Sedona Arts Center — Sign up for these creative art classes today!

Not only is life abundant in our great Southwest Desert, but as an artist, I can see wonderful textures, nuances in color and the way light influences the way we see it in the morning and in the late afternoon!

Working from photo references, learn to capture the drama and beauty of our great Southwest. Find out how your brush strokes can create marvelous areas of interesting texture, along with experimenting with color and composition!

Previous drawing skills are a must!

In this class students will be encouraged to forget about the big picture and instead focus on capturing the little things that spark joy: a hot cup of tea steaming on a windowsill, a favorite locket or lipstick, an old stuffed animal that passed through generations of little hands. The things we hold so close in our hearts are so often taken for granted, so let’s take the time to honor them in paint! This studio class will delve into capturing light through color, framing and focus, and mastering the essential strokes when approaching a miniature still life.

Learn how to achieve harmony and continuity in your paintings by mixing color from a limited palette.  Have fun as we explore and discover how to use simple methods of mixing paint to gain confidence and a better understanding of how color works.  Get ready to apply what we learn to a still life, abstract, and landscape! Instructor demonstrations and individual attention provided.

Drawing II: The Next Level begins where Drawing I: A Practical and Entertaining Art leaves off. If you are an absolute beginner, take Drawing 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, serve as a launchpad to exploring other forms of art or teaching others your learned drawing skills. In this six-week 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 and landscapes and delve deeper into linear perspective, value, line, shape and composition. We will practice the use of pencil, charcoal, ink pen and brush.

Through demonstration and one-on-one instruction, students will learn to throw a variety of forms on the potter’s wheel or techniques to create hand-built works. Slab roller, extruder and forms are also available to create functional and decorative pieces. Class sessions are 6-weeks long and meet once/week.

Sedona Arts Center’s ceramics instructors are all highly skilled artists and experienced teachers!

Dennis Ott, Instructor and Head of the Ceramics Dept

Ceramics – Advanced
February 26–April 1 : Mondays from 4 to 7pm
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April 8–May 13 : Mondays from 4 to 7pm
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Ceramics – All Levels
April 9–May 14 : Tuesdays from 9am to 12pm 
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Ceramics – All Levels
April 10–May 15 : Wednesdays from 9am to 12pm
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Lolo Aileen – Instructor

Ceramics – All Levels
February 29–April 4 : Thursdays from 4 to 7pm
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Neil Kennedy – Instructor

Ceramics – Pottery Wheel for Beginners
March 2–April 6 : Saturdays from 9am to 12pm
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Ceramics – Hand Building
April 9–May 14 : Tuesdays from 1 to 4pm
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John Post – Instructor

Ceramics – All Levels
April 11–May 16 : Thursdays from 4 to 7pm
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Simplifying what you see is a necessary component of observational painting. But it can also be used as a liberating constraint to explore design, composition, and color. During this class, we will focus on distilling our surroundings into compositions that convey both the essence of the landscape around us and our individual artistic voices. We will begin by focusing on selection and composition exercises before moving on to full color paintings. Discussions on theory and demonstrations will be followed by painting time with guidance by the instructor and group critique. Beginner and experienced plein air painters are welcome, however, this class is a class for people with some substantial painting experience. While demos will be provided in oil paint, both oils and acrylic painters are welcome.

This workshop in the studio is designed to welcome all skill levels. Think of Bruce Gomez as a Swiss Army knife of a teacher! Bruce will work with you at your individual skill level covering issues from drawing to composition as you learn how not to make mud with your pastels. You will learn how to prepare your paper, how to layer your pastels and to use analogous colors so as to finally achieve that magical Sedona Red Rock color in the light and in the shadows.

Finer points will also touch on shipping, storing and pastel framing techniques – even ideas on how to approach galleries if you so desire.

Embrace the wild and honor your untamed heart in Alaska while making memorable art.

July in Alaska is synonymous with gorgeous weather. So it comes as no surprise that flowers are at their prime, the wildlife is active and the days are warm in the land of the midnight sun.

We will mix colors in rich hues inspired by the lush landscape, and create mono prints on a Gelli plate. As we amass a stack of abstract printed paper we will choose our favorites to incorporate into our art journals for compositions featuring circles, symmetry and symbolism that are personalized and inspiring to each individual.

Circles are symbols of unity, wholeness and harmony and are often found in artwork featuring progress, regeneration and renewal. We will create unique pieces in the form of mandalas, and abstract landscapes all while learning more about the symbols of local indigenous tribes, and be instructed on how to let the area inspire you while creating art in your own style.

If you are looking to escape the everyday, to be inspired in a free frontier and want to enjoy a creative wellness practice with other kindred spirits let’s circle round and relish in the wild of Alaska together!

*Fees do not include travel, lodging or meals.