PAINTING

Painting

  • Watercolor Basics and Beyond

    • 24 Mar 2026
    • 21 Apr 2026
    • 4 sessions
    • Saratoga Arts
    • 2
    Register

     


    Watercolor Basics and Beyond

    taught by Jo Johnson

    Make a Splash with watercolor painting!!! This class will teach the essential watercolor basics including brushwork, color mixing, and composition, along with light art history insights to provide context and inspiration. Weekly sketchbook assignments encourage experimentation and personal exploration outside of class.

    Week 1: Getting Started with Watercolor
    Explore foundational brush techniques and color mixing through hands-on exercises. Put your new skills into practice with a guided “Sunset Silhouette” painting.

    Week 2: Flora & Fauna
    Study the natural world as you paint plants and animals, focusing on texture, layering, and capturing organic forms.

    Week 3: Still Life
    Develop your eye for composition, light, and shadow while painting everyday objects in a classic still life format.

    Week 4: Portraits & Figures
    Learn the basics of painting people, with attention to proportion, expression, and skin tones.

    By the end of the course, students will have completed multiple finished paintings, built a stronger understanding of watercolor techniques, and developed a personal sketchbook practice to continue their artistic journey.

    All skill levels welcome. All supplies will be provided.

    4 session class, Tuesdays, March 24, 31, April 14, 21 (No class April 7) at 1 pm-4 pm

    $160 member/$190 non-member

    Price breakdown:

    $150 member/$180 non-member plus $10 supply fee



    Show details

  • Foundations of Character Development

    • 11 Apr 2026
    • 18 Apr 2026
    • 2 sessions
    • Saratoga Arts
    • 3
    Register


    Foundations of Character Development

    taught by Bennett Kimble-Lee

    This class introduces core principles behind creating strong, memorable characters. We’ll explore topics such as shape language, visual readability, and how a character’s design reflects their story and/or setting. Through guided prompts and in-class exercises, you’ll put these ideas into practice and develop 1–2 rough character concepts of your own.

    Whether you’re new to character design or looking to sharpen your fundamentals, this workshop will give you the tools to start designing with purpose and clarity.

    Students are encouraged to bring their own tablets/computers; if they prefer to work digitally.

    All ages welcome. Students under 16 years of age must be accompanied by an adult.

    2 Session Class-Saturdays, April 11-18, 2026, 1:00 PM-4:00 PM

    $80 member/$95 non-member

    Price breakdown:

    $75 member/$90 non-member plus $5 material fee

    Bennett Kimble-Lee is an Illustrator based out of Saratoga Springs, New York. His work mixes bold, bright colors with lighthearted subject matter. Bennett recently graduated from Lesley Art + Design and is happy to be back home. His most recent works revolve around animals, with a focus on recognizable designs and eye-catching colors. Outside of the studio, Bennett enjoys creating music and walking around Saratoga. More of Bennett’s work can be found on his website: bennettkimblelee.com.

    https://www.instagram.com/spinach.illustration/

    Show details

  • Healing through Color Expression

    • 11 Apr 2026
    • 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
    • Saratoga Arts
    • 8
    Register


    Healing through Color Expression

    taught by Stephanie Stolar

    Feeling is healing. And what expresses, elicits, and evokes feeling like color? In this class we will explore and use different color mediums/media to express and process emotions, loss, relationships, and/or events.

    We will begin with an opening circle and check in, followed by a brief grounding, centering guided meditation. The majority of class time will be spent creating, followed by an ending circle where we will have time and space to share about and process our works.

    All experience levels are welcome. No artistic talent or experience neccessary. All materials will be provided.

    Saturday, April 11, 2026 1:00 PM-4:00 PM

    $42.50 member/$50 non-member

    Price breakdown:

    $37.50 member/$45 non-member plus $5 material fee

    About the Instructor

    Stephanie Stolar is a trauma therapist, yoga teacher, artist, musician, vegetarian, animal-lover, etc. dedicated to helping others on their healing journey. She has incorporated art into her therapy practice and facilitated several art therapy groups. Her art style leans toward surrealistic impressionism and uses color to more to express emotions and moods rather than creating a realistic form.


