Painting Classes Washington, DC

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Painting Classes Coming up in Washington DC and Online

1 class in-person in Washington DC has spots left, and 14 classes live online are available.

iPhone Photography - Getting Started

Capital Photography Center @ 4th & Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC 20565

Learn to use the iPhone camera and go beyond taking a simple snapshot to creating a photograph that’s an artistic expression unique to your vision. Join us at the National Gallery of Art and tap into your creative side through mobile photography. Using our iPhone cameras, we’ll explore the Museum's offerings from abstract sculptures, colorful paintings and wall hangings, to the architecture of the building as well. We’ll find endless photographic...

Sunday Jun 11th, 10:15am–2:15pm Eastern Time

Abstract Painting

Richmond Art Center

Hay instrucción está disponible en Español. Explore abstract painting through your original vision! Students may bring painting materials they are comfortable with. If using oils, please use solvent-free alternatives for in-class sessions. This class is not eligible for an Art Boost! Scholarship.

Wednesday Jul 12th, 6:30–8:30pm Pacific Time

 (4 sessions)

$120

4 sessions

Painting with Gouache: Online

Chicago Botanic Garden @ Online via Zoom

 The Chicago Botanic Garden’s online botanical art class is a virtual experience you can take anywhere! Gouache is a kind of opaque watercolor that has a flat, graphic quality that gives it a modern look. Compared to watercolor, it kicks the color intensity up a notch. Henri Matisse used gouache to create his brightly colored papercut art: first painting the paper, then cutting out shapes. In this class, you will use gouache to create stylized...

Thursday Jul 13th, 1–3:30pm Central Time

 (6 sessions)

$349

6 sessions

Beginner's Watercolor Painting

The Art Studio NY @ Online Classroom

NOTE: This is an Online Art Class. Our instructors will work with you over high-quality live video and teach you to make art from the comfort of your home. We will move back to in-person art classes in our art studio when the uncertainties around Coronavirus are resolved. Watercolor classes are the perfect way to ignite your inner-artist and express yourself through painting! If you are a total beginner to watercolor painting, you will ...

Tuesday Jul 11th, 1–2:30pm Eastern Time

 (4 sessions)

$149

4 sessions

Painting Portraits in Watercolor

92nd Street Y

Learn how to achieve a likeness in painting a portrait with this challenging medium. Each week you’ll work directly from a live model or from your own reference photographs to learn how to capture the character and depth of each subject. Click here for the supply list

Thursday Jul 13th, 10am–12:30pm Eastern Time

 (3 sessions)

$150

3 sessions

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Painting in Watercolor - Level 2

Santa Monica College

Join a class designed for those who wish to improve and guide their watercolor techniques toward a more personal and creative direction. In a supportive, constructive, and stress-free environment, learn how to achieve desired effects that will enhance previous painting attempts, and find out about effective methods for attaining more satisfying results with new projects. For class supplies please click here

Sunday Jun 25th, 2–5pm Pacific Time

 (6 sessions)

$128

6 sessions

Intermediate Watercolor Painting

The Art Studio NY @ Online Classroom

Nurture your inner artist and feel inspired as you deepen your practice of watercolor painting in this inspiring online intermediate watercolor painting class with NYC's #1-rated art studio, The Art Studio NY! If you have taken our Online or In-Person Beginner Watercolor Painting Class or have previous watercolor painting experience, this live, online painting class is perfect for you! Continue to learn and practice the most important and inspiring...

Friday Aug 11th, 11:30am–1pm Eastern Time

 (4 sessions)

$149

4 sessions

Portrait Painting

92nd Street Y

Develop your ability to capture the model’s features and personality by learning anatomy, proportion, and color-mixing. Lessons and demonstrations will include how to interrupt proportions and views of the head such as how to paint a frontal portrait as well as a three quarter and a profile. Study from live models in real time via online video conferencing. Click here for the supply list

Wednesday Jul 12th, 10am–12:30pm Eastern Time

 (6 sessions)

$330

6 sessions

Painting Seascapes with Watercolor

92nd Street Y

Get swept away to the beach in this course that will teach you how to paint beautiful seascapes using watercolor paint. Working from photographs, learn methods of paint application, color formation and visual representation. From peaceful vistas to crashing surf, you’ll learn how to transform this aqueous medium into painterly scenes of the ocean. Participate in group discussions, observe demonstrations, and get feedback on your progress in real...

Tuesday Jul 25th, 4–6:30pm Eastern Time

 (3 sessions)

$150

3 sessions

Contemporary Figure Painting

New York School of the Arts @ Online Classroom

Learn to create unique and personal paintings while working from a live model. This class engages students in a studio practice that explores the technical and theoretical creation of works of art. There will be a mixed focus on portraiture and nude figure painting throughout the semester. Students will be encouraged to utilize composition, color, representational space, historical reference, and context to develop their own visual language in their...

