Classes at The Art Store

New at The Art Store
Classes designed to bring out the artist in you! Small classes with personal attention!
All classes will be held at The Art Store in Des Moines (unless otherwise indicated). Reserve your spot by sending a check, calling or stopping by the store today. Cancellations must be received prior to the first day of class to be eligable for a refund (less a $5 fee). Advanced payment will reserve your seat in a class, open seats are first come first serve.

Students will receive a 15% discount off suggested retail prices for related items or items used in class!!!

NEW This Year - FREE DEMOS

Click here for more information. FREE Demo Schedule

To register for a class, click on the appropriate class/classesand purchase like a regular product. Classes are priced "Per Student". If you are signing up for more than 1 Student you need to enter the number of Students to purchase for in the Quantity Field.

Calendar View ON / OFF

Acrylic Painting

by Jim Engler

This class will focus on color mixing & paint application. We will work on color schemes & composition using photos as a reference. Two paintings will be completed in this 3 Week course

$80
Per Student

Class is Complete - March 17 through April 2

Class is FULL - June 9 through 25

Click to Order - October 6&8,13&15, 20&22

Adult Beginning Drawing

by Jonathon Pearson

Learn basic drawing techniques, first by drawing still lifes, & then focus on more expressive drawing. Great class for beginners!

$40
Per Student

Click to Order - August 5,12,19,& 26

Airbrush Beginning

by Shawn Palek

Learn the basics of airbrushing including care & manipulation of the tool, which paints to use, and important practice techniques which are designed to develop your airbrushing skills.

$35
Per Student

Class is Complete - Feb 28

Class is Complete - March 21

Class is FULL - June 20

Click to Order - July 11

Click to Order - September 5

Click to Order - October 3

Airbrush Intermediate

by Shawn Palek

Explore your airbrush further. Learn advanced techniques and push your airbrush to its limits and beyond. Shawn Palek will show you how to put that professional flair in your work. Some airbrush experience required and no one under 18 please.

$65
Per Student

Class is Complete

Click to Order - July 25 & August 1

Click to Order - October 24 & 31

Altered Book

by Kay Sperry

Learn some fun techniques that will transform an old or un-used book into an awsome art journal, scrapbook, or a place to play! We'll experiment with pockets, niches, pull-outs, flag folds, modesty panels, and more.

Supplies Needed:

Old Book (Pick up at a garage sale)
Scissors
Straight Edge (metal cork backed ruler is good)
Knife
Glue Stick (UHU)
Paper Scraps ephemera, etc

$25
Per Student

Class is Complete - June 6 - Saturday

Block Printing

by Tierney Millhollin

Learn how to use basic block printing tools & complete 2 designs on paper. Learn how to use basic block printing tools & complete 2 designs on paper.

$25
Per Student

Class is Complete

Bookmaking

by Kay Sperry

Make 5 books, including 3 pamphlets, 1 Japanese or stab style, and one suprise.

$25
Per Student

Click to Order - June 20 - Saturday

Cartooning Fun for Kids & Their Parents

by Gene Hamilton

Kids (Grades 3-6) and their parents will learn the basics of cartooning by playing drawing games such as "Doodle Challenge", "Name Game", or "Exquisite Corpse". No talent necessary. This is a great opportunity for parent and child to spend some fun learning time together.

$15
Per Student

Class is Complete - March 7th - Saturday

Class is Complete - June 13th - Saturday

Collage on Clayboard

by Brandie Butcher-Isley

Each student will complete 1 or 2 collage pieces on clayboard with your favorite photos and/or ephemera.

$25 + $5 materials fee to be paid to instructor
Per Student

Bring at least 2 pieces of Ampersand Aquaboard (5x5 cycbt05 - 5x7 cycbt05)

Ephemera Suggestions:

Old Sheet Music
Book pages
Old magazines
Old newspapers
Old programs or menus
Post cards
Letters
Old address books or school workbooks

Supplies:

Copies of your favorite photos, kinko's or office max / color copies on matte paper (or a scanned photo)
Ephemera (old paper things)
Clear Gesso
Golden Fluid Acrylics 3 or More colors
Fluid Matte Medium
Soft Gel Medium Matte or Gloss
Graphite Pencil
Gelly Roll WHite Gel Pen
Black Prisma Color Colored Pencil
Paint Brushes various sizes
Scissors
Exacto Knife and cutting surface
Tea Towels
Water container and paint pallet

This all you can use, ever growing buffet will include, but is not limited to:
LOTS and LOTS of ephemera, including old sheet music, book pages, magazines, insurance policies, certificates, handbooks, calendars...
The list goes on and on and on!
Printed images of people or items on various papers, walnut ink crystals, random odds and ends that may inspire you, jewelry wire, ribbon, string, twine, removable glue dots, sand paper, painters tape, shot glasses (to paint with) letter and number stencils varied sizes, copmasses and other funky drawing tools, various pencils, pens and permanent markers

Wear old clothes, it could get messy! Is there are better way to spend a sunday afternoon?

