UPCOMING ADULT WORKSHOPS

Explore Your Creativity at The Art Base

At the Art Base, we offer a diverse range of art workshops designed for all skill levels and artistic interests. Whether you’re passionate about photography, watercolor, printmaking, or journaling, we have something to inspire every kind of creator and artist!

Browse our current adult workshops on this page. Have questions? Feel free to reach out to Holly at holly@theartbase.org.

Unless otherwise noted, all classes and workshops are held at The Art Base, located at 174 Midland Avenue. Our classrooms are conveniently situated on the second floor, just above the Art Base Gallery. To access the classrooms, use the door immediately to the right of the gallery entrance.

PAINT! Open Studio
Tish McFee

January 14, 21, 28, February 4, 11, 2025
1:00-4:00 pm
$195   For the series of 5 classes
$45     Individual Class
Scholarships Available
Open to all Skill Levels

Explore your creativity in a safe and friendly open studio environment. Bring your favorite painting medium and enjoy a relaxed, supportive space designed to inspire your creativity. You’ll have the freedom to explore your artistic vision while benefiting from the guidance of an experienced instructor. Whether you’re seeking feedback or instruction, the instructor is available to assist with key elements of painting and drawing, including: composition and design, color mixing and theory, paint application techniques, brushstroke mastery. This non-structured studio time is perfect for fostering creativity in an atmosphere of encouragement and freedom of expression. Some supplies will be provided, but you are welcome to bring your own materials as well.Unleash your artistic potential and enjoy the journey of creative exploration!

ART BASE ADULT FUNDAMENTALS:  DRAWING
Nicole Gogolak

January 15 – February 12, 2025
11:00am – 1:30 pm
$175   For the series of 4 classes
$45     Individual Class
Scholarships Available
Open to all skill levels

Develop and maximize your fundamental art skills. Explore the foundational techniques essential to creating artwork. Participants will learn key art skills, including design and composition, drawing, color mixing, and painting in various mediums. This program encourages thinking outside the box, experimenting with new approaches, and discovering your unique artistic voice. Taught in a supportive and welcoming environment, these art activities are suitable for all skill levels, from beginners to advanced artists. Join us and unlock your creative potential!

DOLL-UP THE BOLLARDS -knit, crochet and sewing night

January 22, 2025
Wednesday, 6:00 – 8:00 PM
$FREE
Open to all Skill Levels

Feeling the need to be creative? Join our free community knit, crochet, sewing night. Create a sweater for the bollards in downtown Basalt. No need to register, just come to the Art Base on 174 Midland, Basalt (upstairs from exhibition space/SHOP).

CREATING A HANDMADE JOURNAL
Sheri Gaynor

January 25, 2025
Saturday, 9:30 AM – 1:00 PM
$95
Scholarships Available
Open to all Skill Levels

Create your 2025 handbound visual journal: A Journey of Art, Healing, and Inspiration. Embark on a creative journey as you craft a simple yet beautiful handbound visual journal—your personal artifact for 2025. In this course, you’ll learn how to sew your journal’s signatures, creating a unique blank canvas ready to hold your intentions, dreams, and inspirations for the year ahead. But the journey doesn’t end there! Join Sheri each month for the Art, Healing, and HOPE gathering, where together, you’ll bring your journal to life with creativity, reflection, and purpose. Each session is designed to help you fill your pages with meaning, transforming your journal into a treasured keepsake of your life journey.

Let’s make 2025 a year of intentional beauty and self-discovery.

GELLI-BLOCK PRINTING: – Greeting Cards
Pam Porter

February 7, 2025
Friday, 9:30 AM – 2:30 PM
$75 (supplies provided)
Scholarships Available
Open to All Skill Levels

Create stunning Valentine’s Day or greeting cards with Gelli-Printing and Linoleum Block Printing. Combine the vibrant, textured effects of Gelli-printing with the sharp, detailed lines of linoleum block printing to craft unique, handmade greeting cards.

