Classes for Adults
Explore a variety of arts experiences including painting, collage, felting, basket-making and more.
Classes are available in a variety of mediums for both accomplished artists, and those wishing to explore.
ONLINE REGISTRATION BELOW.
PLEASE NOTE: If the class of your choice is full or canceled due to lack of enrollment, you will be notified and entitled to a full refund. Class tuition is due in full on or before the first day of the class session. Make-up classes will only be offered when the instructor is unable to teach his/her class.
Members of the Library Arts Center may subtract 10% from tuition prices of select classes, or can enter the code MEMBER when registering online to receive the discount.
Our open studio art group meets for plein air painting trips throughout the warmer months.
Beginner and Continuing Watercolor Painting
with instructor Sophia Starr Eastley
Tuesdays, 10am-12:30pm
Session I: May 12, 19, 26, June 9, 16 (five weeks)
Tuition for Session I $150 per student
Session II: July 7, 14, 21, 28 (four weeks)
Tuition for Session II $125
Learn, or reacquaint yourself with, watercolor painting in this welcoming and engaging class.
Come join us to play with colors, experiment with washes, blending colors, reserving white on paper, and learning how to capture your interpretation of subjects. Over the multi-week series, explore painting Still life, florals, landscapes, water and much more. The class will focus on having fun finding stimulating ways to play with color and light. Palettes and color theory will also be included. Demonstrations, the steps of a painting, and helpful exercises will be part of each class. We’ll be referring to artists Winslow Homer, O’Keefe, Skip Lawrence and others for reference and inspiration. Drawing experience is helpful. This class is designed to engage beginners and continuing watercolor artists alike.
BIO
Sophia Eastley earned her MFA from Southern NH University. Sophia has been studying with various art teachers since she was 11 years old. She studied with Sylvia Brofos, Dustin Knight, Sean Beavers, and at the University of New Hampshire, Kent State University, New Hampshire Institute of Art, and Kimball Jenkins. She has had paintings published and exhibited in New Hampshire. She is a member of the Two Villages Art Society in Contoocook, NH, and the St. Augustine Art Association in Florida. Watercolor is her favorite medium, but she also paints with oils. Sophia loves capturing the power, light, and beauty of nature whether it is trees, sky, stones, flowers, water, or animals, and she specializes in equine art. Sophia draws upon her Abenaki, Cherokee, and Celtic Ancestral lineages for inspiration and ideas.
Art Camp for Grown-ups!
Thursday Evenings, 6:30-8:30pm
$18 per session
Because why should the kids have all the fun?
These stand-alone studio art classes are a fun, welcoming, low-pressure way to try different art techniques and projects, while meeting other creative community members. Bring a friend or come alone, or heck, make it a date night! Beginners and seasoned artists alike will feel welcome and engaged in each of these sessions. All materials are provided for each session. Sign up quickly, as these popular sessions fill. If you have to cancel, please let the Arts Center office know in advance if possible so your spot can be refilled by someone off the waiting list.
June 11 – Shibori Dyeing
Instructor: Heidi Lorenz
Learn the Japanese art of folding, tying, and dyeing to create blue and white fabric masterpieces.
Learn the Japanese art of folding, tying, and dyeing with Cobalt blue pigment to make elevated tie dye effects! Bring a shirt, or some white fabric for this studio session, and leave with your finished shibori ready to wash. Extra white dishcloths and bandanas will be available to work with in addition to what you bring.
June 18 – Gelli Plate Workshop
Instructor: Jenn Stark
Learn to use Gelli print plates to make one-of-a-kind art prints
Learn to use Gelli print plates to make one-of-a-kind art prints that are free, colorful, texture treats. The prints you make in this session will teach you the basics of how to do this popular printmaking form, while creating collage fodder for those looking to create fabulous papers with which to collage at home.
June 25 – Paper Quilling for Beginners
Instructor: Susan Feige
Curl, twirl and bend thin strips of long paper to create whimsical pictures with this traditional art form.
Learn the basics of paper Quilling. Twirl, curl, and bend long, thin, strips of colorful paper to create pictures. This simple art form is easy to get really into. Create whimsical results with this traditional paper craft. Leave the studio with your finished quilling, and a whole new artform to explore at home.
July 2 – Christmas in July! Book-Maker’s Edition
Instructor: Carol Sullivan
Learn the basics of book making and create a gift card holder/journal and mini book ornaments or garlands.
