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Classes &

Workshops

Fostering the creativity of artists of all levels

The mission of the continuing education program is to give our community a safe place to experiment and strengthen the importance of creating.

Check out the following categories for learning at Arlene’s:

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Adult Classes & Workshops

Covering a broad range of artistic mediums and techniques, our multi-day adult classes offer plenty of time for immersion and experimentation while our one day workshops are a great way to try something new. 

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Make and Take's

Open to all ages and experience levels, Make and Take’s are a great way to turn something new. No judgement. All supplies included. Make and Take’s are done in conjunction with our Artist in Residence Program.

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Student Guide

Learn how to get involved with workshops, residences, mentorship program, and more at the Atelier. Everything you need to know is in this guide.

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CLICK HERE  >

Search our upcoming classes and workshops catalog below! 

Register for classes and workshops below, by calling Arlene’s at (518) 481-8882, or in person, at 57 Fuller Rd Albany NY 12205. For additional details, including supply lists and registering for individual classes or workshops, click the REGISTER HERE button next to the listing. 


Have questions? Please review our Registration Information and Policies, and don’t forget to check out the Atelier FAQs.

Upcoming Classes & Workshops

  • Mixed Media with Fabrics with Maria DeAngelo
    Mixed Media with Fabrics with Maria DeAngelo
    Tue, Oct 13
    Arlene's Artist Materials
    Oct 13, 2026, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
    Arlene's Artist Materials, 57 Fuller Rd, Albany, NY 12205, USA
    Fabrics are the art we live our lives in—full of color, pattern, and texture—and in this mixed media workshop, they become the inspiration for your creative process. Spend the day exploring how the visual language of textiles can spark dynamic, layered artwork.
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  • Watercolor Foundations: From First Brushstroke to Finished Painting with Carolyn DiFiori Hopkins, MFA
    Watercolor Foundations: From First Brushstroke to Finished Painting with Carolyn DiFiori Hopkins, MFA
    Oct 14, 2026, 11:00 AM
    Arlene's Artist Materials, 57 Fuller Rd, Albany, NY 12205, USA
    This beginner‑friendly three week class is designed to give you a strong, confident start in watercolor. You’ll learn the essential skills that make watercolor both approachable and enjoyable—from understanding your materials to completing a finished painting from observation.
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  • Water Media Studio with Carolyn DiFiori Hopkins, MFA
    Water Media Studio with Carolyn DiFiori Hopkins, MFA
    Oct 15, 2026, 11:00 AM
    Arlene's Artist Materials, 57 Fuller Rd, Albany, NY 12205, USA
    This six‑week studio class is a great opportunity to explore watercolor, acrylic, gouache, or any other water‑soluble media you want to explore. Carolyn will help you build skills in observation, composition, color, and personal expression while giving you the freedom to choose the medium...
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  • Observation Studio: Advanced Painting from the Still Life with Carolyn DiFiori Hopkins, MFA
    Observation Studio: Advanced Painting from the Still Life with Carolyn DiFiori Hopkins, MFA
    Oct 16, 2026, 11:00 AM
    Arlene's Artist Materials, 57 Fuller Rd, Albany, NY 12205, USA
    Take your still‑life painting practice to the next level in this six-week advanced studio course designed for artists who want to refine their eye, strengthen their technique, and deepen their personal voice.
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  • The Curious Collection: Little Relics with Carolyn DiFiori Hopkins, MFA
    The Curious Collection: Little Relics with Carolyn DiFiori Hopkins, MFA
    Oct 17, 2026, 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
    Arlene's Artist Materials, 57 Fuller Rd, Albany, NY 12205, USA
    Step into a world of wonder. Inspired by the Room of Wonders: A Contemporary Cabinet of Curiosities exhibition, this one‑day workshop invites artists to create an original acrylic painting from a curated selection of natural specimens, vintage treasures, forgotten objects, and unexpected relics.
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  • A Gentle Perch with Oksana Burr
    A Gentle Perch with Oksana Burr
    Sat, Oct 17
    Arlene's Artist Materials
    Oct 17, 2026, 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
    Arlene's Artist Materials, 57 Fuller Rd, Albany, NY 12205, USA
    Create a beautiful bluebird perched on a branch using colored pencils on rich, velvety Pastelmat paper. In this workshop, you’ll explore the unique qualities of this surface and learn a variety of blending techniques that help you achieve a soft, realistic finish.
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  • Tuesday Studio Seminar- Watercolor & Ink with Carolyn DiFiori Hopkins, MFA
    Tuesday Studio Seminar- Watercolor & Ink with Carolyn DiFiori Hopkins, MFA
    Oct 20, 2026, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
    Arlene's Artist Materials, 57 Fuller Rd, Albany, NY 12205, USA
    Discover how watercolor and ink can work together to create lively, expressive artwork. In this one‑day seminar, you’ll explore the dynamic relationship between transparent watercolor and waterproof ink through demonstrations and guided exercises that encourage curiosity and play.
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  • Putting People in Watercolors with Kris Woodward