    To learn more about her psychotherapy practice:

    https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/whole-being-wellness-mental-health-counseling-pllc-saratoga-springs-ny/922478

    Show details

  • Feathered Friends: Inspired by Amy Tan's The Backyard Bird Chronicles

    • 14 Apr 2026
    • 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
    • Saratoga Arts
    • 3
    Register

     


    Feathered Friends:

    Inspired by Amy Tan's The Backyard Bird Chronicles

    taught by Jo Johnson

    In this hands-on adult art class, students will explore drawing and painting birds through a variety of approachable techniques, inspired by Amy Tan’s The Backyard Bird Chronicles. We’ll begin by practicing sketching basic bird shapes using pencil, then move into expressive brush and ink work. Students will follow a step-by-step watercolor demonstration to paint a bird, enhancing details and texture with colored pencils. Drawing inspiration from Tan’s observations and artistic journaling, each student will select one of their bird studies to transform into a mixed media collage, combining drawing, painting, and layered materials for a unique final piece. No prior experience is necessary—just curiosity, creativity, and a love of birds.

    Find the book, Amy Tan's The Backyard Bird Chronicles here:

    https://www.northshire.com/book/9780593536131

    All supplies will be provided.

    1 session class, Tuesday, April 14 from 1 pm-4 pm

    $42.50 member/$50 non-member

    Price breakdown:

    $37.50 member/$45 non-member plus $5 supply fee



    Show details

  • Intermediate Oil Painting-Landscapes

    • 14 Apr 2026
    • 5 May 2026
    • 4 sessions
    • Saratoga Arts
    • 4
    Register


    Intermediate Oil Painting-Landscapes

    taught by Lisa David

    This course is designed for students who have prior experience with oil painting and wish to further develop their technical skills and personal approach to landscape painting. Students will focus on interpreting landscape subjects with a greater emphasis on light, depth, storytelling, and developing a personal approach to painting landscapes.

    Work will be completed using both photo references and direct observation. Through demonstrations and individualized instruction students will complete 1-2 landscape oil paintings.

    Materials will be provided or students can bring their own. A supply list can be found here  Beginner Oil Painting Supply List. 

    4 session classes, Tuesdays, April 14-May 5, 2026, 6:00-9:00 PM

    Materials not Included $180.00 member/$216.00 non-member

    Materials Included $225 member/$270 non-member


    About the instructor


    Award-winning artist Lisa David was born and raised in upstate New York, where she spent much of her childhood camping in the Adirondack Mountains. Those early experiences sparked a lifelong love for the region and continue to inspire her work. A child of the sixties and seventies with a suburban upbringing that was, at times, a bit offbeat, Lisa finds beauty and nostalgia in vintage subjects—often capturing them with playful energy and a bold use of color.

    Lisa began her career running a successful production pottery business. When the physical demands of clay led her to shift focus, she pursued a teaching degree and became a National Board Certified Art Teacher. For 20 years, she taught high school art, nurturing creativity in young artists while continuing to grow her own practice.

    Now retired from public education, Lisa teaches advanced drawing and painting at the Saratoga Arts Center in Saratoga Springs, NY. She continues to paint from her cabin in the Adirondacks, where the landscape, light, and memories of summers past still fuel her artistic passion.

    Member, Oil Painters of America


    www.lisadavidart.com

    @lisadavidart

    Show details

  • Acrylic Painting Basics

    • 16 Apr 2026
    • 7 May 2026
    • 4 sessions
    • Saratoga Arts
    • 4
    Register

     


    Acrylic Painting Basics

    taught by Caleb Lohneiss

    Unleash your creativity in this four-week acrylic painting class designed for adults of all skill levels. Whether you're brand new to painting or looking to strengthen your technique, this course will guide you through the essential foundations of painting with acrylics.

    Week 1: The Magic of Color Mixing
    Discover how to mix vibrant, harmonious colors using a limited palette. Learn about color relationships, value, temperature, and how to create depth and mood in your paintings through intentional color choices.

    Week 2: Capturing Light – Landscape Painting
    Explore how light transforms a scene. You’ll create a landscape painting while learning techniques for atmosphere, perspective, and brushwork that bring skies, water, and natural elements to life.

    Week 3: Animal Painting (Bring Your Own Reference Photo)
    Bring a favorite animal photo and learn how to translate fur, feathers, texture, and personality onto canvas. This week focuses on layering, detail work, and capturing character.

