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April 26, 2025

Where Every Family Matters

Winter Art Classes for Kids at Monthaven

It's cold! Bring your little Picasso out to an art class at Monthaven.

Monthaven Arts & Cultural Center has so many art classes for kids and families this winter. The free community gallery in Hendersonville offers classes for budding artists of all ages and abilities — both during the day for homeschoolers as well as after-school.

Most of them kick off in mid-January, so check out if there’s a class below that might be a good addition to your kid’s curriculum this winter.

For more information, visit monthavenartsandculturalcenter.com or call 615-822-0789.

DAYTIME HOMESCHOOL ART CLASSES

Performance Art – Mondays

Starts Jan 9, 2023 at 10:30 am, runs for 8 weeks
$168
with 
Rae Balmuth MA, RDT
Ages 12 – 17

Have something to say and want to take your vision beyond the page? Love yourself a Yoko Ono moment? This course, for students ages 12 – 17, introduces students to integrate visual art with a more theatrical approach to art-making.

Students will explore performative basics – such as time, place, and use of props, learn about professional performance artists and their contribution to both the art world and society at large, and have a chance to choose a personal topic on which to design and workshop an original work. Please expect a minimal amount of research-based homework throughout the course as we begin developing personal pieces. No experience necessary.

  • Week 1 – define performance art, introduction to pioneer artists
  • Week 2 – continue with history of performance art, learn introductory performative content
  • Week 3 – modern performance art and social media, discuss student interests for creating original work
  • Week 4 – continued topic exploration for original work via theatre games and sociodramatic role play
  • Week 5 – Set goals for theatrical performance, continued exploration of content via role play and story telling
  • Week 6 – begin constructing final piece
  • Week 7 – continue work on final piece
  • Week 8 – performance of final piece and debrief of outcomes and social impact

Draw, Paint, Create! – Mondays

Starts Jan 9, 2023 at 12:30 pm, runs for 4 weeks
$84
with Brooke Hammond
Ages 5 – 9

In this class, students will master the basics of drawing and painting. This class is designed for beginner to intermediate learners. Guided lessons will teach students ages 5-9 how to set up a composition and will emphasize and incorporate the use of art elements and principles of design. Special emphasis will be on light, value, and shading techniques. Gain an understanding of different drawing and painting tools and how to properly use them.

Mono-Printing 101 – Mondays

Starts Jan 9, 2023 at 12:30 pm, runs for 4 weeks
$84
with Helenka Ralston
Ages 9 – 13

Students ages 9 – 13 will learn to make one-of-a-kind prints using gelli pads and acrylics. These prints will be used to create a variety of unique creations. We will incorporate the use of stencils, stamping and drawing.

  • Week 1: printing leaves, botanicals and vegetable prints
  • Week 2: printing with common household items
  • Week 3: printing with stencils and foam stamps
  • Week 4: transforming prints into unique creations

Visual Storytelling – Mondays

Starts Jan 9, 2023 at 12:30 pm, runs for 4 weeks
$84
with Shahnaz Lighari
Ages 7 – 10

Bring your stories to life in our new illustration and visual storytelling class for students ages 7-10! Students will practice responding to stories, poems, and texts by creating original art from their imagination. Students will have the opportunity to create their own stories and characters as well as collaborate with the group.

  • Week 1: Character development – Drawing game to create a unique character as a base for story (drawing)
  • Week 2: Word associations/visual symbols – Options for poems, songs, short stories for kids to begin illustrating (painting, watercolor)
  • Week 3: Plot – drawing/sentence game, how to keep consistency with characters multiple times (same clothing, colors, etc)
  • Week 4: My adventure – Can be autobiographical or based on a character from previous weeks. Students make an illustrated short adventure story in style of their choice

Artopia – Tuesdays

Starts Jan 10, 2023 at 10:30 am, runs for 6 weeks
$126
with Dr. Priscilla Eichler
Ages 5 – 9

In this mixed media art class, children ages 5 – 9 will embark on techniques in drawing, painting, collage and sculpture.  This class encourages creativity in each student. Young artists will be encouraged to see the beauty in ever-changing nature, in objects around them and in their own imaginations.

Each month, each season unravels new opportunities for creation and imagination! For example, January is a chance to think about new beginnings! “In this new year, I will ___.  February is the month of love and we’ll look at who and what we love.  All of the thoughts of each month and holiday will be depicted through various media; colored pencil, acrylic paint, watercolor, sculpting in clay, montage and collage.

