Our offerings:
-
The Arts League offers weekly classes in various mediums. Classes meet once a week.
All 6-week classes include a free 7th week of Open Studio times to finish up projects or simply to create.
-
The Arts League’s workshops run from one to four weeks. These shorter offerings are ideal for tight schedules or for anyone looking for a crash course.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Most of our classes and workshops are designed to be accessible to people of all skill levels. Make sure to read the description carefully to see if it is a good fit for you!
-
Unless otherwise noted in the class description, The Arts League will provide all necessary supplies.
-
If a registration is cancelled more than two weeks before the first day of class, The Arts League will provide a full refund.
If a registration is cancelled within two weeks before the first day of class, The Arts League will provide a 50% refund.
If a registration is cancelled after class has begun, no refund will be provided. Transfers or credits may be offered on a case by case basis.
If you need to make a change to your registration, contact us.
If you have additional questions, contact us.
6-Week Classes
Monday
SUMMER: JUNE 29 - AUGUST 16
MONDAYS
6/29, 7/6, 7/13, 7/20, 7/27, 8/3
Time: 6 PM - 9 PM
Open Studio Week:
8/10 - 8/16
Class Description:
Build a foundation in all aspects of pottery, developing skills and techniques for making functional pieces you can use and enjoy. Demos and hands-on instruction in throwing, trimming and glazing will allow students of all levels to develop and refine their work. Students will develop their ability to see, explore ideas and create with curiosity. This is primarily a class for those developing wheel throwing skills but several projects will incorporate hand building techniques. Come and discover the possibilities with clay!
Required Supplies:
Clay: Available for purchase using the add-on below or in the studio on arrival. No outside clay is allowed.
Tools: Available for purchase using the add-on below or in the studio. We also have a limited supply of shared tools.
Weekly open studio hours:
Monday: 3:00pm- 6:00pm
Thursday: 3:00-6:00pm
Friday: 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Saturday: 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Sunday: 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Tuesday
SUMMER: JUNE 29 - AUGUST 16
TUESDAYS
6/30, 7/7, 7/14, 7/21, 7/28, 8/4
6PM - 8PM
Open Studio Week:
8/10 - 8/16
Class Description:
In this introductory class, students will:
- Learn to operate a sewing machine
- Learn different types of stitches
- Learn to put in a zipper
- Learn to change sewing machine feet and needles
- Learn about different fabrics and how they affect final products
- Leave with 2 me-made bags of your design!
- Make friends and community of like-minded crafters
Teacher Info:
Emily Hermann is a fiber artist, writer, teacher, and sustainability professional. She explores themes of devotion, truth, love, and creative re-use of materials through her art. Self-taught through YouTube videos, Emily began her sewing journey with thrift-flips, upcycling, and self-drafting garments in 2021. While she dabbles in other art forms (i.e., knitting, print-making, ceramics, embroidery, poetry writing, and drawing), sewing remains her favorite form of creative expression. She’s been teaching sewing classes at the Arts League since Spring 2024.
Instagram - @hemswithem
Wednesday
SUMMER: JUNE 29 - AUGUST 16
WEDNESDAYS
7/1, 7/8, 7/15, 7/22, 7/29, 8/5
6PM - 8PM
Open Studio Week:
8/10 - 8/16
Class Description:
ALL LEVELS – From absolute beginners to experienced painters, all students will receive individualized, step by step guidance.
Chill out in our newly air conditioned studio and enjoy a midweek creative escape. Pool Party Painting is a celebration of summer light, water, and leisure, designed to be as relaxing or as skill focused as you would like it to be.
Students will create paintings inspired by their favorite summer water memories. Think pools, ocean waves, lakes, reflections, or sunlit moments near water. Bring between one and six reference images on your phone, and Jo will guide you in transforming them into vibrant, personal paintings.
Instruction is available in both oil and acrylic painting, and students are welcome to choose their preferred medium.
You are invited to shape your own experience in the class. Some students may want to focus on technical growth, while others may prefer a relaxed, social, and exploratory approach. Before class begins, you will receive a welcome email directly from your instructor where you can share your goals, ask questions, and request specific materials for your $25 materials fee. This can include items such as multiple small canvases, specific paint colors, or other supplies that support your vision.
Students may choose to develop one medium to large painting, create a series of up to six smaller works, or explore any approach in between.
