Art Classes in Traverse City

With a focus on the visual arts, CTAC-TC offers year-round art classes, lectures, and other special opportunities for all ages. Our classroom is large, comfortable, and has great natural light. A utility sink, drinking fountain, and restrooms are just steps away. 

spring art classes

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Search for upcoming arts classes at CTAC -Traverse City! Just select your arts area and age range:

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Member Open Studio (May)

Presented by
CTAC Traverse City

Thursday, May 01 - Thursday, May 29

Time
View the description this month's dates & times - varies weekly.
Grade Range
Adult - Adult
Age Range

-

Click the link to view this month's schedule. FREE weekly drop-in, ONLY for CTAC members!

Art Able: Art for All Abilities & Ages (May 1)

Presented by
CTAC Traverse City

Thursday, May 01 - Thursday, May 01

Time
Thursday, 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Grade Range
Kindergarten - Adult
Age Range

-

Register by
Drop in at our art program designed for people with disabilities and their families and friends!

Member Open Studio (May 1)

Presented by
CTAC Traverse City

Thursday, May 01 - Thursday, May 01

Time
View the description this month's dates & times - varies weekly.
Grade Range
Adult - Adult
Age Range

-

Click the link to view this month's schedule. FREE weekly drop-in, ONLY for CTAC members!

Jewelry / Metalworking: Beach Stone Ring or Pendant (Levels 1 & 2) With Janet Ryan [SATURDAY]

Presented by
CTAC Traverse City

Saturday, May 03 - Saturday, May 03

Time
Saturday, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Grade Range
12th grade - Adult
Age Range

17 - no maximum age

Register by
Create a one-of-a-kind sterling silver ring or pendant with a Lake Michigan beach stone.

Workshop: Whimsical Wings - Create Your Own Fabric Insect

Presented by
CTAC Traverse City

Saturday, May 03 - Saturday, May 03

Time
Saturday, 10:00 am - 2: 30 pm (short break for lunch)
Grade Range
8th grade - Adult
Age Range

-

Register by
Design and create fabric insects- let your imagination go wild!

Class: Learn to Draw on the iPad - With Justin Shull

Presented by
CTAC Traverse City

Tuesday, May 06 - Tuesday, May 13

Time
Tuesdays, 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Grade Range
Adult - Adult
Age Range

-

Register by
Use the popular Procreate app to learn to draw amazing, colorful digital works of art on your iPad!

Life Drawing Open Studio (May 6)

Presented by
CTAC Traverse City

Tuesday, May 06 - Tuesday, May 06

Time
Tuesday, 6:00 - 9:00 pm
Grade Range
Adult - Adult
Age Range

18 - no maximum age

Register by
Practice your drawing or painting skills with our live model figure drawing open studio!

Painting Discovery Series: Let’s Wrap it Up - With Sherry McNamara

Presented by
CTAC Traverse City

Tuesday, May 06 - Tuesday, May 27

Time
Tuesdays, 10:00 am - 12:30 pm
Grade Range
11th grade - Adult
Age Range

16 - no maximum age

Register by
Fine-tune all you learned in previous Painting Discovery Series classes in this grand finale!

Technical Adventures in Watercolor - With Charles Murphy (May)

Presented by
CTAC Traverse City

Wednesday, May 07 - Wednesday, May 28

Time
Wednesdays, 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Grade Range
Adult - Adult
Age Range

18 - no maximum age

Register by
Dive into the critical aspects of watercolor as a medium while exploring new & existing techniques.

Workshop: Stitched with Meaning: Fabric Brooches, Charms & Pendants

Presented by
CTAC Traverse City

Thursday, May 08 - Thursday, May 08

Time
Thursday, 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Grade Range
Adult - Adult
Age Range

-

Register by
Design and create meaning fabric charms

Art Able: Art for All Abilities & Ages (May 8)

Presented by
CTAC Traverse City

Thursday, May 08 - Thursday, May 08

Time
Thursday, 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Grade Range
Kindergarten - Adult
Age Range

-

Register by
Drop in at our art program designed for people with disabilities and their families and friends!

Workshop: Abstract Self Portrait - With Jennifer Tobias

Presented by
CTAC Traverse City

Friday, May 09 - Friday, May 09

Time
Friday, 11:00 am - 2:30 pm
Grade Range
Adult - Adult
Age Range

18 - no maximum age

Register by
Lose yourself & loosen up in abstraction! For intermediate to advanced painting students.

