Classes
At The Charles H. Taylor Visual Arts Center, we believe the best way to keep the arts in your life is by creating art throughout your life. Our educational programs allow visitors and students to broaden their understanding and appreciation of art by interacting with art, artists, and instructors, while expressing themselves through the creation of their own artwork.
The Arts Center has approximately 20 classes in various media throughout the year on a quarterly basis. These include drawing, watercolor, painting, photography, and other media. Both one day workshops and multi-week class sessions are offered. Our award winning artist instructors exhibit widely throughout Hampton Roads and have 10 to 40 years of teaching experience.

*Registration will end five days before the class/workshop start date. Active Advantage is not affiliated with Hampton Arts, if you have signed up for their subscription by mistake, please email: ActiveAdvantage@active.com and they will issue a refund.*
View ALL Spring Classes/Workshops
Spring 2026 Adult Art Classes
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Watercolor Studio I with Pam Oden (4 weeks)
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Wednesdays, April 22, April 29, May 6 and May 13
10:15 am - 12:45 pm
Class size: 14
Age: 18+
Price: $105 (HAL members $100)
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.
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Watercolor Studio II with Pam Oden (4 weeks)
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Wednesdays, May 20, May 27, June 3 and June 10
10:15 am - 12:45 pm
Class size: 14
Age: 18+
Price: $105 (HAL members $100)
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.
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Intermediate Watercolor Class with Jim Dees
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Thursdays, April 23, April 30, May 7, May 14, May 21, and May 28
10:30 am – 12:30 pm
Class Limit: 12
Ages: 18+
Price: $ 135 (HAL members $ 130)
Join this intermediate watercolor class designed for artists who have a foundational understanding of watercolor techniques and wish to enhance their skills. In this course, students delve deeper into the medium, exploring advanced techniques such as wet-on-wet, glazing, and color layering and using Yupo and rice paper. The curriculum includes the study of light and shadow, texture creation, and the use of negative space to add depth and dimension to paintings. Participants will also learn to mix complex colors, control water flow, and utilize various brushes for different effects. Students refine their artistic style and gain confidence in their ability to create dynamic and expressive watercolor works.
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Introduction to Watercolor Painting with Tom Daley
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Thursdays, April 23, April 30, May 7, May 14, May 21, and May 28
6-8 pm
Class Limit: 12
Ages: 18+
Price: $ 125 (HAL Members $120)
Discover the joy of watercolor painting in this beginner-friendly class, perfect for those looking to explore their creativity with this vibrant and fluid medium. You'll learn essential techniques such as color mixing, brush control, and layering to create beautiful, expressive paintings. You'll practice foundational skills while working on fun, step-by-step projects designed to build your confidence.
Spring 2026 Youth Art Classes
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Creativity in Painting with Amanda Wallace
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Thursdays, April 23, 30, and May 7
Time: 5:30 – 7 pm
Class Limit: 12
Ages: 9-12 years old
Price: $ 50
This engaging youth painting class invites young artists to explore their creativity through color, texture, and imagination. Students will learn foundational painting techniques—such as color mixing, brush control, composition, and layering—while experimenting with a variety of subjects ranging from landscapes and animals to abstract expression. Guided step-by-step instruction is balanced with opportunities for personal interpretation, encouraging each child to develop their own artistic voice in a supportive and inspiring environment. Designed to build confidence as well as technical skill, the class fosters creativity, problem-solving, and a lifelong appreciation for the visual arts.
Spring 2026 Workshops
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Digital Photography Foundations with Jaclyn Kolev Brown
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Saturday, April 25
11 am – 4 pm
Class Limit: 15
Ages: 18+
Price: $ 10
In this course, designed for students who have little previous experience with digital photography, instructor Jaclyn Brown will help students overcome their fear of using manual settings on a DSLR camera and show cell phone camera users how to maximize potential and quality. Students will be introduced to camera operations, very basic image editing, and other important building blocks. After the workshop, students will be able to utilize their newly acquired skills, gain knowledge of what makes a good photograph, and develop the confidence to take better control of their photographs as a whole. All digital cameras are welcome! Available to high school juniors and seniors, college students, and adults. Bring a bag lunch. 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.