When the weather is inviting, we may take our easels onto the newly remodeled front porch for plein air sessions. The painting studio has also been recently renovated and features brand new air conditioning for a comfortable working environment all summer long.
Come paint, socialize, and enjoy a welcoming creative space. This is your Wednesday evening reset.
You’ll learn to:
Build strong compositions from personal reference images
Capture the movement, reflection, and light of water
Mix color to convey heat, glow, and depth
Use brushwork to describe surface, texture, and form
Develop your painting from initial sketch to finished piece
Teacher Info:
Jo Gamel lives and works in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where she attended Moore College of Art & Design. She has taught painting and drawing at Moore College of Art & Design, University City Arts League, and Mural Arts Philadelphia. She is also the Artist Liaison for The Jane Gallery, located on 3rd Street in Old City.
Gamel has exhibited her work internationally at institutions such as the Louvre Museum, Chelsea Old Town Hall, the European Museum of Modern Art, and Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens. She has received several honors including the Women in Art Excellence Award from Artio Gallery in London and the Excellence in Painting Award from Moore. Her work has also been featured in Create! Magazine.
She is passionate about helping students build confidence, develop their skills, and discover what is possible in their own painting practice.
Instagram – @jogamel
SUMMER: JUNE 29 - AUGUST 16
WEDNESDAYS
7/1, 7/8, 7/15, 7/22, 7/29, 8/5
Time: 6 PM - 8 PM
Open Studio Week:
8/10 - 8/16
Class Description:
This is a class designed for absolute beginners with no formal training in the arts. We will dive briefly into a major era of art history and view a few images at the beginning of each class, before moving into a demonstration, followed by instructor-assisted exercises designed to develop familiarity with drawing materials and techniques. As this six-week course progresses, students will learn about value, line weight, shading, perspective, and figure drawing, with an optional final class project of drawing a self-portrait.
Teacher Info:
Katrina Simonsen is an emerging artist living in Philadelphia after graduating from the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts with a certificate in Drawing. Katrina creates artwork in ink, watercolor, charcoal, graphite, oil paint, and more. Right now, she is most interested in creating art that explores storytelling, community, and dreams. In the past, she has focused on nature, grief, and other ideas. Katrina is especially interested in teaching traditional art skills that empower her students to continue creating awesome things for the rest of their lives.
Social Media - @km.simonsen.art
SUMMER: JUNE 29 - AUGUST 16
WEDNESDAYS
7/1, 7/8, 7/15, 7/22, 7/29, 8/5
Time: 6 PM - 9 PM
Open Studio Week:
8/10 - 8/16
Class Description:
Build a foundation in all aspects of pottery, developing skills and techniques for making functional pieces you can use and enjoy. Demos and hands-on instruction in throwing, trimming and glazing will allow students of all levels to develop and refine their work. Students will develop their ability to see, explore ideas and create with curiosity. This is primarily a class for those developing wheel throwing skills but several projects will incorporate hand building techniques. Come and discover the possibilities with clay!
Required Supplies:
Clay: Available for purchase using the add-on below or in the studio on arrival. No outside clay is allowed.
Tools: Available for purchase using the add-on below or in the studio. We also have a limited supply of shared tools.
Weekly open studio hours:
Monday: 3:00pm- 6:00pm
Thursday: 3:00-6:00pm
Friday: 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Saturday: 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Sunday: 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Teacher Info:
Clare Farrow is a ceramic artist based in Philadelphia. Her work, featured in international exhibits, centers wheel-thrown and wood-fired pottery, where she explores the dynamic interplay between meticulously crafted forms and the spontaneous, unpredictable surfaces created by the kiln’s atmosphere. Clare finds joy in teaching and offers classes for both teens and adults at studios across the city.
Instagram - @claremarieclay
Thursday
SUMMER: JUNE 29 - AUGUST 16
THURSDAYS
7/2, 7/9, 7/16, 7/23, 7/30, 8/6
Time: 6 PM - 9 PM
Open Studio Week:
8/10 - 8/16
Class Description:
Build a foundation in all aspects of pottery, developing skills and techniques for making functional pieces you can use and enjoy. Demos and hands-on instruction in throwing, trimming and glazing will allow students of all levels to develop and refine their work. Students will develop their ability to see, explore ideas and create with curiosity. This is primarily a class for those developing wheel throwing skills but several projects will incorporate hand building techniques. Come and discover the possibilities with clay!