Digital Drawing: Beginners – Tuesday

Starts Jan 10, 2023 at 10:30 am, runs for 8 weeks
$
176
with Hannah Mathis (2023)
Ages 11 and up

Students ages 11 and up will learn basic drawing skills, Procreate software (the technology behind digital illustration) and an introduction to animating their illustrations. iPads and Apple Pencils are provided by the MACC.

  • Week 1 – Fundamentals: The instructor will show students varying examples of digital artwork. Then students will learn how to create a new canvas in Procreate, the basics of using brushes, and will be encouraged to explore the app with the instructor’s guidance.
  • Week 2 – Basics tools: Students will learn how to change brush size, utilize the eraser, pick colors using the eyedropper tool, organize their gallery and create color palettes in procreate.
  • Week 3 – Layers: Students will learn how to utilize layers in a work of art in Procreate and how to use a clipping mask to modify certain parts of a work of art.
  • Week 4 – Editing Tools: Students will learn how to merge and transform layers, and use the liquify tool.
  • Week 5 – References and sketching: Learn to import photos for reference, and begin the sketching and planning process of a work of art.
  • Week 6 – Creating Vectors in Procreate: This week, students will learn the difference between pixel and vector-based images, and a few ways that they can transform a pixel-based image into a vector.
  • Week 7 – Animation in Procreate: Students will learn the basics of animating their artwork.
  • Week 8 – Finishing Digital Work and Beyond: Students will get an introduction to the various ways they can save their digital work, as well as the many ways digital art can be applied in the real world. They will also learn how to save time lapse videos of their work.

Ancient Art: Mandalas – Tuesdays

Starts Jan 10, 2023 at 1 pm, runs for 6 weeks
$
126
with Kathryn Garcia
Ages 7 – 11

In this class, students ages 7 – 11 will combine history, art and different mediums while exploring artists of the past to design their own mandala. Throughout this mixed media class, students will use a variety of materials including pens, measuring devices, watercolor, acrylic, clay and metallic paints to design, draw, paint and carve their mandala out of clay and plaster.

  • Week 1: Basic principles, history, purpose of the mandala. Connection: geometry, history, cultural understanding. Practice with pencil, templates.
  • Week 2-4: Plaster cast, circular. Plan/experiment with form, placement.
  • Week 4-6: Carving design into clay/plaster circular form. Color and design elements will embellish the final relief.

Artopia – Wednesdays

Starts Jan 11, 2023 at 10:30 am, runs for 6 weeks
$126
with Dr. Priscilla Eichler
Ages 5 – 9

In this mixed media art class, children ages 5 – 9 will embark on techniques in drawing, painting, collage and sculpture.  This class encourages creativity in each student. Young artists will be encouraged to see the beauty in ever-changing nature, in objects around them, and in their own imaginations.

Artopia – Thursdays

Starts Jan 12, 2023 at 10:30 am, runs for 6 weeks
$126
with Dr. Priscilla Eichler
Ages 5 – 9

In this mixed media art class, children ages 5 – 9 will embark on techniques in drawing, painting, collage and sculpture.  This class encourages creativity in each student. Young artists will be encouraged to see the beauty in ever-changing nature, in objects around them, and in their own imaginations.

Draw, Paint, Create! – Thursdays

Starts Jan 12, 2023 at 10:30 am, runs for 4 weeks
$84
with Mariah Leggett
Ages 8 – 13

In this class, students will master the basics of drawing and painting. This class is designed for beginner to intermediate learners. Guided lessons will teach students ages 8 – 13 how to set up a composition and will emphasize and incorporate the use of art elements and principles of design. Special emphasis will be on light, value, and shading techniques. Gain an understanding of different drawing and painting tools and how to properly use them.

  • Week 1: Start off with a collage, end with sculpture
  • Week 2: Paint sculpture/draw from reference, work on composition
  • Week 3: Explore color using different painting mediums
  • Week 4: Focus on light and shading

Black & White Portraiture – Thursdays

Starts Jan 12, 2023 at 12:30 pm, runs for 4 weeks
$84
with Mariah Leggett
Ages 8 and up

In this class, students ages 8 and up will learn the techniques of drawing and shading faces with charcoal. They will spend time working on expressions, shading and value. Each class will have a different focus to practice. Students are encourged to bring a photo of their choice.

