Tuesdays, February 6, 13, 20, 27 and March 5, 12 (6 weeks)

6 – 8 pm

Class Limit: 12

Age: 16+

Price: $125 (HAL Members $120)

Acrylic painting is a popular and versatile medium for artists of all skill levels. Before you start painting, it is helpful to have a basic understanding of color theory and composition, as well as an idea of what you want to create. Acrylic paint dries quickly, so you can add layers and make changes to your painting as you go. It is important to experiment with different techniques, such as blending, layering, and dry brushing, to create texture and depth in your painting. With practice and experimentation, you can create beautiful acrylic paintings that showcase your unique style and vision.

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Wednesdays, February 7, 14, 21, 28 and March 6, 13, 20, 27 (8 weeks)

10 am – 1 pm

Class size: 12

Age: 18+

Price $180 (HAL Members $175)
Enhance your artistic abilities by learning how to draw. This class, geared toward beginners, will cover the basic tenets of drawing and composition including shading, line drawing, proportion, perspective, and sight sizing. Sharpen your observation skills by drawing from still lifes. Explore various drawing materials such as pencil, charcoal, conté, and more. Already have a little bit of experience?

This class will help troubleshoot problem areas that you run into. Whether it's composition or technique, this class with help you resolve reoccurring issues. Come to the first class with a pencil, eraser, and drawing pad. The instructor with provide a list of supplies at the first class session.

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Wednesdays, February 7, 14, 21, 28, and March 6, 13 (6 weeks)

10:15 am to 12:45 pm

Class size: 12

Age: 18+

Price: $125 (HAL members $120)

Step into the enchanting world of watercolors with our immersive studio class. In this inspiring environment, budding and experienced artists alike gather to explore the delicate art of painting with watercolors. Guided by our skilled and passionate instructor, you'll learn essential techniques such as blending, layering, and wet-on-wet, allowing you to capture the ethereal beauty of your subjects on paper.

Whether you're seeking a tranquil escape from everyday life or aiming to refine your artistic skills, our watercolor studio class offers a supportive, communal space to foster your artistic journey. Join us and let the soothing flow of watercolors transport you into a realm of artistic expression and self-discovery.

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Wednesdays, February 7, 14, 21, 28, and March 6, 13 (6 weeks)

1:30 pm – 4 pm

Class Limit: 12

Ages: 18+

Price: $125 (HAL members $120)

This beginning painting class is also a good refresher course for intermediate students. Among the topics covered are materials, color theory, tonal values, rendering, glazes and impasto, and developing your personal style.

Whether you're capturing the beauty of a landscape, the nuance of a portrait, or the energy of an abstract piece, beginning oil painting opens up a world of creative possibilities, encouraging you to express your unique artistic vision. Bring a selection of photographs to use as source material as well as your current supplies. We will cover supplies in the first week.  Canvases should range from 9” x 12” up to 16” x 20.”  Supply list available after registration.

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Wednesdays, February 7, 14, 21, 28, and March 6, 13 (6 weeks)

6 pm to 8 pm

Class size: 12

Age: 16+

Price: $125 (HAL members $120)

Join Alex Drewry in the exploration of watercolor painting. Students will be engaged in applying techniques and learning the basic fundamentals of watercolor. Working alongside the instructor, students will find their own unique style and be able to fluidly apply both basic foundations and their own creativity. Dress for a mess is encouraged and basic drawing skills are not necessary, but welcomed!

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Wednesday, February 21 and 28 (2 weeks)

6:30 pm to 9:00 pm

Age: 18+

Class limit: 12

Price: $50 (HAL members $45)

Are you ready to take your camera off the Auto Button and learn to take better photographs?  If so, this class is for you. The two sessions will cover an introduction to digital photography, tips for using your camera properly, and show you how to use compositional techniques for more appealing photos. There will be an optional shooting assignment between classes one and two.  Please bring a digital camera to each class.

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Wednesdays, March 20 and 27 (2 weeks)

6-8 pm

Ages 16+ and Adults

Class Limit 12

Price: $65 (HAL members $60)

Do you have cameos or cabochons that you don’t know what to do with?  Want to turn those unused pieces into new jewelry?  In this workshop, instructor Jama Watts will walk students through creating a beaded bezel around gemstone cabochons using a variety of seed beads, fabric, and thread to create a beautiful piece of wearable art. The class is perfect for those who are new to jewelry making or those who want to learn a new skill.  Students who have jewelry-making tools are encouraged to bring them, as there will be limited tools to share. Students are to pay a supply fee of $20 to the instructor.

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Thursdays, February 8, 15, 22, 29 and March 7, 14 (6 weeks)

10:30 am – 12:30 pm

Class size: 12

Age: 18+

Price $ 125 (HAL Members $ 120)

You will embark on a creative journey where the boundaries of traditional watercolor painting are pushed to their limits. This course is a playground for artistic expression, where you'll dive into the mesmerizing world of abstract art using the fluidity and transparency of watercolors as your medium. Guided by seasoned artists and instructors, you will learn to harness the unpredictable nature of watercolors, discovering the beauty in spontaneity and embracing the freedom of abstraction.

