Classes & Workshops
The Old Town Art Center
About the Old Town Art Center
Small class sizes allow students of all skill levels to take part in any given class. Instructors provide each individual student the amount of attention required. The focus is entirely on the visual arts – through drawing with pencils/charcoal and painting with oils, watercolor, pastels or acrylics. Sessions typically begin the first week of January, the last week of March and the first week of September. Short sessions are offered in the summer and toward the end of the year. Workshops are added periodically. Classes are offered during the day, at night and on weekends.
Register Now for SUMMER 2025 Art Classes!
Registration is required. Scholarships are available. If you plan to pay for a class at the first session, please call the office (312.337.1938) to place a registration hold for the class you would like to attend – this will help us to ensure minimum/maximum attendance.
Half-Sessions are available in a very limited capacity for select classes, noted below. Half-Sessions comprise five classes during the session, up to the student. Discounts do not apply to Half Sessions.
Art Class FAQs
- OTTA membership is open to all
- Up to two art classes can be made up within a session
- There are no refunds after the 1st class
- Classes with fewer than five students may be cancelled – class size is limited to sixteen students.
- Students provide their own supplies
- Scholarships are available – please scroll down for complete information
- If you would prefer to pay by check or in person, please call the office (312.337.1938) to reserve your space.
Suzanne Flavin Scholarships
The Old Town Art Center offers financial aid through the Suzanne Flavin Scholarship Fund. Financial assistance is provided for the complete cost of a class and is offered for each full 30 hour-session – any media. To apply, please complete the application found here or visit the OTAC (1763 N North Park Avenue) to pick up a copy. Recipients will be announced two weeks prior to the start of the next session.
Promotions
Representatives from OTTA may take photos of participants and/or their artwork during class sessions. These pictures are for OTTA use only and may be used in publications and/or website. Please notify us if you would not like photos to be taken of you.
Art Classes
Please note: If you have any questions or run into any problems attempting to register, please send an email to info@oldtowntriangle.com or call us at 312.337.1938. Those 65 and older – use code “senior” for additional $10 off!
Foundational Drawing with Morgan Lyons
Sundays | July 13 & July 20 | 10 AM – 4 PM | 2 Weeks
**one hour break for lunch**
Fee: $180 (discounts do not apply)
The mission of this class is to provide you with a strong drawing foundation. Welcome are experienced artists, beginners, and anyone interested in learning a new discipline. The goal is to copy historical drawings by master artists, but this is far from a step-by-step class. Instead, you’ll find the process to be a creative one as you find your unique way, learning to better trust your eye and intuition.
The methods that you will be introduced to will help you to better see and represent distances, lengths, angles, and the effects of light on a surface. With this kind of practice, you will start thinking in a different way and improve your sensory and motor skills.
We will go back to basics; pencil on paper. You can expect patient, focused guidance and valuable insight to take with you outside of class. You’ll be pleasantly surprised to see just how much you are capable of.
Summer Workshops with Don Yang
Gouache Workshop
Saturday | June 28 | 10 AM – 5 PM | 1 Week
**One hour break for lunch**
Fee: $180 (no member discounts apply)
Workshop description: In this workshop, participants are introduced to unique material and working method of gouache painting. Participants will begin the process by exploring compositional possibilities working from their own pre-selected photograph(s). They will paint one painting in gouache using the photograph as reference material.
Plein Air Painting Workshop
Saturday | August 2 | 10 AM – 5 PM | 1 Week
**One hour break for lunch**
Fee: $180 (no member discounts apply)
Workshop description: This workshop is designed for both the beginners and the experienced plein air painters. The beginners will be introduced to the fundamentals of plein air painting.
Those who have previous experience in plein air painting will expand their proficiency in plein air painting with emphasis on dynamic composition and color harmony in outdoor painitng.
Urban Sketching Workshop
Saturday | August 16 | 10 AM – 5 PM | 1 Week
**One hour break for lunch**
Fee: $180 (no member discounts apply)
Workshop description: This workshop is designed for both the beginners and the experienced urban sketchers.
Learning Objectives:
1. The beginners will be introduced to fundamentals of urban sketching.
2. Experienced urban sketchers will expand their competency in skills and techniques of urban sketching.
3. Participants will be familiarized with various sketching materials and tools in urban sketching.
4. Participants will gain knowledge of practical tips and advice in urban sketching.
Watercolor Painting with Tom Francesconi 
Saturdays | July 19 – August 23 | 10 AM – 1 PM | 5 Weeks
** No Class August 16**
Fee: $200
Tom’s energetic teaching style and passion for painting combine to create a class that is enjoyable and informative. Any artist looking to break free of a careful, timid painting process will find Tom’s direct and representational approach very inspirational. Within this process, students learn how to create stronger, more effective visual statements. Expect discussions and demonstrations that allow you to see how Tom approaches work from start to finish. Ample opportunity is provided for everyone to paint with individual direction/guidance a priority. Students at every stage of experience are welcome.
Summer Workshop with Kathleen Newman
More information to come!
Kathleen Newman studied at Chicago’s American Academy of Art and the School of the Art Institute. She has been awarded the International Association of Pastel Artists Master’s Circle Gold Medal status. She has earned her signature letters in the Pastel Society of America, American Society of Marine Artists and the American Transparent Watercolor Society. Her work can be found in many private and corporate collections.
Beginners Watercolor with Sandra Schroeder
More information to come!
Join Sandra Schroeder for a unique and dynamic approach to Watercolor. This class covers many basics, while at the same time teaching freeing techniques that help students stay loose and take advantage of happy accidents, to literally ‘’go with the flow”. Students learn a variety of ways of mixing colors on the brush, on the palette and on the paper using freeing approaches such as tilting, spraying and lifting. Teaching methods include mini demos, mock-ups, structured exercises, and plenty of individual mentoring.