Visual Arts

Join our Friday evening class and explore many different types of media in this diverse approach to design and sculpture.  Clay, plaster, wire, and lino block printmaking are among the options in this special studio session.  Find plenty of individual instruction as we plan and build dynamic creations.  Develop and improve modeling skills and the ability to “see” the three-dimensional art in the making.  All ages 11 & up.

Instructor: Lydia Bratton

Tuition: $112  Supply Fee: $20  Register by Oct. 2 for 10% tuition discount for non-members, 25% discount for members.

Join artist Michele Frantz and explore new ways to apply paint to paper, creating unusual patterns and textures to enhance your artwork.   This session will feature ways to manipulate and enhance watercolors, but these fun and experimental techniques may be used with your favorite medium, too.  Supply list will be given when you register.  Watercolor paper and alternative painting tools will be provided by the instructor.  For ages 15 & up.

Instructor: Michele Frantz

Tuition: $63  Supply Fee: $8    Register by Oct. 2 for 10% tuition discount for non members and a 25% discount for members.

Join us for three evenings of soothing rhythms and energized beats in the beautiful setting of AROMA Wine Tasting Room in Historic Manassas.  Instructor Carol Hartt will introduce various hand drums and world percussion instruments. Students will learn to play several different rhythms and how to mix and match these sound sequences. We will learn to cooperate in a drum circle and create beautiful percussive tones in synchronicity.  Drums provided by instructor.  Don’t miss this fun and unique opportunity to experience the relaxing effects of focused rhythms and musical collaboration!  No prior experience needed.  For ages 15 – adult.  Wine by the glass will be available for sale to ages 21 & over.

ARTfactory thanks Morais Vineyards for allowing our use of their beautiful tasting room for this class.  Learn more about Morais Vineyards at https://moraisvineyards.com.

Instructor: Carol Hartt

Tuition: $42
Early Registration Discount:  Register by Sept. 4 for 10% off for non-members and 25% off for ARTfactory Members.

This class is designed for students (beginner to intermediate) who want to explore the unique principles of watercolor: transparency, speed, & spontaneity. Classes will emphasize and demonstrate brush work, color mixing, wash techniques, value patterns, design layout, and composition. Class may be taken multiple times; subject matter will vary among a variety of landscapes, seascapes, florals, & still-life. Watercolor paper will be provided by instructor. Supply list provided upon registration. For ages 15 & up.

Instructor: Mike Flynn

Tuition: $105  Paper Fee: $8   Register by Oct. 9 for 10% tuition discount for non members and a 25% discount for members.

Do you love creating comics, cartoons and anime sketches?  Improve your character illustration skills and personal style. We will look at eastern and western comics, and then use hand drawing techniques to illustrate a page, just like the professionals!   Supplies provided.  For ages 8-14.

Instructor: Lydia Bratton

Tuition: $84  Supply Fee: $10   Register by October 9 for 10% tuition discount for non-members and a 25% tuition discount for members.

What better way to explore beautiful use of color and design than to look to several “stars” of the art world? We will weave some fun art history into this multi-media art class.  Students will be inspired to find their own unique voice and self-expression through painting, drawing, collage, sculpture and more. For ages 7-12.

Instructor: Gabriella Urbaniak

Tuition: $84  Supply Fee: $1  Register by October for 10% tuition discount for non members and 25% discount for members.

Join artist Michele Frantz for this wonderful exploration 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 skills and explore new directions. Class is offered throughout the year with a different approach presented each session. List of acrylics supplies given upon registration; canvases and boards will be provided by the instructor. For ages 15 & up.

Instructor: Michele Frantz

Tuition: $112  Supply Fee: $10    Register by Oct. 16  for 10% tuition discount for non members and a 25% discount for members.

Join artist Michele Frantz for an evening class in acrylic painting.  Quick drying, vibrant and versatile, acrylics may be applied to a wide variety of surfaces and altered with different additives.  Students new to acrylics will learn introductory basics; experienced students will improve skills and explore new directions. Supplies provided via supply fee.  For ages 15 & up.

Instructor: Michele Frantz

Tuition: $84  Supply Fee: $20   Register by Oct. 23 for 10% tuition discount for non members and a 25% discount for members.

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 each session.  List of watercolor supplies given upon registration.  Watercolor paper will be provided by instructor. For ages 15 & up.

Instructor: Michele Frantz

Tuition: $112  Supply Fee: $10  Register by Oct. 23 for 10% tuition discount for non members and a 25% discount for members.

Explore the endless possibilities when using fluid and dry media together to make beautiful art. Through clear interactive tutorial demonstrations, Mike will teach students to use a combination of watercolor, gouache, brushes, pencils, pens and ink to create compelling compositions with subtle and bold textures.  Subject matter will vary.   Age15 – Adult.