Through a series of hands-on exercises and projects, you'll explore techniques like wet-on-wet blending, masking, and layering to create captivating compositions. Whether you're a seasoned painter or a complete beginner, this class offers a safe and supportive environment to unleash your inner artist and let your imagination flow freely onto the canvas. Join us in a class that promises to be both liberating and inspiring, as you unlock the endless possibilities of abstract watercolor art.

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Thursdays, February 8, 15, 22, 29 and March 7, 14 (6 weeks)

6 – 8 pm

Class size: 12

Age: 16+

Price $125 (HAL Members $120)
Drawing is a foundational skill that can aid in the development of other creative pursuits.  An art form in its own right, learning how to draw can help unlock one's creative potential. Many benefits associated with drawing include increased focus and relaxation, improved creativity and problem-solving, and greater hand-eye coordination. Each week, you'll learn how to practice and implement the basic elements of drawing, contour drawing, shading, and spatial relationships.

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Fridays, February 9, 16, 23, and March 1, 8, 15 (6 weeks)

10:15 am to 12:45 pm

Class size: 12

Age: 18+

Price: $130 (HAL members $125)

This class is designed for students who already possess basic fundamental skills in handling watercolor. Students will be encouraged to ‘delve deeper’ into Design, Value, and Color. Class topics will include still life, collaging a landscape/seascape, ‘figure’ design, adding patterns, and non-representational abstract design. We will look at design principles employed by contemporary artists for inspiration. Students will work from ‘live’ setups and from their own photos.

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Thursday, February 29, March 7, 14, 21 and 28 (5 weeks)

6-8 pm

Ages 16+ and Adults

Class Limit 12

Price: $ 100 (HAL members $ 95)

Bead weaving is a captivating and intricate craft that involves the artful assembly of beads to create stunning, often elaborate designs. This age-old technique, dating back thousands of years across various cultures, utilizes a variety of weaving stitches, such as peyote, herringbone, and right-angle weave, to interlace individual beads into cohesive patterns. Bead weavers employ a needle and thread to meticulously build these beadwork structures, enabling them to produce an array of ornamental items, like bracelets, necklaces, and earrings to decorative items like tapestries and amulet bags.

The diversity of bead shapes, sizes, and colors offers endless creative possibilities, making bead weaving both a form of artistic expression and a means of preserving cultural traditions. Whether crafting for personal enjoyment or to create intricate heirlooms, bead weaving exemplifies the harmonious fusion of creativity and precision. Students are to pay a supply fee of $ 20 to the instructor.

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Wednesday, December 20

6pm - 8pm

Age: 18+

Price: FREE

Apply small resin "diamonds" to an adhesive canvas to create shimmering diamond art. 

This workshop is FREE to attend, but registration at the Charles is required! 

Saturday, February 10

10:30 am to 12:30 pm

Class size: 12

Ages: 13+, adults

Price: $ 65 (HAL members $ 60)

In this dynamic and creative course, you will embark on a captivating journey into the world of mosaic artistry. This two-hour introductory workshop is designed to inspire and ignite your passion for mixed media mosaic. We'll explore the fusion of various materials, including glass, ceramics, found objects, and more, to craft intricate and visually stunning mosaic pieces. Students will learn how to prepare their substrate, nip glass, create a design, and complete a mosaic using various materials.

Students are encouraged to bring buttons, broken jewelry, or anything sentimental they would like to recycle and incorporate in their mosaics. Through hands-on instruction and guided projects, you'll learn the fundamentals of mosaic design, and composition, allowing you to transform everyday materials into captivating works of art. Join us as we blend tradition with innovation, fostering a vibrant community of artists eager to explore the limitless possibilities of mixed-media mosaic art. Let your creativity flow and your imagination soar in this exciting artistic adventure.

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Saturday, February 17

10 am to 2 pm

Class size: 15

Ages: 18+

Price: $ 75 (HAL members $70)

Join photographer Glen McClure, whose exhibition “A Dramatic Land: Photographs of Ireland” is on display during this workshop. The workshop will start with a tour of the exhibition, where participants are encouraged to ask questions of Glen on his process for shooting landscapes and printing his images. We then adjourn to the classroom where Glen will talk about light, the key component of all photography.

This will be a hands-on workshop as Glen will turn the classroom into a mini studio where participants will have the exciting chance to work with studio lighting, both Tungsten spotlights and studio Flash. This workshop promises to be a fun experience for all. Participants are encouraged to bring one or two of their own images on a thumb drive if they are looking for advice on how to bring out the best in that image. Students should bring a bag lunch.