Friday Jul 14th, 9:30am–12:30pm Eastern Time

 (4 sessions)

$240

4 sessions

Model Painting with Live Model

The Gallery Girls

Draw or Paint a beautiful model in a 3-hour pose. This is a great way to stay social with friends & artists while staying home. Note: Once paid we will send you the Link & Passcode to join Join in on Zoom.us Download the Free ZOOM App We request that the artist please provide their own art supplies.

Wednesday Jun 14th, 6:15–9:15pm Pacific Time

Drawing & Painting (Intermediate/Advanced)

92nd Street Y

Develop your creative drawing and painting practice from the comfort of your own home! Learn new techniques and discover the work of master artists through lectures, demonstrations, and lively class discussions in this intermediate/advanced level course.  Develop your observational drawing and painting skills though group and individual assignments and feedback. For the Supply List, please CLICK HERE

Thursday Jul 13th, 10am–12:30pm Eastern Time

 (6 sessions)

$310

6 sessions

Watercolor Painting: Focus on Landscapes

92nd Street Y

Join teacher Zach Seeger for a deeper dive into landscape painting. Students will learn advanced techniques on layering and depth, utilizing the visceral and rich medium of watercolor to paint reflections in water, dense forests, and vibrant skies. Click below for the supply list: Supply List

Tuesday Jul 11th, 7–9:30pm Eastern Time

 (6 sessions)

$310

6 sessions

Oil Painting Discussion and Critique

Evanston Art Center

You’re invited to discuss ideas and concerns you are grappling with in your oil painting practice. Share your works in progress, and engage with your fellow students in constructive feedback. Questions and lively discussion are encouraged. Skill Level: All Levels Important Notes: This interactive online class is presented via Zoom. Please download Zoom prior to your first class. You will be emailed Zoom meeting instructions, including a...

Thursday Jun 15th, 10am–12pm Central Time

 (6 sessions)

$205

6 sessions

Figure and Nature Drawing/Painting

Evanston Art Center

Practice drawing techniques via lectures, warm-up drawings, and longer finished poses. Techniques may include gesture and organizational line, contour line, shape-plane-volume-modeling, value, foreshortening, and anatomical studies. We will work from a clothed model and have critiques to provide a supportive class response. Choose to work in drawing and/or painting mediums. This interactive online class is presented via Zoom. Please...

Monday Jun 12th, 9:30am–12:30pm Central Time

 (12 sessions)

$560

12 sessions

291 painting classes that have ended
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Painting from Life

McLean Community Center @ 1446 Chain Bridge Rd, Virginia, DC 22101

Painting from Life (MPA) All levels welcome! Learn the fundamentals of painting with your choice of medium. We will explore color theory, value, composition and more while observing from life and photographs. 

No upcoming schedules
$265

7 sessions

Basic Painting

Yellow Barn Studio @ 7300 MacArthur Blvd, Washington, DC 20812

Great class to learn how to paint! Develop strong painting skills from composition, application, volume, brushwork and color. This class will get you painting with confidence in oil or acrylic paint. Assignments include still-life, costume figure & landscape. Instructor provides demos, critiques & art history lectures daily.

No upcoming schedules
$308

10 sessions

Painting Workshop

Stone Branch School of Art @ 1331-M Rockville Pike, Washington, DC 20852

This studio art course provides new and seasoned painters theoretical and technical foundations for understanding painting. Instructor provides a brief overview of color, composition and perspective drawing as well as color mixing and paint handling exercises. The majority of the class will be spent on painting with ongoing guidance and critiques of works in progress. There will be periodic group critiques and a final discussion of finished wor...

No upcoming schedules
$128

5 sessions

Independent Painting

The Art League @ 105 North Union St, Alexandria, VA 22314

This course provides an outlet to develop a personal pictorial language for both the beginner and the advanced painter. Painting subjects include the figure, still life, landscape, abstraction, and the imagination. Instruction is geared towards the individual student.

No upcoming schedules
$220

9 sessions

Painting From Photos

Yellow Barn Studio @ 7300 MacArthur Blvd, Washington, DC 20812

Learn to use photographs to create beautiful and believable paintings. Students will have the opportunity to paint the subject matter of their choice—from portraits of loved ones to far away landscapes to lively scenes—while receiving instruction in painting techniques and advice on the challenges of working from photos. 

