A New Art Series for Adults: Starting from Scratch
Have you ever wanted to try your hand at painting or drawing, but don't know where to start? Introducing Starting from Scratch, a new art...
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Adult Art Program
The mission of the Adult Continuing Education program is to inspire exploration and experimentation, connect community through art, and to harness artistic curiosity, and turn it into artistic confidence with work and practice.
We believe that whether you are honing an old skill or learning a new one, you will find inspiration
and community here.
Courses are four weeks long, with the mission to exercise or hone techniques, where students focus on both process, techniques, and product-based work. Students learn the techniques or materials, and are encouraged to brainstorm, problem-solve, research, explore and experiment to make individual and innovative works of art. Instructors provide careful guidance and support as students use the tools and lessons that they have learned to create their own art. Teachers may provide visual prompts or thought exercises to inspire ideas. What emerges from the courses is a technical skill, but also a confidence in their own art-making and creativity.
We end each class with a “group share” or critique experience. Here students practice the language of art and design, have a sense of community, and receive positive reinforcement for their work. Students may share a larger piece they are working on, a piece from home, or a sketchbook exploration.
Sketchbooks are encouraged for each student to collect and store ideas that will become starting points for works of art in the future. These visual journals allow students to enhance their skills of observation and image-making in order to process more detailed information. Some examples of sketchbook activities are illustrating poems and short stories, designing and illustrating commercial advertisements, observational drawings, photo collages, and mixed media experimentation.
Occasionally, a guest artist will come to visit the classroom to demonstrate a unique craft or skill. Some ideas of artists may include a video game designer, regionally exhibited printmaker, interior designer, museum curator, or fashion designer. This experience further develops their understanding that art is everywhere, connects the student to the art community, and expands their horizons of art as a career.
Adult art classes are two hours long, run for 4 week sessions, and are weekly.
Current Courses for Adults
Charcoal Drawing for Beginners
In this class, we will explore and practice elements of charcoal drawing. We will begin each session with warm-ups to get a feel for the materials, then move into longer work with objects, a simple landscape, and ending with a basic portrait.
Schedule: Thursdays, 6-8pm
Course Starts: January 12, 2023
Course Ends: January 26, 2023
Introduction to Painting
This adult continuing education course shares an introduction to painting practices. Students in this course practice, or hone, skills with a variety of materials, explore methods, and tools of painting. Students will develop observational skills, practice color theory and paint application techniques, see and understand elements of painting practices including, but not limited to stretching a canvas, priming and preparing for work, laying out a palette, and color mixing.
In this comprehensive class, we will begin each session with warm-ups to get a feel for the materials, then move into longer work with objects, a simple landscape, and ending with a basic portrait.
Schedule: Thursdays, 6-8pm
Course Starts: February 2, 2023
Course Ends: February 23, 2023
Oil Painting from Observation
In this class, adult students will exercise skills and elements of observational oil painting. Explore oil paint as a medium and understand its distinction from descriptive line drawing. An emphasis will be placed on the use of oil paint, varying consistency and usage, mixing and color theory. Students will gain confidence and fluency in skill as they come to understand tone, volume, color relationships, and creating accurate representations of light on objects. This course will include informal, warm-up exercises, guided demonstrations and instruction, and inspiration from contemporary artists.
Schedule: Thursdays, 6-8pm
Course Starts: March 2, 2023
Course Ends: March 30, 2023
Starting from Scratch: Learning to Draw
This adult continuing education course is drawing for absolute beginners. Designed for the person who has never picked up a pencil to draw, to the person who is picking one up after many years, to the person who wants a refresher! Students will gain confidence in their practices, build a foundation and understanding of the basics. In this comprehensive class, we will begin each session with warm-ups to get a feel for the materials, work with graphite, charcoal, and pastels, then move into a variety of shorter practices in each class. This class is both process based and product based, meaning that students will learn elements of drawing in explorations, and also step-by-step finished drawing work.
Schedule: Thursdays, 1-3pm
Course Starts: March 2, 2023
Course Ends: March 23, 2023
Portrait Drawing
In this class, adult students will learn fundamental skills of portrait drawing. This course is a great foundational skills class, as students can apply these skills to many other art mediums, as drawing is learning to see. Students will learn to draw portraits realistically from direct observation - transporting your vision with techniques of perspective, form, value, and other mark making. Students often report that this is the class that changes how they use materials, how they see, and improves their art making overall. This course will include informal, warm-up exercises, guided demonstrations and instruction, and inspiration from contemporary artists.