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Thursday, February 22

6-8 pm

Class Size: 10

Age: 14+

Price: $ 65 (HAL Members $ 60)

The workshop will walk through the process of creating a hand-bound Coptic notebook. Attendees will create custom front and back covers, and an interior text block, and then learn how to bind them together using the Coptic stitch.

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Saturday, March 2

11 am – 2 pm

Class size: 12

Age: 16+

Price: $ 40

Welcome to the beginning of calligraphy/hand-lettering class, where the art of beautiful writing unfolds before your eyes. In this enchanting journey, you will delve into the timeless elegance of calligraphy, mastering the delicate strokes that bring letters to life. Guided by your skilled instructor, you will learn the foundational techniques, from proper posture and pen grip to achieving graceful lines and balanced compositions. Through patient practice and attention to detail, you will discover the meditative qualities of calligraphy, as your hand gradually becomes more attuned to the rhythmic dance of ink on paper.

Whether you aspire to create personalized invitations, captivating artwork, or simply enjoy the therapeutic nature of the craft, this beginning calligraphy class will empower you to express your unique voice through the timeless art form of beautiful writing. Students pay the instructor $20 for supplies.

Pre-requisite: students must know cursive lettering.

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Saturday, March 9

11 am – 1 pm

Class Size: 20

Age: 18+

Price: $ 10 (HAL Members $ 5)

In this workshop, visual art and the law intersect in a complex and dynamic relationship, shaping the rights, responsibilities, and limitations of artists. The law plays a crucial role in safeguarding the intellectual property rights of artists, ensuring that their creative expressions are protected from unauthorized reproduction or exploitation. Copyright law, for instance, grants artists exclusive rights over their original works, such as paintings, sculptures, and photographs, preventing others from reproducing or distributing them without permission.

Additionally, laws governing contracts and commissions govern the relationships between artists and their clients, defining the terms of engagement and protecting the interests of both parties. However, the law also faces challenges in balancing artistic freedom and the protection of public interests, such as cultural heritage, freedom of expression, and moral rights. These complexities manifest in issues like censorship, appropriation, and the preservation of public art. As a result, the legal landscape surrounding visual art continues to evolve, to ensure a fair and thriving environment for artists and art enthusiasts alike.

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Saturday, March 23

10 am – 4 pm

Class Size:  15

Age: 18+

Price: Free, materials fee of $20 to be paid to the arts center

Textile artist Mary Swezey will help you discover the French technique of serti, drawing with a liquid resist to create designs and patterns on silk scarves. Once the resist has dried and set with an iron, fabric paints are applied to complete the design. Students can expect to finish a long scarf. The workshop will also include a brief overview of the history of silk painting. This program has been organized by the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and is funded, in part, by the Paul Mellon Endowment and the Jean Stafford Camp Memorial Fund. There will be a short break for lunch – students bring a bag lunch.

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Saturday, March 23

10 am – 4 pm

Class Size: 12

Age: 18+

Price: $ 80 (HAL Members $ 75)

What is metal clay and what can I make with it? Join us for this workshop and discover the exciting world of metal clay! In this introductory workshop, you will learn the basic techniques and skills needed to successfully create jewelry using metal clay. From the history and composition of metal clay to the best ways to cut, texture, form, shape, fire, and finish you will learn it all.

We will work with fine silver clay to create a pair of earrings and a pendant. There will also be information about some of the new base metal clays and the different firing techniques they require. If you fall in love with metal clay, the instructor will provide free firings for two months after the class in her home studio. There is a supply fee of $45 paid to the instructor. Students can bring a bag lunch.

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Saturday, March 30

10 am – 4 pm

Class Size: 12

Age: 18+

Price: $ 80 (HAL Members $ 75)

Beads have always been an essential part of jewelry making. In this workshop, students will explore some of the ways to create beads using fine silver metal clay. You will learn to make tube beads, various shaped beads formed over combustible cores, and a lentil bead using dry construction techniques. You will learn about firing and finishing metal clay. Firing will be done in class if time allows; otherwise, the instructor will fire and your work will be available for pick up at the office.  There is a $45 fee to cover the cost of 15 grams of clay. The instructor will have a limited amount of additional clay available for purchase. Students can bring a bag lunch.

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This family friendly event, filled with holiday themed art projects, is in partnership with the Hampton Public Library. Register at the Charles H. Taylor Visual Arts Center. This event is FREE to attend.

Tuesday, February 6, 13, 20, 27, and March 5, 12 (6 weeks)

5:30 pm – 7 pm

Class size: 10

Ages: 8-12 year olds

Price: $ 100

This class is perfect for children who want to learn how to draw and paint! During the course, your child will learn some basic drawing techniques while exploring different tools including pencils, pastels, and charcoal. They will also explore color mixing and painting techniques using acrylics to paint a still-life masterpiece on canvas with the main focus on having fun!

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