Join artist’s book maker, Carol Sullivan, in the studio to explore the basics of book making. Create a notebook that is also a mini gift card holder, as well as mini books to be used as ornaments or garlands. Enjoy a wide range of beautiful papers to help individualize your book. While learning basic book making skills, you will be creating a one-of-a-kind gifts that you can use as templates to make more at home.
July 9 – Alcohol Ink Painting on Fabric
Instructor: Heidi Lorenz
Sharpies get a makeover in this studio session! Learn to transform very basic materials to the next level.
Learn to make sharpies into paint with drops of rubbing alcohol. BYO white t-shirt or fabric, or use white dish towels, drawstring bags, or bandanas from the studio collection. With the help of simple cups and rubber bands, learn to make colorful circular firework-like color pops across your fabric.
July 16 – How to Make a ‘Zine
Instructor: Jenn Stark
Create mini art books in this multimedia art exploration.
Make amazing mini art books with a single sheet of paper, a few folds and one cut. Then, with the help of prompts, transform them into mixed media mini book masterpieces. Leave the studio with your zine, new skills, and inspiration to make more at home.
July 23 – Found Poem Collage: Ornaments + Magnets
Instructor: Heidi Pauer
Using recycled materials and your intuition, you will explore one-of-a-kind small collages.
Choose an ornament or a magnet or both to create a collage with images and words to inspire you. Using recycled materials and your intuition, you will explore one-of-a-kind small collages that bring you joy! All materials included and no experience needed.
July 30 – Ornament Making
Instructor: Pam LaFountain
Christmas in July, anyone? Create multiple crafted tree ornaments to get you going for holiday gift making
If you want to have handmade gifts… now is the time to start! Get inspired and make some ornaments that could then become templates for creating more at home, for everyone on your holiday list. Create a wreath, a star and a tree ornament out of paper, fabric, recycled materials and tree twigs.
August 6 – Suminigashi-Style Paper Marbling
Instructor: Kris Cairelli
Float drips of ink on water with bamboo brushes in this mesmerizing paper marbelizing session.
Join Kris in the studio and within minutes you will be creating stunning results with this Zen artform. Suminagashi, translating to “floating ink” in Japanese, is an ancient, meditative art form from the 12th century that creates delicate, marbled patterns by floating sumi ink on water. Patterns are formed by alternating between ink and surfactant (often soap) with brushes, then laying paper on the surface to capture the design. This peaceful art session will leave you with a stash of gorgeous papers, notecards, and even drink coasters, to use as they are, or incorporate into mixed media collage once home.
August 13 – Macrame Angels
Instructor: Pam LaFountain
Transform brushed macramé cording into angels.
This is not your grandmother’s macrame project with tied nots. Brushed macrame cording can be made into beautiful angels with flowing hair and clothing in many different colors. Make on in the studio session, then design more at home. This is perfect for preparing for holiday gifting ahead of time!
August 20 – Altered Children’s Board Book Art Journal
Instructor: Jenn Stark
Transform an old children’s board book into a mixed media art journal.
Library Arts Center’s ever popular mixed media and monoprint instructor is turning old board books into next level art journals. Join us in the studio to learn techniques to do this, and create your own, in a community of creatives.
August 27 – Step-by-Step Floral Painting in Gouache
Instructor: Heidi Lorenz
Follow along with Heidi for the step-by-step instructions and examples and leave the studio with a painting you are proud of, and new painting skills.
You are guaranteed success when you do a step-by-step painting class with Heidi. While you follow along, you are gaining all sorts of painting skills and techniques to try on your own. This class is great for beginners, returning painters, or experienced painters looking to learn more about gouache. Gouache is an opaque watercolor good for beginners through advanced artists..
September 3 – Handmade Greeting Cards
Instructor: Heidi Pauer
Make some artful snail mail and pop it in the post office mailbox on your way out of the studio.
There’s nothing like receiving a handmade card from someone! This workshop gives you the time, space, materials, and guidance to make your own cards using collage techniques and your creative intuition. You will create one-of-a-kind cards to give to others! All materials included and no experience needed.
September 10 – Recycled Paper Word Garland
Instructor: Heidi Pauer
Create a fun, funky paper garland to hang in your window, above a door, on your wall.
Create a fun, funky paper garland to hang in your window, above a door, on your wall or anywhere inside! We will be creating with recycled paper, and you can add words to the garland if you want to add meaningful mantra reminders.
September 17 – Sumi-e Painting
Instructor: Heidi Lorenz
Simple black ink and bamboo brushes transform rice paper in this Zen artform.
Sumi-e is a Japanese, Zen-influenced art form using black ink (sumi) and water on paper capture the spirit of nature through minimalist brushstrokes. It uses four key items: ink sticks, ink stone, bamboo brushes, and rice paper. Heidi will walk students through these steps and materials and set them free to create in the studio.