Click here for a class supply list.

Class is Complete

Click to Order - July 12

Click to Order - Aug 2

Collage on Vintage Surface

by Brandie Butcher-Isley

Each student will copmlete 2 or more collage pieces with & ephemera on vintage surface. Look what your instructor is bringing to the class:
Brandie is bringing primed vintage book boards for everyone to use as a base for their collages!

As if the book boards are not enough! She is bringing a mountainous supply of items and tools to use for your collage, so you don't have to!

We will line up tubs of stuff for you and your fellow students to dig through, ending up with a plate full of treasures to use to build a fabulous piece of art! YEAH!

This all you can use, ever growing buffet will include, but is not limited to:

LOTS and LOTS of ephemera, including old sheet music, book pages, magazines, insurance policies, certificates, handbooks, calendars...The list goes on and on!
Printed images of people or items on various papers
Walnut ink crystals
Random odds and ends that may inspire you
Jewelry wire
Ribbon
String
Twine
Removable glue dots
Sand paper
Painters tape
Shot Glasses (to paint with)
Letter and number stencils varied sizes
Compasses and other funky drawing tools
Various pencils, pens and permanent markers
Surface Suggestions(Bring at least two):
Book Covers
Sturdy Calendar Pages
Vintage Album Covers
Ephemera Suggestions:
Old Sheet Music
Book Pages
Old Magazines
Old Newspapers
Old Programs or Menus
Post Cards
Letters
Old address books or school workbooks
Supplies:
Copy of your favorite photo,kinko's or office max/color copies in matte paper
Clear Gesso
Golden Fluid Acrylics (3 or more colors)
Fluid Matte Medium
Soft Gel Medium (Matte or Gloss)
Graphite
Gelly Roll White Gel Pen
Black Prismacolor Color Pencil
Paint Brushes various sizes
Scissors
X-acto Knife
Tea Towels
Water Container
Paint Palette

Wear old clothes, it could get messy! Is there a better way to spend a Saturday afternoon?

* Listed as a Per Student Cost.

$25 + $5 Paid to instructor
Per Student

Click to Order - October 11

Collage Picture Story

by Erin Jay Frye

Children (ages 4-6) will be working with color, pattern, texture, & figurative shapes to tell a picture story.

* Listed as a Per Student Cost.

$15
Per Student

Click to Order - July 25

Copperplate Calligraphy

by Kris Horning

Copperplate is a callgraphy style that was perfected in the 17th and 18th centuries. It differs from other popular styles in that it is written with a pointed flexible nib, rather than a broad-edged tool. It is generally a formal style, but the instructor will show some more casual adaptations. This class is for beginners, but is one of the most challenging styles to learn.

Supplies Needed:

Hunt 101 nibs
Oblique pen holder (if left-handed, buy a regular pen holder)
11x14 Bienfang 360 Pad
Scoth 811 Tape or roll of drafting tape or dots
Pencil or pen for notes

$55
Per Student

Class is Complete - March 9,16,23,30

Class is Complete - May 4,11,18,& June 1

Click to Order - Sept 7,14,21,28

Golden Essentials Acrylic Workshop

by Bonnie Cutts

There is so much to know about and do with acrylic materials that we decided to offer one long intensive workshop day where we will really dig deep into a variety of acrylic materials and see what it is you can do with them.
Start with learning the difference between the Heavy Body paints and the Fluid acrylicsand the new and amazing OPEN paint.
Whoever thought acrylics would stay wet for a few hours so one could actually blend the paint and keep moving it around until you achieve what you want?
Take time to look at the difference between the matte and gloss gels and how they effect color. Speakin of color...let's touch on clean color mixing and which pigments to use for the cleanest mixtures.
You will have an opportunity to work with grounds that are absorbent and some that are sealed and you will get to see how the paint responds to those grounds. Explore different textures you can manipulate for interesting surfaces to paint on. After this day long event you will have information that will help you jumpstart some new paintings or get going on the ones you have been stuck on.
Open to all levels of painting experience
Bring to class: synthetic brushes, rags, palette knives,one canvas or canvas board 9"x12", a water container, a bag lunch and an eagerness to learn about new materials and techniques.

