If you’re looking to brush up on your art skills, you’ll enjoy our list of 13 beginner art classes for adults in NYC.
I don’t have any natural talents or abilities when it comes to anything remotely artistic or creative. Though I’ve participated in a few wine and paint classes, I find that I’m better at sipping the wine than the actual painting part. They are pretty fun though, and my “paintings” have turned out to be somewhat decent looking. Lucky for me, it doesn’t take too much skill for those classes because an instructor is literally walking you through every stroke and you have a template to base it off of. If they required you to come up with your own picture and design, that wouldn’t work out so well for me.
With New York City being one of the art capitals of the world, there’s more art and art-related things to count in this city, it’s almost impossible. From galleries and studios, to museums and institutes, art and artists are all over The Big Apple. Therefore, if you want to practice your skills or get into the industry, there’s no better place to start. From beginners to advanced artists there’s something for you in the city. Even better is that because of all the access to things art related, you can find something for just about any price point — and maybe even free if you’re lucky. If you don’t believe me, check out our list of 20 cheap art classes in NYC.
For those, like me, who are not very talented and are just starting out, we came up with a list of beginner art classes for adults to make your class finding process a bit easier. We also cover a variety of art in our list, like drawing, pottery, painting and even embroidery, so you can find just what you’re looking for. In order to create our list, we used ClassCurious’ database as our source to see what are some of the best art classes for beginner adults. After we gathered our list of beginner art classes for adults in NYC, we completed the rankings by sorting it according to their price starting from the lowest to the highest.
13. Beginner’s Draw in Central Park
Price: $35
Location: Upper West Side
In the Beginner’s Draw in Central Park class, artist Rebecca Schweiger will be guiding you through the basic techniques of drawing. What could be more inspiring for an aspiring artist, than nature itself? In this class, you will learn basic drawing techniques and how to create your own drawings through one-on-one instructions based on your needs, skills, and goals. All of the supplies you will need are included in the price.
12. Introduction to Embroidery: Making a Sampler
Price: $36
Location: Brooklyn
Brooklyn Brainery has an Introduction to Embroidery: Making a Sampler class, which consists of around 12 students. In this class, you will be guided through the basics of eight different stitches and you will learn how to create your own customized clothes with your own artwork. Every material you will need for this class is included in the price. If you want to learn how to create something unique, you should join this class while they still have open seats. Brooklyn Brainery takes a unique approach to classes, as they use people from all over the community to teach the classes.
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Price: $45
Location: Upper West Side, Manhattan
20 students can join the BYOB Painting class that teaches you how to paint a Sailboat, at The Paint Place. This class is dedicated to only beginner adults, to help them explore their creativity and learn how to paint. The professional artists from The Paint Place will guide you through the class and they will help you create a unique masterpiece with step-by-step instructions. In this hands-on class, you can take the masterpiece you create, home, but you won’t receive any kind of certificate for finishing the course.
10. Paint and Sip Workshop: Midtown (BYOB)
Price: $50
Location: Midtown Manhattan
The Paint and Sip Workshop: Midtown (BYOB), an experienced artist from the Painting Lounge will be guiding you step by step through the class. In this class, you will learn how to relax, express yourself, unveil your creative side and of course learn how to paint. This way you can decorate your apartment with something unique and meaningful for you because everything you make in this class, you can take home with you. Also, the materials are provided in the price so you don’t have to worry extra costs. But, keep in mind that the prices for the class can vary depending on the featured painting and the class duration.
9. Sip & Spin Pottery Workshop
Price: $72
Location: Williamsburg, Brooklyn
The Choplet ceramic studio has a fun Sip & Spin Pottery Workshop, that’s up next on our list of beginner art classes for adults in NYC for adults who are also beginners with this area of art. The average number of students in their class is 11. The adults who decide to join this class will get the chance to enjoy relaxing evenings with a wine or a beer they can bring. In this class, you will get the chance to learn the basic techniques of potter’s wheel before you move on more advanced projects. The needed materials for the class are included in the price.