Workshop: Michigan Wildflower Fused Glass Suncatcher - With Susan Smith

Presented by
CTAC Traverse City

Saturday, May 10 - Saturday, May 10

Time
Saturday, 9:30 am - 12:00 pm
Grade Range
8th grade - Adult
Age Range

12 - no maximum age

Register by
Capture northern Michigan's beauty and sunlight with a one of a kind suncatcher.

Workshop: Fused Glass Explorations 3: Working With Reactive Glass - With Susan Smith

Presented by
CTAC Traverse City

Saturday, May 10 - Saturday, May 10

Time
Saturday, 12:30 - 3:30 pm
Grade Range
11th grade - Adult
Age Range

15 - no maximum age

Register by
Have fun experimenting with glass that gets colored by combining metals and non-metals.

FREE Family Drop-In Art (May 10)

Presented by
CTAC Traverse City

Saturday, May 10 - Saturday, May 10

Time
Saturday, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Grade Range
Preschool - Adult
Age Range

- no maximum age

Stop by anytime from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm for a free, fun art activity for families and all ages.

Life Drawing Open Studio (May 13)

Presented by
CTAC Traverse City

Tuesday, May 13 - Tuesday, May 13

Time
Tuesday, 6:00 - 9:00 pm
Grade Range
Adult - Adult
Age Range

18 - no maximum age

Register by
Practice your drawing or painting skills with our live model figure drawing open studio!

TC- Artist Critique Night - May

Presented by
CTAC Traverse City

Wednesday, May 14 - Wednesday, May 14

Time
Wednesday, 5:30 - 7:00 pm
Grade Range
Adult - Adult
Age Range

- no maximum age

a supportive gathering where artists share works in progress and receive constructive feedback to in

Art Able: Art for All Abilities & Ages (May 15)

Presented by
CTAC Traverse City

Thursday, May 15 - Thursday, May 15

Time
Thursday, 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Grade Range
Kindergarten - Adult
Age Range

-

Register by
Drop in at our art program designed for people with disabilities and their families and friends!

Workshop: Five-Step Approach to Pastel Painting - With Jill Wagner

Presented by
CTAC Traverse City

Friday, May 16 - Saturday, May 17

Time
Friday & Saturday, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Grade Range
Adult - Adult
Age Range

18 - no maximum age

Register by
Explore the beauty and painterly effects of soft pastels! Create unique art in this 2-day workshop.

Workshop: Alcohol Ink Dynamic Florals - With Julie Tibus

Presented by
CTAC Traverse City

Saturday, May 17 - Saturday, May 17

Time
Saturday, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Grade Range
Adult - Adult
Age Range

18 - no maximum age

Register by
Learn how to use alcohol inks as a dynamic and vibrant medium to create beautiful floral paintings.

Workshop: Intro to Colored Pencil Animal Realism: Fur & Feathers - With Samantha Hall

Presented by
CTAC Traverse City

Monday, May 19 - Monday, May 19

Time
Monday, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Grade Range
12th grade - Adult
Age Range

16 - no maximum age

Register by
Dive deeper into your colored pencil drawing techniques by learning fur and feather realism.

Life Drawing Open Studio (May 20)

Presented by
CTAC Traverse City

Tuesday, May 20 - Tuesday, May 20

Time
Tuesday, 6:00 - 9:00 pm
Grade Range
Adult - Adult
Age Range

18 - no maximum age

Register by
Practice your drawing or painting skills with our live model figure drawing open studio!

Fun With Watercolors: Textures & Effects - With Janet Oliver

Presented by
CTAC Traverse City

Tuesday, May 20 - Tuesday, May 27

Time
Tuesdays, 1:00 - 3:30 pm
Grade Range
11th grade - Adult
Age Range

16 - no maximum age

Register by
Explore fun and creative techniques for creating textures and special effects with watercolor!

Art Able: Art for All Abilities & Ages (May 22)

Presented by
CTAC Traverse City

Thursday, May 22 - Thursday, May 22

Time
Thursday, 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Grade Range
Kindergarten - Adult
Age Range

-

Register by
Drop in at our art program designed for people with disabilities and their families and friends!

Life Drawing Open Studio (May 27)

Presented by
CTAC Traverse City

Tuesday, May 27 - Tuesday, May 27

Time
Tuesday, 6:00 - 9:00 pm
Grade Range
Adult - Adult
Age Range

18 - no maximum age

Register by
Practice your drawing or painting skills with our live model figure drawing open studio!

