Adult Art Classes
Current Offerings
Register online for classes or by calling the Museum at (970) 962-2410 or stopping by the front desk.
Members can access discount benefits by logging in with the email address connected to your membership. Gift certificates and class credits cannot be redeemed online. Please contact the Museum to redeem.
For ages 16 and older (younger students may be approved with an attending adult)
All classes meet at the Museum’s Beet Education Center at 201 E. 5th St
Our class environment focuses on building self-confidence in creative expression. Adult art classes delve into a variety of artistic explorations at beginner and intermediate levels in one or two sessions. Classes range from beginners who would like to learn the very basics, to classes that refine skills in drawing, oils, acrylics, watercolor, and more. Supplies are provided by the Museum so that you can experiment without having to buy your own. You may bring your own supplies, if you have questions about what you have and how to use them!
Classes $68 (non-member), $55 (member), unless otherwise noted*
- All supplies will be provided by the Museum, unless noted in the class description.
- Pricing is based on class length and supplies used.
Registration Policy
We depend on your enrollment for a successful class. Please plan your schedule carefully to avoid cancellations. If you must cancel your registration, please call (970) 962-2410 at least five (5) business days before the class. You may choose to transfer to another class, retain a credit for a future class, or receive a refund. If you do not call to cancel or do not show up for a class, your registration fee will be forfeited. For refunds, please allow for two weeks for checks to be processed. No cash refunds. The Museum has the right to cancel classes. If class enrollment is below the minimum requirement, a class may be cancelled. Class cancellation decisions are made at least three (3) days prior to class.
Paint Your Pet (media: acrylic)
Tuesday, August 25, 10 am – 4 pm
$92 (non-member), $74 (member)
No drawing skills needed—just bring your love for your furry (or feathered!) friend! Bring a black-and-white reference photo measuring 3”x 3” and a color photo of your pet (any size). Project your pet’s image onto a 16”x 20” canvas so you can easily trace the outline. Then, learn the instructor’s favorite acrylic painting techniques to bring your pet portrait to life. Pack a lunch or enjoy a 45-minute break outdoors during class! Instructed by Pat Saunders-White
Still Life Oil (media: oils)
Friday, August 28, 1-3 pm
$68 (non-member), $55 (member)
In traditional Classical Ateliers, students often begin their oil‑painting journey by studying plaster casts of ancient sculptures—a practice passed down through centuries. In this class, you’ll learn to mix a full range of black‑and‑white values, build tonal structure, block in simple shapes, identify different shadow types, and more as you create a cast study in oil on canvas. Instructed by Shelby Lynne Bledsoe
Rothko Color Field (media: acrylic)
Tuesday, September 1, 10 am – 12 pm
Dive into the world of Mark Rothko—an American artist who believed color could speak directly to the soul. Understand the basic visual language of color-field painting with large, soft-edged shapes, layering, and scale to create mood. Instructed by Pat Saunders-White
Watercolor Foundations (media: watercolor)
Thursday, September 3, 10 am - 12 pm
Learn the essential foundations of watercolor painting. We will use light-wash, mid-wash, and dark accents with no fine line details allowed, just shape and value, to create a simple horizon-line seascape and sky studies. Instructed by Pat Saunders-White
Lichtenstein Acrylics (media: acrylic)
Thursday, September 10, 1 pm – 4 pm
Draw inspiration from Roy Lichtenstein, as you learn how to reduce a simple still life to four or five color shapes with clean black outlines. Learn techniques on how to make your acrylic pop art have clean, crisp edges. Instructed by Pat Saunders-White
Beginning Drawing (media: pencil)
Friday, September 18, 1 pm - 3 pm
Want to start drawing but don’t know where to start? This class focuses on the very basics for absolute beginners. Learn about materials and techniques by using easy steps that will help you build your foundational drawing skills. Instructed by Shelby Lynne Bledsoe
Palette-Knife Impasto (media: acrylic)
Tuesday, September 22, 10 am – 12:30 pm
Explore bold colors and swirling impasto as we paint like Wayne Thiebaud. Learn palette knife and impasto painting techniques as you use thick, cake-like frosting application to give ordinary objects a physical presence. Instructed by Pat Saunders-White
Color Theory Series (media: oils)
Wednesdays, Sept 23, 30, Oct 7, 10 am – 12 pm
$92 (non-member), $74 (member)*
Perfect for beginners and experienced painters alike, this three-day workshop explores the fundamentals of color theory in oil painting. Learn to identify hues, tints, shades, and tones, mix a full range of colors from a limited palette, create harmonious color relationships, and use color temperature to add depth and dimension.