September 24 – Needle-Felted Mini Pumpkins
Instructor: Jennifer Boyd
Want to try out felting? Join us in the studio to get fall vibes going with felted mini pumpkins. Arts Center’s ever popular felting teacher will lead participants through the creation of your own mini pumpkin, with plenty of color options and choices along the way to personalize your creation.
October 1 – Washi Tape Journal-Making
Instructor: Carol Sullivan
Learn the basics of book making and create a fall themed washi tape journal.
Join artist’s book maker, Carol Sullivan, in the studio to explore the basics of book making. In this classic with a twist you create a washi tape journal: a small autumn-themed journal made using washi tape and basic materials that transform into a paper treasure.
Open Studio Needle-Felting
with facilitator Jennifer Boyd
*pre-register for the sessions that work for you
Open to all levels.
$5 per session
Dates:
Friday, June 26th 5:30-8:30pm
Sunday, June 28th 9:30am-12:30pm
Friday, July 24th 5:30-8:30pm
Sunday, July 26th 9:30am-12:30pm
Friday, August 14th 5:30-8:30pm
Join the Arts Center’s popular felt artist and instructor Jen Boyd for a drop- in open studio. This studio time will be for you to bring your felting projects to work on, in community with other felters, with light guidance and inspiration available from Jen, as desired. Felters with minimal experience to seasoned felters, are all welcome. Bring those projects you are nervous to start, your unfinished works of art, or what you are working on and build community in this inspiring, low pressure, and welcoming group. *Pre-registration is required.
Mixed Media, Monoprints and Mark-Making
with instructor Jennifer Stark
(Typically) the First Tuesday of the Month
NEXT CLASS: Tuesday, June 30th
Upcoming Sessions: This class is on temporary recess until June 30th
9:00am-12:00noon each session
Tuition: $12 per session, all materials included
Join us for creative exploration of mixed media, creating monoprints with Gelli plates, printing with paint, paper transfers, using masks, expressive mark making and more. Each session will have a different basic focus, with plenty of time for open-ended exploration with the materials and techniques. Attend each session, or sign up for the ones that work with your schedule; this welcoming creative group will help beginners through professional artists explore materials and techniques to make a variety of papers to use as finished pieces, or materials to work into future mixed media and collage.
Basket-Making Workshops
with artisan Ray Lagasse
Upcoming Sessions:
Sat. Apr. 25 – FULL
Sat. May 16
Sat. June 27
Sat. Sept. 19 (please note this change from the previous schedule)
Sat. Oct. 10
Sat. Nov. 14
Sat. Dec. 12
Time: 8:30am-4:30pm (bring a bag lunch)
Tuition: $135-172 depending on basket choice *LAC members may enter the code MEMBER at checkout to receive a 10% tuition discount.
Location: Library Arts Center Studio
In this one-day workshop students will create an artisan, heirloom-quality basket from start to finish! The baskets will be woven using reed with a hardwood base, rails, and rim. All materials are created and prepared by instructor Ray Lagasse–a juried member of the League of NH Craftsmen. Each participant will be asked to choose which basket he or she will be making upon registration. View all of the basket options HERE.
Each student will leave the workshop with the completed basket of his or her choosing. Registration will close a week before the class starts.
Please Note: **Students who cancel before the class will still owe a $35 fee for materials preparation.
Open Studio Art Group
Facilitator: Heidi Lorenz
Wednesday Mornings, ongoing
9:30am-12:30pm
$8 Members / $12 Non-Members, per session
PLEASE NOTE: This group will go on recess beginning Wed. May 6th. The group will begin meeting for weekly summer plein air painting sessions beginning Wed. June 3rd. See a link to the plein air experiences calendar at the link HERE.
Bring your own art supplies and paint alongside a delightful and supportive group of artists. Facilitator Heidi Lorenz will paint alongside all, but is available for light guidance and instruction if desired. This welcoming and friendly drop-in style group is available to artists of all styles and abilities. The group meets for weekly plein air painting dates during the summer months and returns to the studio in October.
Drop in–No pre-registration necessary.
