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

Thursday, December 18th 1-3 pm

Class Fee: $38   Canvas Fee: $5

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

Thursday, January 18th 1-3 pm

Class Fee: $38   Canvas Fee: $5

2026 is the year to focus on yourself and your wellness. In our first ARTful Wellnes class of the year, join artist and teacher Mike Flynn as he guides you through simple steps to creating watercolor landscapes. 

In this workshop you will use simple design and composition to execute beautiufl landscapes in four or five steps. Start your year at the ARTfactory crafting a beautiful vision for the year to come!

All supplies will be provided.

Class Fee: Free!

This hands on workshop invites you to explore a fresh and playful approach to painting through the art of paper shapes.

You’ll discover how paper shapes can transform into expressive, dynamic works of art. Through demonstrations and guided exercises you’ll learn how to design with background, subject, and detailed shapes to build layered compositions that move far beyond simple silhouettes to create depth, energy, and visual storytelling.

This hands-on class emphasizes both process and creativity. You’ll discover techniques for adhering and decorating paper shapes—whether flat or raised—to bring texture, color, and dimension into your work.

By the end of the session, you’ll walk away with your own unique paper-shape creation, inspiration for future projects, and a new perspective on how shapes can become powerful tools in painting and design.

Saturday, January 17th

1-5 pm

Class Fee: $100       Supplies Fee: $5

The best way to keep warm this winter is by making art!

Learn to create unique and unusual images of trees in this fun and relaxing workshop. We will use white and black ink on handmade papers, collaged together to create a positive vs. negative effect.

This workshop is suitable for all skill levels, and is brought to you in partnership with the City of Manassas. 

Saturday, January 24th

12-2 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!

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!