Fall 2026

Classes are open to all - Become a Glastonbury Arts member and take a discount on every class as a membership benefit.

Materials lists are included for each workshop and class.

Students are responsible for providing their own art supplies unless otherwise specified in the class or workshop description.

Serious teens are welcome to enroll in adult classes but must supply their own materials.

Open Studio (ongoing) - Join fellow Glastonbury Arts members for relaxed, creative studio time on Tuesday afternoons from 1–4 pm. Drop in whenever you can and stay as long as you’d like—an hour or the whole afternoon. Our art studio is a welcoming space to create, connect, and encourage one another while setting aside time each week for your art. Easels, tables, and chairs are provided—just bring your supplies and a little inspiration. Open studios may be cancelled or delayed due to holidays or workshops - check this page if in doubt or contact info@glastonburyarts.org.

Fee: $10 per weekly session for Glastonbury Arts members (cash or check)   Not a member? Join today

SKILL BUILDING IN OIL, Tuesdays, Sept. 29 - Nov. 3, 9:30 am to noon (6 weeks). Discover the expressive possibilities of oil painting in a supportive, encouraging studio environment. You’ll build a strong foundation in composition, learn to create compelling focal points, and explore color theory using a limited palette. Through guided demonstrations, practice, and constructive feedback, you’ll see how contrast, edges, and color relationships bring clarity and strength to your work. Whether you are strengthening existing skills or building confidence with oils, this class offers thoughtful instruction designed to support your artistic growth. 
Fee:   $205  | $195 for Glastonbury Arts Members  |  Register for Skill Building in Oil | Materials List

Instructor Katherine Simmons: Kathy Simmons is an artist inspired by the interplay of light and shadow. Her paintings capture a sense of place through thoughtful composition, luminous color, and harmonious relationships that bring visual poetry to the canvas. Known for expressive landscapes and confident brushwork, she also paints still lifes and explores abstraction. Kathy holds a Fine Arts degree from Massachusetts College of Art and Design and has studied with Charles Sovek and Robert Scott Jackson. Her work has appeared in The Pastel Journal, American Artist, and Connecticut Magazine www.KatherineSimmons.com

PASTELS FOR BEGINNERS & INTERMEDIATES, Wednesdays, Oct. 7 to Oct. 28, 9:30 am – 11:30 pm (4 weeks).  Prior drawing experience is helpful for this welcoming pastel class, especially for new students. Together, we’ll explore materials, techniques, and safety while building a strong foundation in pastel. Lessons include underpainting, gridding, composition, values, color theory, and framing. Beginners will gain the essential skills needed to move forward with confidence, while intermediate students can refine their process from planning to completion. Each session includes a short demonstration or paint-along using still life or reference photos, plus supportive guidance throughout. Classes conclude with a constructive critique to help each student grow and celebrate progress.
Fee:   $180 | $170 for Glastonbury Arts Members | Register for Pastels for Beginners & Intermediates | Materials List

Instructor Susan Bosworth: Susan creates colorful, sensitive scenes of landscapes, architecture, interiors, and figures in an impressionistic realist style. Her work reflects a bold, intuitive approach, whether she is painting in the studio or outdoors with local plein air painters during the warmer months. Susan is an active member of Connecticut’s arts community and brings both experience and encouragement to her teaching. She belongs to the Connecticut Pastel Society, Academic Artists, Glastonbury Arts, Artists of Bolton, Arts of Tolland,and has been connected for many years with Tolland County Art Association.  www.SusanBosworth.com

FINISH WITH CONFIDENCE: BRINGING PAINTINGS TO COMPLETION, Thursdays, Oct. 1 – Oct. 29, 9:30 am to noon (5 weeks)  Do you have a painting that is stalled, unfinished, or almost there but not quite resolved? This class is designed to help you move it forward, whether you work in watercolor, pastel, oil, or gouache. Bring a piece you have already started—or one you are ready to begin but are unsure how to approach. Through individualized critique and instruction, you will learn how to rework, strengthen, and complete your painting with greater confidence. Students should bring the materials they currently use to class.
Fee:   $195 | $185 for Glastonbury Arts Members | Register for Finish with Confidence

Instructor Karen Israel: Karen is a Connecticut pastelist, award-winning professional artist, and experienced instructor known for helping students strengthen their work through clear, individualized guidance. Over the past 15 years, her paintings have earned awards in national and international juried competitions, appeared in notable publications including Pratique des Arts, Southwest Art Magazine, and Pastel Journal, and been held in private collections throughout the United States. Karen conducts teaching demonstrations and workshops nationwide, has served as a juror for many national competitions, and brings students both professional insight and exceptional experience coaching artists at different stages of development. www.ArtByKarenIsrael.com.

Spring 2026

WATERCOLOR EXPLORATIONS: Techniques & Creative Studies, Wednesdays, April 22 to May 13, 6:30 – 8:30 pm (4 weeks). This class is perfect for painters with a bit of experience who are ready to loosen up, experiment, and grow. Through guided exercises and bite-sized studies, you’ll explore color harmony, water control, value, texture, and expressive mark-making—without the pressure of creating “finished” paintings. The emphasis is on process, play, and building confidence as you get to know the medium more deeply. Expect plenty of exploration, happy accidents, and creative discovery in a supportive, low-key environment. You’ll leave with stronger skills, fresh ideas, and new momentum for your watercolor practice. Basic familiarity with materials is recommended.

