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Art Classes for Adults

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Art for parents!

Feb 2010

I'm looking for a creative outlet for myself and my husband. We are parents and artists. We need a place to go to express ourselves in order to keep sane! We aren't interested in therapy (got that covered!), just an outlet to create, move, play music... preferably all at the same time! Any suggestions?

Hello- For adult visual courses, I recommend continuing ed courses at California College of the Arts, San Francisco Art Institute or the Berkeley Extension program. Most meet weekly and run 10-12 weeks, less than a semester.

Berkeley City College also has a wide variety of courses, but the intensity of the schedule (twice a week) may be more than what you're looking for. Good luck! Barry

I've taken or looked into a bunch of art/craft workshops in Berkeley which may satisfy your artsy side (all can be googled and there are others too): 
-Scrapbook Territory (4th Street): scrapbooking, collage
-Kate Weese's The Workshop (by Monterey Market):
watercolors, felting
-ASUC Studio on campus: ceramics, art, photography
-Castle in the Air (4th Street): various paper and modeling
-Knit One One Studio (Adeline): knitting, crocheting, etc
-classes at yarn stores
-StoneMountain Daughters (Shattuck): sewing
-Spun Sugar: candy, cakes and cookies
-Brushstrokes Studio: painting pottery + mosaics
There are also more and more online classes for journaling, scrapbooking, collaging, and more. Have fun. artsy wannabe

Drawing or water color classes

March 2009

I am looking for drawing or water color painting instructions for adults held on the weekend or in the evening - Class or Lessons is fine. Prefer Berkeley, Albany. El Cerrito, or Orinda locations. ap

Contact Patrice Stone. She teaches in various locations (UCB, Pinole, her home studio, etc). She has contact information on her website, patricestone.com! I have a Patrice Stone original in my house!
My husband took water color painting classes from Wendy Yoshimura in Oakland. It was an all adult class, mostly women over 50, but everyone was welcome. Wendy is a lovely woman, and a fabulous painter. You can find out more at wendyyoshimura.com. artist's wife

I want to learn collage

June 2003

Due to some stressful events in my life, and to a \223messy play\224 art class I\222ve been attending with my two-year-old son, I\222ve suddenly found myself really wanting to be able to use paint and collage techniques as a mode of expression. The problem is \255 I haven't a clue how to do this! I\222ve always considered myself a total non-artist. I don't want to take water-color or oil-painting classes to learn how to paint landscapes or still lifes (I'm much more fond of abstract stuff and mixed media); what I do want to learn is the properties of various paints and papers, as well as something about color and form (e.g. how to \223balance\224 an abstract painting or collage). I\222ve seen the posts on the web site, and most seem to relate to basic watercolor or oil painting or drawing, which is not what I want. Can anyone recommend a place where I could take classes, or an art teacher I might talk to, who would give individual or group lessons to adults? Karen

Recommendations received:

  • Art Gym (2)
  • Richmond Art Center
  • Studio One

    Other Recommendations

    Another place to check out is Kala in North Berkeley. They offer collage classes, paper making classes, printmaking classes. They have a website too, Kala.org. If you have never made a print before, I highly recommend it. It's soooo much fun. Start out with mono printing, and go anywhere from there!! Papermaking is a very viseral experience. You really get your hands into it (literally). You can add leaves, flowers, etc. to make texture and abstract composition.
    I've taken two one-day workshops in collage, and really enjoyed and learned from them both. One was with Ann Baldwin, who leads workshops througout the Bay Area. Her website is: www.annbaldwin.com The other was in San Francisco with a newer artist, Aondrea Maynard. Her email is: aondream at yahoo.com These workshops inspired me to buy materials and make several collages. It's been a great creative outlet. Enjoy!! Debbie Hope this helps! beth

    Painting and Drawing

    Sept 1999

    I would like to take up painting, and am looking for any recommendations of good classes for a beginner. I'd prefer to stay in the Oakland/Berkeley area, but would consider something farther afield. I have virtually no experience with painting and feel like I need a comprehensive introduction to it. I'm also really interested in mural painting, though I think that may be a more advanced discipline. Anyway, I'd love to hear what others have done. Diana

    Recommendations received:

  • Studio One
    Other recommendations:

    I have had very good experiences at Vista College, which is part of the Peralta Community College District. I have taken beginning and intermediate drawing, beginning painting (with acrylic paint), and am currently taking life drawing.

    They have a website (http://www.peralta.cc.ca.us/) and offer a class schedule there or at their main campus on Milvia Street at Addison in downtown Berkeley. Many of the Vista art classes are held on the U.C. campus, with some during the day and others in the evening. The cost is negligible for California residents; I think $5 a unit plus materials. Other Peralta locations include Laney College and Merritt College in Oakland. At least one of them offers painting with oils. Though, I've never taken classes at either of those sites.

    Classes have already started for this semester (late August). You might see if you can add? Or consider them for the future.
    Good luck! Robert

    I have had some wonderful painting classes through the local Peralta Colleges. Vista, in particular, has good introductory art classes. The classes are often held on the Cal campus or elsewhere in Berk. or Oakland. These classes are very inexpensive, and the teachers have been great. Laney has a good art dept., but the students there tend to be more college-age and, perhaps, already more experienced. At Vista, many of the students are adults who already have degrees and just want to learn, rather than get class credit. Linda
    9/99
    I would like to whole-heartedly recommend a painter who teaches out of her studio in Emeryville. She's exhibited internationally and has taught for years. She's funny and full of enthusiam for painting and would be a delight to study with. Here's a little blurb I asked her to send me to post here. Her e-mail address is lulu AT lmi.net.

    PAINTING AND DRAWING CLASSES with M. Louise Stanley "How anxious is your muse?" Do you have a distant memory of art classes you loved years ago but don't know how to get back there on your own? We will experiment with three water based media: watercolor, gouache(opaque watercolor) and acrylic. Beginners are encouraged to try watercolor as its a good stepping stone to other media. Gouache is a good transition from transparent watercolor to more viscous mediums such as acrylic and oil. Classes are ongoing / entry at any time. You may pay for one introductory class ($35.) before committing to a session of 6 ($210.)or 8 ($280.)classes. Classes are small, 3-5 students / emphasis will be based on individual needs. Louise's studio is a 3-ring circus full of props,knick knack's, and reference materials, a conducive atmosphere for the production of masterpieces. Classes:Sat. 10am - 1pm; Wed. 7 - 10pm. Call Louise at (510)658-8468 for more information.

    From: Linda (3/99)

    Check out the Peralta Colleges, esp. Vista. They have some great classes, great instructors, and they're CHEAP. Laney has some good facilities. Vista uses facilities at other schools or locations. Vista caters more to people who are not looking for degrees in art, just want to take classes.

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