Visual Arts Classes

Upcoming Session

Winter Classes: January 13 - March 8, 2024

Member Registration Begins: October 28 at noon
General Registration Begins: November 4 at noon

Become a McGroarty Member to unlock early registration, member pricing and more perks!

Acrylic Painting

Price: $180

Member Price: $135

Description: Basic fundamentals working in acrylic paints, painting theory, and techniques. We will be working on a new painting every week. All levels welcome. More advanced painters can gear their paintings to their level.

Wednesdays, 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Start Date:
January 15 End Date: March 5

Age Group: Adult (18 and up)
Duration: 8 weeks

Instructor: Dianne Porter

Wednesday Supplies List:
Wed Acrylics Supplies List

Drawing

Age Group: Adult (18 and up)
Duration: 8 weeks

Instructor: Kevin McCants

Price: $180
Member Price: $135

Tuesdays, 1:30pm - 4:30pm
Start Date: January 14 End Date: March 4

Description:

Kevin has been teaching for 20 years and strongly believes that drawing is the foundation of all artistic endeavors.

Learn foundational drawing skills or improve upon your existing skills.

The class will focus on learning proficiency in creating the illusion of 3-dimensionallity, employing measuring & sighting techniques for constructing accurate proportions as well as the basics of linear perspective.

Materials for the class will be primarily graphite pencils and charcoal with the option of learning how to work with color pencils if desired.

Supplies List: Drawing Supply List

Oil Painting

Age Group: Adult Duration: 8 weeks Instructor: Kevin McCants

Fridays, 11:00am - 2:00pm

Start Date: January 17 End Date: March 7

Description: In this beginning class, you will learn the basics of oil painting. Instruction begins with an introduction to materials and the way to correctly use and maintain them. During the eight week session, students will also learn tonal mixing (shading), the proper application of paint, and softening techniques while initially working from a still-life setup.

Price: $180

Member Price: $135


Watercolor Painting

Age Group: Adult (18 and up)
Duration: 8 weeks

Price: $180
Member Price: $135

Instructor: Kevin McCants

Tuesdays, 10:00am - 1:00pm
Start Date: January 14
End Date: March 4

Instructor: Kevin McCants

Thursdays, 6:30pm - 9:30pm
Start Date: January 16 End Date: March 6

Description:

Kevin has been teaching for the past 20 years. Teaching various watercolor techniques, he strives to help artists with their development and growth.

Supplies List: Watercolor Supply List

artist: Phyllis Hansen

Oshibana - Botanical Collage

Age Group: Teen to Adult

Duration: 4 weeks

Instructor: Phyllis Hansen

Thursdays, 2:00pm - 4:30pm

Start Date: January 16 End Date: February 6

Description: In Japanese, Oshibana means “painting with flowers”. Learn the art of making botanical collage with pressed, dried flowers and foliage. You’ll discover techniques for pressing and preserving natural materials and have fun exploring the many artistic possibilities. Materials will be supplied.

About the instructor: Phyllis Hansen, who has won international awards for her scenic, figural and graphic design pieces, feels every piece a student creates using Mother Earth’s beautiful elements is, by nature, a work of art. As an artist and a writer who loves deep-diving into the history of many things, including Oshibana, Phyllis will entertain you with resplendent images from around the world while helping you create your own.

Price: $90

Member Price: $80

View from Mcgroarty Arts Center painted by Jennifer Zapp

Creating Art From Life

Age Group: Adult (18 and up)

Level: Intermediate to Advanced

Duration: 8 weeks

Instructor: Jennifer Zapp

Thursdays, 10:00am to 12:30pm

Start Date: January 16

End Date: March 6

Description: A class for students with prior experience.

Painting and drawing from life encourages a more active engagement with your subject. This in turn influences color and composition decisions about how and where to move the eye, what to leave in, what to leave out, and what to invent.

In this class we explore different subjects by drawing and painting the same subject from life. Each student selects the drawing and painting mediums they prefer. Topics may include: Fruit/Still Life, Flowers, Portraits, Human Figure, and Landscape.

About The Instructor: Jennifer’s passion is creating art and sharing her love of art with adults and children. To develop her passion she pursued an undergraduate degree in Art Education from University of IL, Urbana and a master’s degree in Instructional Design from Northern IL University, Dekalb. She grew her skills through art classes and workshops taught by various national and international art masters. She shares her passion for art by teaching classes, volunteering at various art events and participating on the boards of different art organizations. Currently some of her artwork is showcased at The Back Door Bakery in Sunland.

Price: $160

Member Price: $130