8. Intro Workshop: Handbuilding
Price: $75
Location: Chelsea, Manhattan
If you are an adult who has absolutely no experience with handbuilding, La Mano Pottery is the right place for you. They are offering one of the best art classes in New York City, Intro Workshop: Handbuilding is where you can learn the basic ceramics techniques you need to make a teapot, vase, coffee mug or any sculpture you want. This class usually consists of about 6 students and in two and a half hours, you will learn everything you need to know. But, because it is just 2 ½ hours, it is pretty intense so get ready to learn the techniques fast.
7. Adults: Introduction to Portraits
Price: $80
Location: DUMBO, Brooklyn
In the “Adults: Introduction to Portraits” class at Creatively Wild Art Studio, you will learn different techniques like color value, mixture, composition, proportion, glazing, brushwork, paint application and texture while you are watching a human figure as your muse. In this class, you will get the chance to express yourself and your feelings using oil, watercolor, acrylic or mixed media. Also, you will get one-on-one instructions based on your needs and goals.
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Price: $85
Location: Greenwood, Brooklyn
Coming in at number 6 on our list of 13 beginner art classes for adults in NYC is The Encaustic Painting class. Those who decide to join this art class will be taught by Mark Renwick, and in this three-hour class they will be guided through an overview of Encaustic painting. Here, you will learn the fundamentals of working in this medium and you will also get the chance to explore multiple techniques. In the Encaustic Painting class in Brooklyn Art Space & Trestle, you will learn how to melt, mix and apply wax in order to create a smooth texture.
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5. Dare to Oil Paint: Beginner’s Oil Painting
Price: $199
Location: Upper West Side, Manhattan
Amanda Wall is teaching an average class of 8 students at the Art Studio NY. The Art Studio NY has a Date to Oil Paint: Beginner’s Oil Painting, that ranks 5th on our list of beginner art classes for adults in NYC, where every adult without experience can learn and master the most important techniques for oil painting, how to relax and get inspired, and how to express themselves through oil painting and create multiple paintings, among other things. But, the materials aren’t included in the price and you cannot make up a class if you miss one.
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4. Introduction to Oil Painting
Price: $215
Location: Upper East Side, Manhattan 5 E 89th St Btwn 5th & Madison Avenues New York, New York 10128
Eric March is a professional artist who is guiding an average class of 15 students in the Introduction to Oil Painting class. He will teach you the basics of oil painting and how to mix colors and apply paint to canvas. In this class, with the help of Eric’s instructions, you will understand the use of brushes, paint, medium and painting supports. But, despite the mentioned above price, there is a $50 fee for students who are registering for the first time. Also, if you miss one class, the National Academy School of Fine Arts, doesn’t offer makeup classes. And now, let’s check out the top three on our list of beginner art classes for adults in NYC.
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Price: $240
Location: Upper East Side, Manhattan
One of the best art classes for beginner adults in New York City is the Pottery Wheel class (Beginner) at JCC Manhattan. This class accepts around 10 people who are taught by Jungwon Lee. In this beginner class, you will get the chance to learn the basics of centering, wedging, and trimming. You will have weekly demonstrations and a lot of time to practice. Also, the basic hand building techniques are also included in the price.
2. Introduction to Drawing (5 Sessions)
Price: $275
Location: Greenwood, Brooklyn
Brooklyn Art Space & Trestle is offering a class, number two on our list of beginner art classes for adults in NYC for beginner adults called Introduction to Drawing (5 Sessions). If you decide to join this class, you will be taught by professional artist Katherine Keltner. She will guide you through the class and will help you learn different drawing techniques you need in order to create your own drawing. You can proudly hang your drawing at home because they will allow you to take home your masterpiece, but the materials aren’t included in the price, so make sure you have everything you need for the class.
1. Introduction to Drawing and Painting
Price: $545
Location: TriBeCa, Manhattan
The average class size in the Introduction to Drawing and Painting class consists of 10 students. In this class that ranked first on our list of beginner art classes for adults in NYC, instructor Mark Opirhory is guiding adults with little to no experience for drawing and painting. If you decide to join this class, you will master the foundation skills before you continue on more advanced projects. The class always starts with a demonstration followed by one-on-one instructions and later it finishes with a homework assignment. Before the course finishes, you will know how to draw and paint by yourself.
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This was our list of 13 beginner art classes for adults in NYC. We hope we managed to show you which are the best art classes for beginner adults and maybe help you decide which one to join.
