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:

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.

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.

Product Demos

Product demos are done in conjunction with the brands with carry at Arlene’s. Learn more about your favorite brands and all the cool ways they can be used. Demos are free to attend but prepregiration is required.

Search our upcoming classes and workshops catalog below!

Registration for our Spring 2024 classes and workshops is open!

For additional details, including supply lists, about individual classes/workshops, or to register, please click on an individual listing. Please review all registration information and policies.

Register for classes and workshops online, by calling Arlene’s at (518) 481-8881, or in person, at 57 Fuller Rd Albany NY 12205.

Upcoming Classes & Workshops

Fri, Oct 04
Paint Your Pet with Coffee with Kris Woodward
Arlene's Artist Materials
REGISTER HERE
Oct 04, 2024, 10:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Arlene's Artist Materials , 57 Fuller Rd, Albany, NY 12205, USA
Get ready for a one-of-a-kind workshop where you'll turn your love for your pet into a beautiful portrait—using coffee as your medium! Yes, you read that right. In this fun and interactive workshop, you'll discover how to create stunning art with just coffee and water...
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Fri, Oct 04
Watercolor For Everyone with Carolyn DiFiori Hopkins, MFA
Arlene's Artist Materials
REGISTER HERE
Oct 04, 2024, 11:00 AM
Arlene's Artist Materials, 57 Fuller Rd, Albany, NY 12205, USA
Whether you want to try your hand at loose watercolor painting or you want to continue on your watercolor painting journey, this six-week-long class is for you! Express your creativity using watercolor while learning various watercolor techniques! Demonstrations in every class.
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Fri, Oct 04
Fall Watercolor For Everyone with Carolyn DiFiori Hopkins, MFA
Arlene's Artist Materials
REGISTER HERE
Oct 04, 2024, 1:30 PM
Arlene's Artist Materials , 57 Fuller Rd, Albany, NY 12205, USA
Join our Fall Watercolor Workshop and learn how to create beautiful, detailed paintings with hands-on practice. Perfect for all skill levels, this workshop will help you develop key watercolor techniques.
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Fri, Oct 04
Painting Colorful Birds in Watercolorwith Carolyn DiFiori Hopkins, MFA
Arlene's Artist Materials
REGISTER HERE
Oct 04, 2024, 4:00 PM
Arlene's Artist Materials, 57 Fuller Rd, Albany, NY 12205, USA
Join us for a fun and relaxing workshop where you'll learn how to draw and paint birds in watercolor! 🎨 This class is perfect for anyone who loves birds and wants to turn that passion into art.
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Sat, Oct 05
Embroidery 101 with artist-in-residence Aly Parrott
Arlene's Artist Materials
REGISTER HERE
Oct 05, 2024, 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Arlene's Artist Materials , 57 Fuller Rd, Albany, NY 12205, USA
Embroidery is a versatile medium, and its rich history spans millennia and touches every corner of the world. It is an art that can showcase technical prowess, and conceptual ideas, and can be a valuable addition to any artist’s repertoire. In this introductory course, makers will learn a set...
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Sat, Oct 05
Making Handmade Books: Accordion Books with artist in residence Jackie Moylan
Arlene's Aritst Materials
REGISTER HERE
Oct 05, 2024, 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Arlene's Aritst Materials, 57 Fuller Rd, Albany, NY 12205, USA
Create your own unique accordion book in this hands-on workshop! Learn essential techniques for making both basic and pocket-style accordion books. Perfect for beginners and those looking to expand their bookmaking skills. Supplies are not included in the cost of the workshop.
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Sat, Oct 05
Learn All About Color with Kelly Smith
Arlene's Artist Materials
REGISTER HERE
Oct 05, 2024, 1:00 PM
Arlene's Artist Materials, 57 Fuller Rd, Albany, NY 12205, USA
Unlock the Secrets of Color! This six-week course demystifies color theory, helping you create harmonious and captivating artwork. Learn how to master color relationships, build unity in your designs, and use color to evoke mood and atmosphere...
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Sat, Oct 05
Foundations of Gouache with Teresa Ricci
Arlene's Aritst Materials
REGISTER HERE
Oct 05, 2024, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Arlene's Aritst Materials, 57 Fuller Rd, Albany, NY 12205, USA
Discover the Versatility of Gouache! Unleash your creativity with this exciting introduction to gouache. Explore the unique properties of this versatile medium, combining the transparency of watercolor with the opacity of acrylics. Learn essential techniques, experiment with different styles, and...
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Thu, Oct 10
Intro to Colored Pencils with artist in residence Rainier Bernhardt
Arlene's Artist Materials
REGISTER HERE
Oct 10, 2024, 10:30 AM – 1:30 PM
Arlene's Artist Materials, 57 Fuller Rd, Albany, NY 12205, USA
