Sedona Arts Center — SIGN UP for an Art Class or Workshop!

ART CLASSES & WORKSHOPS
at Sedona Arts Center

Sedona is surrounded by a magical landscape of red rock formations and high desert hills with beautiful Oak Creek meandering through it all. Come experience the Shangri-La of the Southwest, a beautiful learning environment with Art Colony roots going back nearly 100 years!

Historical-Contemporary Mashup:
Reimagining Ancient Forms with a Modern Twist
with Ben Roti
January 17-February 21: Fridays, 9am–12pm In this unique hand-building class, students will explore the fascinating world of historical pottery by reimagining ancient forms and techniques through a contemporary lens. Students will choose an iconic historical pot or ceramic vessel and recreate it using modern materials and personal interpretation. This course blends traditional craftsmanship with innovative design, allowing students to learn from the past while creating something entirely their own.

Prerequisite: Completion of a beginner-level ceramics course.

HISTORICAL CONTEMPORARY MASHUP : LEARN MORE

iPhoneography Crash Course
LIVE in-person at Sedona Arts Center and ONLINE
with Kelli Klymenko
January 31: Friday, 9am–2pm Arizona TimeIn today’s technological world, even professional photographers and artists are recognizing the iPhone as a useful (and even practical) photographic tool. Join photographer artist, Kelli Klymenko in his one-day class for beginner and advanced students and you’ll go beyond the basics and learn to shoot professional quality photographs with your iPhone.

You will learn how to shoot, edit and share remarkable landscapes, portraits and the macro world around you using only your iPhone. Kelli will guide you through simple tips and tricks that will take your photography to the next level. Discover how to capture the essence of a place and your subjects rather than just taking a picture. You will also learn basic video and video editing techniques for use with apps such as Facebook, Instagram, Threads, BlueSky, etc.

Learn how to get the highest resolution images on your iPhone and apps
Practice creative techniques including HDR (High Dynamic Range)
Shoot panoramas
Learn about the latest editing, filters and stylizing apps
Learn about iPhone equipment: remotes, tripods and more
Learn how to use the hottest new tools on your iPhone

iPHONEOGRAPHY IN-PERSON with KELLI KLYMENKO : SIGN UP

This will be an In Person AND Online class, to join this class virtually, please visit:

iPhoneography ONLINE Class

ONLINE iPHONEOGRAPHY with KELLI KLYMENKO : SIGN UP

Introduction to Gouache
with Lili Anne Laurin
February 1–2: Saturday & Sunday, 9am–4pm This workshop will focus on enhancing the artists’ knowledge and landscape painting skills in gouache. Deepen your understanding of the medium, from its unique properties to essential tools including supports, brushes and mediums. We will explore key aspects of compositions and color strategies to harness the full potential of gouache. Instructor demos will help you grasp the techniques behind crafting vibrant engaging paintings. There will be plein air set-ups provided for hands on experimentation. Whether working from Sedona photo references or your own inspiration, you will receive personalized guidance to build confidence in using gouache outdoors or in your studio practice.

INTRODUCTION TO GOUACHE : LEARN MORE / SIGN UP

Gaining a Perspective: Sharpening Your Drawing Skillset ONLINE
with Jude Valentine
February 5–26, 2025
Wednesdays, 12–2pm AZ TimeLearn the ins and outs of how to draw convincing buildings, landscapes, interiors and round objects with the use of linear and empirical perspective. We’ll be understanding this drawing concept through demonstrations, hands on drawing exercises, individualized instruction and looking at examples of some of the accomplished Renaissance and modern masters. Learn how to use perspective to your advantage to make great drawings!

GAINING A PERSPECTIVE: SHARPENING YOUR DRAWING SKILLSET

Unleashing Your Creativity
with Patricia Saxton
February 7–28: Fridays, 1–3:30pm Unleash your creativity! Would you like to paint more, draw, or make collages? Would you like the art you already make to “loosen up”? Be more refined? More bold? Need how-to instruction? Inspiration? Permission to play? Enjoy a sense of community?

Whether a seasoned artist or a complete beginner, this course is designed to spark your creative juices in an environment that’s conducive for exploring and expanding your abilities. Bring your own fine art project, start fresh or follow instructor-led prompts for these once-weekly sessions filled with personalized guidance, inspiration, questions, answers and fun.

UNLEASHING YOUR CREATIVITY : LEARN MORE / SIGN UP

The Living Abstract: Using Happy Accidents ONLINE
with Julie Bernstein Engelmann
February 8–22: Saturdays, 11am–3pm The Living Abstract is a foundational workshop that helps you set your painting up for success and capture the living moment.

In three weekly sessions, discover ways to let the paint sing, navigate the mid-process “beautiful mess,” and bring your painting to fulfilled completion—without losing its life force and what makes it beautiful.

