Art Classes

Instructor Victoria Brzustowicz
6 week Class $179
Mondays 11:00-1:00

Next Session: 4/6/26-5/11/26

Course Description:

In this class we’ll explore materials, fundamentals, and best practices of oil painting, with an emphasis on direct or “alla prima” techniques. Color mixing and creating a range of colors from a limited palette will be taught. For students with previous experience in color mixing, a more complex palette will be used. Paint from your own sketches, photos, or studio still life. We’ll have demos in each class that will cover various topics such as various ways to start an oil painting, oiling out, stretching a canvas, preparing a panel, glazing, and varnishing.

• Supply List:
• If you already have  oil paints, please bring them to class and we will work with your selection. If you don’t have supplies, here is the  minimum to get started!
• Paints
  Napthol Red (or equivalent) –
  Ultramarine Blue –
  Hansa Yellow Light (or equivalent)
  Titanium White
• Surfaces
  Canvas panel or gessoed panels in a variety of sizes, preferably 11 x 14 and smaller. Since we will be working alla prima, aim for smaller sizes if possible. 8x 10 is wonderful. Brushes: a least one of each, not too small! (4-6). We will discuss the individual marks that each type of brush makes, and you can add to your collection as you go.
  Filbert
  Flat
  Round
• Palette Knife
• Gray Matters Disposable Palette Pad 12 x 16
• Masterson Sealed Palette
• Gamsol

Instructor Victoria Brzustowicz
5 week Class $139
Mondays 6:00-8:00

Next Session: 4/6/26 -5/4/26 

Explore the versatile world of gouache, a water-based, opaque, and pigment-rich medium. With its ability to layer light over dark, gouache combines the flexibility of acrylics and oils with the transparency of watercolors. This course can serve both as an introduction to essential techniques (including material exploration, color mixing, and effective paint handling), and for more experienced painters in gouache, it will  allow exploration and refinement in a supportive environment.  Each class includes demonstrations and ample painting time. Additionally, we’ll cover best practices for storing and framing gouache paintings. Join us for this five-week journey into the expressive realm of gouache.

Materials:

Sketching supplies such as pencil and sketch pad or journal

Water media brushes (a few flats and a round to start)

Water media paper 

Water media palette such as Mastersons stay-wet Handi Palette or any watercolor palette

Gouache – I recommend M Graham  or Holbein gouache or another tubed gouache. To start, you can use a limited palette and add colors as needed. Essentials are:

Azo Yellow

Napthol Red

Ultramarine Blue

Titanium White.

Note: I don’t use Acrylic Gouache because it is too similar to acrylic paints, and what I like about the traditional gouache is that you can reconstitute it.  If you have acrylic gouache, you will have a little different experience than what I am teaching.

Also you might want:

• Latex gloves (optional)
• Apron/smock
• Value strips
• Sponge
• Artists Tape
• Dedicated palette knife
• Water carrier

Instructor: Victoria Brzustowicz

Weds: 11:00 am – 12:30 pm

Teen to Adult

Cost: $129 for 7 Weeks

Weds 11:00-12:30 4/8/26-5/20/26

Can’t draw but want to? Can draw but want to get better? In this class you will use pencil, charcoal, and pastel to learn basic forms, one and two point perspective, negative space, tonal value and proportion. Use these fundamentals to draw anything. Drawing accurately is the basis for all other fine art mediums. You need to be able to accurately sketch out your canvas or paper before going on the next step.

• Materials List:
• Drawing pad w/perforated top 9 x 12 or 11 X 14
• hake brush
• 4 graphite drawing pencils, hard, med & soft
• metal sharpener
• pink pearl eraser
• kneaded eraser
• blending tortillions
• Vine Charcoal
• Kit portfolio bag at cost with purchase of kit
• Kits are available for purchase

$10 Thursdays 11:00-6:00

Want room to sprawl out in a spacious art studio? Or maybe you want to draw and paint with other artists in a relaxed social studio. For $10 you can spend the day up in our large studio with other artists. Bring whatever supplies you want except for solvents and use the tables and/or easels, kitchen and bathrooms.

No Open Studio during Winter and Spring Break, and Summer

Begins again 9/4

We are so happy to host this workshop with award winning artist Laurie Maddalina- Here are the details

Saturday 4/25  10:00 – 4:00 (hour break for lunch)

Cost $100

Class Overview
This one-day workshop combines traditional portrait drawing techniques with the soft, blendable texture of PanPastels, offering artists a powerful and versatile medium for rendering and capturing likeness, values and form through expressive shading. Beginners and Intermediate artists will complete a portrait and gain confidence in using PanPastels for dramatic monochromatic effects.
Students will learn:

Portrait Foundations

● Anatomy of the face, proportions, features, & structure
● Exploring light and shadow with simple shapes
● Breaking down features into simple forms
Introduction to PanPastel
● Understanding the medium: properties & tools
● Techniques for blending, layering and erasing
Application Techniques
● Blocking in values: light, mid-tones and shadows
● Building depth and form with soft layering
● Using erasers for highlights and fine details
● Adding texture to hair, eyes, etc

• Materials (All materials except the Prospek Proportional Divider can be purchased at The Art Stop):

• Sofft #4 Point Knife w/5 Covers
• PanPastel Artists’  Pastels Black, 9 ML
• PanPastel Artists’  Pastels Titanium White, 9ML
• Prospek Proportional Divider
• General’s The Original Charcoal DrawingPencils Set of 7
• General Pencil Factis BM-2 Mechanical Eraser
• Tombow MONO Zero Round Eraser, 2.3mm
• Large Kneaded Eraser
• Strathmore Recycled Toned Sketch Pad 400 Series-11″ x 14″ Tan (24 Sheets)

If you don’t have any of these items and you would like us to make up a kit, just let us know!

Reference image will be provided. You can work from an iPad or printed photo, whichever you prefer.

If you have any of the following items, that’s fine! Also bring along a 2B or 4B charcoal pencil.
Strathmore also makes a grey toned paper. Either is good!

Saturdays: 11:00-11:45 

Next Session: 3/7/26 – 5/2/26 Skip 4/4 (Spring Break)

8 Weeks $115

Young artists will enjoy this lighthearted class. A huge variety of projects makes this class fun over and over again. Basic art concepts are introduced at an age-appropriate level, preparing the student for creative art class, when they are ready. A smock or apron is recommended for this class. Class limit 10

Supply List:

• Drawing pad w/perforated top 9 x 12 or 11 x 14
• 1 set Cray-Pas any size, or 6 or 12 set of Playcolor (dry tempera sticks)
•  2B pencil, eraser
• All other supplies will be supplied by The Art Stop

Saturday: 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Next Session: 3/7/26 – 5/2/26 Skip 4/4 (Spring Break)

Cost: $125 for 8 weeks 

Ages 9-12

In this class, students learn to draw what they see. Proportion, perspective, composition, basic forms, negative space, and tonal value are emphasized. Pencil, charcoal, pastel and paint are used. Students will be given projects based on their ability. Class limit: 12

Materials List

• Drawing pad w/perforated top 9 x 12 or 11 x 14
• Chalk pastel set of 24 or 48 student grade is fine
• Medium and soft Charcoal pencil
• 4 graphite drawing pencils, hard, med & soft
• Metal sharpener
• Pink pearl eraser
• Kneaded eraser
• Blending tortillions

Kits are available for purchase, if you call ahead we will put one together. All other supplies will be supplied by The Art Stop