Classes and Workshops for Children and Adults

Please use the online forms and secure payment links at bottom of this page to secure classes and lectures. 

All classes held at the Maple Grove Arts Center - 11666 Fountains Drive, Maple Grove (next to Wedding Day)

Watercolor Cactus Still-Life (Adults)

Instructor: Lisa Vitkus/Art Innovators

Date: August 2nd

Time: 7-9pm

Cost:  $23 Member/ $25 Non-Member

Socialize, relax and recharge with an Art Soiree. No art experience necessary to have fun and enjoy. You will complete a watercolor painting of a still-life of cactus plants on a 11x15 watercolor paper. Learn different drawing and watercolor techniques to create your still-life. Everyone will take home an original art piece they will want to hang on their walls.

Ink Wash With Nature (Teens and Adults)

Instructor: Cathy Durso

Dates: Wednesdays September 13th-October 25th (Come to one date or all 7)

Time: 6-8pm

Cost: $35 Member/ $38 Non-member (includes a $15 supply fee). Or come all 7 weeks for $220 Member/$240 Non-Member

Using the humblest of materials – ink, brush, and paper – you will create expressive and impressionistic drawings of plants and other natural objects. After mixing up a few tones of ink and learning some mark-making techniques, you will spend the rest of the class drawing natural objects. This class is not about getting it exactly right but is more about learning to express the nature of the object being depicted. Take this class once or as many times as you like to build up your skills. No experience is necessary.

Journal Comics Workshop (Teens-Adult)

Instructor: Aurora Webster

Date: Saturday September 23rd

Time: 1-3pm

Cost:  $23 Member/ $25 Non-Member

*If children under 13 would like to attend they may do so if an adult is registered for the class as well*

This two-hour crash-course will give you a toolbox of knowledge, skills, and inspiration to begin making your own journal comics- comics about you! Learn about this easy, fun, and personalized way to make your thoughts and memories come alive in comic form. No art experience necessary!
The class is guided through the process of creating a journal comic, from choosing a topic, to drawing, to formatting, and beyond. Participants should be able to follow along through a structured two-hour class, but artists of all ages and abilities are welcome to join and draw at their own pace as well! Drawing materials will be available throughout the entire class and doodling is encouraged.

Classical Guitar Mosaic

Instructor: Rachel Arntson

Dates: Tuesdays Sept. 26, Oct. 3, 10, 17, 24 (It is possible that the 5th class will only involve grouting the piece. This class day may be shorter.)

Time: 6:00 - 9:00pm

Cost: $135 Member/ $150 Non-Member (This includes $80 for the supplies needed to complete your project.) Supply your own guitar.

Age:  No one under 16. Anyone under the age of 18 needs to be accompanied by an adult.

Size limit: 8 people
Learn the art of mosaic from Rachel Arntson by creating a mosaic guitar in this 5 evening class. You will learn how to design, cut glass, glue, and grout this piece from start to finish.

Guitars are available for the first 6 registrations that want a guitar provided. Or provide your own guitar. Try Craigslist mn, and you will likely find several to choose from – don’t pay a lot. There are many for under $50. Also, at local garage sales you may find a treasured guitar.

All other materials for this class are provided. This guitar will feature beautiful Van Gogh glass with many color choices. Rachel’s studio offers glass, beads, rocks, buttons, and more to create a piece that you will be thrilled to display in your home.

Note the pictures in this class listing – The guitars you see will never totally match what you will create. Mosaics are always dependent on the glass and beads of your choosing as well as the types of tesserae that Rachel currently has available. Be assured you will have many items to use, but it will not exactly match.

Non-Intimidating Creative Writing (Adult)

Instructor: Nancy Cook

Dates: Mondays Sept 18th-Oct 30th

Time: 6:00pm-9:00pm

Cost: Per Class $25.00 Members/ $30.00 Non-Members or All 6 classes $135.00 members/ $162 Non-Members

Creative writing workshops in a welcoming environment, designed for all experience levels, from absolute beginners to advanced writers. We’ll generate new poetry and prose through simple exercises. Sharing and discussion of writing process encouraged. Workshop themes: Change of Seasons (9/18); Generations (9/25); War and Peace (10/2); Impossible Dreams (10/16); Remembrance (10/23); Gratitude (10/30).

Small Paintings, Big Impact (Adult)

Instructor: Dan McAvey

Dates: Mondays October 16-November 13th

Time: 7-9:30pm

Cost: $86 Member/ $95 Non-Member (includes $25 supple fee)

If you’ve always wanted to learn to paint but feel short on time, space, or money to invest in it, this is the class for you. We’ll learn how making small paintings can resolve all three of these issues while still providing opportunities to make beautiful, complete works of art. We’ll cover acrylic painting fundamentals as well as strategies for working art into your busy life. Students can expect to complete one still life painting each class period.

Bookbinding for Beginners (Teens and Adults)

Instructor: Cathy Durso

Dates: Wednesdays November 8th and 15th

Time: 6-8pm

Cost: $75 Member/$78 Non-Member

Learn three simple bookbinding techniques - Japanese stab, pamphlet, and long stitch - while making beautiful notebooks that you can keep for yourself or give as gifts. You will be able to select colorful and contemporary patterned papers for the covers so each book will be unique. You will go home with finished books as well as printed instructions to continue making your own at home. Give homemade holiday gifts this season! No bookbinding experience is necessary.

Writers Persist: Self Care Through Writing (Ages 14+)

Instructor: Sarah Ratermann Beahan

Dates: Tuesdays November 14th-December 19th

Time: 6-8pm

Cost: Per Class $25.00 Members/ $30.00 Non-Members or All 6 classes $135.00 members/ $162 Non-Members

Writing your story can change your life. Whether you find yourself in a demanding job, exhausted from being a caregiver, or processing a life event, personal writing can help us navigate challenging circumstances, recover our voice and change the way we view the world and ourselves in it. In this class we will take to the page with a variety of tools and prompts designed to care for ourselves. We will write our stories, have opportunities to share our experiences and provide tools to use beyond these six weeks. This is not a creative writing class, but rather a class for anyone of any ability interested in developing tools to use writing in a healing way. While the classes are designed to be stand alone, they are better suited to be taken as a series

Class Registration

Register & pay for classes online here - you will choose the class or classes you want on secure payment page. 

or

Download the mail-in registration form.

Mail form and check, made payable to Maple Grove Arts Center, to:
Education Director

PO Box 1643
Maple Grove MN, 55311

Please also note your intended classes on the memo line - thank you!

For questions regarding classes:
please call Lisa Vitkus (763) 494 6957

Lectures and Demonstrations for Children and Adults

Golden Lecture Demo....so much to see and learn about (Adults)

Instructor: Bonnie Cutts

Date: October 14th

Time: 1-3pm

Cost: $5 Member/ $7 Non-member

Throughout this two-hour presentation you will hear tons of information about a variety of Golden materials and their inherent possibilities.  Extensive information about acrylic paint formulas, gels and mediums will be presented. In addition to all the info about acrylics, you will see numerous Mixed Media samples as well as a variety of Watermedia applications using both acrylics and Golden’s QoR watercolors.  Learn about mixing acrylic paints and gels together for engaging effects and grasp information about grounds that offer new surfaces to paint on. See examples of a variety of uses for gels and learn how to extend your paint to save yourself money. Open to all levels of painting experience; there is a little something for everyone!  Information packets and free samples for all attending.

Lecture/Demonstration Registration

Register & pay for lectures online here - you will choose the lecture or lectures you want on secure payment page.