On Days 1 and 2, you’ll be guided step-by-step through a sequence of intuitive and “happy accident” techniques that build on each other to create a painting that is authentic, dynamic, and deep. Along the way, you’ll learn about color mixing and composition to enhance your painting.

On Day 3, see your painting through the eyes of depth and flow. This key approach cuts through confusion, so you can complete your painting and bring it to life in a harmonious and soul-satisfying way.

THE LIVING ABSTRACT: USING HAPPY ACCIDENTS : SIGN UP

Alternative Firing:
A Crash Course in Alternative Finishings
with CJ Henderson
February 9 & 16: Sundays, 10am-2pm & 9am-3pmJoin us to experience an introduction to the exciting world of alternative finishing techniques. This crash course workshop is great for a first time clay experience or for the experienced potter to explore a number of new finishes. We will be using non-traditional finishes such as Raku, Saggar, Obvara and horse hair to create beautiful surface results.

We will meet on two consecutive Sunday’s, the first, to create our pieces and the second to fire them.

ALTERNATIVE FIRING: A CRASH COURSE : LEARN MORE / SIGN UP

Introduction to Silver Clay
with Joan Roberts
February 12 – 13: Wednesday–Thursday, 9am-1pm Joan Roberts has been creating distinct wearable art pieces with metal clay for 2 decades. She will share techniques, methods and a few secrets to successful creation of jewelry pieces. Silver Clay is a mixture of microscopic particles of silver, distilled water and a non-toxic organic binder. When fired the silver sinters into a solid piece of “fine silver.” Participants do not need past experience in metal work or other clays to be very successful.

This class is divided into two mornings so pieces can be finished and loaded into a kiln at the end of the first day and finished and polished on the second. Participants will be provided with enough clay to create up to two pairs of earrings or a pendant.

INTRODUCTION TO SILVER CLAY : LEARN MORE / SIGN UP

Building Bold Landscapes in Soft Pastel
with Alison Crary
February 15 – 16: Saturday–Sunday, 10am-4pm Learn how to create bold and vibrant landscapes in soft pastel. This course will be broken into steps to simplify the process. Each step will include instructor demonstration with questions encouraged, followed by student practice, group discussion and individual feedback.

We will start by simplifying the scene into basic shapes and value masses to build a compelling composition from a provided reference photo. The next step will be to explore color relationships, both for the underpainting and the pastel layered over it. These steps will help students gain confidence to build their finished piece, with instruction regarding the painterly handling of pastels to build an impressionistic style landscape painting.

BUILDING BOLD LANDSCAPES IN SOFT PASTEL : SIGN UP

Creative Aging: Unwind, Create, Connect
with Michael Sjostedt
February 25: Tuesday, 10am-12pm (Ages 65+)Explore the joy of artistic expression and social connection in this engaging workshop designed for adults 65+. Create one-of-a-kind bookmarks, notecards, and small art pieces using vintage magazines and ephemera. Whether you’re crafting for yourself or creating gifts for others, this hands-on session promotes creativity, skill-building, and meaningful social engagement.

CREATIVE AGING: UNWIND, CREATE, CONNECT : LEARN MORE

Hands-On Hand Building
with Ben Roti
March 3-April 7: Mondays, 12-3pm Discover the possibilities of hand-building in this fun and creative class, suitable for both beginners and experienced ceramicists. You’ll learn a variety of hand-building techniques and explore your personal artistic vision in a welcoming, hands-on environment.

Class Highlights:

Flexible Learning: Open to all levels, with guidance to help beginners build confidence and experienced students expand their hand-building skills.

Personalized Attention: Small class sizes provide plenty of opportunities for individualized instruction and support.

HANDS-ON HAND BUILDING WITH BEN ROTI : LEARN MORE

Ceramics: Advanced*
with Ben Roti
March 3-April 7: Mondays, 4-7pm *Designed for experienced ceramicists, this class offers a supportive studio environment for you to explore advanced throwing and hand-building techniques while working on personal projects. (Beginners are welcome in Ben/Lolo/John’s Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday classes or in the Pottery Wheel for Beginners on Saturdays.)

What You’ll Experience:

Advanced Techniques: With guidance from Ben, dive into more complex forms like lidded vessels, plates, and bottle forms, focusing on refining techniques and adding expressive details.

Independent Project Work: This class emphasizes independent learning, allowing you to work on self-directed projects with instructor support as needed.

Enhanced Surface Design: Explore advanced surface decoration, glazing, and finishing techniques to bring your unique vision to life.