  • Week 1: Drawing reference pics, looking at perspective, and correct anatomy
  • Week 2: Focus on light and shading
  • Week 3: Facial expressions. Start final portrait project
  • Week 4: Finish final portrait project

Art Play (Semester-Class) for ages 5-8 – Fridays

Starts Jan 13, 2023 at 12:30 pm, runs for 17 weeks
$
357
with Art Staff
Ages 5 – 8

Art Play, for ages 5 – 8, is an opportunity to experience different materials from a variety of teachers hand-selected for their area of expertise. Each week, the instructor will guide students through projects using mediums such as paint, clay, watercolor, collage, drawing, sculpture, dyeing and more!

  • Week 1: Printmaking
  • Week 2: Printmaking
  • Week 3: Printmaking
  • Week 4: Collage
  • Week 5: Collage
  • Week 6: Painting #1
  • Week 7: Sculpture #1
  • Week 8: Painting #2
  • Week 9: Sculpture #2
  • Week 10: Painting #3
  • Week 11: Sculpture #3
  • Week 12: 3D Spring Art
  • Week 13: Exploring Lines and Space
  • Week 14: Mixed Media
  • Week 15: Painting
  • Week 16: Perspective
  • Week 17: Nature Collage

Art Play (Semester-Class) for ages 9-13 – Fridays

Starts Jan 13, 2023 at 12:30 pm, runs for 17 weeks
$
357
with Art Staff
Ages 9 – 13

Art Play, for ages 9 – 13, is an opportunity to experience different materials from a variety of teachers hand-selected for their area of expertise. Each week, the instructor will guide students through projects using mediums such as paint, clay, watercolor, collage, drawing, sculpture, dyeing and more!

  • Week 1: Plaster mandalas
  • Week 2: Plaster mandalas
  • Week 3: Plaster mandalas
  • Week 4: Plaster mandalas
  • Week 5: Watercolor portraiture
  • Week 6: Black and white portraiture
  • Week 7: Coffee portraiture
  • Week 8: Acrylic painting
  • Week 9: Acrylic painting
  • Week 10: Printmaking
  • Week 11: Printmaking
  • Week 12: Printmaking
  • Week 13: Paper mache
  • Week 14: Paper mache
  • Week 15: Mixed media
  • Week 16: Mixed media
  • Week 17: Mixed media

AFTER-SCHOOL ART CLASSES

Digital Advanced 1 – Mondays

Starts Jan 9, 2023 at 4:30 pm, runs for 8 weeks
$176with Cara Dunning
ages 12 and up

Are you ready to take your drawing style and experience to the next level? Learn how to digitally draw and paint on an iPad using the app Procreate and an Apple Pencil. This class teaches students ages 12 and up the universal language of digitizing art and the translatable terms and concepts. Tablets and digital drawing pens are provided. Students are able to bring their own preferred device. Must have prior experience with Procreate.

Mix it Up Media – Mondays

Starts Jan 9, 2023 at 4:30 pm, runs for 17 weeks
$
357
with Jessica Lewis
Ages 10 – 15

Students ages 10 – 15 will build a solid foundation as they learn about the elements of art and principles of design through different mediums like graphite, watercolor, clay, acrylic and mixed media. They’ll take inspiration from art history and have fun experimenting with traditional art materials.

New projects are added each semester and students are challenged to think outside the box and problem solve. Creating art is a continual process of problem solving and learning through successes and failures. They will wrap up each project with a critique and discussion.

Ancient Art: Mixed Media – Tuesdays

Starts Jan 10, 2023 at 4:30 pm, runs for 18 weeks
$378
with Kathryn Garcia
Ages 7 – 11

In this class, students ages 7 – 11 will combine history, art and different mediums while exploring artists of the past to design their own mandala. Throughout this mixed media class, students will use a variety of materials including pens, measuring devices, watercolor, acrylic, clay and metallic paints to design, draw, paint and carve their mandala out of clay and plaster.

ArtXtravaganza – Tuesdays

Starts Jan 10, 2023 at 4:30 pm, runs for 18 weeks
$378
with Dr. Priscilla Eichler
Ages 5 – 9

In this mixed media art class, children ages 5 – 9 will embark on techniques in drawing, painting, collage and sculpture.

The process used to teach each project is a step-by-step method that will inspire and delight students into creative action and help them think outside the box! This process involves observing, following instructions, and creating until the student is happy with the outcome. They expose students to the elements of art (line, space, color, balance, etc.), while letting them run a little wild with their own imagination.