Required Supplies:
Clay: Available for purchase using the add-on below or in the studio on arrival. No outside clay is allowed.
Tools: Available for purchase using the add-on below or in the studio. We also have a limited supply of shared tools.
Weekly open studio hours:
Monday: 3:00pm- 6:00pm
Thursday: 3:00-6:00pm
Friday: 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Saturday: 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Sunday: 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Teacher Info:
Eileen Stanfield - “I’ve been a serious functional ceramic artist for a bit over a decade. I currently hold space as an associate artist at The Clay Studio in Philadelphia, sell my wares on Instagram, Etsy, and at various artisan events around the area, and am lucky to lead adults in ceramics classes at Sparc Services. I am 80% dedicated wheel thrower and 20% hand builder and love clean lines and a beautiful earthy color palette!”
Friday
Saturday
SATURDAYS
6/27, 7/11, 7/18, 7/25, 8/1, 8/8
NOTE: There is no lesson on 7/4. The first lesson will be held on 6/27.
Time: 10 AM - 1 PM
Open Studio Week
8/10 - 8/16
Class Description:
Build a foundation in all aspects of pottery, developing skills and techniques for making functional pieces you can use and enjoy. Demos and hands-on instruction in throwing, trimming and glazing will allow students of all levels to develop and refine their work. Students will develop their ability to see, explore ideas and create with curiosity. This is primarily a class for those developing wheel throwing skills but several projects will incorporate hand building techniques. Come and discover the possibilities with clay!
Required Supplies:
Clay: Available for purchase using the add-on below or in the studio on arrival. No outside clay is allowed.
Tools: Available for purchase using the add-on below or in the studio. We also have a limited supply of shared tools.
Weekly open studio hours:
Monday: 3:00pm- 6:00pm
Thursday: 3:00-6:00pm
Friday: 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Saturday: 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Sunday: 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Sunday
SUMMER: JUNE 29 - AUGUST 16
SUNDAYS
7/12, 7/19, 7/26, 8/2, 8/9, 8/16
NOTE: There will be no lesson on 7/5. A make-up lesson will be held on 8/16.
Time: 2 PM - 4 PM
Open Studio Week:
8/10 - 8/16
Class Description:
In this hands-on class we will explore traditional carving techniques using hand tools. Students will learn how to transform a block of wood into a completed sculpture- from the initial sketch to finishing methods. Topics to be discussed include wood as a medium, safe tool handling, care, and sharpening, and woodcarving tradition and technique from around the world.
NOTE: THERE IS A $25 MATERIALS FEE FOR FIRST-TIME PARTICIPANTS. IF THIS IS YOUR FIRST TIME TAKING THIS CLASS, PLEASE SELECT THE MATERIALS FEE ADD-ON BELOW. MATERIALS MUST BE PURCHASED AT LEAST SEVEN DAYS BEFORE THE FIRST CLASS.
Teacher Info:
John Ryan is sculptor, puppeteer and illustrator currently based in Philadelphia. He has toured with the nationally recognized Catskill Puppet Theater for many years and is a founding member of Thought Alarm Theater. John has taught classes through Hartwick College, The Upper Catskill Community Center of the Arts and various other organizations
Social Media - @john_ryan_studios
SUMMER: JUNE 29 - AUGUST 16
SUNDAYS
6/28, 7/12, 7/19, 7/26, 8/2, 8/9
NOTE: There is no lesson on 7/5. The first lesson will be held on 6/28.
Time: 10 AM - 1 PM
Open Studio Week:
8/10 - 8/16
Class Description:
Build a foundation in all aspects of pottery, developing skills and techniques for making functional pieces you can use and enjoy. Demos and hands-on instruction in throwing, trimming and glazing will allow students of all levels to develop and refine their work. Students will develop their ability to see, explore ideas and create with curiosity. This is primarily a class for those developing wheel throwing skills but several projects will incorporate hand building techniques. Come and discover the possibilities with clay!
Required Supplies:
Clay: Available for purchase using the add-on below or in the studio on arrival. No outside clay is allowed.
Tools: Available for purchase using the add-on below or in the studio. We also have a limited supply of shared tools.
Weekly open studio hours:
Monday: 3:00pm- 6:00pm
Thursday: 3:00-6:00pm
Friday: 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Saturday: 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Sunday: 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Teacher Info:
Josh Landow is a wheel-throwing focused ceramic artist with 30 years of experience. His work tends to be very precise and angular in nature. He's been involved with The Arts League as a studio monitor and teacher since 2016.
