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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.

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

  • Make a Clay Pumpkin with Natalie Kossack
    Make a Clay Pumpkin with Natalie Kossack
    Fri, Oct 02
    Arlene's Artist Materials
    Oct 02, 2026, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
    Arlene's Artist Materials, 57 Fuller Rd, Albany, NY 12205, USA
    Get your hands dirty and dive into a festive fall project in this playful, beginner‑friendly ceramic workshop. Natalie will guide you through hand‑building your own three‑dimensional pumpkin or jack o’ lantern using pinch‑pot techniques, simple sculpting tools, and colorful underglazes.
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  • Drawing Fundamentals with Maria DeAngelo
    Drawing Fundamentals with Maria DeAngelo
    Fri, Oct 02
    Arlene's Artist Materials
    Oct 02, 2026, 2:00 PM
    Arlene's Artist Materials, 57 Fuller Rd, Albany, NY 12205, USA
    Looking for a welcoming introduction to drawing? This two‑session class is designed to help you build confidence, understand core techniques, and start seeing the world with an artist’s eye.
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  • White Flowers in Pastel with Kris Woodward
    White Flowers in Pastel with Kris Woodward
    Sat, Oct 03
    Arlene's Artist Materials
    Oct 03, 2026, 10:30 AM – 1:00 PM
    Arlene's Artist Materials, 57 Fuller Rd, Albany, NY 12205, USA
    Explore the quiet elegance of white flowers in this pastel workshop focused on subtle color, gentle shadows, and airy backgrounds. Working with blooms like daisies, irises, and dahlias, you’ll learn how to capture their soft luminosity using pastel layering, delicate shading, and thoughtful color...
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  • Working with Clay Slabs with Natalie Kossack
    Working with Clay Slabs with Natalie Kossack
    Multiple Dates
    Sat, Oct 03
    Arlene's Artist Materials
    Oct 03, 2026, 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
    Arlene's Artist Materials, 57 Fuller Rd, Albany, NY 12205, USA
    Discover how fun and approachable ceramics can be in this hands‑on workshop focused on building with clay slabs. Slab construction is a versatile technique used to create functional pieces like mugs, bowls, vases, and more!
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  • Seeing and Drawing with Ken Rutsky, MFA
    Seeing and Drawing with Ken Rutsky, MFA
    Thu, Oct 08
    Arlene's Artist Materials
    Oct 08, 2026, 4:00 PM
    Arlene's Artist Materials, 57 Fuller Rd, Albany, NY 12205, USA
    You don’t need to be an expert to become a better observer. In this relaxed, beginner‑friendly class, you’ll explore how to draw people and animals through simple, confidence‑building exercises that strengthen your creativity and sharpen your eye.
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  • Botanical Drawing Fall Apple with Nancy Lyons
    Botanical Drawing Fall Apple with Nancy Lyons
    Sat, Oct 10
    Arlene's Artist Materials
    Oct 10, 2026, 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
    Arlene's Artist Materials, 57 Fuller Rd, Albany, NY 12205, USA
    Learn how to bring natural forms to life on the page in this introductory botanical drawing workshop. Over three focused hours, you’ll explore the foundational techniques that give botanical art its signature depth, clarity, and elegance.
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  • Lush Botannica- Creating Botanical Art with Felt and Thread with Aly Parrott
    Lush Botannica- Creating Botanical Art with Felt and Thread with Aly Parrott
    Oct 10, 2026, 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
    Arlene's Artist Materials, 57 Fuller Rd, Albany, NY 12205, USA
    If you’ve been curious about fiber art but aren’t sure where to begin, this workshop offers the perfect place to start. In this hands-on class, you’ll create a lush botanical wall hanging using wool felt scraps, wool roving, and embroidery thread.
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  • 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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  • Urban Sketching: People & Places with Ottavia Huang
    Urban Sketching: People & Places with Ottavia Huang
    Oct 24, 2026, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
    Arlene's Artist Materials, 57 Fuller Rd, Albany, NY 12205, USA
    Adding people in our sketch could be a fun way to capture the atmosphere of a place. In this workshop, Ottavia will guide you through creating a lively scene full of people using watercolor —either from a photograph or direct observation.
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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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