    Putting People in Watercolors with Kris Woodward
    Fri, Oct 23
    Oct 23, 2026, 10:30 AM – 1:00 PM
    Arlene's Artist Materials, 57 Fuller Rd, Albany, NY 12205, USA
    Adding people to a landscape instantly changes the emotional tone of a painting—inviting the viewer in, creating a sense of scale, and telling a story without a single word. In this focused practice‑based workshop, you’ll learn how to place small, expressive figures into your watercolor scenes...
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  • Forever Floral: Stained Glass Creation with Amanda Moore
    Forever Floral: Stained Glass Creation with Amanda Moore
    Oct 24, 2026, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
    Arlene's Artist Materials, 57 Fuller Rd, Albany, NY 12205, USA
    In this creative 3-hour workshop, you'll learn the fundamentals of stained glass, including foiling and soldering, while preserving vibrant pressed blooms between glass.
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  • Intro to Silver Metal Clay with Nancy Miller
    Intro to Silver Metal Clay with Nancy Miller
    Oct 28, 2026, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
    Saratoga Springs, Saratoga Springs, NY, USA
    Discover the magic of turning soft, sculptable clay into solid, shimmering silver in this inspiring beginner‑friendly workshop with artist and instructor Nancy Miller.
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  • Paint a Polaroid: Watercolor Workshop with Stephanie Facchine
    Paint a Polaroid: Watercolor Workshop with Stephanie Facchine
    Oct 31, 2026, 1:00 PM – 3:30 PM
    Arlene's Artist Materials, 57 Fuller Rd, Albany, NY 12205, USA
    In this relaxed and supportive workshop, you will adapt detailed landscape photos into 2x3 inch polaroid-style paintings. Painting mini can help you hone your watercolor skills without the pressure of planning a larger painting.
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  • Tuesday Studio Seminar- Painting Light with Carolyn DiFiori Hopkins, MFA
    Tuesday Studio Seminar- Painting Light with Carolyn DiFiori Hopkins, MFA
    Nov 03, 2026, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
    Arlene's Artist Materials, 57 Fuller Rd, Albany, NY 12205, USA
    Light is one of the most powerful tools an artist can use—and in this focused studio seminar, you’ll learn how to make it work for you. Through demonstrations and individual instruction, Carolyn will guide you in understanding how value, color, edges, and atmosphere come together to create...
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  • Painting a Lake Scene in Watercolors with Kris Woodward
    Painting a Lake Scene in Watercolors with Kris Woodward
    Nov 07, 2026, 10:30 AM – 1:00 PM
    Arlene's Artist Materials, 57 Fuller Rd, Albany, NY 12205, USA
    Capture the quiet serenity of a lake in this watercolor workshop designed to strengthen your observational skills and simplify your landscape process.
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  • Encaustic Mixed Media Collage with Tracy Loring
    Encaustic Mixed Media Collage with Tracy Loring
    Sat, Nov 07
    Nov 07, 2026, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
    Arlene's Artist Materials, 57 Fuller Rd, Albany, NY 12205, USA
    Curious about the luminous, tactile world of encaustic painting? This beginner‑friendly workshop invites you to explore the magic of creating vibrant mixed media collages using thin, translucent layers of encaustic medium.
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  • The Artist's Sketchbook: A Creative Practice with Carolyn DiFiori Hopkins, MFA
    The Artist's Sketchbook: A Creative Practice with Carolyn DiFiori Hopkins, MFA
    Nov 07, 2026, 11:00 AM
    Arlene's Artist Materials, 57 Fuller Rd, Albany, NY 12205, USA
    Discover how a sketchbook can become your most powerful creative tool. In this four‑week course, you’ll build a personal sketchbook practice through drawing, watercolor, collage, journaling, and close observation. Each session encourages exploration, play, and thoughtful reflection...
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  • Mixed Media with Hand Stitching with Maria DeAngelo
    Mixed Media with Hand Stitching with Maria DeAngelo
    Nov 10, 2026, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
    Arlene's Artist Materials, 57 Fuller Rd, Albany, NY 12205, USA
    Spend an afternoon creating purely for the joy of making. In this mixed media workshop, you’ll learn how to build layered images that explore hand stitching as line, color, and texture—transforming simple materials into richly expressive artwork.
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  • Basic Watercolors with Kris Woodward
    Basic Watercolors with Kris Woodward
    Fri, Nov 13
    Arlene's Artist Materials
    Nov 13, 2026, 10:30 AM – 1:00 PM
    Arlene's Artist Materials, 57 Fuller Rd, Albany, NY 12205, USA
    Build a strong foundation in watercolor by learning the essential techniques every beginning artist needs. This hands-on workshop focuses entirely on skill‑building—not creating a finished painting—so you can practice with confidence and develop a toolkit you’ll use in every future project.
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  • Magical Menagerie - Creating Fantasy Animals in Watercolor with Aly Parrott
    Magical Menagerie - Creating Fantasy Animals in Watercolor with Aly Parrott
    Nov 14, 2026, 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
    Arlene's Artist Materials, 57 Fuller Rd, Albany, NY 12205, USA
    Step into a world of myth and imagination as you design your own fantastical creatures in watercolor. From gryphons and kelpies to krakens and jackalopes, this workshop invites you to explore the creatures that have shaped fantasy art and storytelling for generations.
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