CERAMICS : ADVANCED, WITH BEN ROTI : LEARN MORE / SIGN UP

Drawing II: The Next Level
with Ed Buonvecchio
March 3-17: Mondays, 9am-4pm Drawing II: The Next Level begins where Drawing I: A Practical and Entertaining Artleaves off. If you are an absolute beginner, take Level I first, However I encourage artists with more skill to jump in and take this course. Drawing can be a useful and fun tool in your daily life taking you away from your stressful day and giving you a way to express ideas or memorialize experiences. Learning to draw and sketch can give you the skill to design something you want to make, start a painting or serve as a launchpad to exploring other forms of art or teaching others your learned drawing skills. In this three-week, day long ongoing studio class we will learn skills and tools needed to draw what you see or imagine.

We will be performing exercises in drawing to develop the necessary skills to make drawings that show confident strokes and to strive for confidence in your ability. We will draw still lifes, human figures (from photos), landscapes and delve deeper into linear perspective, value, line, shape and composition. We will practice the use of pencil, charcoal, ink pen and brush.

DRAWING II: THE NEXT LEVEL : LEARN MORE / SIGN UP

Ceramics Explorations: Wheel and Beyond
with Laura “Lolo” Aileen Howe
March 4-April 8: Tuesdays, 9am-12pm Explore the vast potential of ceramics in this six-week course, ideal for students looking to develop, strengthen, and advance their pottery skills in a playful environment. Working with the potter’s wheel, slab roller, extruder, texture tools, and more students will experiment with functional and decorative techniques, turning their creative ideas into tangible works of art.

All Skill Levels Welcome: Perfect for beginners looking to build a foundation or for experienced students seeking to refine their technique.

Included Materials: Tuition includes a 25-pound bag of clay, glazes, firings, and access to one open studio session per week.

CERAMICS EXPLORATIONS : TUESDAYS : MARCH 4 – APRIL 8

CERAMICS EXPLORATIONS : THURSDAYS : MARCH 6 – APRIL 10

Pastels: A Crash Course
with Nori Thorne
March 4: 10am-4pm Are you drawn to the beauty and versatility of pastel but don’t know where to start? This crash course is for you. We will have pastel demonstrations, exercises, and plenty of at-easel encouragement. Learn how to block in a design, underpaint using a wet wash, experiment with a variety of pastel surfaces and materials. With an emphasis on achieving correct values, colors, and shapes you will create an exciting floral still life and leave the workshop with skills to begin your pastel journey.

PASTELS: A CRASH COURSE : LEARN MORE / SIGN UP

Exploring Glazes
with John Post
March 5-April 9: Wednesdays, 5-8pm

Ready to deepen your understanding of glaze creation? Exploring Glazes is an advanced course that builds on foundational glaze-making skills, perfect for those who’ve completed Understanding Glazes and are eager to experiment further. You’ll refine your technical knowledge, troubleshoot common issues, and gain the skills to customize glazes to suit your unique artistic style. Unlock new surface qualities and learn to bring your vision to life with the science of glaze development.

*Prerequisite: Completion of Understanding Glazes

EXPLORING GLAZES: LEARN MORE / SIGN UP

Canyon Color for the Painter: A Plein Air Workshop
with Carol Douglas
March 10-14, 2025Transform your plein air painting skills in this unique week-long oil, acrylic, pastel and watercolor workshop. You’ll focus on color from every angle and apply advanced color concepts to your work. Color theory is not just a collection of good ideas; it’s the cornerstone of your toolbox. Using practical lessons and exercises, you’ll take what you’ve learned about color and use it to enhance your artistic vision.

Discover shortcuts to save you time and effort in the studio or field.
Learn how to lead with color and create a color strategy before you pick up a brush.
Choose the most effective color system for your purpose and master its application.

This painting class is open to all mediums. Basic painting experience is required.

CANYON COLOR FOR THE PAINTER: A PLEIN AIR WORKSHOP

You can also browse all our classes and workshops online:
Click here to see all of our classes and workshops

Scholarships Are Available!
See Our New Terms and Application

Scholarships are an important part of Sedona Arts Center. It has a long history in providing students in need of financial assistance, the ability to hone their skills and creative talents. Art classes and workshops also allow an emotional break from daily life and offer social interaction with fellow lovers of art. We are proud to offer our scholarship program, with the help of The Kling Family Foundation and the Debbie Winslow Scholarship Fund, which allow us to continue this long standing opportunity.

For more scholarship information, policy updates and to apply: CLICK HERE

Our mission is to connect, enrich, educate and lead through the inspiring power of the arts and creative discovery.

Sedona Arts Center is one of Northern Arizona’s most well-established cultural organizations and serves as the creative heart of Sedona. Founded in 1958, the nonprofit is based in Uptown Sedona and offers year-round classes, exhibitions, festivals, and cultural events that enhance the creative life of the Verde Valley.

SedonaArtsCenter.org

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