Day 1: Color wheels, color mixing, and tints, shades, and tones.
Day 2: Apply color theory to a simple landscape and still life.
Day 3: Create an alla prima ice cream painting using the skills learned throughout the workshop. Instructed by Shelby Lynne Bledsoe
Lake Loveland (media: oils)
Friday, September 25, 1 pm - 3 pm
Follow a step‑by‑step tutorial to create your own oil painting of the iconic Love Lock Sculpture at Lake Loveland. Learn foundational oil‑painting techniques while building confidence on canvas, making this class perfect for first‑time painters as well as those looking to expand their skills. Instructed by Shelby Lynne Bledsoe
Matisse Collage (media: mixed)
Thursday, October 1, 1 pm – 3:30 pm
Discover Henri Matisse’s late-career papercutting artwork, as he re-invented his methods of creating art. Learn to reduce collage to pure shape, color, and composition with no drawing skill required. Instructed by Pat Saunders-White
Alcohol Ink Experiments (media: alcohol ink)
Tuesday, October 6, 10 am – 12 pm
Discover the luminous world of alcohol inks. This vibrant, jewel‑like medium has a mind of its own. Explore by blending and titling the ink to let color bloom and interact. A playful introduction to a medium that shines and surprises. Instructed by Pat Saunders-White
Rauschenberg Abstracts (media: mixed)
Thursday, October 8, 10 am – 12:30 pm
American artist Robert Rauschenberg employed a cross-disciplinary approach to his artwork, inventively fusing different media into hybrid forms. In this class, explore abstract art by integrating collage and acrylic paint into a single composition. Instructed by Pat Saunders-White
Paint Your Pet (media: acrylic)
Tuesday, October 20, 10 am – 4 pm
$92 (non-member), $74 (member)*
No drawing skills needed—just bring your love for your furry (or feathered!) friend! Bring a black-and-white reference photo measuring 3”x 3” and a color photo of your pet (any size). Project your pet’s image onto a 16”x 20” canvas so you can easily trace the outline. Then, learn the instructor’s favorite acrylic painting techniques to bring your pet portrait to life. Pack a lunch or enjoy a 45-minute break outdoors during class! Instructed by Pat Saunders-White
Zorn Palette Pumpkins (media: oils)
Friday, October 23, 1 pm - 3 pm
Use a limited color palette to learn how to paint pumpkins in this autumnal oil painting class. Perfect for all levels, we will work with Swedish artist Anders Zorn’s palette of yellow ochre, ivory black, vermillion, and titanium white to complete our seasonal piece. Instructed by Shelby Lynne Bledsoe
Memento Mori (media: oils)
Friday, October 30, 1-3 pm
Meaning “I remember death,” Memento Mori was a genre of painting popular from the 15th-19th centuries, meant to remind viewers of the brevity of human existence and our inexorable journey towards the Beyond. Learn how to paint a simple still life of a skull and other objects common in Memento Mori paintings. Instructed by Shelby Lynne Bledsoe
Cezanne’s River (media: pastels)
Friday, November 6, 1 pm - 3 pm
Discover the techniques of Post-Impressionist master Paul Cézanne as you recreate his River Landscape (1881) in pastels. Suitable for beginners and beyond, students will explore composition, color, and expressive work while creating their own interpretation of this classic landscape. Instructed by Shelby Lynne Bledsoe
Cozy Coffee (media: oils)
Friday, November 13, 1 pm - 3 pm
Perfect for beginners and beyond, this oil painting class introduces the wipe-out method while exploring the warm, earthy tones of a bistre underpainting. Students will create a simple coffee-themed composition and gain foundational techniques for building depth and value with oils. Instructed by Shelby Lynne Bledsoe
Paint Your Pet (media: acrylic)
Tuesday, November 17, 10 am – 4 pm