Art Able: Art for All Abilities & Ages (May 29)

Presented by
CTAC Traverse City

Thursday, May 29 - Thursday, May 29

Time
Thursday, 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Grade Range
Kindergarten - Adult
Age Range

-

Register by
Drop in at our art program designed for people with disabilities and their families and friends!

Workshop: Painting: Simplifying the Landscape - With Mark Vander Vinne

Presented by
CTAC Traverse City

Friday, May 30 - Saturday, May 31

Time
Friday & Saturday, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Grade Range
Adult - Adult
Age Range

18 - no maximum age

Register by
Compose beautiful landscapes by learning to first simplify what you see, then building form.

Night Owl Nocturne Painting Workshop with Debra Howard

Presented by
CTAC Traverse City

Monday, June 02 - Monday, June 02

Time
Monday, 5:30 - 10:00 pm
Grade Range
Adult - Adult
Age Range

18 - no maximum age

Register by
Experience the magic of painting under the stars in Sutton's Bay

Workshop: Fun With Watercolors: Birds - With Janet Oliver

Presented by
CTAC Traverse City

Tuesday, June 03 - Tuesday, June 03

Time
Tuesday, 1:00 - 3:30 pm
Grade Range
Preschool - Adult
Age Range

-

Register by
Family-friendly! Learn from an accomplished book illustrator how to paint birds in watercolor.

Watercolor/Acrylic Painting: Composing Landscapes with Adam VanHouten

Presented by
CTAC Traverse City

Saturday, June 07 - Saturday, June 07

Time
Saturday, 9:30 am - 4:00 pm
Grade Range
Adult - Adult
Age Range

18 - no maximum age

Register by
Learn techniques to break down landscapes by shape to create interesting compositions.

Workshop: Fun With Watercolors: Illustrating With Pen & Watercolor - With Janet Oliver

Presented by
CTAC Traverse City

Tuesday, June 10 - Tuesday, June 10

Time
Tuesday, 1:00 - 3:30 pm
Grade Range
11th grade - Adult
Age Range

16 - no maximum age

Register by
Perfect for beginners, learn pen and watercolor techniques from an accomplished book illustrator.

TC- Artist Critique Night - June

Presented by
CTAC Traverse City

Wednesday, June 11 - Wednesday, June 11

Time
Wednesday, 5:30 - 7:00 pm
Grade Range
Adult - Adult
Age Range

- no maximum age

a supportive gathering where artists share works in progress and receive constructive feedback to in

Workshop: Loose Watercolor Painting - With Steve Griggs

Presented by
CTAC Traverse City

Friday, June 13 - Friday, June 13

Time
Friday, 9:30 am - 4:30 pm
Grade Range
Adult - Adult
Age Range

-

Register by
Learn to paint in a style that is full of movement, energy, and emotion!

Workshop: Unique Alcohol Ink Jewelry - With Julie Tibus

Presented by
CTAC Traverse City

Friday, June 13 - Friday, June 13

Time
Friday, 1:00 - 4:00 pm
Grade Range
8th grade - Adult
Age Range

12 - no maximum age

Register by
Learn to use dynamic and vibrant alcohol inks to create beautiful one of a kind art jewelry.

3-Day Plein Air workshop with Kimball Geisler

Presented by
CTAC Traverse City

Saturday, June 21 - Monday, June 23

Time
Saturday, Sunday & Monday, 8:30 am - 4:00 pm
Grade Range
Adult - Adult
Age Range

18 - no maximum age

Register by
Work with PGT 2025 Awards Juror during this three day plein air workshop

Sky, Water and Light - A Plein Air Study with Debra Howard

Presented by
CTAC Traverse City

Monday, June 30 - Wednesday, July 02

Time
9:00AM - 4:00PM
Grade Range
Adult - Adult
Age Range

-

Register by
Embrace the challenge of painting the sky, water and light in your plein air paintings.

Workshop: Geode Hot Water Irrigation Dyeing - With Terry Tarnow

Presented by
CTAC Traverse City

Saturday, July 12 - Saturday, July 12

Time
Saturday, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Grade Range
Adult - Adult
Age Range

18 - no maximum age

Register by
Using an innovative process, create one-of-a-kind geode dye patterns on bamboo scarves and socks!

Workshop: Geometric Abstracts With Collage - With Julie Tibus

Presented by
CTAC Traverse City

Saturday, August 16 - Saturday, August 16

Time
Saturday, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Grade Range
Adult - Adult
Age Range

18 - no maximum age

Register by
Explore mixed media techniques & learn how to create abstraction on canvas like famous artists did.