Unleash your creative potential and professionalize your artistic practice in this hands-on course focused on graphic arts marketing.

Designed for adult artists and makers, this class takes place in our digital lab, where you will learn to use Krita, the powerful and free digital painting and illustration software, to create professional marketing materials.

What You'll Create and Learn:

• Logo Design: Develop a unique and memorable logo that visually represents your artistic brand. You will learn Krita's vector tools to design a scalable logo that works on everything from your website to a business card.

• Book/Album Cover Art: Design a compelling front cover that tells a story and captures attention. We will explore composition, typography, and color theory within Krita to create a professional-grade cover for a fictional or personal project.

• Promotional Graphics: Create eye-catching digital graphics for social media, email newsletters, and online announcements. Learn to use layers, brushes, and text effects in Krita to craft stunning visuals that promote your work and engage your audience.

• Digital Portfolio Pieces: Transform your existing artwork into polished digital files for online display. You'll learn to prepare and optimize your art for web and print, ensuring your portfolio looks its best.

• Branding Fundamentals: Beyond the software, you'll gain an understanding of essential marketing concepts. We will discuss how to define your target audience, craft a brand message, and apply a consistent visual identity across all your projects.

Who Should Take This Course:

This course is ideal for artists, illustrators, and designers who want to learn robust and free software to market their work. A basic understanding of computers is helpful, but no prior experience with Krita or graphic design is required. You will receive step-by-step instruction and personalized feedback in a supportive and creative environment.

Course Format:

This is a project-based workshop where you will work on your own marketing materials from start to finish. By the end of the course, you will have a small portfolio of professionally designed marketing assets created entirely in Krita, giving you the confidence and tools to take your art career to the next level.

 Saturday January 24th

3-6 pm

Class Fee: $57

Jumpstart your drawing skills in just five hours!

Ready to finally feel confident with your drawing? This 5-hour intensive workshop is designed to give you a strong foundation in the essentials: composition, proportion, and accuracy. You’ll learn to see like an artist, simplify complex forms, and capture not just “a dog,” but JoJo the dog—unique and true to life.

Through guided demonstrations and hands-on exercises, you’ll sharpen your eye, build control, and complete a finished still-life drawing using all the techniques covered. Whether you’re a total beginner or a painter looking to strengthen your drawing skills, this crash course will give you tools you can use right away.

All materials provided. Just bring your sketchbook and a set of pencils—everything else is ready for you.

Saturday, January 31st

11 am - 4 pm

Class Fee: $150

2026 is the year to focus on your mental and physical health, and this Wellness series is the perfect place to start!

Come and paint a beautiful landscape scene using acrylic! Painting a landscape scene can be relaxing and a great pleasure to view. Emily will go step by step to show how to poaint an outdoor landscape, including mixing colors, adding texture, and techniques for the use of acrylic paint.

Saturday, February 7th

10 am - 1 pm

Free for any residents of Manassas Park, Manassas City, or Prince William County in need of wellness programming.

Please note that this class takes place at the City of Manassas Community Center!

John will present a two hour class where he leads students in painting an original piece of art based on his signature strange and wonderful style using acrylic paints. Students will paint along and be encouraged to create their own original work.

He will address the following :

- Composition

- Finding shapes

- Lines of action

- Color theory

- Working with a color palette

- Stop thinking and start creating

Tuesday, February 10 1-3 pm

Class Fee: $38   Canvas Fee: $5

Learn to Paint your beloved pet (dog, cat, rabbit, horse?) Students will bring in a few photos to choose to use as their reference to paint from. You will learn the basics of oils, learning to mix, drawing your pet, and blocking in shapes and values, adding color, textures and details.

Each week you will progress and build up the paint layers to make a complete painting.

Wednesdays, 6:30-8:30 pm

Feburary 11th - March 11th

Class Fee: $190     Supplies Fee: $20

Join artist Michele Frantz for a 5 lesson session in acrylic painting!  Versatile and forgiving, acrylic paints may be manipulated with a wide array of techniques, applied to many different surfaces, and modified with various additives.

Students new to acrylics will learn introductory basics; experienced students will improve their skills and explore new directions. Class is offered throughout the year with a different approach presented in each session. Click here for a list of supplies. Canvases and boards will be provided by the instructor.

Tuesdays 10:30-12:30

February 17th - March 17th

For ages 15 & up.

Tuition: $190 Canvas Fee: $5

Explore the beautiful fluidity and transparency of watercolor. Beginners will learn basic tools and techniques. Experienced students will explore new methods, materials, and styles. This class is offered throughout the year with a different approach presented in each session.  A list of supplies can be found on the Classes and Camps page, or by clicking here. Watercolor paper will be provided by the instructor.

Fridays 10:30 am - 12:30 pm

February 20th - March 20th

For ages 15 & up.

Tuition: $190  Supply Fee: $5

Back by popular demand!

Learn how working with a limited palette can help improve your art. One of the most essential tools for good composition is the use of lights and darks - kown as "value". 

This workshop will help you see values better, and understand their role and importance in creating contrast, depth, and form. Suitable for any media!

Students must bring their own supplies!

Michele will provide reference photos, or students may provide their own.

Ages 15+

Sunday, February 22nd

12-3 pm

Class Fee: $57