Schedule: Thursdays, 6-8pm
Course Starts: April 6, 2023
Course Ends: April 27, 2023
Starting from Scratch: Learning Photography
This adult continuing education course is digital and film photography for absolute beginners. Designed for the person who has never picked up a camera (or phone!) for more than snapshots, to the person who is picking up a camera after many years, to the person who wants a photography refresher! Students will gain confidence in their practices, build a foundation and understanding of the basics. In this comprehensive class, we will begin each session with basic elements of using a camera, learn about different photographers and their photography styles. The majority of the class will be spent on hands-on practices as the instructor shares short lecture and prompts to practice perspective, natural lighting work, color, line, texture, and other principles of art and design. We will have lessons in both film and digital work, but the majority of the work in this particular course will be in digital. Students will be asked to send their photos from class (and/or additional photos they take) to the instructor via email so we can discuss them in class. We will support students with the best and easiest way to share these photos.
Schedule: Thursdays, 1-3pm
Course Starts: April 13, 2023
Course Ends: April 27, 2023
Starting from Scratch: Learning to Paint
A complete introduction to painting practices.
This adult continuing education course is painting for absolute beginners. Designed for the person who has never picked up a brush, to the person who is picking one up after many years, to the person who wants a refresher! Students will gain confidence in their practices, build a foundation and understanding of the basics. In this comprehensive class, we will begin each session with warm-ups to get a feel for the materials, work with watercolor, acrylic, and oils, then move into a variety of shorter practices in each class. This class is both process based and product based, meaning that students will learn elements of painting in small explorations, and also step-by-step finished longer work.
Schedule: Thursdays, 1-3pm
Course Starts: May 4, 2023
Course Ends: May 25, 2023
Introduction to Watercolor
An introduction to watercolor practices
In this class, adult students will exercise skills and elements of watercolor painting. Explore watercolor as a medium and gain an understanding of various techniques and practices. Students will begin with the use of watercolor, varying consistency, opacity, and usage, mixing and color theory. Students will gain confidence and fluency in skill as they come to understand layering, color relationships, and honoring brush control. This course will include informal, warm-up exercises, guided demonstrations and instruction, and inspiration from contemporary artists.
Schedule: Thursdays, 6-8pm
Course Starts: June 15, 2023
Course Ends: June 29, 2023
Watercolor Landscape
Continue watercolor studies with landscape painting!
We welcome adult students to gain confidence in painting watercolor nature landscapes. Here we will learn to dissect the form and shape of the landscapes, layer in color, and hone our skill of the brush and medium. Students will understand their use of watercolor, varying consistency, opacity, and usage, mixing and color theory. Students will gain confidence and fluency in skill as they come to understand layering, color relationships, and working on pieces that they will be proud to call their own. This course will include informal, warm-up exercises, guided demonstrations and instruction, and inspiration from contemporary artists. When you're finished with this course, you'll have the technique to observe both photo references, but it will also change the way you see the shapes and forms in nature!
Schedule: Thursdays, 6-8pm
Course Starts: July 13, 2023
Course Ends: July 27, 2023
Plein Air Watercolor Painting
Continue watercolor studies with plein air painting!
We are happy to introduce or continue studies with adult artists to paint outdoors with confidence and enthusiasm. The artists will learn basics on how to paint outdoors. Here we will learn tricks and tips to selecting scenes, building a strong composition, packing and preparing for different environments, and then work to paint a small composition each week.
Students will gain knowledge and understanding of interpreting light, and its effect on color and space. This course will include informal, warm-up exercises, guided demonstrations and instruction, and inspiration from contemporary artists.
We will be painting at a variety of locations - close to the gallery, city, and rural. Students will be provided the addresses of each at the start of class. However, it is important to note that these course sessions are weather dependent, so please check your email the night before class. In the case of rain or inclement weather, class will be rescheduled.
Schedule: Thursdays, 6-8pm
Course Starts: August 3, 2023
Course Ends: August 17, 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
Field Trips and Student Groups
Scholarships and Financial Aid
Art Classes at East Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation
We are proud to share fine art classes at East Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation.
Sharing our courses for ages three to adult, we offer easy going introductions to art for preschoolers, lower elementary, upper elementary, teenagers, and adults, including month-long courses, spring and summer camp opportunities, and more. Young Artist Series, art classes for
Registration for the East Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation Department classes is done so through their website. If you would like to see, or register for our courses there, please follow the link below. If you have questions in the registration process, please email education@cultivategrandrapids.org
"These classes are so inspiring! When I feel like I need more structure or a push creatively, I sign up for a new class with Cultivate. It helps me with my whole art practice and pushes me to think in new ways."
- Adult student
"I love these courses and have been signing up for all of them. I find that it's "me time" in my week -and it's so relaxing to sit down with the group and make art together."
-Adult student
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