ART, HEALING + HOPE
Sheri Gaynor

February 8, 2025
Saturday, 9:30 AM – 11:30 PM
$15
Scholarships Available
Open to all Skill Levels

Registration opens January 2, 2025

Discover the power of visual journaling. Unleash your creativity and empower your life with visual journaling! This inspiring and therapeutic practice is designed to help you heal, relax, and have FUN while decompressing from life’s stresses. Dive into your inner world through the transformative use of paint, color, and imagery, all while uncovering meaningful insights and connections. No experience is necessary—this class is for everyone! The emphasis is on the process of creation, not the final product, making it a welcoming space for all levels.

Please bring a sketchbook or journal (available for purchase at The Art Base for $20). All other supplies are included.

Class size is limited, so secure your spot today by registering or joining the waitlist.

IPHONE PHOTOGRAPHY

Deb Shannan

February 15, 2025
Saturday, 10:00AM – 3:00PM
$95
Scholarships Available
Open to all Skill Levels

All levels welcome. Must have smarthphone or iPad to participate.

Create stunningimages with your smartphone or iPad Using Snapseed. Learn to enhance your photography skills with just your iPhone, iPad, or smartphone and the free Snapseed photo editing app. In this class, students will discover how to effortlessly improve their images and experiment with creative techniques like double exposures, transforming everyday photos into works of art. Perfect for beginners and enthusiasts alike!

ABSTRACT PAINTING
Mindy Vernon

February 12 and 19, 2025
Wednesday, 6:00 – 8:00 PM
$95 (supplies provided)
Scholarships Available
Open to All Skill Levels

Abstraction in painting offers artists a powerful medium to express personal and impactful ideas. This course, designed for students of all experience levels, introduces a variety of approaches to applying abstract techniques and sensibilities within the timeless art of painting. Learn how to use oil paints, color theory and composition, abstraction inspired by life, and expressive paint application. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to deepen your skills, this course provides a supportive environment to expand your creative potential.

ART BASE ADULT FUNDAMENTALS:  DRAWING
Nicole Gogolak

February 19 – March 12, 2025
11:00am – 1:30 pm
$175   For the series of 4 classes
$45     Individual Class
Scholarships Available
Open to all skill levels

Develop and maximize your fundamental art skills. Explore the foundational techniques essential to creating artwork. Participants will learn key art skills, including design and composition, drawing, color mixing, and painting in various mediums. This program encourages thinking outside the box, experimenting with new approaches, and discovering your unique artistic voice. Taught in a supportive and welcoming environment, these art activities are suitable for all skill levels, from beginners to advanced artists. Join us and unlock your creative potential!

Processing Motherhood:
An Introspective Art Class for Mothers
Sarah Uhl

February 23 – March 16, 2025 (4 Sundays)
Sunday’s 10:00 – 11:30am
$175

Join local artist and mama, Sarah Uhl, for an introspective and playful art class designed specifically for mothers of young children. Over the course of four weeks you’ll get to know your local Valley Villiage of mothers and lean into a creative practice to nourish you throughout the year. Through watercolor painting, journaling, and group discussions, we’ll delve into our experiences as mothers. This class is as much about building solidarity with other local moms as it is about developing a playful, accessible relationship with creativity within the context of motherhood. Rather than focusing on art projects for your children, this workshop is about widening your creative lens and making space for self-expression within your current life as a mother.

Matrescence, the transformative journey of becoming a mother, is inherently a creative process. Yet, the demands of motherhood can often deplete us, leaving little room for the unique ways we once expressed ourselves.  If you’re feeling detached from the creative outlets that make you feel uniquely you or missing the ways you explored creativity before motherhood, this class offers an opportunity to rebuild those inroads. Together, we’ll explore the paradoxical gap between being a mother and a creative individual and discover how to blend these worlds.  No previous painting experience necessary!  All supplies provided.

