! By the end of this class you will have developed new skills of felting in one day! Ages 9-12 with participating adult
The Vignette in Watercolor
The vignette style is when a painting gently shades off gradually at the edge, leaving two or more sides of your painting white. This charming ornamental design incorporates the white of your paper with the watercolor. Learn what subjects work best and create some intrigue and magic. There will be a 30-minute lunch break, so please bring food and drink. Ages 16-Adult
Let’s Make a Flower
Have you ever wanted to learn how to make felted creations? Well, look no further! In this one-day felting class, we will create simple flowers together as we welcome spring! After this class is over, you will have developed new skills of felting in one day! Adults
Sunday @ 9-11 a.m.
April 27 ($51/$66)
Instructor: Melissa Darress
Member Moments: Acrylic Animal Portraits
Join us for an introduction to learning how to paint your favorite animals or pets, and/or imaginary creatures using acrylic paints. This BRAND-NEW series of workshops designed exclusively for our members to experience all the Fine Arts Center has to offer! Member Moments art classes allow our members to get a taste of various art media before diving into a full art class at Bemis School of Art. Whether you’re a beginner or have some experience, we invite you to discover new skills, express your creativity, and connect with fellow art enthusiasts. Ages 9-Adult
Beginning Wheel Throwing
Have you always wanted to learn the ancient art of throwing on the potter’s wheel? Embark on a journey into the captivating world of wheel throwing, where you’ll develop fundamental skills in clay handling and pottery creation. From your very first pull of clay to crafting your own unique pieces, you will learn the essential techniques to create beautiful mugs, bowls, and vases. We will also delve into a variety of glazing techniques that will elevate your creations. Discover how to apply glazes creatively to enhance the colors, textures, and finishes of your pottery, making each piece truly one-of-a-kind. Ages 16-Adult
Partner Wheel Throwing
Join a friend or loved one for a unique night of creative excitement in this exciting workshop. You and your partner will learn the basics of wheel-throwing on a pottery wheel through this hands-on, guided experience that covers the steps of preparing, centering, and throwing your very own clay vessel to cherish for years to come. Your handmade creations will be clear-glazed and fired for you to pick up about two weeks after your workshop. Adults
Intermediate Teen Wheel Throwing
Welcome back to clay! Get ready to unleash your creativity as we dive back into the wonderful world of clay! Learn the techniques and hacks for repeating shapes to make sets and much more . In addition, we will explore exciting new glazing techniques, including wax masking, which allows for stunning layered effects and intricate designs. You will also discover how to use oxides to enhance your projects, adding depth and richness to your glazes. This is a fantastic opportunity to experiment and push the boundaries of your ceramic work. Ages 12-16
Introduction to Painting
Learn how to mix colors. You will study basic color theory, value, temperature, and key. If you are ready to apply color in your art, then this class will give you the tools to do so. We will use gouache as our medium to keep it easy and minimize cost. Adults
Sculpting with Clay
Have you always wanted to build a sculpture but just aren’t sure where to start? Start here! Build an animal, small bust, or even an abstract expression from your imagination in this handbuilding class. Learn to form with a combination of techniques, what it means to hollow out, different approaches to the ceramic surface, and more as you are guided through the process of clay. Adults
Black and White Darkroom
Join us in the darkroom to explore silver-process black and white film photography. You will learn how to develop film and create handcrafted gelatin-silver prints from your negatives. You will explore the many creative options, from camerawork to finished print, while developing an enhanced understanding of exposure, depth of field, lighting, and composition. Ages 16-Adult
Beginning Wheel Throwing
Explore the fundamentals of making pottery in this perfect introduction to the medium. Centering, throwing, trimming, and glazing will be the core focus, with an emphasis on learning how to create fundamental forms: bowls and cylinders. You will also explore additional techniques such as making mug handles. Ages 16-Adult
In-Person: Military Artistic Healing
There are many benefits to using art to express emotions — art can offer a healthy outlet and an alternate way to communicate something that one cannot always put into words, providing a safe containment for emotions that are expressed. Reflecting on art allows for healing and connection. Increase personal management of life stressors by practicing artistic exercises outside of class to help with trauma. Together, we will practice for progress, healing, connection, retreat, creativity, confidence, clarity, and calm. This class includes visits to the Fine Arts Center Museum. Adults
Let The Clay Speak
Do you want to learn how to work better with clay or develop more advanced techniques? Then, this is the class for you! This course is open to intermediate and advanced level students. You will learn new techniques to create more advanced forms. You will also have the chance to pursue hand building, sculptural work, and/or a combination of these methods. Ages 16-Adult
Make It Happen
Do you want to learn how to work better with clay or develop more advanced techniques? Then, this is the class for you! This course is open to intermediate and advanced level students. You will learn new techniques to create more advanced forms. You will also have the chance to pursue hand building, sculptural work, and/or a combination of these methods. Ages 16-Adult
Beyond the Secret Garden
An art journal bound in class together will be used to create pages of mixed media art. Inspired by the garden, techniques we will explore include photo image transfer, magnified flower painting in the style of Georgia O'Keeffe, abstract interpretation of florals, painted rice papers for collage, and stenciled fabric with stitching embellishments. Designed to encourage discovery of your personal style and creative expression, this class is all about playing with mixed media. Ages 16-Adult
Military Artistic Healing: Ceramics
This ceramics class will allow you to have an arts enrichment experience and unleash your inner creativity. You will learn the handbuilding techniques of pinch pot, coiling, and slab building to successfully create forms of your choosing. You will also explore how to add exterior texture on your pots as you create them. Additionally, you will learn glazing techniques and finally, have the opportunity to try throwing a pot on the potter's wheel if you like. Supplies will be provided. Adults
Personalized Pottery
Make your mark! Join us to make your own handbuilt dishes. We will use letter stamps and texture tools to create one-of-a-kind personalized pottery. Colorful glazes will be used to enhance your pottery. Ages 9-12
Upside Down Boxes
If you can throw a simple thick cylinder, then you are ready! Throw the box upside down, spring-cut the thick bottom and then flip it on a slab, carve, stamp, or attach textures and then cut the lid off. Glazing for textured surfaces will be taught. Ages 16-Adult