The Café will be closed for remodel from Aug 12 through Sept 5, 2024. | Due to construction, Museum parking may be limited at the time of your visit. Look for additional parking in free or metered spaces along nearby streets.

Colored Pencil Techniques

Tuesdays, November 29 – December 13 / 6 – 9 pm 

Learn how to use colored pencils to create vibrant realistic drawings! This course is designed to teach students how to blend colored pencils so that drawings aren’t grainy or textured. Through a variety of techniques students will learn how to mix colors, render details and utilize unique colors to draw a colorful still life and self-portrait.

Ages: Adults (15+) / Beginners Welcome! 
Instructor: Ashley Follmer

Required Supplies: 
• Prismacolor Colored Pencils (Student’s choice of 12-36 count) 
• Q-tips
• Acetone
• Jar for Acetone
• Bristol Vellum Paper (Pad) 9 x 12”

Intensive: Beginning Drawing – The Comparative Method

Monday – Friday, November 14 – 18 / 9 am – noon

Whether you are a beginner or a intermediate level artist this five-day intensive is designed to help your improve your drawing techniques. Students will start with the very basics gaining a solid foundational working knowledge of how to draw what they see with an emphasis on tonal range, perspective and shading. Through drawing drills and take-home assignments students will gain a better understanding of tool use and drawing techniques to create successful drawings using the comparative method.

Instructor: David McCamant
Ages: Adult (15+) / All Levels

Supply List:

  • Drawing Pencils: 3 – HB, 1 – each B, 2B, 4B, 6B, 1 – White pastel pencil
  • Erasers: 1 – Kneaded, 1 – White ‘soap’
  • Drawing Board: 24”x 32” Incredible Art Board (or similar)
  • Clips: 2 – Bulldog brand clips (as large as you can find)
  • Paper: 1 – 9” x 12” Pad Strathmore Charcoal Paper Medium Weight (white), 1 – 9” x 12” Pad Bogus Rough Sketch Paper (brown), 1 – 12” x 18” Pad Strathmore Charcoal Paper Medium Weight (white), 1 – 9” x 12” sketchbook
  • Small pencil sharpener

Radiant Mandalas: Meditative Drawing and Journaling

Wednesday, September 21 / 10 am – 2 pm

Participants will explore the origins of the mandala (radiant) and the significance of these designs in various cultures. They will experience the joy of learning the construction techniques that allow the inner self to manifest in a physical design filled with color and intricacy. Students will learn to still their minds and bodies in order to relax and allow mandalas to flow onto the paper. They will discover through the significance of color and points the inner world they reveal. All necessary materials will be provided but, if you have already have a journal and your own colored pencils and pens that you enjoy using, please bring them.

Instructor: Kaleigh Surber
Ages: Adult (15+) / All Levels

Life Drawing: Open Studio

Thursdays, December 8 – 22 / 1 – 4 pm

Improve your life drawing skills and explore a variety of media while working freely from a nude model in this popular open studio class. The instructor will be present to coordinate class and offer instruction upon request. Both male and female models will be posed and drawn.


Instructor: Jerry Stinson 
Ages: Adults (18+) / All Levels

The following are suggested basic supplies – all media are welcome, so please bring whatever supplies you need for whichever media you are using. 
– Drawing board – 20”x 26” or larger (light-weight masonite works best) 
– Newsprint pad – 18”x 24” – rough surface recommended 
– Bull dog clamps or similar to attach pad to board 
– Medium and Support Items: 
– Vine charcoal, thin and fat pieces
– Choice of conte crayon, 6B graphite pencil or sticks, china marker, compressed charcoal, carbon pencils, or any suitable medium for drawing on newsprint 
– Large kneaded eraser 
– Pink pearl eraser
– Portable pencil sharpener or utility knife (best for soft/medium pencils)
– Clean small rags 
– Sandpaper pad for sharpening drawing mediums 
– Stumps for blending (optional)

Life Drawing: Open Studio

Wednesdays, December 7 – 21 / 6 – 9 pm

Improve your life drawing skills and explore a variety of media while working freely from a nude model in this popular open studio class. The instructor will be present to coordinate class and offer instruction upon request. Both male and female models will be posed and drawn.


Instructor: Jerry Stinson 
Ages: Adults (18+) / All Levels

The following are suggested basic supplies – all media are welcome, so please bring whatever supplies you need for whichever media you are using. 
– Drawing board – 20”x 26” or larger (light-weight masonite works best) 
– Newsprint pad – 18”x 24” – rough surface recommended 
– Bull dog clamps or similar to attach pad to board 
– Medium and Support Items: 
– Vine charcoal, thin and fat pieces
– Choice of conte crayon, 6B graphite pencil or sticks, china marker, compressed charcoal, carbon pencils, or any suitable medium for drawing on newsprint 
– Large kneaded eraser 
– Pink pearl eraser
– Portable pencil sharpener or utility knife (best for soft/medium pencils)
– Clean small rags 
– Sandpaper pad for sharpening drawing mediums 
– Stumps for blending (optional)

Life Drawing: Open Studio

Thursdays, November 3 – December 1* / 1 – 4 pm

NOTE: Class does not meet on Thursday, November 24*

Improve your life drawing skills and explore a variety of media while working freely from a nude model in this popular open studio class. The instructor will be present to coordinate class and offer instruction upon request. Both male and female models will be posed and drawn.

