Have you ever wished you could draw but didn't know where to begin? Perhaps you even feel intimidated by the idea of taking a drawing class because you don't believe you have "talent" or don't already know how to draw. Drawing is a skill that can be taught and learned and it's never too late to learn. ActonArt's Drawing for Adult Beginners course will introduce you to the concepts and visual perceptions that are the basic foundation of realistic / representational drawing in a relaxing, no-critique environment. Guided projects and exercises will cover the use of line (edges), tone (light and shadow), spaces (negative and positive), and relationships (perspective, proportion, etc.) A variety of mediums may be used, including graphite, charcoal, marker, soft pastel or colored pencil. No experience is necessary or expected. All high quality materials are included in the course fee. Plus this class will have nine meeting dates, but we’re only charging for eight!

Portrait Drawing for Pets is a new, fun class designed for anyone who wants to learn how to create portrait-like drawings of animals and pets.

We will begin with graphite drawings for the first classes and then move on to charcoal and colored pencil. We’ll focus on animal facial proportions, how to render fur, create realistic eyes and noses, etc.

Students will need to provide their own supplies for this class.

LEARNING TO PAINT WITH OILS is far easier than you might think and incredibly satisfying. This full trimester introductory class is designed for teens and adults. The class will be presented by Julie Ripley, a superb professional oil painter and also a regular drawing instructor at ActonArt. Julie has an MFA from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design and is frequently featured in galleries throughout New England. Julie is also a John Peto National Trompe L’oeil competition award winner.

THESE CLASSES WILL PRESENT A SERIES OF PROJECTS, most of them multi-week, designed to teach and guide students through basic processes that are common to many oil paintings. Students will typically be able to choose their own subject matter but reference materials will always be available to assist them if needed.  We recommend that students have some drawing ability however since we will be making simple underdrawings that our paintings will be developed upon.

It’s easy to see why so many people equate oil painting with “fine art.” So many of the master artists we commonly think of worked primarily in oil paint and the iconic masterworks of centuries past tend to be paintings done in oils. It doesn’t take an art conservator to understand why oils have claimed the mantle of popularity among artists. They are remarkably versatile to work with providing artists a broad range of creative options on the canvas. The pigments mix cleanly providing rich colors with clarity and depth. Once cured the medium is stable and capable of enduring many hundreds of years without severe aging effects. The surface can even be cleaned to remove airborne grime and contaminants.

If you have ever found yourself attracted to the idea of learning to paint with oils this is a perfect opportunity. The price is right, the instructor is top notch and the curriculum is serious but completely approachable for beginners. We hope you'll join us!