No upcoming schedules
$278

8 sessions

Painting And Collage

The Art League @ 105 North Union St, Alexandria, VA 22314

Students combine more traditional painting techniques with collage to produce pieces with texture and depth. Using heavy watercolor paper or canvas, participants learn to develop richness and texture with the addition of papers, acrylics, inks and other materials. Students are encouraged to experiment with collaging into painted surfaces, as well as painting on collaged surfaces. No class on Jan 25 and Feb. 15. Some prior painting experience is ...

No upcoming schedules
$200

7 sessions

Abstract Painting

McLean Community Center @ 1446 Chain Bridge Rd, Virginia, DC 22101

Abstract Painting Through an art historical lens, we will explore the principles of Impressionism, lyrical abstraction, and abstract expressionism. We will attempt dynamic mark making and complex color combinations whilst developing a personal voice in the realm of abstract painting.

No upcoming schedules
$370

8 sessions

Oil Painting

The Art League @ 105 North Union St, Alexandria, VA 22314

Students with a solid grasp of oil painting fundamentals advance their understanding of color, composition, form, and materials. Intermediate students hone their skills and explore new challenges.  Advanced students work with painting theory and focus on completing professional-quality work. Portrait, figure, and still-life painters are welcome. Model fees are extra for all students regardless of chosen subject matter.  

No upcoming schedules
$220

9 sessions

Painting: Impressionism

Stone Branch School of Art @ 1331-M Rockville Pike, Washington, DC 20852

This course provides an introduction to the Impressionist movement and its historical context. We will examine the major concerns of such artists as Cezanne, Monet, Degas,Van Gogh and their intimate interaction with modern life. Style and inspiration will be discussed and the creative techniques and use of color will be demonstrated. With instruction, students will apply these techniques to create their own Impressionistic painting using acrylic...

No upcoming schedules
$128

5 sessions

Acrylic Painting

Yellow Barn Studio @ 7300 MacArthur Blvd, Washington, DC 20812

Great class to explore expressive painting in acrylics. Learn how paint instinctively with acrylics and explore all the nuances of this wonderful medium to your advantage. Work on visual sensitivity, cultivating technical skills and developing personal view points. This class may be repeated as assignments are designed to meet the needs of all levels. Demo and lectures on composition and color theory.

No upcoming schedules
$295

10 sessions

Painting the Portrait

Washington Studio School @ 2129 S St NW, Washington, DC 20008

Looking at what is both general and specific, as well as timeless and timely in portraiture, students will study the structure, planes, color temperature and the organization of value shapes that make up the portrait in space. Both portraits of models and self-portraits will be covered, leading to an understanding of the difference between what it is to be the painter painting the stranger vs. the painter as model.  Understanding how light,...

No upcoming schedules
$455

10 sessions

Landscape Painting

The Art League

This outdoor class focuses on composition, value, and color relationships. Students examine the property of light and hoe it reveals form and color. Instruction includes demonstrations for newcomers to plein air (outdoor) painting. Class is held indoors during inclement weather.  Locations may not be metro accessible and students are responsible for their own transportation.  

No upcoming schedules
$160

4 sessions

Abstract Painting

The Art League @ 105 North Union St, Alexandria, VA 22314

Students of all levels develop a working knowledge of abstract painting and acrylic that challenges them to see and interpret in new ways. Learn color, line, movement, and form are taught through individual instruction and group discussion. Subjects include landscape, still life, and figure as well as non-representation. Model fees are extra.  

No upcoming schedules
$300

9 sessions

Pastel Painting

Yellow Barn Studio @ 7300 MacArthur Blvd, Washington, DC 20812

Discover the beauty of pastel painting! In this class you can work on your own projects or follow the instructor's exercises, including still life, figure and landscape. Step-by-step demonstrations and lots of personalized instruction is provided. This class includes optional group critiques. All levels welcome. Two figure sessions are optional and the model fee is not included. 

No upcoming schedules
$298

9 sessions

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Best Painting Classes in Washington DC

Live or work in Washington DC? Looking for a new hobby that will let you show off your creative side? Painting could be just what you have been looking for. Generally, painting is defined as the action of applying paint, pigment, color, or another medium to a solid surface, and the most commonly used tool to apply paint is a brush, but other tools, such as knives, spatulas, sponges, and airbrushes can be used alone or in combination with brushes. The history of painting is long, with some experts estimating that people have been painting in some form or another for over 30,000 years. Anyone can learn to paint, regardless of where they are in life.

Why You Should Learn Painting in Washington DC

You can relieve a lot of stress when you learn to paint in Washington DC, especially if you like to do things with your hands during your free time. Painting can be a great hobby if you are looking for stress relief or something to help you be productive during your free time. You may also like the aspect of painting that can be related to doing things for other people. This can come in many forms, such as creating a special gift in the form of a painting that they can hang in their home. This could be a painting of them, their pet, a landscape, or a special memory that is meaningful to them.