Instructor: Jerry Stinson 
Ages: Adults (18+) / All Levels

The following are suggested basic supplies – all media are welcome, so please bring whatever supplies you need for whichever media you are using. 
– Drawing board – 20”x 26” or larger (light-weight masonite works best) 
– Newsprint pad – 18”x 24” – rough surface recommended 
– Bull dog clamps or similar to attach pad to board 
– Medium and Support Items: 
– Vine charcoal, thin and fat pieces
– Choice of conte crayon, 6B graphite pencil or sticks, china marker, compressed charcoal, carbon pencils, or any suitable medium for drawing on newsprint 
– Large kneaded eraser 
– Pink pearl eraser
– Portable pencil sharpener or utility knife (best for soft/medium pencils)
– Clean small rags 
– Sandpaper pad for sharpening drawing mediums 
– Stumps for blending (optional)

Life Drawing: Open Studio

Wednesdays, November 2 – 30* / 6 – 9 pm

NOTE: Class does not meet on Wednesday, November 23*

Improve your life drawing skills and explore a variety of media while working freely from a nude model in this popular open studio class. The instructor will be present to coordinate class and offer instruction upon request. Both male and female models will be posed and drawn.

Instructor: Jerry Stinson 
Ages: Adults (18+) / All Levels

The following are suggested basic supplies – all media are welcome, so please bring whatever supplies you need for whichever media you are using. 
– Drawing board – 20”x 26” or larger (light-weight masonite works best) 
– Newsprint pad – 18”x 24” – rough surface recommended 
– Bull dog clamps or similar to attach pad to board 
– Medium and Support Items: 
– Vine charcoal, thin and fat pieces
– Choice of conte crayon, 6B graphite pencil or sticks, china marker, compressed charcoal, carbon pencils, or any suitable medium for drawing on newsprint 
– Large kneaded eraser 
– Pink pearl eraser
– Portable pencil sharpener or utility knife (best for soft/medium pencils)
– Clean small rags 
– Sandpaper pad for sharpening drawing mediums 
– Stumps for blending (optional)

Life Drawing: Open Studio

Thursdays, October 6 – 27 / 1 – 4 pm

Improve your life drawing skills and explore a variety of media while working freely from a nude model in this popular open studio class. The instructor will be present to coordinate class and offer instruction upon request. Both male and female models will be posed and drawn.

Instructor: Jerry Stinson 
Ages: Adults (18+) / All Levels

The following are suggested basic supplies – all media are welcome, so please bring whatever supplies you need for whichever media you are using. 
– Drawing board – 20”x 26” or larger (light-weight masonite works best) 
– Newsprint pad – 18”x 24” – rough surface recommended 
– Bull dog clamps or similar to attach pad to board 
– Medium and Support Items: 
– Vine charcoal, thin and fat pieces
– Choice of conte crayon, 6B graphite pencil or sticks, china marker, compressed charcoal, carbon pencils, or any suitable medium for drawing on newsprint 
– Large kneaded eraser 
– Pink pearl eraser
– Portable pencil sharpener or utility knife (best for soft/medium pencils)
– Clean small rags 
– Sandpaper pad for sharpening drawing mediums 
– Stumps for blending (optional)

Life Drawing: Open Studio

Wednesdays, October 5 – 26 / 6 – 9 pm

Improve your life drawing skills and explore a variety of media while working freely from a nude model in this popular open studio class. The instructor will be present to coordinate class and offer instruction upon request. Both male and female models will be posed and drawn.

Instructor: Jerry Stinson 
Ages: Adults (18+) / All Levels

The following are suggested basic supplies – all media are welcome, so please bring whatever supplies you need for whichever media you are using. 
– Drawing board – 20”x 26” or larger (light-weight masonite works best) 
– Newsprint pad – 18”x 24” – rough surface recommended 
– Bull dog clamps or similar to attach pad to board 
– Medium and Support Items: 
– Vine charcoal, thin and fat pieces
– Choice of conte crayon, 6B graphite pencil or sticks, china marker, compressed charcoal, carbon pencils, or any suitable medium for drawing on newsprint 
– Large kneaded eraser 
– Pink pearl eraser
– Portable pencil sharpener or utility knife (best for soft/medium pencils)
– Clean small rags 
– Sandpaper pad for sharpening drawing mediums 
– Stumps for blending (optional)

Drawing Techniques: Back to Basics

Tuesdays, September 13 – October 11 / 6 – 9 pm 

Students will enjoy this introductory level course designed to teach basic drawing techniques including rendering, figure drawing, and perspective. This class is designed to provide a foundation for drawing, teaching students how to realistically draw objects, environments and people. Each class will focus on different drawing techniques and strategies, beginning with rendering and shading objects in perspective to drawing a live model. 

Instructor: Ashley Follmer 
Ages: Adults (15+) / Beginners Welcome!

Required Supplies: 
• Charcoal Pencils or Sticks 2B-6B Soft & Medium, 1 White Charcoal Pencil 
• Graphite Pencils HB, B, 2B, 4B, 6B, 8B 
• Pencil Sharpener 
• Kneaded Eraser, Pink Eraser 
• Paper Blending Dowels (Various Sizes) 
• Set of Soft Chalk Pastels 
• Newsprint Pad 
• Heavyweight White Drawing Paper