SUMMER: JUNE 29 - AUGUST 16
SUNDAYS
6/28, 7/12, 7/19, 7/26, 8/2, 8/9
NOTE: There is no lesson on 7/5. The first lesson will be held on 6/28.
Time: 6 PM - 9 PM
Open Studio Week:
8/10 - 8/16
Class Description:
Build a foundation in all aspects of pottery, developing skills and techniques for making functional pieces you can use and enjoy. Demos and hands-on instruction in throwing, trimming and glazing will allow students of all levels to develop and refine their work. Students will develop their ability to see, explore ideas and create with curiosity. This is primarily a class for those developing wheel throwing skills but several projects will incorporate hand building techniques. Come and discover the possibilities with clay!
Required Supplies:
Clay: Available for purchase using the add-on below or in the studio on arrival. No outside clay is allowed.
Tools: Available for purchase using the add-on below or in the studio. We also have a limited supply of shared tools.
Weekly open studio hours:
Monday: 3:00pm- 6:00pm
Thursday: 3:00-6:00pm
Friday: 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Saturday: 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Sunday: 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Workshops
WEDNESDAYS
7/29, 8/5
6 PM - 8 PM
Registration closes 48 hours before the first lesson
Class Description:
In this class, everyone--regardless of experience with collage--will be able to complete a figurative piece using colored and patterned papers, cutting tools, and glue. Students will learn to make their own stencils using two different cutting techniques, as well as some tips for creating the color story/scheme for their finished piece.
Teacher Info:
Destiny Crockett (she/her) is a collage artist originally from St. Louis, Missouri and based in Philadelphia. She sees collaging as mediation on aspects of African American culture such as play, exactitude, memory, and mixing patterns, hues, and shapes to comprise a whole picture with what we have available to us. Her work has been displayed and supported by multiple local institutions, including The Colored Girls Museum.
Instagram - @destinyc.rockett
SUMMER: JUNE 29 - AUGUST 16
Dates:
7/18, 7/25, 8/1, 8/8
Time:
4 PM - 6 PM
Registration closes 48 hours before the first lesson
Class Description:
NOTE: Participants will need to bring their own camera. Any digital camera will do, as long as it has an M for manual mode.
Anyone with a phone can take a picture, but whether it's a wedding portrait, graduation picture, or even just a social media PFP, the secret to a compelling portrait is the specific intention to communicate something intimate about your subject. This class will teach you how to take a compelling, interesting portrait of your subject using a variety of techniques and in a variety of settings.
This class is for anyone who has a camera and wants to improve their ability to take intentional pictures of other human beings (and the occasional pet).
Students will learn the basics of technical photography, photographic composition, a variety of lighting techniques, how to work with models including directing and posing, and basic photo editing.
At the conclusion of the course, students should come away with several peer- and instructor-reviewed portrait photographs, and the skills to create more!
Teacher Info:
Mike VanHelder is a Philadelphia-based photographer with over 20 years of experience in a variety of styles. He shoots mostly pictures of people, including sometimes the animal kinds. He is most interested in creating art that exists at the intersection of the beautiful and the grotesque. Mike is queer, trans-affirming, and unapologetically goth.
Website - https://www.instagram.com/mikeymongol/
SUMMER: JUNE 29 - AUGUST 16
WEDNESDAY
8/5/2026
Time: 6 PM - 8 PM
Registration closes 48 hours before the first lesson
Class Description:
Learn the basics of embroidery and take home an item personalized by you with this Lazy Daisy Embroidery workshop!
Bring an item from home - a tote bag, baseball cap, or shorts that need a little repair. All other materials will be provided!
Participants will learn needle threading, hooping, tracing, and basic stitching. We’ll move on to learning the cutest flower stitch - Lazy Daisy!
Beginners welcome, no experience required.
Teacher Info:
Zoe Grubbs is a fiber artist residing in South Philly. She takes inspiration from renewing old garments with new concepts. Many of her products are sourced second-hand or salvaged from scraps and given new life via her mastery of embroidery and sewing. Her experience with teaching workshops, classes and individual clients has helped her hone her craft as well as others in the community.