Workshop fee: $80 / includes paints, gels and mediums, along with prepaid surfaces to work on and information packets.

$80
Per Student

Class is Complete

Golden Lecture Demo

by Bonnie Cutts

Throughout this free 2 hour presentation you will hear tons of information about a variety of Golden acrylics and the inherent possibilities of acrylic materials. Extensive information about acrylic paints, gels and mediums is presented, including the new OPEN acrylics.
OPEN is desinged to stay wet longer than other acrylics, allowing for more control over drying time, and it resists skinning on the palette.
Hear abou the new Digital Mixed Media, materials that push the versatility of acrylics by extending the languages of printmaking, photography and painting in significant ways. You will have an opportunity to feel how paints and gels mix together, as well as see several examples of materials in a variety of applications.
See how you can extend your paint to save yourself money, and how to mix gels with paints to create gorgeous textures and surfaces to paint on. Open to all levels of painting experience. Information packets and free samples for all attending.
* Participant will receive a $5 Gift Certificate redeemable for any Art Store product.

$5
Per Student

Class is Complete

Drawing

by Bob Schulte

More information to come!

$40
Per Student

Class is Complete

Figure Drawing

by John Pearson

Draw from a live model & enhance your overall skills in drawing by learning to transfer what you see to the paper.

$50
Per Student (Includes Model Fee)

Class is Complete

Click to Order - July 6,13,20,27

Kids Beginning Drawing

by Johnathon Pearson

This is a fun class for young artists (age 9-12) using multiple mediums to explore various drawing techniques. Students will leave class with a sense that making art can be enjoyable and invigorating.

$40
Per Student

Click to Order - June 17th, 24th & July 1st, 8th

Kids Mobile Art

by Kelly Kentner

Kids will take home 1 finished mobile made of paper & wire.

$15
Per Student

Click to Order - May 31 - Sunday

Click to Order - June 28 - Sunday

Lettering For Kids & Their Parents

by Kris Horning

Each child will make and take home a name placque for their room with their name hand lettered.

$15
Per Student ($15/Child & $15/Adult - 1 Adult + 1 Child = $30 = 2 Tickets)

Class is Complete - March 15

Mat Cutting

by Heidi McIntosh

Learn how to cut your own mats! Learn how to cut single & double mats.

Supply List:

2 art pieces 11x14 or smaller to mat
some mats are provided
Learn about framing your finished piece with a frame kit

* Listed as a Per Student Cost.

$20
Per Student

Class is Complete - March 11

Class is Complete - May 13

Click to Order - July 15

Click to Order - November 18

Click to Order - September 16

Click to Order - October 21

Origami For Kids & Their Parents Too!

by Nick

Learn basic Origami (Japanese Paper Folding) techniques. Each participant will take home several finished folded pieces.

$15
Per Student ($15/Child & $15/Adult - 1 Adult + 1 Child = $30 = 2 Tickets)

Class is Complete

Class is Complete - June 7

Click to Order - August 9

Click to Order - September 27

Click to Order - October 25

Origami For Adults

by Nick

Just in time for the holidays. Learn how to make a myriad of Christmas Ornaments. Fun for gifts. Fun for the tree!

$15
Per Student

Click to Order - November 15

Silkscreening for Beginners

by Kari Heath

Learn the liquid stencil technique using drawing fluid and screen blocker.Each student should come prepared with a few thick-lined images you wish to print (This can be images of flowers to images of an ideas for your garage band's next CD cover or t-shirt).Wear old clothes. The class will be in 2 parts. Part 1 - Instructions and examples. Part 2 - Prepare your own screen and print!

Click here for the class supply list

$25
Per Student + Materials listed on supply list

Class is Complete - March 22

Click to Order - July 26

Sumi Painting

by Bob Schulte

Learn the four "Gentlemen" of Sumi painting: Bamboo, Orchid, Chrysanthimum, & Blossom - using these four strokes to draw a myriad of images

$25
Per Student

Click to Order - Aug 4, 11, & 18th

Tie Dye

by Kari Heath

Learn the Art of Tie Dying. Complete 2-5 Projects.

$15
Per Student

Class is Complete - March 1

Click to Order - July 19

Uncial Calligraphy

by Kris Horning

Uncial is a good style for beginners. It was the rimary bookhand used by monks between the 4th and 6th centuries but is easily adapted today for envelope addressing and quotations.

$30
Per Student