COLOR WOODBLOCK PRINTS: building images through layers
Curt Carpenter

February 22 and 23, 2025
Saturday, 9:00 – 3:00 PM
$240 (supplies provided)
Scholarships Available
Some experience necessary

This intermediate, relief printmaking class focuses on reduction linocuts. In this process, progressive layers of carving and color printing result in rich, vibrant prints. By cutting away more and more of the block in between colors printing, the previous colors are revealed in the prints. Participants design their images, carve their linoleum blocks using a variety of tools, and print a limited-edition series using non-toxic inks on paper. A small class size (limited to 6) will allow for individualized attention. Some art-making experience is recommended.

COLLAGE AND PAPIER COLLE
Annie Bell

February 22, 2025
Saturday, 10:00 – 3:00 PM (break for lunch)
$65 (supplies provided)
Scholarships Available
Open to All Skill Levels

Step into the vibrant world of collage, an art form that invites you to explore layered storytelling through texture and color. Begin by delving into the roots of “papier collé,” pioneered by visionaries like Pablo Picasso, Georges Braque, and Juan Gris. Learn how artists such as Henri Matisse, Kurt Schwitters, and Hannah Höch expanded the medium, blending diverse materials to create striking visual narrativesFrom salvaged books and painted papers to vintage photographs and magazine clippings, discover how contemporary artists breathe new life into collage by reinventing these timeless techniques. In this hands-on experience, you’ll create your own layered compositions. Experiment with textures, patterns, and forms to craft unique pieces that reflect your imagination. By the end of the session, you’ll take home an artwork in progress, each a testament to your creative journey.

No prior experience is necessary—just bring your enthusiasm and curiosity!

HUES + BREWS (sponsored by Aspen Out)
Vision Board Collage by
Annie Bell

February 25, 2025
Tuesday, 6:00 – 8:00 PM
$45 (supplies provided)
Scholarships Available
Open to All

Step into the vibrant world of collage, an art form that invites you to explore layered storytelling through texture and color. Create a vision board for 2025 or a piece to hang. Learn to create striking visual narratives from magazines, books, or vintage photographs.  In this hands-on experience, you’ll create your own layered compositions by experimenting with textures, patterns, and forms to craft a unique pieces that reflects your imagination, or helps you visualize your goals for 2025.  No prior experience is necessary—just bring your enthusiasm and curiosity! (snacks and beverages provided).

IPHONE PHOTOGRAPHY II (Photo Editing)

Deb Shannan

March 1, 2025
Saturday, 10:00AM – 3:00PM
$95
Scholarships Available
Must have some experience with Snapseed. Must have smart phone or iPad to participate.

Build on the skills learned in iPhone Photography I. Further explore how to add text, frames and make a short slide show of completed photos. Also learn how to use Image Blender and DistressedFX for editing. These apps are especially good for adding textures and layers to your photos. Both of these apps will require additional minimal costs (please bring your AppleID and password). Participants will have the opportunity to print some of their edited photos.

THE ART OF PASTELS

Doug Graybeal

March 4, 11, 18 and 25, 2025
Tuesdays, 1:00PM – 4:00PM
$195
Scholarships Available
All levels welcome.

Learn or build on existing pastel techniques, including the types of pastels and surfaces, as well as principles of composition, balance, guiding the viewer’s eye through the painting, and positioning lines and intersections.

WATERCOLOR JOURNALING: Capturing Your Creative Journey

Missy Prudden

March 15, 2025
Tuesdays, 10:00AM – 2:00PM
$75
Scholarships Available
All skill levels welcome

Discover the joy of watercolor journaling as you combine art, writing, and your love for the outdoors. In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn to create vibrant journal pages that reflect the beauty of your surroundings and personal experiences. Through guided exercises, you’ll practice sketching, painting, and storytelling to bring your journey—whether near or far—to life. This workshop is perfect for beginners and seasoned creatives alike. No matter your skill level, you’ll leave with the confidence to continue your journaling journey and a keepsake filled with your unique perspective. Come join us and turn your adventures into beautiful, lasting memories!