Instagram - @lostintheflosss
SUMMER: JUNE 29 - AUGUST 16
SUNDAYS
7/19, 7/26, 8/2, 8/9
Time: 12 PM - 2 PM
Registration closes 48 hours before the first lesson
Class Description:
We will focus on plier techniques, chain identification , jumpring anatomy, files, and other assemblage methods that don’t require heat.
Each week will focus on a specific technique.
WEEK 1
Hour 1
- jumpring anatomy
- manipulation of pliers
- jumpring exercises
Hour 2
- chain identification
- examination of jewelry brought in and identifying usable elements
- identifying costume jewelry vs fine
WEEK 2:
Hour 1
- chainmaile weaving
- connection points and anchors
Hour 2
- identify and isolate pieces to use in final
- research and brainstorm around isolated pieces
WEEK 3:
Hour 1
- piercing metal using a hammer and punch
- rivets and introduction of wire
- showing the behavior of different metals
Hour 2
Start working on final project
WEEK 4:
Hour 1
- wire cutter & when to snip
- files and finishing
Hour 2
- Project showcase! Everyone shows off what they’ve been working on!
Teacher Info:
multimedia designer and material artist, I am on a perpetual quest to work with every medium. My process bends heavily toward tactile experimentation.
Instagram - @palindrome.princess
SUMMER: JUNE 29 - AUGUST 16
Date:
August 16th, 2026
Time:
2 PM - 4 PM
Class Description:
Scrap Sunday is phone free opportunity to connect and create with others. Using the practice of collaging, creation, and recycling attendees are encouraged to keep their daily scraps (receipts, labels, junk mail, magazines etc) and journal in community. This is a space for those who are very familiar with "collaging, scrapbooking and/or junk journaling" and first-timers. The intention is to sit in community, whether chatting or in silence and create without the distraction of phones.
Teacher Info:
Bee Knight is a Black, nonbinary, multi-hypen creative and communicator with a love of analog community building. They run a book club (QueerBooksPhilly) and hold a deep regard and love of paper-based crafts and creations. They believe that through deconstruction and creation process we can find deeper connection to ourselves and each other.
Social Media - @selfbybee
SUMMER: JUNE 29 - AUGUST 16
Dates:
7/21, 7/28, 8/4
Time:
6 PM - 8 PM
Registration closes 48 hours before the first lesson
Class Description:
Everyone has a story to tell and a reason they need to tell it. This workshop will introduce students to the form of the essay, providing examples of different types of essays and inviting students to discuss what differentiates them and what we can take for our own writing practices.
This workshop is geared towards emerging writers and folks new to writing creative nonfiction. Whether you want to submit your work to literary magazines, write personal essays for a blog, or do self-archival work for you or your loved ones, this workshop will help you find the best way to tell your story.
Through discussion and prompt-based exercises, students will learn craft elements and forms of essay writing, playing with tense, point of view, narration, dialogue, and more to see what their memories need to appear on the page.
Students will leave with at least two shorter prompt responses and one full-length essay that will receive feedback from the instructor along with recommendations on where to submit their work, if requested.
Teacher Info:
Kimberly Rooney 高小荣 is a queer Chinese-American adoptee, essayist, and editor currently based in Philadelphia. They are a 2023 Periplus Collective fellow, a 2022 Best of the Net finalist, and a creative nonfiction editor at Sundog Lit. Their work has appeared in The Offing, The Rumpus, SAND, and Waxwing, among others.
Website - kimrooneywrites.com
Twitter/Instagram - @kimlypso
SUMMER: JUNE 29 - AUGUST 16
MONDAYS
6/29, 7/6, 7/13, 7/20, 7/27, 8/3
6PM - 8PM
Open Studio Week:
6/8 - 6/14
Class Description:
Oil paint is a flexible and forgiving medium with an intimidating reputation. This good-natured boot camp will focus on speed and dynamism, developing students’ comfort level and joy when working with oils. Classes will work from a still life, spending one or two sessions on each painting. In addition to color, value and accuracy, students will learn enough easy-to-follow safety practices so that they may set up a home studio affordably.
NOTE: A $25 MATERIALS FEE IS INCLUDED WITH THIS CLASS.
Teacher Info:
Jack Tobin-Gross is a multimedia illustrator and materials nerd. He studied at several DIY collectives as well as the Art Students League, Spring Studio and MICA, and holds a BFA from Alfred University. Originally from NYC, he lives and works in Philadelphia as an educator and general artist for hire.