Channelling van Gogh: Edmonton art classes for adults

It’s never too late to tap into your inner creativity and brush up on your art skills. Vincent van Gogh’s most famous pieces were painted a few years prior to his death. Edmonton has a vibrant arts scene for a city of its size and offers classes on everything from fine art, crafts and glass blowing to name a few. [Image credit: iStock.com/Squaredpixels]

By Theresa Tesolin

City Arts Centre

1

10943 84 Avenue, Edmonton, AB T5J 2C1

• Phone Number
  • 780-442-5311Primary
• Directions

It’s called the Arts Centre because it truly encompasses a wide range of artistic pursuits, including pottery, jewellery making, stained glass, pottery and sculpture, photography, fine arts, music, writing and more. The City Arts Centre offers outreach programs in Terwillegar, Clareview, The Meadows and Commonwealth.

Harcourt House Artist Run Centre

2

10215 112 St NW, Edmonton, AB T5K 1M7

• Phone Number
  • 780-426-4180Primary
• Directions

A bastion of the local arts scene, Harcourt House is home to affordable artists’ studios exhibits and workshops. To channel you inner da Vinci or Michelangelo, get experience drawing and sculpting figures by observing, live models. Harcourt House hosts uninstructed live model sessions that are available on a drop-in basis, or a block of eight sessions. Classes are held in the Annex building beside the gallery

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4cats Cyrious Art Studio Inc

3

548 Riverbend Sq NW, Edmonton, AB T6R 2E3

• Phone Number
  • 780-436-4278Primary
• Directions

If fun arts and crafts are more your speed, check out 4Cats’ selection of workshops for adults, children or the whole family. Learn to make your own pet-shaped planter, paint a seasonal mug, or study the techniques involved for painting impressionist flowers. Host your next birthday party or team-building event here.

Art Gallery Of Alberta

4

2 Sir Winston Churchill Sq NW, Edmonton, AB T5J 2C1

• Phone Number
  • 780-422-6223Primary
• Directions

More than just a pretty place to check out works by national and world-renowned artists, AGA also offers numerous adult workshops on a drop-in or registered basis in the Singhmar Centre for Art Education. Get inspired by the Group of Seven and create your own acrylic landscapes. Sketch a live model or learn about typography. They also offer Art Express, a registered program for adults with developmental challenges.

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Pro's Art Gallery & Framing

5

16524 111 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T5M 3V8

• Phone Number
  • 780-486-6661Primary
• Directions

After being inspired by European and Scandinavian artworks by old Masters he viewed in his travels abroad, local artist Gene Prokop returned to Edmonton with a renewed passion to teach classical realism and naturalism. His atelier instruction encourages individual and group learning in a large studio comprised of a front-end gallery and workshop space.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

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The Paint Spot Fine Art Materials

6

10032 81 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T6E 1W8

• Phone Number
  • 780-432-0240Primary
  • 1-800-363-0546Tollfree
• Directions

A fixture in Old Strathcona for decades, The Paint Spot not only offers a wide selection of quality art supplies, but also a variety of fine art classes and workshops to spark your creativity. Want to paint an oil portrait like an old Master, or learn how to draw cosplay? Sign up for a class and receive a 20 per cent discount on supplies.

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Crankpots Ceramic Studio

7

10702 82 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T6E 6P4

• Phone Number
  • 780-414-1005Primary
• Directions

Enjoy the fruits of your labour and creativity by painting your own ceramic bisque pieces to take home. Drop-in or reserve a party or group function at Crankpots for a fun time in a laid-back studio atmosphere. Finish your piece at your own pace and have it glazed (non-toxic and lead-free, of course).

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Bissett Stained Glass Inc

8

3104 Parsons Road Northwest, Edmonton, AB T6N 1L6

• Phone Number
  • 780-435-7533Primary
• Directions

Learn to capture light with beautiful stained glass art in this south-side studio and retail location. Beginners learn about working with different textures and types of glass, and techniques including scoring and breaking, copper foiling and finishing. If traditional stained glass isn’t your style, try a glass mosaic class, or an introduction to glass fusing.

Edmonton Potters' Guild

9

8826 51 Ave Nw, Edmonton, AB T6E 5E8

• Phone Number
  • 780-426-5642Primary
• Directions

If you’ve always dreamed of getting messy with clay and learning to work a pottery wheel, sign up for a weekly class at the Edmonton Potters’ Guild (located in Victoria School of the Arts). When you register for a class, you’re automatically signed up for a Guild membership, which grants you access to studio time throughout the year.

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More from Theresa Tesolin

Theresa Tesolin is a freelance writer based in Edmonton. She’s provided content for Fortune 500 companies, children’s magazines and everything in between. When she isn’t hanging out with her family, she’s snuggled up with a book or planning her next travel adventure, and is probably drinking way too much coffee.

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