There is a large community of people who enjoy painting, both as a hobby and as a profession. Once you have mastered the basics of painting, you might want to research local clubs, groups, events, or organizations where you can meet other people who like painting. These groups could be in-person, but they could also be online, and pretty soon you may find yourself with a brand new social circle.

Lastly, learning painting is a marketable skill that you may be able to turn into a side hustle or even a new job altogether. Maybe you could start selling your paintings online, or in person at a craft fair near you. You may even be able to start taking commissions, where you create custom paintings based on the requests of your customers.

In-Person Painting Classes in Washington DC

If you want to learn painting in-person in Washington DC, CourseHorse can connect you with classes in your area. For example, Painting with Light is put on by the Capital Photography Center in nearby Alexandria, VA, and is a one session course that shows you the exciting world of painting with light. You will use darkness as a backdrop and use a flashlight to illuminate, highlight, and emphasize your subject. Painting from Life happens at the McLean Community Center and welcomes all skill levels to learn the fundamentals of painting. You will choose your own medium and explore color theory, value, composition, and more.

Painting Workshop is put on by the Stone Branch School of Art and takes place over five sessions. This course provides new and seasoned painters alike with theoretical and technical foundations for understanding painting. You will learn about color, composition, and perspective, as well as color mixing and paint handling from an experienced instructor.

Independent Painting is offered by The Art League in Alexandria, VA. This nine session course provides you with an outlet to develop your personal pictorial language, no matter your experience level. You will paint still life, the figure, landscape, abstraction, and much more, with instruction geared toward you.

Painting From Photos happens at Yellow Barn Studios, and this eight session class will show you how to use photographs to create beautiful and believable paintings. You will choose your subject matter while receiving instructions in painting techniques and advice on the challenges of working from photos.

Painting And Collage is another offering from The Art League that happens in Alexandria, VA. In this seven session course, students will learn to combine more traditional painting techniques with collage to produce pieces with texture and depth. You will add papers, acrylics, inks, and other materials to your pieces and experiment with a variety of styles.

Virtual Painting Classes 

If you decide to take an online painting class, you might be unsure of how much you will learn, but it is good to remember that they have their pros and cons just like in-person painting classes. Something good about taking a virtual painting class is that you can attend the class from anywhere. Feel free to work on your painting project at home, in your backyard, or even in a public space like a park. You also do not have to commute to a classroom when you take an online painting class, which saves you both money and time. The biggest con about taking an online painting class is that you generally have to supply your own materials and equipment.

If you are interested in online painting classes, CourseHorse has options that will work for you. For example, Beginner’s Intro to Watercolor Painting: Single Session is a class that explores the colorful world of watercolor painting. You will experience learning and fun in this relaxed group atmosphere while you discover your unique form of self-expression. Beginner Watercolor Online is a six-session course focused on botanicals, and you will learn to paint with luminous, sparkling watercolors. Enjoy acquiring new techniques and learning through fun activities that transition into studies and landscapes. Online Painting With Acrylics 301 is a virtual class for all levels in which you will learn the techniques of 20th-century painting masters. These include mixing colors and preparing your canvas for your work.

Private Group Painting Classes in Washington DC

Are you interested in booking a private group painting class for your friends or colleagues in Washington DC? CourseHorse offers painting classes for private groups in Washington DC that they can deliver to you. Virtual Watercolor Workshop (Materials Included) takes up to 225 participants at a time, and all materials are provided for the class. You and your coworkers will have fun learning new techniques to create an abstract painting in a relaxing and creative atmosphere. Virtual Acrylic Painting (Materials Included) will take up to 500 participants per course and all materials are included. This class will teach those in your group how to create a painting together on canvas. While you will all be working on the same painting, the end products will be unique to each artist. Virtual Watercolor Georgia O’Keeffe (Materials Included) is another workshop that takes up to 225 people and includes all the materials you need to learn. This unique class will teach your group about legendary watercolor artist Georgia O’Keeffe, and in the process of painting, you will learn her techniques.

If you do not see a group class that interests you listed publicly on their website, CourseHorse can provide a different class for your group. Reach out through the contact form on their website to learn about all available options. And remember that when you book with CourseHorse, you get a multitude of benefits, including the ability to change your group size after booking if necessary. You will also receive a confirmation within 24 hours of your booking, and there are no extra booking fees. Finally, CourseHorse private group classes are supported on multiple platforms, so everyone can join in on the fun no matter where they are.