$92 (non-member), $74 (member)*
No drawing skills needed—just bring your love for your furry (or feathered!) friend! Bring a black-and-white reference photo measuring 3”x 3” and a color photo of your pet (any size). Project your pet’s image onto a 16”x 20” canvas so you can easily trace the outline. Then, learn the instructor’s favorite acrylic painting techniques to bring your pet portrait to life. Pack a lunch or enjoy a 45-minute break outdoors during class! Instructed by Pat Saunders-White
Rocky Mountains (media: oils)
Friday, November 20, 1 pm - 3 pm
Capture the beauty of Northern Colorado's Rocky Mountain scenery in this beginner-friendly oil painting class. Learn foundational oil painting techniques while creating a landscape on canvas inspired by the iconic NoCo mountain views. Instructed by Shelby Lynne Bledsoe
Abstract Layering (media: acrylic paint)
Tuesday, November 24, 3 pm - 4:30 pm
Discover the expressive possibilities of abstract painting through layering techniques. Experiment with pouring, scraping, and building rich textures and depth using multiple layers of paint to create a dynamic abstract composition. Instructed by Pat Saunders-White
Color Theory Series (media: oils)
Wednesdays, December 2, 9, and 16, 1 pm – 3 pm
$92 (non-member), $74 (member)*
Perfect for beginners and experienced painters alike, this three-day workshop explores the fundamentals of color theory in oil painting. Learn to identify hues, tints, shades, and tones, mix a full range of colors from a limited palette, create harmonious color relationships, and use color temperature to add depth and dimension.
Day 1: Color wheels, color mixing, and tints, shades, and tones.
Day 2: Apply color theory to a simple landscape and still life.
Day 3: Create an alla prima ice cream painting using the skills learned throughout the workshop. Instructed by Shelby Lynne Bledsoe
Unique Christmas Cards (media: alcohol ink)
Thursday, December 3, 10 am – 11:30 am
Create one-of-a-kind holiday greeting cards using the vibrant, flowing effects of alcohol ink. Students will explore simple techniques to design beautiful handmade cards perfect for the season. All supplies are provided except stamps. Instructed by Pat Saunders-White
Figure Drawing (media: charcoal)
Friday, December 4, 1 pm - 3 pm
In this intermediate drawing class, take your figure‑drawing skills further as you learn to build, refine, and shade the human form with confidence. Strengthen core techniques by simplifying the figure with envelopes, basic shapes, crosshairs, and gestural strokes. Then move into a longer, focused study, developing depth, volume, and detail through careful shading and observation. Instructed by Shelby Lynne Bledsoe
Intuitive Abstraction (media: mixed)
Tuesday, December 8, 10 am – 11:30 am
Explore intuitive abstraction through the expressive use of color, shape, composition, and mark-making. Rather than depicting a fixed subject, create dynamic visual rhythms that emerge from instinct, experimentation, and personal expression. The focus is on process, discovery, and developing a unique visual language. Instructed by Pat Saunders-White
Dalí's Rose Méditative (media: oils)
Friday, December 11, 1 pm - 3 pm
Designed for intermediate painters, this oil painting class explores the surreal beauty of Salvador Dalí's Rose Méditative. Create a simplified interpretation of the iconic work while practicing alla prima techniques, focusing on color, form, and expressive brushwork. Instructed by Shelby Lynne Bledsoe
Winter Candle (media: oils)
Friday, December 18, 1 pm - 3 pm
Create the warm glow of candlelight in this beginner-friendly oil painting class. Learn foundational oil painting techniques while capturing the soft light, rich shadows, and cozy atmosphere of a candle glowing in the darkness. Instructed by Shelby Lynne Bledsoe