    Week 4: Portrait Painting
    Dive into the art of portraiture. Learn basic facial proportions, skin tone mixing, and how to convey expression and depth. You’ll complete a portrait that reflects both technical growth and your unique style.

    By the end of the course, students will have completed several finished paintings and gained a strong foundation in acrylic techniques, color theory, and composition — along with the confidence to continue painting on their own.

     All materials will be provided for this class.

    4 session class, Thursdays, April 16-May 7, 2026 from 6:00-9:00 pm

    $206 member/$236 non-member

    $150 member/$180 non-member with a $56 material fee


    Hello, my name is Caleb. I have been making art for as long as I can remember, beginning with pencil drawing as a child and expanding into painting and other mediums over time. I currently work as a carpenter, but maintain an active artistic practice across a range of materials, including oil paint, watercolor, acrylic, pen and ink, and graphite. I believe that once an artist’s eye is trained, it can never be turned off.

    @calebsportfolio

    Show details

  • Intermediate Pastels

    • 22 Apr 2026
    • 13 May 2026
    • 4 sessions
    • Saratoga Arts
    • 8
    Register

     


    Intermediate Pastels

    taught by Carolyn Justice


    This class is designed to help you develop both confidence and creativity while learning to work with pastels. With a focus on originality and discovering your personal style, you’ll explore how to interpret subjects in your own way while learning solid techniques.

    We’ll cover the basics of value, layering, and blending as you work from still life, portraits, landscapes, and photo references. Step by step, you’ll gain the skills to handle more complex subjects while being encouraged to experiment and find your own artistic voice.

    Beginners are welcome! Materials will be provided during class to beginners. Students who have taken a pastel class previously are asked to bring their own pastels.

    4 session class, Wednesdays from April 22, 29, May 6, 13, 2026 at 1 pm-4 pm

    $180 member/$216 non-member materials not included (bring your own)

    $195 member/$231 non-member materials included

    About the Instructor

    Carolyn is an award winning pastel artist. She is known for her animal portraits, landscapes, and vibrant colorful still lives. Her work has been selected for the annual Landscapes for Landsake exhibitions for many years. She is also a member of the prestigious Oakroom Artists group whose membership is by invitation only. She has taught classes with Saratoga Arts for over twenty years and is a long standing member of the Co-op at 79 Beekman Street where she gives private lessons in her studio.


    Carolyn Justice Fine Art

    The Upstairs Artist Co-op at 79 Beekman Street

    saratogaartdistrict.com/member/upstairs-artist-co-op

    Show details

  • Out Of Your Right Brain Art Challenge

    • 12 May 2026
    • 2 Jun 2026
    • 4 sessions
    • Saratoga Arts
    • 8
    Register


    Out Of Your Right Brain Art Challenge

    taught by Alice Kaplan

    Visual artists of any ability will unleash their creativity with this unique course. During each session, participants will be given a weekly challenge with progressive levels of complexity. They will create a drawing or painting that has certain specific themes and elements which will be randomly determined during each class. Through discussion, demonstration and practice we will explore the use of different media including graphite, charcoal, acrylic paint and mediums, collage and even basic elements of sculpture to create unique works of art.

    Participants will be given the opportunity to show their creations in a group show later in the year.

    All materials and tools will be provided for the class.  All skill levels are encouraged to register.

    4 session class, Tuesdays, May 12-June 2, 2026 6:00-9:00 PM  

    $160 member/$190 non-member


    Price breakdown:

    $150 member/$180 non-member plus $10 material fee


    Meet the Instructor:


    Alice Kaplan is an inter-disciplinary artist who primarily paints in oil and acrylics and also creates beaded jewelry and textile art and in original designs. She maintains a studio at 79 Beekman St. in the Saratoga Springs Art District where she has various works on display in the stairwell gallery.  She has participated in various group shows, member shows and art events in upstate NY with the Beekman Street Artists Group, Saratoga Arts and Saratoga Springs Art District Inc. 


    Alice has also volunteered for many years teaching arts and crafts to children in the Saratoga area, both as a Girl Scout leader, and as a member of the Saratoga Springs High School Drama Club technical team where she has coordinated scenic design for more than a dozen musical productions.


    akaplanstudio.com

    A Kaplan Studio (on Facebook)

    Show details

Saratoga Arts

320 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
p. 518.584.4132
Office hours: Monday - Friday: 9am - 5pm


Saratoga Arts' programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.  

Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software