The Educated Artist: A Guide to Continuing Education Classes and Workshops in the Fine Arts in New York City, Fall 2009

Living in a city with so much art, it's not surprising that so many people who are not professional artists occasionally like to draw, paint, sculpt, and take pictures. So it shouldn't be surprising that many area arts schools, colleges, and other institutions offer a range of art courses and workshops. Nevertheless, in compiling this survey of continuing education classes in studio (and outdoor) art classes, many of which begin in the next few weeks, I was impressed with the range and scope of offerings for all levels of artistic skill - beginning, intermediate, and advanced. A few of these programs offer a drawing course, or at least a class session, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, a classic way to improve artistic vision.

In addition to improving artistic skills and learning new techniques, participating in an art class is a fun way to meet others in the city who share the same interests. Based on my own experience taking continuing education art classes, classmates will come from all areas of the city, with different backgrounds and experience that shape their individual visions. You'll be amazed at what kind of work is out there among the amateur art population. Do not worry about your own level of talent. Someone will be worse than you. Others will blow you away.

Many courses begin in middle to late September. Most have daytime, evening, and weekend classes, plus intensive workshops. Classes with multiple meeting times over the course of a few months (for example, September to December) can range from $300 to near $550. Many multi-week courses fall in the $425-$475 range. Some include model fees. Particularly popular courses with well-known artist instructors can fill up, so register early. A few of the schools listed below hold information sessions prior to the beginning of semester course. Be sure to attend, because it's always helpful to find a good match between your inner artist and its new instructor.
These listings are constantly being updated.

• School of Visual Arts Continuing Education, 209 East 23 Street, New York, NY 10010
Painting, drawing, figure drawing, anatomy, drawing at the Met, drawing New York City, sculpture, printmaking, jewelry. Also many courses in photography, animation, illustration and cartooning, etc. Information session for fine arts courses is Monday, August 31, 6:30-8:30 p.m., 141 West 21st St., room 602C, 6th Floor.

• New York Studio School of Painting, Drawing and Sculpture, 8 W 8th St, New York, NY 10011
Evening and Saturday classes are open to members of the public. Drawing, painting, and sculpture courses last 11 weeks.


• Cooper Union Continuing Education, Cooper Square, New York, NY 10003
Several courses in the fine arts including book arts, photography, painting, drawing for all levels (including absolute beginners), collage, color theory, drawing nature, drawing on location, watercolor and abstraction, drawing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

• Parsons The New School for Design, 66 Fifth Avenue, 2nd floor. New York, NY 10011
Courses in drawing, painting, watercolor, Drawing at the Met (a 5 session course on Saturdays, beginning September 25, $320), printmaking, mixed media, collage, and more. Non-credit students pay tuition and fees as listed along with the course description, and a $7 university services fee each term.

• Pratt Institute Continuing Education, 200 Willoughby Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11205
Large number of courses in Brooklyn and Manhattan in painting, drawing, jewelry making, photography, sculpture, metalworking, artist's diary, drawing on location, book arts, perspective drawing, illustration, and more.

• New York Academy of Art, Continuing Education, 111 Franklin Street, New York, NY 10013
Figure drawing; painting in oils; Landscapes and Seascapes: Painting on the Hudson (Offsite); human anatomy; watercolors, sculpture. All levels - beginning, intermediate, and advanced.

• The Art Students League of New York, 215 West 57th Street, New York
The league begins its 135th Regular Session in September.
Painting, sculpture, printmaking, mixed media. Registration is by the month. Students may enter any class at the Art Students League at any time, provided the class is not full. Registration fee of $20. Schedule involves a variety of classes- five mornings or afternoon a week, part-time, one or two evenings a week, Saturday classes, Sunday classes and so forth.

• International Center for Photography, 1114 Avenue of the Americas at 43rd Street
The School at ICP offers 10-week and 5-week courses, weekend workshops, and seminars on a range of topics, including digital and darkroom photography, lighting, documentary, portraiture, Photoshop, and printing. Consult course catalog on the site to see the school's extensive offerings. Open house: September 15 at 6 p.m.

• City University of New York (CUNY) Adult and Continuing Education
See website to search for course offerings in painting, drawing, and other disciplines at the many campuses across the boroughs.

• NYU's School of Continuing and Professional Studies, 145 4th Avenue, Room 201, New York, NY 10003
Offers courses in drawing (also a drawing course at the Met), painting, photocollage, printmaking, watercolor, and more.

• 92nd Street Y Art Classes
Offers courses in painting, drawing, photography, collage & mixed media.

• Henry Street Settlement: Abrons Arts Center, 466 Grand Street
Classes in painting and drawing, ceramics, and printmaking.

THE ART SCHOOL OUTDOORS

• The New York Botanical Garden Bronx River Parkway at Fordham Road Bronx, NY 10458
Courses in Perspective Drawing for the Botanical and Natural Science Artist, Drawing Trees, Garden Writing and Photography.

• The New York City Department of Parks & Recreation
Offers a 6-session Nature Photography Workshop in Wave Hill beginning September 11. $150.

Related posts:
• Drawing Sessions: The Walk-in Ateliers of New York
• Back-to-School Art Supplies Walk

Updated: Links to external sites now open in new windows. Images by Walking Off the Big Apple of her ever-increasing art supply collection and a couple of drawings on location.