Throughout the year, expert Studio School instructors present classes and workshops in painting, drawing, printmaking and design for students of all levels. Students work with industry-standard equipment and materials, such as professional painting and drawing easels, lighting and an etching printmaking press. Courses take place online via Zoom or at Studio School with masks required and social distancing procedures enforced.
Questions about a multi-week class? Browse the Studio School syllabi for more details on class topics, projects and required materials and supplies. Tuition for multi-week courses does not include materials.
Workshop | Aqueous Paint Making
- Date 1-4 p.m. Sunday, June 6, 2021
- Cost $65
- Location Studios Building | Flex Studio
- Instructor / Presenter Karis Jones
- Age Requirements 18+
- Contact studioschool@okcontemp.org
Learn how to make your own water-based paints, including acrylic, watercolor, gouache and egg tempera. This workshop will address classic and underrepresented ways of paint-making that can be cost effective and produce highly pigmented, quality paints. This workshop will allow painters of all skill levels to become more familiar with water-based mediums while learning forgotten and precious skills in the art of paint-making. The alternate date for this workshop in case of weather, instructor illness or other circumstances is Jun. 13. Registration closes Sunday, May 30 at 11:59 p.m.
Image courtesy artist and instructor Karis Jones.
Workshop | Block Printing on Fabric
- Date 1-3 p.m. Sunday April 25, 2021
- Cost $60 (all supplies included)
- Location Studios Building | Flex Studio
- Instructor / Presenter Lissie Teehee
- Age Requirements 16+
- Contact studioschool@okcontemp.org
Learn basic printmaking techniques to transform textiles into beautiful works of art. You’ll leave this short workshop knowing how to design a pattern and carve, ink and print a linocut block, and to set ink once dry. Students will need to bring pencil, paper and their imagination — all other materials are included. The alternate date for this workshop in case of weather, instructor illness or other issues that arise is May 2 from 3-6 p.m. Registration closes Sunday, April 18 at 11:59 p.m.
Workshop | Coffee + Paint
- Date 1-3 p.m. Sunday, June 13, 2021
- Cost $45
- Location Studios Building | Leigh Ann and Paul Albers Outdoor Studio
- Instructor / Presenter Talitha Clemons and Jenny Elton
- Age Requirements 16+
- Contact studioschool@okcontemp.org
Love coffee? Join us for an educational (and delicious) cupping with Talitha Clemons of Bright Vibe Coffee. Talitha will share her insights about artisanal coffee producers around the world and teach you about the flavor profiles you’ll experience with coffee from different regions. Students will then explore coffee in a new way with a coffee painting lesson with artist Jenny Elton. You’ll leave this casual workshop with new knowledge and appreciation for coffee, handy watercolor skills and a completed coffee painting. The alternate date in the case of weather, instructor illness or other circumstances is Jun. 20. Registration for this workshop closes on Jun. 6 at 11:59 p.m.
Online Workshop | Composition Crash Course
- Date 1-4 p.m. Saturday June 5, 2021
- Cost $45
- Location Online
- Instructor / Presenter Chris Brizzard
- Age Requirements 16+
- Contact studioschool@okcontemp.org
Learn to simplify drawing compositions using notans, a Japanese term meaning “light and dark.” You'll practice reducing images to two and three values in order to create strong compositional ideas to apply to larger works, as well as using standard types of rectangles to compose images. In addition, the instructor will discuss how to use Photoshop as a tool to aid in compositional study. The alternate date for this workshop in case of weather, instructor illness or other issues that arise is Jun. 12. Registration closes Sunday, May 30 at 11:59 p.m.
Four-Week Class | Expressive Drawing
- Date 4-6 p.m. Saturdays, May 22 - June 12, 2021
- Cost $105
- Location Studios Building | Flex Studio
- Instructor / Presenter Andrea Duran-Cason
- Age Requirements 18+
- Contact studioschool@okcontemp.rog
In this four-week course, students will explore various mark-making techniques to broaden and push their drawing skills outside of the box. Working in Oklahoma Contemporary’s outdoor studio, you'll take inspiration from your surroundings and senses to create expressive drawings in a variety of drawing media. Focusing on expressive marks and foundations of composition, students will learn to trust their artistic voice and draw from intuition and feeling. This course will take place outside with social distancing enforced and masks required at all times. Registration closes Sunday, May 9 at 11:59 p.m.
Outdoor Friday Night Workshop | Gelli Plate Printmaking
- Date 7-9 p.m. Friday, May 7, 2021
- Cost $45 (all supplies included)
- Location Studios Building | Leigh Ann and Paul Albers Outdoor Studio
- Instructor / Presenter Virginia Sitzes
- Age Requirements 21+
- Contact studioschool@okcontemp.org
Get creative with painter and printmaker Virginia Sitzes! In this two-hour course, you'll use a quick and colorful printmaking process to produce a small set of original greeting cards. This course will take place in a well-ventilated area with masks required and social distancing enforced. With table service from Café Contemporary, you can enjoy an adult beverage and nibbles as you get creative with new friends. Registration for this workshop closes at noon on the day of the event.