Unleash your creativity with this hands-on workshop! Learn the art of colored pencil drawing as you explore a variety of techniques, from delicate layering to rich blending. You'll discover how different colored pencil pigments create unique effects and master the art of color theory...
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Fri, Oct 11
Finding Your Mark: Mixed Media Workshop with Tracy Loring
Arlene's Artist Materials
REGISTER HERE
Oct 11, 2024, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Arlene's Artist Materials , 57 Fuller Rd, Albany, NY 12205, USA
In this mixed media workshop, Tracy will guide you through a process to discover your unique, authentic marks and then bring them to life using charcoal, water-based drawing tools, and oil sticks. You’ll learn ways to layer different media and create expressive works that are uniquely you...
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Fri, Oct 11
Rich & Creamy Acrylic Treats with Maria DeAngelo
Arlene's Artist Materials
REGISTER HERE
Oct 11, 2024, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Arlene's Artist Materials, 57 Fuller Rd, Albany, NY 12205, USA
Let’s create tasty paintings with thick and creamy acrylics! We will be painting pastries and treats while learning to work with acrylic paints and impasto mediums. Paint your favorite sweet treat, or create a whimsical confection along with artist Maria DeAngelo.
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Wed, Oct 16
Drawing the Human Form for Everyone with Carolyn DiFiori Hopkins, MFA
Arlene's Artist Materials
REGISTER HERE
Oct 16, 2024, 12:00 PM
Arlene's Artist Materials, 57 Fuller Rd, Albany, NY 12205, USA
In this class students will learn the basics of drawing the human figure. We’ll cover proportion, gesture, and anatomy, showing you how to bring these together to create beautiful figure drawings. Whether you’re new to drawing or want to improve your skills, this class is perfect for you.
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Thu, Oct 17
Intro to Watercolor with artist in residence Rainier Bernhardt
Arlene's Artist Materials
REGISTER HERE
Oct 17, 2024, 10:30 AM – 1:30 PM
Arlene's Artist Materials, 57 Fuller Rd, Albany, NY 12205, USA
This workshop offers an immersive introduction to watercolor, guiding students through the fascinating interactions between watercolor, ink, and paper. You’ll explore the differences between paint grades, compare watercolor tubes vs. pans, and learn about academic vs. professional grade pigments...
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Fri, Oct 18
Capturing the Essence of Sunflowers in Pastel with Kris Woodward
Arlene's Artist Materials
REGISTER HERE
Oct 18, 2024, 10:30 AM – 1:30 PM
Arlene's Artist Materials, 57 Fuller Rd, Albany, NY 12205, USA
In this workshop, you'll focus on creating close-up pastel paintings of sunflowers. Kris will demonstrate techniques for painting sunflowers in a detailed, tight format, starting with an alcohol under-painting.
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Sat, Oct 19
Botanical Drawing: Fall Pumpkins and Gourds with Nancy Lyons
Arlene's Artist Materials
REGISTER HERE
Oct 19, 2024, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Arlene's Artist Materials, 57 Fuller Rd, Albany, NY 12205, USA
In this 3 hour class participants will be learning the basics of Botanical Drawing. The process of Botanical Drawing begins with gradual toning with simple geometric shapes that turn into all the forms in nature. This process will make your piece three dimensional and pop off the page...
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Sat, Oct 19
Crafting Color: A Short Guide to Stained Glass Creation-Pumpkin with Amanda Moore
Arlene's Artist Materials
REGISTER HERE
Oct 19, 2024, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Arlene's Artist Materials, 57 Fuller Rd, Albany, NY 12205, USA
Experience the autumn charm of pumpkins in a single 3-hour session, where you'll delve into a spectrum of glass hues, and learn the techniques of foiling and soldering to fashion your own breathtaking pumpkin. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned creator, all are welcome to join in the joy...
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Thu, Oct 24
Intro to Ink on Paper with artist in residence Rainier Bernhardt
Arlene's Artist Materials
REGISTER HERE
Oct 24, 2024, 10:30 AM – 1:30 PM
Arlene's Artist Materials, 57 Fuller Rd, Albany, NY 12205, USA
Join us for a hands-on workshop where you'll dive into the world of inks! We’ll explore popular types like India inks, water-based inks, and acrylic inks, breaking down the differences between dye-based and pigment-based inks, and the unique binders that give each its character...
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Thu, Oct 24
Watercolor & Ink Travel Sketching: Savory Culinary Adventures with artist-in-residence Ottavia Huang
Arlene's Artist Materials
REGISTER HERE
Oct 24, 2024, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Arlene's Artist Materials , 57 Fuller Rd, Albany, NY 12205, USA
Join us for a fun and relaxed session on food sketching, where we'll explore capturing the vibrant colors and textures of your dishes from your travel in watercolor and ink. No experience needed—just bring your love for art and food! In this workshop, Ottavia will walk you through every step...
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