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Glass-on-Glass Mosaic Workshop with Joy Matthews
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Saturday, May 2
11 am – 2 pm
Class Limit: 12
Ages: 16+
Price: $ 70
Participants will apply colored art glass to a glass base. The instructor will provide patterns and scrap glass, and students are also free to draw their own designs and embellish their pieces with items like murine or chain. Once the glass is glued, grout is applied and wiped off after a thirty-minute drying time.
A supply fee of $10.00 is needed for materials the instructor will be providing.
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Frida, Pastels & Portraits with Dawn Flores
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Saturday, May 23
Time: 11 am – 4 pm
Class Limit: 12
Ages: 18+
Price: $10
Study the art of portraiture through the work and photographs of Frida Kahlo. Students will work in pastels as they hone their understanding of drawing portraits by working from photographs of the Mexican artist and/or her work. A slide presentation on the VMFA’s 2025 exhibition Frida: Beyond the Myth will be presented as part of the workshop. Bring a bag lunch. 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.
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Pressed Flowers Coasters Workshop with Briana from So Many Flowers
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Thursday, June 11
6-8 pm
Class Limit: 12
Ages: 16+
Price: $ 25
Create beautiful, functional art by designing your own pressed flower coasters. In this hands-on project, delicate blooms and greenery are carefully arranged and preserved to capture their natural color and intricate detail. Participants will learn how to press and prepare flowers, thoughtfully compose their designs, and seal them to create durable, water-resistant coasters perfect for everyday use. Blending nature and creativity, this process transforms simple botanical elements into elegant keepsakes that celebrate the seasons and add a handcrafted touch to any home. Participants will make two 4”x 4" coasters with pressed flowers and beveled glass.
A supply fee of $20.00 is needed for materials the instructor will be providing.
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Creating Your Own Field Sketchbook with Sean “Teach” Strickland
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Thursday, May 14
Time: 6-8 pm
Class Limit: 12
Ages: 16+
Price: $ 25
In this hands-on class, participants will create their own DIY field sketchbook designed for drawing, note-taking, and creative exploration on the go. Students will learn simple bookbinding techniques, choose papers suited for sketching and mixed media, and customize their sketchbooks with covers and personal details. Participants can bring their own fabric (must measure 9” x 12”) or the instructor can provide fabric. Along the way, the class will explore practical tips for using a field sketchbook outdoors—capturing quick observations, textures, and ideas in the moment. Perfect for all skill levels, this class encourages curiosity, portability, and the joy of making a creative tool that’s uniquely your own.
Summer 2026 Art Camp Workshops
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Summer Art Camp with Sean “Teach” Strickland
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Week of July 13 – 17
Adventures in Space ~ 9 am to 12 noon
Ages 6 to 10
Camp Price: $180
In this camp, students will engage in a journey of exploration into all things outer space. From Sci-Fi to NASA astronauts, kids will expand upon their knowledge of space through art.
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Where We Live
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Where We Live
1 – 4 pm
Ages 11 – 15
Camp Price: $180
In this camp, students will engage in an exploration of the industries in the Tidewater region. Kids will learn about the five major industries in the area through art. Students can expect to create a variety of 3D projects that represent the industries of military, shipbuilding, commercial fishing, aerospace and tourism.
For those needing ADA/Accessible accommodations due to limited mobility or wheelchair access, please let the CHTVAC staff know at the time of registration so we can best serve the needs of our students.
CALL FOR INSTRUCTORS
The Charles H. Taylor Visual Arts Center is looking for experienced artists in a variety of mediums to teach 6-8 week courses or 1-2 day workshops. Some mediums we have previously offered include watercolor, photography, oils/acrylics, collage, alcohol ink, and oil & cold wax. We are interested in individuals with previous professional teaching experience who may offer mediums outside of our normal repertoire or may offer a new take on a familiar medium.
If interested, please email ctvisualarts@hampton.gov with your contact information, class proposal (including any class materials), preferred class times (Tuesday-Saturday, daytime or evening), and list of previous classes taught.