The Old Town Art Center
About the Old Town Art Center
Small class sizes allow students of all skill levels to take part in any given class. Instructors provide each individual student the amount of attention required. The focus is entirely on the visual arts – through drawing with pencils/charcoal and painting with oils, watercolor, pastels or acrylics. Figure Studio is open to all (these are drop-in classes and no advance registration is necessary).
Sessions typically begin the first week of January, the last week of March and the first week of September. Short sessions are offered in the summer and toward the end of the year. Workshops are added periodically. Classes are offered during the day, at night and on weekends. A full class schedule will return in the Fall with studios, pastels and more.
Register Now for Summer Art Classes & Workshops!
Drawing and Oil/Acrylic classes will be available for 10 – 15 weeks beginning in June. Registration is required. Scholarships are available. If you plan to pay for a class at the first session, please call the office (312.337.1938) to place a registration hold for the class you would like to attend – this will help us to ensure minimum/maximum attendance.
Art Class FAQs
- OTTA membership is open to all
- Up to two art classes can be made up within a session
- There are no refunds after the 1st class
- Classes with fewer than five students may be cancelled – class size is limited to sixteen students.
- Students provide their own supplies
- Scholarships are available – please scroll down for complete information
- If you would prefer to pay by check or in person, please call the office (312.337.1938) to reserve your space.
Suzanne Flavin Scholarships
The Old Town Art Center offers financial aid through the Suzanne Flavin Scholarship Fund. Financial assistance is provided for the complete cost of a class and is offered for each full session – any media. To apply, please complete the application found here or visit the OTAC (1763 N North Park Avenue) to pick up a copy. Recipients will be announced two weeks prior to the start of the next session.
Promotions
Representatives from OTTA may take photos of participants and/or their artwork during class sessions. These pictures are for OTTA use only and may be used in publications and/or website. Please notify us if you would not like photos to be taken of you.
Art Classes
Please note: If you have any questions or run into any problems attempting to register, please send an email to info@oldtowntriangle.com or call us at 312.337.1938.
Plein Air Workshop
Morgan Lyons
Monday – Friday | July 10 – 14 | 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM | 5 Weeks
Fee: $175 – Seniors, additional $5 off with code: senior5 (for those 65 & better)
This is your opportunity to put your drawing abilities to use. You will be exploring the beautiful corners of the Old Town Triangle and creating alla prima oil paintings (meaning, “in one go”). Morgan will provide tutorials on how to organize your materials and your process while painting outside. Select private gardens within the Old Town Triangle will be your inspiration.
Charcoal Drawing Class
Morgan Lyons
Mondays | July 27th – November 6th | 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM | 15 Weeks | No class September 4
Fee: $300 non-members/$290 members – Seniors, additional $10 off with code: senior (for those 65 & better)
Charcoal drawing has been thought of as the closest thing to oil painting and the best transition from pencil drawing to painting for centuries. You will be working on a larger-scale and on toned paper, learning how to render form in charcoal and when and how to incorporate white chalk. You can expect patient, focused instruction from Morgan, and valuable insight to take with you outside of class. You’ll be pleasantly surprised to see just how much you are capable of.
Oil & Acrylic Painting
Marie Kirk Burke
Tuesdays | Dates T/B/D | 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM
This class is for all levels. Marie will set up a still life in class for students to work from along side her. This class will cover color theory, composition, impact of light, oil painting techniques including use of mediums, layering color, glazing and brush work. Marie welcomes painting students also working on independent projects who would like some additional guidance.
Oil & Acrylic Painting
Joe Taylor
Tuesdays | June 20th – August 22nd | 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM | (9 weeks)
Fee: $275 non-members – $265 Members – additional $10 off with code: senior (for those 65 or better)
Wednesdays | June 21st – August 23rd | 6:30 – 9:30 PM | (9 Weeks)
Fee: $275 non-members – $265 members – additional $10 off with code: senior (for those 65 & better)
Students take on projects of their own choosing. Joe provides support in difficult areas; whether color, mass, shadows or any other technique that fails. His level of instruction is dependent on each individual student’s needs. This class is as challenging for experienced painters as it is exciting for those expanding their knowledge.
Pastel Painting
Kathleen Newman
Will return in the Fall.
Fee: $215 non-members – $210 members – additional $5 off with code: senior5 (for those 65 & better)
Master pastelist, Kathleen Newman, will demonstrate how to create inspired paintings using the beautifully expressive medium of soft pastel. Beginning with photo reference, she will demonstrate how to break free from details and specifics, how to simplify and use shapes of light and dark to compose meaningful paintings with color and emotion. She will demonstrate her preferred method of toning sanded papers prior to painting and proceed to teach layering and direct painting techniques in pastel. A supply list will be sent upon registration.
Watercolor Painting
Kathleen Newman
Will return in the Fall
Fee: $215 non-members – $210 members – additional $5 off with code: senior5 (for those 65 & better) 
Welcome to the fluid world of watercolor! Kathleen’s ongoing watercolor class provides instruction for beginners and continuing students in learning the methods of watercolor application. She will provide demos and individual instruction throughout your practice of mixing color, layering color, painting wet into wet, and teaching the many ways to put the paint down on paper. Watercolor is a wonderful medium to use for sketching, journaling and creating finished paintings. We will explore it all! A complete supply list will be sent upon registration.
Becoming Confident with Oil Paints
Morgan Lyons
Thursdays | July 27th – November 9th | 15 Weeks | No class on one day to be determined
Fee: $300 non-members/$290 members – Seniors, additional $10 off with code: senior (for those 65 & better)
In this class, you can expect to learn about the potential of oil paint, and why this beautiful medium has been used by some of the best artists in our history. Morgan will teach you the basics of working with oils: from making the first drawing marks, to mixing and matching colors, and to building layers to create a desired impression. The class will be attempting to copy the work of a Renaissance master: in this way you will improve your drawing skills and gain confidence in your ability to recreate what you see in paint. The class will cater to your personal artistic goals: towards the end of the course, students will have the opportunity to replicate an image of their own. The purpose of this class is to provide you with the technical painting tools that you can use to express your unique artistic voice. You’ll be pleasantly surprised to see just how much you are capable of.
Watercolor Painting
Tom Francesconi
Will offer a workshop this summer. Dates to be determined.
Tom’s energetic teaching style and passion for painting combine to create a class that is enjoyable and informative. Any artist looking to break free of a careful, timid painting process will find Tom’s direct and representational approach very inspirational. Within this process, students learn how to create stronger, more effective visual statements. Expect discussions and demonstrations that allow you to see how Tom approaches work from start to finish. Ample opportunity is provided for everyone to paint with individual direction/guidance a priority. Students at every stage of experience are welcome. *Please note that there is no class on May 6th.
Painting the Portrait in Watercolor
Tom Francesconi
Will offer a workshop this summer – Dates to be determined.
Tom’s energetic teaching style and passion for painting combine to create a class that is enjoyable and informative. Any artist looking to break free of a careful, timid painting process will find Tom’s direct and representational approach very inspirational. Within this process, students learn how to create stronger, more effective visual statements. Expect discussions and demonstrations that allow you to see how Tom approaches work from start to finish. Ample opportunity is provided for everyone to paint with individual direction/guidance a priority. Students at every stage of experience are welcome. *Please note that there is no class on May 6th.
