Discover the Best Painting Classes Near Me
Painting is a method of artistic expression in which paint, pigment, color, or another medium is applied to a solid surface. It dates back to prehistory when nomadic people created paintings on rocky walls using charcoal. Recently, the oldest paintings discovered to date were found in Spain, and they are thought to be over 42,000 years old. The most commonly used tool to apply paint is a brush, but other tools, such as knives, spatulas, sponges, and airbrushes can be used alone or in combination with brushes. In the art world, the term “painting” is unique, as it is used to describe the action that creates the end product; both are referred to as “painting”. Any person of any age or ability level can learn to paint.
Why You Should Learn Painting
Painting can be a great hobby, especially if you are looking for stress relief or something to help you be productive during your free time. You may also like the aspect of painting that can be related to doing things for other people. This can come in many forms, such as creating a special gift in the form of a painting that they can hang in their home. This could be a painting of them, their pet, a landscape, or a special memory that is meaningful to them.
There is a large community of people who enjoy painting, both as a hobby and as a profession. Once you have mastered the basics of painting, you might want to research local clubs, groups, events, or organizations where you can meet other people who like painting. These groups could be in-person, but they could also be online, and pretty soon you may find yourself with a brand new social circle.
Lastly, learning painting is a marketable skill that you may be able to turn into a side hustle, or even a new job altogether. You could easily sell your paintings through an online marketplace, or in person at a craft fair close to where you live. You may even be able to start taking commissions, where you create custom paintings based on the requests of your customers. Any of these options could be of great benefit to your professional life.
5 Ways to Learn Painting
Learning painting might seem overwhelming at first, but it does not have to be difficult and you do not have to do it on your own. It may be tedious at first to try and figure out what materials to use or what colors go together, and many new painters will get discouraged when their first painting does not come out the way they want it to. This is why in-person painting classes are the ideal way to learn painting: you will see the demonstration in greater detail and your instructor can give you real-time feedback and advice on your project.
Live online painting classes are also a great way to learn painting without leaving the comfort of your home. They are accessible to almost anyone, which is good because not everyone has an in-person painting class that is close to them. And even though they take place online, a live online painting class features a live instructor who can answer your questions and give you assistance in real-time. This is the next best option to learning painting in person simply because you get to enjoy the real-time feedback that you cannot find with any of the other methods of learning painting.
Self-paced or on-demand painting classes, such as those found on YouTube, can also be a good option especially if you do not want to invest money in painting right away beyond the purchasing of basic supplies, such as brushes, paints, canvas, or paper. These self-paced or on-demand classes allow you to learn as quickly or as slowly as you want, and you can utilize them around your schedule rather than having to attend a class on a certain day, at a certain time. Many people who have full-time jobs or children enjoy self-paced or on-demand painting classes for this reason.
Learning painting from someone you know who paints, like a relative or friend, may be a good idea. This is largely dependent on your schedule as well as the schedule of the other person, and whether the way that they paint aligns with how you want to learn. There are many different styles of painting, and the method that your friend or loved one knows may not match up with what you were expecting to learn. That being said, this can be an excellent way to learn while also allowing you to spend time in the company of someone you are close to.
There are painting groups that you could attend as a beginner, but go into it knowing that many people in painting groups are looking for socialization, not to teach someone else how to paint. Painting groups can be a good place to observe different techniques or get new ideas for projects; they are not necessarily the best place to learn painting when you are just starting out. The exception to that rule is if the group specifically states that they welcome beginners, or that someone in the group is looking to teach beginners.
In-Person Painting Classes
If you want to learn painting in-person, CourseHorse can connect you with classes in your area. For example, if you are in New York City, you can attend Painting Workshop: Harlem at Painting Lounge. You will learn painting by replicating the featured painting of the evening with guidance from an experienced artist. This class is perfect for beginners, and you can even bring beer, wine, and food to enjoy while you paint. BYOB Painting: Santorini (UWS) takes place at The Paint Place on the Upper West Side, and it is a class for beginners. You will learn to create a one-of-a-kind painting masterpiece that you can take home the same night. Also at The Paint Place on the Upper West Side is BYOB Painting: Banksy Girl with Balloon (UWS). This beginner-level painting class will show you how to replicate this famous work by street artist Banksy, and you will be able to take your creation home with you at the end of the evening.
If you are in Los Angeles, you can attend Watercolor/Acrylic Painting at Water Media by Rea in the Van Nuys neighborhood. This class is designed for learners to have fun while they paint, and all skill levels can learn to paint in watercolor, acrylic, or both mediums. Beginner Acrylics is held at Ako Eyong in North Hollywood and is designed for absolute beginners as well as those who would like to brush up on their painting skills. This paint-along class explores the principles and theories behind each step before it is executed. And Paint + Sip: Fireflies is a class at Brushstrokes + Beverages in Long Beach that includes all materials and is for any skill level. In this course, you will learn to paint a beautiful canvas filled with fireflies against a night sky.
Live in San Francisco? Try Portrait Workshop, a six-session class offered at the Art School of San Francisco Bay. In this class, students complete numerous head studies and improve their knowledge of proper head construction. You will select and complete a project of your choice in whatever medium you like during the second half of the class. Abstract Art: Dialogues with Nature is a two-day class offered at Living Your Wild Creativity in Santa Rosa. This course explores your connection with the land while you make sketches and color studies, culminating in an abstract painting. Another Art School of San Francisco Bay offering is Oil & Acrylic Painting. In this fourteen-session class, art lovers of all skill levels will master various oil and acrylic painting techniques. You will learn how to represent texture as well as express character and emotions in your work.