Plein Air Adventure Painting
An ‘En Plein Air’ Art Experience
Guided and Coordinated by artist Heidi Lorenz
Saturdays, once per month – 1:00-4:00pm
Fee: $8/session for LAC members, $12 for non-members
This drop-in class meets in different inspiring locations throughout the year to draw, paint, sketch or photograph nature in comradery with other outdoor art enthusiasts. This inclusive and welcoming group is designed to engage artists at all levels & to consider the natural effects of light & its ever changing influences on our landscape. Careful consideration of comfort in your outdoor gear is important when creating art in the open air. Feel free to bring a full plein air kit or for ease & simplicity bring a simple sketchbook with pencil & pen, or anything you like, whatever works in your favor. This drop-in series is an opportunity to create a fun community of artists, to be inspired, creative, adventurous, & to be amidst nature in all seasons throughout the year!
**You can register and pay online in advance, or if needed Heidi can collect cash or check for the class upon arrival.
For any questions, or to ask to be added to the group contact list, please contact Heidi at heidi.libraryartscenter@gmail.com.
Art for Differently-Abled Adults
Instructor: Susan Feige
Thursday Mornings, ongoing
9:00am-12:00 noon
Library Arts Center Studio
$6 per session for each team of student and caregiver. Includes materials.
This inclusive group meets in the studio for inspired art projects with artist and instructor Susan Feige. This class is designed to engage differently-abled adults as well as their caregivers in fun, creative art projects! Class themes change weekly. Please register if you are interested in the class, then each session is a stand-alone drop-in which won’t require pre-registration.
Sound Bath Series
with practitioner Beth Pollari
Immerse yourself in a transformative one-hour Sound Bath, designed to guide you on a journey of deep relaxation and inner peace in the beautiful ballroom of the Richards Free Library! The soothing melodies of the crystal harp, crystal singing bowls, and singing triangles will wash over you, allowing the tension and stress to melt away from your body and mind. The gentle vibrations will lull you into a state of profound relaxation, where you can let go of the day’s worries and embrace a sense of tranquility.
This immersive experience includes a guided meditation, crafted to help you release mental and emotional blockages, fostering a renewed sense of clarity and focus.
Benefits include:
– Reduced anxiety and stress levels
– Enhanced sleep quality
– Increased mental clarity and focus
– Improved emotional balance and resilience
– A deeper connection to your inner self and intuition
Meditation Series
guided by practitioner Beth Pollari of One Tree Wellness
Select Thursdays, 10:00-11:00am
June 25, July 9, July 23, August 6, August 20, and September 3
Library Arts Center Gallery
$17 per session
*pre-registration required
Join holistic practitioner Beth Pollari for a peaceful, restorative hour of guided meditation designed to calm the mind and nurture the spirit. Each session offers a welcoming space for both beginners and seasoned meditators to reconnect, breathe deeply, and cultivate mindfulness.
Beth’s gentle approach draws on holistic principles to help you release stress, find balance, and build greater awareness in daily life. Settle on your own cushion or chair provided, and enjoy an hour dedicated to your well-being. Wear comfortable clothing and bring an open heart. Register for the sessions that work for you, or sign up for all of them, depending on what works with your schedule.
Master Class with Peter Granucci – 2025-26
Paint Quality and Color Usage
Developing a Unique Style and Vision
A Continuation of the Master’s Series
Saturdays, Oct. 4, Oct. 25, Nov. 15, Dec. 13, 2025
Jan. 3, Feb. 7, Mar. 7, Apr. 4, May 2, 2026
9:00am-4:00pm each session
Library Arts Center Studio
Tuition: $1,150 for all nine sessions, or $135 each session with the understanding that you are committing to the full series of classes and payments. Students can choose to pay for the whole series at once, or to pay month by month if necessary; pay for the full series and save. Make-up sessions are offered for missed sessions.
Membership Discount (10% discount for members! = $1,035 for full series and /or $121 session.) Use code MEMBER when registering online.
This class is designed for students who have been attending this annual Master’s Series. If you would like to join the class and have not been part of the series so far, Peter is happy to offer private sessions to catch students up and prepare them for this series.
Register and pay online, or check payments may be sent to Library Arts Center, 58 N. Main St. Newport, NH 03773.
Letterpress for Beginners
Instructor: Sarah Chaffee
*classes are currently being offered by appointment
*If you would like to schedule an appointment, please send us an email at info@libraryartscenter.org.
*max capacity of two students per class for our small letterpress studio. Sign up individually, or with a friend.
Tuition, includes all materials: $35 per person* *Sign up two people for a session and receive a discount, $60 for two.
Choose your own project. Various options include: business cards, notecards, small poster style quotes, coasters etc.
In this class you will learn the basics of letterpress, working in our small, but wonderfully equipped letterpress studio. From setting your own type to using the printing press, you will complete a small project of your own creation in this beginner’s class with letterpress instructor, Sarah Chaffee.