ART ON THE EDGE
Stanley Bell

March 22 and 23, 2025
Saturday and Sunday, 10:00AM – 4:00PM
$150
Scholarships Available
Open to All Skill Levels

Unleash your creativity in this hands-on workshop where you’ll explore the dynamic process of building and breaking down layers in your artwork. Using a variety of mixed-media art supplies, dive into techniques that blend collage, graffiti, printmaking, and illustration. Gain inspiration from artists influenced by outsider art and learn how to incorporate their techniques into your own creations. Under the expert guidance of Stanley, you’ll experiment with innovative approaches and uncover a unique artistic style that’s truly your own. Whether you’re a seasoned artist or just beginning your creative journey, this workshop offers a welcoming space to play, explore, and push artistic boundaries.

SCRATCHOBOARD ART: Unleashing Creativity Through Texture and Contrast
Megan George

April 5, 2025
Saturday, 12:30-4:00pm
$65
Scholarships Available
All Skill Levels Welcome

Dive into the mesmerizing world of scratchboard art in this hands-on workshop designed for artists of all skill levels! Scratchboard is a unique medium that combines drawing and carving techniques to create striking images with intricate details and dramatic contrasts. Learn about scratchboard tools, techniques, and material, explore shading, texturing, and layering to create depth and dimension, experiment with transferring designs and adding highlights.  The instructor will have images you can use or feel free to bring your own image. Open to all skill levels.

BEGINNING ENCAUSTIC
Nicole Gogolak

April 26, 2025
Saturday, 12:20-4:30pm
Scholarships Available
All skill levels welcome

Learn the simplified process of painting. Using thin coats of encaustic paint (a mixture of wax and resin) applied with larger brushes and high-quality pigment sticks, we will “trap” our marks, drawings, and even mistakes under layers of wax to create rich, dynamic images. Learn how to create smooth, depth-filled paintings using techniques for abstraction, landscapes, and collage. Explore opportunities to manipulate wax and discover the versatility of this exciting medium.

INTERMEDIATE ENCAUSTIC
Nicole Gogolak

April 26, 2025
Sunday, 12:20-4:30pm
Scholarships Available
All skill levels welcome

Expand on your encaustic skills using thin coats of encaustic paint (a mixture of wax and resin) applied with larger brushes and high-quality pigment sticks. Trap marks, drawings, and even mistakes under layers of wax to create rich, dynamic images. Learn how to create smooth, depth-filled paintings using techniques for abstraction, landscapes, and collage. Explore opportunities to manipulate wax and discover the versatility of this exciting medium.

SUPPLIES
Supplies for class projects are provided by the Art Base unless otherwise indicated in course description.

CANCELLATION POLICY
Please give as much notice as possible if you need to cancel a registration. If you need to cancel a workshop/class prior to 14 days, you will receive a refund, minus the $50 cancellation fee. Cancellations within 48 hours of class start are subject to cancellation fees up to the total cost of registration.

SCHOLARSHIPS
Scholarships are available for all Art Base classes. Applications can be found on the Art Base website in both English and Spanish. Complete the online form or email the completed application and any questions regarding scholarships to programs@theartbase.org.

PHOTO AND DIGITAL LIKENESS USAGE CONSENT
During classes and events at the Art Base, yours or your child’s image and/or likeness may at any time be captured by still photography, videography, or other photographic or electronic means. Unless consent is waived on the class registration form or the Art Base is notified in writing that you do not want your or your child’s imaged to be used, the Art Base reserves the right to use any such image, photograph, video, or the like for archival, social media, marketing, or other Art Base related purposes.

PETS
Pets may not accompany instructors or participants to the classroom unless the pet is a Service Animal or a Support Animal with certified papers and working. The safety and wellbeing of our students is our priority. When you are teaching or taking  a TAB class, workshop, or camp, please leave your pets at home.