Image courtesy artist and instructor Virginia Sitzes.
Four-Week Class | Hand Lettering Basics
- Date 1-3 p.m. Saturdays, May 22 - June 12, 2021
- Cost $105
- Location Studios Building | Flex Studio
- Instructor / Presenter Aditi Panchal
- Age Requirements 18+
- Contact studioschool@okcontemp.org
Explore the basics of typography and the art of hand lettering! We will study different techniques, letterforms and applications, plus reference works found in the Ed Ruscha: OKLA exhibition. This four-week course will give you a better understanding of Ruscha’s work as well as a library of knowledge on type itself. No prior experience is required. This course will take place in person in a well-ventilated studio with enforced social distancing and masks required at all times. Registration closes Sunday, May 9 at 11:59 p.m.
Image courtesy artist and instructor Aditi Panchal.
Friday Night Series | Splatterpaint
- Date 7-9 p.m. Friday, June 11, 2021
- Cost $35 (all supplies included)
- Location Studios Building | Leigh Ann and Paul Albers Outdoor Studio
- Instructor / Presenter Jenny Elton
- Age Requirements 21+
- Contact studioschool@okcontemp.org
Get messy, explore basic principles of watercolor and leave with some completed creations of your own. This course will take place in a well-ventilated area with masks required and social distancing enforced. With table service from Café Contemporary, you can enjoy an adult beverage and nibbles as you get creative with new friends. Registration for this workshop closes at noon on the day of the event.
Eight-Week Class | Beginning Acrylic Painting
- Date 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Saturdays April 17 - June 5, 2021
- Cost $195
- Location Studios Building | Flex Studio
- Instructor / Presenter Calvin Pressley
- Age Requirements 18+
- Contact studioschool@okcontemp.org
Discover the basics of acrylic painting with artist Calvin Pressley. In this hands-on course, you'll learn to prepare your paints and mix colors, practice basic handling techniques and plan/execute your own original compositions on a variety of surfaces. Students will leave this class with the knowledge and confidence necessary to create their own works in acrylic. This course will take place in-person in a well-ventilated studio with masks required at all times and enforced social distancing. Registration closes Sunday, April 4 at 11:59 p.m.
Online 10-Week Class | Beginning Drawing
- Date 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays, April 14 - June 16, 2021
- Cost $170
- Location Online
- Instructor / Presenter Chris Brizzard
- Age Requirements 18+
- Contact studioschool@oklcontemp.org
This online course will introduce students to the fundamentals of drawing, including block-in, shape accuracy, proportion, separating light from shadow, establishing values and conveying light on form. Students will start by copying drawings that incorporate these principles and will eventually move into setting up their own still lifes and drawing from life. Registration closes Sunday, April 4 at 11:59 p.m.
Online Four-Week Class | Bookmaking Basics
- Date 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Saturdays, April 17 - May 8, 2021
- Cost $90
- Location Online
- Instructor / Presenter Emma Difani
- Age Requirements 18+
- Contact studioschool@okcontemp.org
Explore the art of bookmaking in this introductory course addressing the basic structures and forms for creating unique artists' books. This online class can be taken from anywhere in the world and will introduce students to the tools, materials and terminology of book arts and guide them through the creation of several handmade books. We will cover folded paper, stab bound and wrapped hardcover books exploring found and recycled materials. Registration closes Sunday, April 4 at 11:59 p.m.
Four-Week Class | Oil Pastel Basics
- Date 6-8 p.m. Tuesdays, April 13 - May 4, 2021
- Cost $105
- Location Studios Building | Flex Studio
- Instructor / Presenter Jenny Elton
- Age Requirements 18+
- Contact studioschool@okcontemp.org
Discover the fundamentals of oil pastel drawing and painting. You will learn color mixing, mark-making and layering techniques unique to the medium. By the end of class, students will have a completed landscape composition and a solid foundation of oil pastel technique. This course will take place in-person in a well-ventilated studio with masks required at all times and enforced social distancing. Registration closes Sunday, April 4 at 11:59 p.m.
Eight-Week Class | Outdoor Oil Painting
- Date 12-2 p.m. Sundays, April 18 - June 6, 2021
- Cost $195
- Location Studios Building | Leigh Ann and Paul Albers Outdoor Studio
- Instructor / Presenter Chris Brizzard
- Age Requirements 18+
- Contact studioschool@okcontemp.org
Join instructor and artist Chris Brizzard to explore the fundamentals of oil painting outside, or en plein air. Core concepts include the block-in, separating light from shadow, setting up proper value relationships, getting the light effect, color relationships and more. We will be working outside each class to produce a different study each week. This course will take place outside with masks required and social distancing enforced. Registration closes Sunday, April 4 at 11:59 p.m.
