Winter 2027 Classes

Chris Fasolino
All levels
Students will take a closer look at Japanese landscape art by examining the flora and fauna of the beautiful environments featured in the VBMA exhibition Hokusai, Hiroshige, Hasui: Japanese Landscapes in Print. Through gallery visits and close observation, they will explore cherry blossoms, pine forests, horses, cattle, and marine creatures, as well as cranes and other birds. Hokusai and Hiroshige were great nature artists, and this class offers a unique exploration of the botany and zoology within their work.

January 4 – February 1, 2027
(No class January 18. Make-up class TBD.)
Mondays, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Location: VBMA Studio 3, Galleries, and via Zoom
#27WI-01 $205 (VBMA Members $175)
Register for #27WI-01

Chris Fasolino
All levels
Food and wine have been inspiring to artists throughout history. From the Mediterranean abundance of the classical world to the banquets in medieval castles, from traditional still life paintings to Impressionist experiments, this is a joyful exploration featuring paintings of food and wine. Students will also learn about artists who were themselves wine connoisseurs and gourmets, including Leonardo da Vinci and Claude Monet.

January 5 – February 2, 2027
Tuesdays, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.
Location: VBMA Studio 3 and via Zoom
#27WI-02 $205 (VBMA Members $175)
Register for #27WI-02

Rose Z. King
Beginner level
Explore the evolving role and power of color in painting, from the luminous hues of Renaissance masterpieces to the bold, evocative possibilities of modern and contemporary abstraction. This course examines how artists have used color to represent the world around them, evoke emotion and mood, and explore new ways of seeing and feeling. The course will deepen appreciation of the VBMA exhibition Jill Nathanson: Chromatic Phrases by considering color as both subject and experience.

January 6 – February 3, 2027
Wednesdays, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Location: VBMA Studio 3
#27WI-04 $205 (VBMA Members $175)
Register for #27WI-04

Rose Z. King
Beginner level
From towering mountains and powerful waves to dragons, ghosts, and mischievous spirits, Japanese art depicts extraordinary natural and supernatural worlds, often showing them as deeply connected. Offered in conjunction with the Museum’s Japanese art exhibition, this course examines how artists have represented the landscapes, natural phenomena, myths and legends of Japan across paintings, prints, and contemporary visual culture. Discover Japan’s most breathtaking natural wonders and the deities and supernatural creatures believed to inhabit them.

January 7 – February 4, 2027
Thursdays, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.
Location: VBMA Studio 3
#27WI-05 $205 (VBMA Members $175)
Register for #27WI-05

Elise Mahovlich
All levels
Students will enjoy an invigorating yoga practice with a slight modification – the chair is the ‘ground.’ Students will employ this everyday prop to take them through the range of motion for a full body workout that will include forward bends, backbends, and spinal twists for flexibility; standing and balancing poses to build stability and core strength; and breathing techniques for body awareness and stress reduction.

January 4 – February 1, 2027
(No class January 18. Make-up class TBD.)
Mondays, 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Location: VBMA Atrium
#27WI-06 $85 (VBMA Members $75)
Register for #27WI-06

Katie Nall
All levels
Qigong is an 8,000-year-old movement program that exercises the body as a whole. With over 9,000 variations, it is the parent form for Tai Chi, Kung Fu, acupuncture, acupressure, and Emotional Freedom Technique (Tapping). Qigong is known as the Longevity Exercise. No special equipment required.

January 5 – February 2, 2027
Tuesdays, 6 – 7 p.m.
Location: VBMA Atrium
#27WI-07 $85 (VBMA Members $75)
Register for #27WI-07

John Walcott
All levels
Qigong is an 8,000-year-old movement program that exercises the body as a whole. With over 9,000 variations, it is the parent form for Tai Chi, Kung Fu, acupuncture, acupressure, and Emotional Freedom Technique (Tapping). Qigong is known as the Longevity Exercise. No special equipment required.

January 7 – February 4, 2027
Thursdays, 8:30 – 9:30 a.m.
Location: VBMA Atrium
#27WI-09 $85 (VBMA Members $75)
Register for #27WI-09

Gary Grossman
All levels
This class will cover basic jewelry skills, including sawing, riveting, forming, cabochon stone setting with tabs, etching, drilling, stamping/surface design, and electric coloring of titanium. Students will create a ring, earrings, a cuff, a pendant, and a brooch. Students need to attend all five classes to make all five project pieces.

January 6 – February 3, 2027
Wednesdays, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Location: VBMA Studio 2
#27WI-10 $205 (VBMA Members $175)
Materials Fee: An additional $45 materials fee by cash or check is payable directly to the instructor on the first day of class.
Register for #27WI-10

Rob Buller
Beginner to intermediate levels
Turn a photograph, drawing, or other 2D image into a 3D low-relief sculptural tile. Through demonstrations in carving and modeling, students create an original design, cast it in a simple plaster mold, and make impressions using air-dry clay. Finished pieces can be enhanced with faux metallic, stone, or acrylic paint, and students leave with their original impressions and a reusable mold for creating future works.