Manga & Anime – Advanced – Tuesdays

Starts Jan 10, 2023 at 4:30 pm, runs for 8 weeks
$
176
with Blake Donaldson
Ages 10 and up

Students ages 10 and up will learn the techniques of professional anime illustration such as character design, shading, perspective, figure drawing, and proportion using Procreate, a user-friendly digital software. They will also learn about character development, and they will receive instruction in how to plan out their compositions using elements and principles of design. Throughout the class, students will work together to develop a storyline and characters to bring their comic book to life. iPads and Apple Pencils are provided by the MACC.

This course is designed to strengthen art and design fundamentals and learn new ways to easily understand how to draw. After this course you will be able to make any awesome character or design digitally on an iPad!

Comic Book Illustration – Tuesdays

Starts Jan 10, 2023 at 6:30 pm, runs for 8 weeks
$176
with Blake Donaldson
Ages 10 and up

Students ages 10 & up will learn the techniques of professional illustration to digitally bring a comic book to life. Students will gain knowledge of shape language, composition, perspective, figures, lettering and how to develop eye-catching panels. This class utilizes both hand-drawn techniques as well as a digital format. Throughout the class, students will work together to develop a storyline and characters to bring their comic book to life. iPads and Apple Pencils are provided by the MACC.

This course is designed to strengthen art and design fundamentals and learn new ways to easily understand how to draw. After this course you will be able to make any awesome character or design digitally on an iPad!

Teen Watercolor – Tuesdays

Starts Jan 10, 2023 at 6:30 pm, runs for 6 weeks
$126
with Shahnaz Lighari
Ages 12 and up

Working with watercolors is a great way to let your artistic side shine! This class for students ages 12 and up will cover the basics of watercolor painting from brush strokes, mixing colors and shades, using wet and dry techniques and making the most out of those inevitable mistakes!

Mastering the art of watercolors comes with practice and we develop these skills by creating landscapes, botanicals and even some free-flowing abstracts. You will also work together through a still life composition developing the eye for light and perspective.

ArtXtravaganza – Wednesdays

Starts Jan 11, 2023 at 4:30 pm, runs for 18 weeks
$
378
with Mariah Leggett
Ages 5 – 9

In this mixed media art class, children ages 5 – 9 will embark on techniques in drawing, painting, collage and sculpture. The process used to teach each project is a step-by-step method that will inspire and delight students into creative action and help them think outside the box! This process involves observing, following instructions and creating until the student is happy with the outcome.

Digital Drawing: Beginners – Wednesdays

Starts Jan 11, 2023 at 6 pm, runs for 8 weeks
$176
with Hannah Mathis (2023)
Ages 11 and up

Are you ready to take your drawing style and experience to the next level? Students ages 11 and up will learn how to digitally draw and paint on an iPad using the app Procreate and an Apple Pencil. iPads and Apple Pencils are provided by the MACC.

Manga & Anime – Beginner – Wednesdays

Starts Jan 11, 2023 at 6:30 pm, runs for 18 weeks
$378
with Mariah Leggett
Ages 10 and up

Students ages 10 and up will learn the techniques of professional anime illustration such as shading, perspective, figure drawing, and proportion while using the highest quality markers, pens, and inks. They will also learn about character development, and they will receive instruction in how to plan out their compositions using elements and principles of design. Most importantly, they will get practice through significant repetition with the help of guided instruction.

ArtXtravaganza – Thursdays

Starts Jan 12, 2023 at 4:30 pm, runs for 18 weeks
$
378
with Dr. Priscilla Eichler
Ages 5 – 9

In this mixed media art class, children ages 5 – 9 will embark on techniques in drawing, painting, collage and sculpture.

The process used to teach each project is a step-by-step method that will inspire and delight students into creative action and help them think outside the box! This process involves observing, following instructions, and creating until the student is happy with the outcome. We strive to expose students to the elements of art (line, space, color, balance, etc.), while letting them run a little wild with their own imagination.

Draw, Paint, Create! – Thursdays

Starts Jan 12, 2023 at 4:30 pm, runs for 18 weeks
$
378
with Hannah Mathis (2023)
Ages 8 – 13

In this class, students will master the basics of drawing and painting. This class is designed for beginner to intermediate learners. Guided lessons will teach students ages 8 – 13 how to set up a composition and will emphasize and incorporate the use of art elements and principles of design. Special emphasis will be on light, value, and shading techniques. Gain an understanding of different drawing and painting tools and how to properly use them.

 

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About the Author

Michael Aldrich

Michael Aldrich is Nashville Parent's Managing Editor and a Middle Tennessee arts writer. He and his wife, Alison, are the proud parents of 4-year-old Ezra and baby Norah.