Fee:   $175   $165 for Glastonbury Arts Members  | Registration closed - classes have started | Materials List


Instructor Jennifer Tully:  An illustrator, craftsperson, and art educator, Jennifer brings a lifelong passion for creativity to both her studio and classroom. Her interest in the arts began early and led to a dual career as artist and educator. She earned a B.F.A. in illustration from the University of Connecticut School of Fine Arts, developing a strong foundation in art history and studio practice. She later completed graduate studies at Southern Connecticut State University, where she received K–12 certification in art education. As an educator, she strives to inspire students while fostering a lasting appreciation for art and aesthetics. Balancing teaching with personal creative work has been deeply fulfilling. Under a Halloween Moon is her first children’s book available on Amazon.com

DRAWING STUDIO, Thursdays, April 9 – June 4, 2026, 6:00 to 8:00 pm (8 weeks - no class on May 7)  Explore drawing as a tool for self-expression and as a core building block of the art-making process! Over eight weeks this course will cover different components of drawing practice and how they're expressed: looking at various approaches and strengthening fundamentals that allow us to capture life within the confines of a piece of paper. Whether you've never picked up a pencil or have many years of practice, this class is designed to grow your skills as an artist.
Fee: $215 | $205 for Glastonbury Arts Members | Registration closed - classes have started  |  Materials List


Instructor Matt Becker: Matt is a ceramicist and illustrator drawn to color, gestural form, and the quiet magic of a successful glaze firing. He earned his MFA in Ceramics from the Rhode Island School of Design in 2021, where he explored the intersection of ceramics, sculpting, and illustrating practices. Matt teaches pottery at Mill Court Ceramics in Storrs, CT, and drawing at Glastonbury Arts. Across mediums, he trains the hand to follow the eye and encourages experimentation with curiosity and care. He offers patient, practical guidance, whether helping a student find balance at the wheel or clarity of visions on the page.  www.MattBeckerArt.com

REGISTRATION: Register early to avoid disappointment. Classes and workshops won't run if the minimum number of students haven't registered one week before the start date. Classes and workshops are filled in the order received. Registrations will not be processed without payment. When you register, consider yourself confirmed: You will hear from us only if the schedule changes or the class is cancelled.

ATTENDANCE: There are no make-ups, refunds, or pro-rating of class/workshop fees. Students who cannot attend a class or workshop cannot substitute another person in their place. 

CANCELLATION POLICY: In the event a course or workshop is cancelled by Glastonbury Arts (e.g. insufficient enrollments, teacher illness, severe weather, etc.), all fees will be refunded to students. If a registered student withdraws from a class or workshop, the student must notify Glastonbury Arts via email two full weeks prior to the start of the class or workshop in which case we will refund the student’s registration fee less a $35 administrative charge. No refunds will be made for voluntary withdrawals less than two full weeks before the start of a class or workshop.

INCLEMENT WEATHER: In the event that Glastonbury Public Schools are closed or delayed, Glastonbury Arts will be closed. Classes or workshops not held due to bad weather will be rescheduled based on teacher availability. In the event that a class or workshop cannot be rescheduled, please refer to our cancellation policy. 

PHOTO WAIVER: Glastonbury Arts occasionally documents classes using photography for publicity purposes. Registration in a Glastonbury Arts class or workshop assumes permission by adult class participants to use such images for publicity unless the photographer is informed otherwise at the time the photographs are taken. Parents of students in classes for teens or children are asked to indicate their permission to photograph their children on the class registration form.

Where to purchase art supplies

  • Locally

    Jerry's Artarama in West Hartford offers a huge array of art supplies. Located at 1109 New Britain Avenue in West Hartford, they also have a website for purchasing your art supplies.

    • Hours: Monday to Saturday, 10 am to 6 pm and Sundays from noon to 6 pm.
    • Phone: (860) 232-0073
    • Website

    Dick Blick in Plainville is another great source for art supplies, located at 341 Cooke Street in Plainville. They also have a website offering curbside pickup.

    • Hours: Monday to Friday, 10 am to 6 pm, Saturdays, 11 am t0 6 pm, Sundays, 11 am to 5 pm.
    • Phone: (860) 747-5551.
    • Website

    Michael's offers art and craft supplies in many locations within a 50 mile radius.

    Go to their website to find the store nearest to you.

  • Online

    Art Supply Warehouse

    Full range of art supplies, all art mediums.


    Cheap Joe's Art Stuff

    Full range of art supplies, all art mediums.


    Dakota Pastels

    Supplies for the pastel artist.


    Dick Blick

    Full range of art supplies, all art mediums.


    Jerry's Artarama

    Full range of art supplies, all art mediums.




  • Plein Air Painting

    Guerrilla Painter

    Portable easels, umbrellas, and other outdoor painting essentials.


    Open Box M

    Handcrafted plein air easels and associated equipment.


    Outdoor Painter

    Good source of information on the outdoor painting scene, e.g., articles, podcasts, guides, etc.

  • Guide to Pochade Boxes

    Pochade boxes are compact traveling easels  for traveling. There are dozens on the market and the choice can confusing. This guide takes you step-by-step through all the features you will want to consider when buying a pochade box.


    Guide

Have someone who is difficult to shop for?

Consider giving them the gift of personal enrichment. Gift cards are valid for any of our classes and workshops and have no expiration date. The gift card code allows the cardholder to use any or all of the amount given at any time.

Buy Gift Card