Instructor: Mike Flynn

Tuition: $105  Paper Fee: $8   Register by Oct. 30 for 10% tuition discount for non members and a 25% discount for members.

Join us on Friday evenings for a fun studio art class! Find plenty of individual instruction & opportunities to try new media & techniques. We will draw, paint, sketch and build dynamic creations.  For ages 7-11.

Instructor: Lydia Bratton

Tuition: $140  Supply Fee: $20   Register by October 30 for 10% tuition discount for non-members, 25% discount for members.

Want to take your art to the next level? Join us as we explore and learn how to bring our skills to the digital world using tablets and Paint Tool SAI.  For Beginners: We’ll use lineart to get the hang of what it feels like to draw on a tablet as it translates to the computer screen.  For Advanced: We’ll explore what the program allows us to do, creating a finished piece using cel-shading.  All levels of experience are welcome, come meet fellow teens with a passion for anime and manga art just like you!  Ages 13-Adult

Instructor: Leaf Lemon

Tuition: $112  Supply Fee: $20  Register by Oct. 30 for 10% tuition discount for non-members, 25% discount for members.

Do you love creating comics, cartoons and anime sketches?  Improve your character illustration skills and personal style. We will look at eastern and western comics, and then use hand drawing techniques to illustrate a page, just like the professionals!   Supplies provided.  For ages 8-14.

Instructor: Lydia Bratton

Tuition: $84  Supply Fee: $10   Register by October 30 for 10% tuition discount for non-members and a 25% tuition discount for members.

This class will explore the fundamental techniques of oil painting.  Each student will select a reference photo with guidance from teaching artist Emily Thomson.  The instructional approach will be customized to address the skill development for students:
Experienced Beginner (some drawing and painting experience, but new to oils.)
Intermediate (some experience with oil painting, but looking to improve skills.)
Oil paints and canvases will be provided via supply fee.  For ages 15 – Adult.

Instructor: Emily Thomson

Tuition: $168 Supply Fee: $20  Register by Nov. 6 for 10% tuition discount for non-members and 25% discount for members.

This in-person intro class for young artists will support improvement of fundamental drawing skills while bringing students together for fun and creativity.  Come explore line, form, shading and texture using traditional art media and a wide array of lessons and subject matter.  Your supply fee will provide each student with materials to use during class that could include pencils, charcoal, colored pencils, pens, markers and pastels.  For ages 7-11.

Instructor: Lydia Bratton

Tuition: $63  Supply Fee: $10   Register by November 20 for 10% tuition discount for non members and a 25% discount for members.

Join artist Michele Frantz for a 3 lesson mini-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 skills and explore new directions. Class is offered throughout the year with a different approach presented each session. List of acrylics supplies given upon registration; canvases and boards will be provided by the instructor. For ages 15 & up.

Instructor: Michele Frantz

Tuition: $84  Canvas Fee: $8 

Join Mike Flynn for an introduction to painting soft and impressionistic landscapes in oils.  This class will explore the fundamental techniques of oil painting, and the use of the medium to suggest distance, form, texture and atmosphere.  Mike will teach through demonstration in this class for beginners and advanced beginners.  Oil paints and canvases will be provided via supply fee.   Age15 – Adult.

Instructor: Mike Flynn

Tuition: $105  Paper Fee: $8   Register by Nov. 27 for 10% tuition discount for non members and a 25% discount for members.

Join artist Michele Frantz for a three week mini-session in this year-round series!  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 each session.  List of watercolor supplies given upon registration.  Watercolor paper will be provided by instructor. For ages 15 & up.

Instructor: Michele Frantz

Tuition: $84  Supply Fee: $8  Register by November 27 for 10% tuition discount for non members and a 25% discount for members.

Great illustrators masterfully bend realism to suit their visual storytelling and capture the reader’s imagination. Learn techniques, tips and tricks from published children’s book illustrator Emily Thomson. Topics will include the use of thumbnail sketches, and the creation of polished line drawings using water-based media ink, gouache and watercolor.  Bring some of your favorite animal or human photographs to use as visual references; we will have more for your choosing, too. Materials will be provided via supply fee. For ages 15 & up.

Note:  Following the current CDC recommendation, students and instructors should wear a mask based on personal preference, informed by personal level of risk.  Class size will be limited for social distancing.  We continue to show vigilance in cleaning and sanitizing our facilities.

Instructor: Emily Thomson

Tuition: $112 Supply Fee: $20   Register by Jan. 8 for 10% tuition discount for non members and a 25% discount for members.