Art Gallery of Alberta

Adult Studio Classes

Drop-In Classes

Drop-In Classes

Open Studio: Adult Drop-In Workshops

Wednesdays 7–9 pm
$15 / $12 AGA Members

Adult Drop-In Punch Card
5 Workshop Punch Card
$60/ $50 AGA Members

  • Adult Drop-In can be pre-purchased the day of that class only, during regular Guest Services hours
  • Punch cards can be purchased anytime during regular Guest Services hours
  • Punch Cards must be redeemed in person
  • Punch Cards can be used to pre-purchase/secure a spot for that days class as per above: the day of that class only, during regular Guest Services hours
  • Adult Drop-In is a “drop-in class”, but class capacity is 20. 1st come, 1st served

Roll up your sleeves and explore art-making with these fun drop-in classes. Adult Drop-In Workshops offer a relaxed, social approach to learning and improving on one’s artistic technique.  Themes vary from week to week so you can pick and choose your classes! All materials and supplies are included unless otherwise stated.

May 8

Layer: Image Transfer and the Gesture Sketch
Work in acrylic paint, paper collage, tape and gel transfer media to create mixed-media textural works inspired by the current AGA exhibition Dutch Landscapes from Rembrandt to Van Gogh. Collect ideas about gestural sketching, line and dramatic tone in this multi-media studio!

May 15

Scape: Watercolour Experiments
Look to local artist David Janzen to explore representation of place in Alberta.  Explore various techniques in watercolour, from resist mark making to ink impressions and more!  Create a series of works experimenting with these ideas and techniques.
  

May 22

Push: Relief Clay Sculpture
Get inspired by current AGA exhibitions featuring Canadian landscape works to create a relief sculpture in clay that explores depth and atmosphere. Represent background, mid-ground and foreground by breaking up space and varied mark making.

May 29

Frame: Acrylic Landscape Painting
Discover various techniques in working with acrylics over a large surface. In the Gallery, visit the exhibition A Story of Canadian Art: As told by the Hart House Art Collection to explore expression through colour and mark marking.  In studio work on paper and board to mix, splash, press and create layers in your work!

June 5

Card: Inter-Media Drawing and Screen Print
Send a message, tell your story! Using mixed media such as screen printing, collage and ink resist techniques to create a series of art trading cards that explore an idea, send a message or tell a story.

June 12

Surface: Marbling Experiments
Experiment with automatic mark making through surfactin techniques using ink, pastel and watercolours. Look to surrealist ideas and image mapping to make your mark!

June 19

Pattern: Textile Collage
Work with a variety of textiles and patterned surfaces to assemble your own stitched image inspired by artists in the Gallery. Explore using texture to create the illusion of atmosphere and show dramatic effect.

June 26

Carve: Wood-Block Prints
Experiment with line and shape to create a relief printing wood block. Study images from local printmakers to explore this medium, and discover how to create layers and produce a printed edition.

July 3

Distort: New Perspectives in Drawing
Visit the new exhibition 19th Century British Photographs from the National Gallery of Canada for in-gallery sketching and photo reference before returning to the studio to create your own abstracted drawing series. Discover various tonal techniques to evoke dramatic and mysterious effects in you work!

July 10

Construct: Urban Sculpture
Look to the city in this sculpture studio! Using wood, wire and nylon create an abstracted sculpture that explores line and shape within urban spaces. Choose an Edmonton architectural landmark to be the focus of your creation.

July 17

Splash: Large-Scale Rhythm Painting
Using acrylic paint, ink and various mark-making tools, play with repetition and rhythm to create a series of large-scale works that explore elements in landscape painting.

July 24

Figure: Figurative Sketching & Sculpture
Work from a live model to practice sketching the figure before creating your own figurative sculpture using wire, clay and fabrics. Work on gesture and balance to explore how motion is represented through sculpture.

July 31

Splash: Ink and Watercolour Cards
Look to the new exhibition Water Into Art: British Watercolours from the V&A, 1750-1950 to sketch and view techniques in watercolour. In studio, combine a variety of drawing media, coloured inks and watercolor techniques to create a card-sized series of automatic paintings and prints. Trade and share among the class to take home a mini collection of original art!

August 7

Texture: Organic Painting
Using materials like seed, sand and salt, create an acrylic painting on board that incorporates elements from nature and explores a variety of textures and marks.

August 14

Move: Light Sculpture
Create moving sculptures based on light and shadow. Inspired by photography from the 19th century, we will use still-life props and our bodies to experiment with and capture movement and tone.
Participants are encouraged to bring their own cameras to document and keep their work. There are also a limited number of cameras available for use at the AGA.

August 21

Recycle: Found-Object Sculpture
Look to artists in the Gallery to collect ideas about perspective, volume and various mark-making. In studio, we will work from these ideas to assemble, with found objects, a sculpture that explores dimension and form.

August 28

Blend: Pastel Prints
Using multi-media mono printing techniques, experiment with both oil and soft pastels to explore colour, texture and mark making. Use these techniques to create atmosphere and drama in your work!

Registered Classes

Registered Classes

Wednesdays, 6-9 PM
$200/$180 AGA Members

 
Light Writing: The Art of Photography
September 1–October 16

Register now>

In this studio session, explore the history of photography, from its humble beginnings in the 19th century to the digital revolution of today. Learn about light, framing and composition before experimenting with alternative processes and techniques. Visit our current exhibition 19th Century British Photographs from the National Gallery of Canada for an in-depth look at past processes; then experiment with a variety of photographic concepts in the studio, creating works of art that incorporate old and new technologies. In addition, this session includes two off-site weekend excursions to Edmonton’s River Valley for outdoor photography practice.

Students are advised to bring their own digital camera to each class. All other materials are supplied by the AGA.

 


Fluid Impressions: Watercolour Painting
November 6–December 11

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Discover the versatility of watercolour painting, from traditional techniques to contemporary uses in this experimental studio class. Drawing inspiration from the exhibition Water Into Art: British Watercolours from the V&A, 1750-1950, explore the art of watercolour in the Gallery before returning to the studio to experiment with various painting techniques such as: making washes, painting wet-into-wet and using resist processes. This studio session also covers the fundamentals of composition and perspective working with a variety of subject matter including still-life, landscape, portraits and subjects of your choice. Once you have covered the basics, learn how to incorporate additional media to your watercolour paintings including charcoal, inks, collage, pastels and linocut.

All materials are supplied by the AGA.

Private Workshops

Private Studio Workshop

AGA Private Studio Workshops provide a unique experience for those looking to celebrate a special event or conduct a corporate team-building session. Private Studio Workshops are held in the Singhmar Centre for Art Education and include a fun art-making project led by Gallery Educators.

To book a Private Studio Workshop, please contact Nicole Reeves at nicole.reeves@youraga.ca

2 Hour Studio Workshop
Offered evenings and weekends
(Booking times dependant on studio and staff availability)

$200 / $180 AGA Members (plus GST)
Program cost includes a group of up to 15 guests
$12 / person thereafter to a maximum of 25 guests total

This 2 hour program includes:

  • A Gallery Educator to lead your program
  • A 20-30 minute Gallery visit to AGA exhibitions connected to the studio project
  • A studio art project to take home (instructed by the Gallery Educator)
  • Time for socializing, refreshments or other related business
  • Full use of the studio spaces for 2 hours
  • Access to a fridge, laptop with online access and projector capabilities, limited storage space

Is 2 hours just not enough time? The studio space can be rented for an additional $50 / hour. Your Gallery Educator will remain with your group to assist you.