Lynne will take you step by step through the process of painting of winter birch trees. 

Sunday, February 22 1 pm to 3 pm 

Sometimes painting seems so fun, but you have no idea how to start. What colors do you use? How do you fill the canvas in an interesting way? What do you do with the background? During this class we will experiment with different color palettes and learn how to develop interesting colors. The focus will also be on developing interesting compositions that draw the eye through the canvas, have backgrounds that compliment the subject and feel well thought out. Throughout the class we will work with acrylic paint. Paint, brushes and  canvas panels will be available or you can bring your own. In the first class we will discuss materials and options. 

$10 material fee included 

* Please note the youth studio is in a historical building with stairs. 

 March 16- April 13

6:30 pm to 9 pm

Introduction to Portraits

Creating portraits looks fun but can be intimidating. Working from photographs you will learn about proportions and how to draw facial features accurately. Using charcoal you will then learn how use light and shadow to create the form of a face and render eyes, nose, lips, chin, forehead proportionally.

Wednesdays, 6-8pm March 18-April 15 Poore

Materials: $10 each (included)

Capture the feeling and beauty of the land, sky and water with soft pastel. Join award winning Michigan Artist, Tom Tomasek for a one day exploration of pastel techniques that can be applied to studio work as well as plein air painting. 

Utilizing sanded surface pastel paper and odorless mineral spirtis, this process begins with the development of a strong under painting and evolves with the application of each additional pastel layer. 

The properities of various pastel brands and different painting foundations wil be covered. The special considerations for pastel presentation, such as matting and framing will be demonstrated at the conclusion. 

Students will need to bring

Good quality soft pastel (no oil pastels)

Hand towel (cloth or paper)

Masking tape

Inexpersive stiff bristle brush (1/2 thick)

Variety of photo references (printed to 4 x 6 required) 

Saturday, March 28, 2026

10 am til 3 pm 

Pastel Plus

Tuesday April 7, 2026 thru May 12, 2026 1:00pm - 3:00pm

Six weeks of a creative learning experience. SOFT PASTEL is pure pigment in stick form. You will learn how to use this stick tool to create your Art. You will also learn how to transform this pastel to a liquidpaint, as a background wash. Pastel pencils will also be used.

Bring to class: Sketchbook, any soft pastels you have, a printed photo reference, apron, paint cloth.

ACA will furnish: Papers, some pastels, easels and backboards.

$15 materials included 

Age 16 and up

Brushstrokes and Blooms: Painted Furniture

A fun refresh of a gently used end table which is included in your class fee. Your instructor is an experienced artist and an enthusiastic reclaimer having decorated her house entirely with Restore furniture painted in bold colors and patterns creating a house size work of art.  Bring brushes, craft acrylic paints in colors that you favor. ACA will provide a selection of base coat colors and sandpaper. Furniture will be stored in the studio where the class is taught for the duration of the class.

Saturday April 18 and 25, 10am-3pm

Sculpture Studio

Materials:$15 per student included in class fee

Paint and Pour Landscape

Join us for a paint and pour class inspired by the paintings of Shirley VanBenschoten. A fine arts graduate of Siena Heights University she resided in Tecumseh and was president of the Lenawee Council for the Visual Arts when it became the Adrian Center for the Arts.Using acrylic paint mixed with pour medium you will create an abstracted landscape. This class is perfect for those who love nature and thinking outside the box.Shirley’s paintings will be on display in the ACA’s Gallery May 3rd-31st

Date: Sunday May 17, 2-4 pm

 Ages 13 and up

Acrylic Painting

Tues May 19 to June 23, 2026 (6 weeks) 10:00am - 12:00pm

In six weeks learn to control acrylic and your creativity will bloom. Acrylic can be applied several ways. You will be introduced to knife and brush techniques, from impasto to thin as watercolor. Come enjoy the experience.

Bring to class: Sketchbook, tube acrylics, a printed photo reference, apron, paint cloth or paper towels.

ACA will furnish: Canvases, easels, paper palettes.

Age 16 and up