January 7 – February 4, 2027
Thursdays, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Location: VBMA Studio 2
#27WI-11 $205 (VBMA Members $175)
Register for #27WI-11

Sherry Haaland
All levels
Create a portrait of a beloved pet while learning techniques for capturing its unique character and personality. Working from a clear photograph, students will explore proportion, composition, color, texture, and the details that bring an animal portrait to life. Soft pastels and pastel pencils will be the primary focus, or students may work in another medium of their choice. Through individual instruction and guidance, students will develop their pet portrait from beginning to completion. Click here for a list of recommended supplies.

January 4 – February 1, 2027
(No class January 18. Make-up class TBD.)
Mondays, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Location: VBMA Studio 2
#27WI-12 $205 (VBMA Members $175)
Register for #27WI-12

Sherry Haaland
All levels
Students will learn pastel techniques, including strokes and marks, scumbling, crosshatching, dabbing, and blending. By experimenting with these methods, students will explore ways to build color, create texture, and add depth to their work. Students will apply these techniques to their own individual artworks while developing confidence with the medium and exploring their personal artistic expression. Click here for a list of recommended supplies.

January 7 – February 4, 2027
Thursdays, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Location: VBMA Studio 3
#27WI-13 $205 (VBMA Members $175)
Register for #27WI-13

Judy Burgarella
All levels
Students will work independently in this open studio, bringing their own supplies in the medium of their choice and references to work from. The instructor will offer individual guidance along with demonstrations of various techniques and helpful tips and tricks. Click here for a list of recommended supplies.

January 4 – February 1, 2027
(No class January 18. Make-up class TBD.)
Mondays, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Location: VBMA Studio 2
#27WI-15 $205 (VBMA Members $175)
Register for #27WI-15

Barry Shapiro
All levels
This open studio-style painting class gives students the opportunity to develop their own work while receiving individualized guidance throughout the creative process. Students may bring works in progress or begin new paintings while exploring composition, color, technique, and personal expression. Individual feedback, demonstrations, and group discussion will help students strengthen their skills, solve painting challenges, and move their work forward with greater confidence.

January 6 – February 3, 2027
Wednesdays, 9:30 a.m.– 12:30 p.m.
Location: VBMA Studio 1
#27WI-16 $205 (VBMA Members $175)
Register for #27WI-16

Barry Shapiro
All levels
Inspired by the color, light, and expressive brushwork of the Impressionists, this class explores techniques for creating paintings that feel fresh, luminous, and full of movement. Students will examine how Impressionist artists simplified shapes, used broken color, captured changing light, and created atmosphere through confident brushwork. Through demonstrations and guided painting exercises, students will apply these principles to their own work while developing a more expressive and painterly approach.

January 4 – February 1, 2027
(No class January 18. Make-up class TBD.)
Mondays, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Location: VBMA Studio 3
#27WI-18 $205 (VBMA Members $175)
Register for #27WI-18

Sarah Bernhardt
All levels
Inspired by the exhibition Hokusai, Hiroshige, Hasui: Japanese Landscapes in Print, this class explores the structure and movement of ocean waves through observation, simplification, and intentional painting. Working in oil, students learn to see water as a series of organized shapes and value relationships rather than surface detail. Through a step-by-step approach, students develop a seascape painting from concept to completion.

January 5 – February 2, 2027
Tuesdays, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Location: VBMA Studio 1
#27WI-19 $205 (VBMA Members $175)
Register for #27WI-19

Sarah Bernhardt
Beginner to intermediate levels
This introductory course provides students with a strong foundation in traditional oil painting. Designed for beginning painters or those wishing to strengthen their fundamental skills, the course emphasizes learning to see accurately and translate what they observe into paint. Students will explore materials, drawing and proportion, value, color mixing, brushwork, edges, composition, and the development of form through light and shadow. Demonstrations, guided exercises, and individual instruction will lead students from basic painting concepts to the completion of a finished painting.

January 7 – February 4, 2027
Thursdays, 9:30 a.m.– 12:30 p.m.
Location: VBMA Studio 1
#27WI-21 $205 (VBMA Members $175)
Register for #27WI-21

Barry Shapiro
Beginner to intermediate levels
Each class will start with a brief illustrated presentation, beginning with the history of still-life painting. Subsequent presentations will explore artists such as Cézanne, Monet, Matisse, and Duflos. Through demonstrations and painting exercises, students will explore composition, color mixing, and the effects of light while creating still lifes of flowers and fruit. Students will apply ideas from these artists to their own work and experiment with painting from imagination. Classes will end with a group critique. Click here for a recommended list of supplies.

January 7 – February 4, 2027
Thursdays, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Location: VBMA Studio 1
#27WI-22 $205 (VBMA Members $175)
Register for #27WI-22