In San Diego, you can attend Abstract Oil Painting at Art on 30th. This four-session class will explore the basics of abstract painting with oils. You will learn how to use a variety of different kinds of oil paints, including tubed paint and pigment sticks. Paint Your Pet (Realistic or PopART) takes place at Lovejoy Creations in La Mesa, and you will paint a canvas of the size you choose. After that, you will learn how to transfer a photo of your pet to your canvas using paint. If you like flowers, Poppies at Painting & Vino is a beginner-level course that lets you get creative and provides all supplies. You will learn how to paint vibrantly colored poppies while enjoying a social environment.
Chicago is home to Intro to Painting I & II at the Discovery Center in Irving Park. This beginner-level class allows you to express your own unique style through painting while you learn the fundamentals of color blending and balance. Taught in four sessions, this class utilizes water-based paints, and you get to select the style in which you paint. Another Discovery Center offering is Mixed Media Art, which is also four sessions. In this class, you will learn how to create dynamic, multi-layered compositions using watercolors, acrylic inks, pastels, images, found objects, and more. Techniques explored include but are not limited to painting, drawing, collage, printing, photo transferring, and assemblage. Painting with Gelli Plates takes place at Evanston Art Center and is a unique class that utilizes Gelli Plate monotypes to add an exciting twist to painting. You will work in layers and create one-of-a-kind paintings on paper while also learning how to use mark-making, stencils, and masking.
If you are in the Boston area, you may enjoy Intensive Abstract Painting Workshop at Art School 99 in Somerville. This fun, innovative, and challenging class is a beginner-level program that will teach you design fundamentals as well as composition and color. You will also learn the history behind abstract art. There is also Pastel Landscapes offered at Milton Art Center in Milton. This five-session class will teach you how to create beautiful paintings using soft pastels, working from photographs of landscapes. You will explore composition, mark-making, and different underpainting techniques.
Virtual Painting Classes
You might be intimidated by the idea of taking an online painting class at first, but much like in-person painting classes, they have their pros and cons. Something good about taking a virtual painting class is that you can attend the class from anywhere. Feel free to work on your painting project at home, in your backyard, or even in a public space like a park. You also do not have to commute to a classroom when you take an online painting class, which saves you both money and time. The biggest con about taking an online painting class is that you generally have to supply your own materials and equipment.
If you are interested in online painting classes, CourseHorse has options that will work for you. For example, Beginner’s Intro to Watercolor Painting: Single Session is a class that explores the colorful world of watercolor painting. You will experience learning and fun in this relaxed group atmosphere while you discover your unique form of self-expression. Beginner Watercolor Online is a six-session course focused on botanicals, and you will learn to paint with luminous, sparkling watercolors. Enjoy acquiring new techniques and learning through fun activities that transition into studies and landscapes. Online Painting With Acrylics 301 is a virtual class for all levels in which you will learn the techniques of 20th-century painting masters. These include mixing colors and preparing your canvas for your work.
Private Group Painting Classes
Would you like to schedule a painting class as a fun team-building event for your business or organization? CourseHorse offers painting classes for private groups online that they can deliver to you in a live online format. Virtual Watercolor Workshop (Materials Included) takes up to 225 participants at a time, and all materials are provided for the class. You and your coworkers will have fun learning new techniques to create an abstract painting in a relaxing and creative atmosphere. Virtual Acrylic Painting (Materials Included) will take up to 500 participants per course and all materials are included. This class will teach those in your group how to create a painting together on canvas. While you will all be working on the same painting, the end products will be unique to each artist. And Virtual Watercolor Georgia O’Keeffe (Materials Included) is a workshop that takes up to 225 people and includes all the materials you need to learn. This unique class will teach your group about legendary watercolor artist Georgia O’Keeffe, and in the process of painting, you will learn her techniques.
If you do not see a group class that interests you listed publicly on their website, CourseHorse can provide a different class for your group. Reach out through the contact form on their website to learn about all available options. And remember that when you book with CourseHorse, you get a multitude of benefits, including the ability to change your group size after booking if necessary. You will also receive a confirmation within 24 hours of your booking, and there are no extra booking fees. Finally, CourseHorse private group classes are supported on multiple platforms, so everyone can join in on the fun no matter where they are.
What Will I Need to Learn Painting?
The supplies you will need to learn painting depend largely on the type of painting you wish to learn. For example, if you are interested in learning to paint with watercolors, you will need supplies that cater to watercolors. This could include the watercolors themselves, plus the appropriate paper and brushes. If you are going to learn how to paint with acrylics, you will need at least the paints, at least one canvas, brushes, and a palette for mixing colors. Each different type of painting has its own unique basic supplies, as well as materials that can be added to your toolkit once you have mastered the basics. It is important to note that if you take a painting class, these materials are usually provided, and if they are not, the instructor will most likely give you a list of exactly what you need to buy.
Is it Difficult to Learn Painting?
Painting is an art form that requires time and dedication to master, no matter what style of painting you like, the types of materials you choose to learn with, or how you decide to learn. While becoming great at painting might be a tough goal to achieve, it is one that is accessible to nearly anybody if you choose to dedicate yourself to learning all you can about it. Your first work of art may not be the best, but the more you work at becoming a fantastic painter, the more likely it is that you will create a masterpiece.
