Creative Classes at the DAM
Creative Classes offer an opportunity to learn from local professional creatives through traditional and experimental approaches. Each class is uniquely designed by a creative educator for an adult audience, with specific connections to Denver Art Museum exhibitions and collections. Creative Classes are taught in a studio art environment meant for exploration of various materials and media. Connect with professional creatives, learn a new skill, and expand your own creative practice.
The next semester begins in early 2023, with a new slate of 6-week classes, 4-week classes, and 1-day workshops. Browse through the full Winter/Spring 2023 offerings below. Tickets are on sale now.
6-Week Classes
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Oil PaintingWeekly from January 18 to February 22, 2023, 1:30–3:30 pm
Learn how to use oil paints through fundamental painting techniques and materials with focus on composition, basic color theory, painting terminology, methods of application, working from observation, and historical contexts.
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Flow StateWeekly from March 1 to April 5, 2023, 1:30–3:30 pm
Flow State is an abstract painting class that explores the connections between intuitive painting, mindfulness meditation, and community. Students will learn how to combine abstract painting and drawing skills with mindfulness meditation techniques.
Full Details -
Off-Loom WeavingWeekly from April 11 to May 16, 2023, 6–8 pm
Explore the processes and techniques used by fiber artists to create artworks by investigating a selection of fiber-based objects in the DAM’s collection.
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4-Week Classes
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Collage: Consider EverythingWeekly from January 17 to February 7, 2023, 6–8 pm
Explore collage as an artform, technique, and tool for increasing spontaneous creativity. Students will work with various visual data including vintage paper, found textures, and photographs to craft colleges within specific conceptual frameworks.
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Embroidery: Drawing with ThreadWeekly from February 1 to February 22, 2023, 10 am–12 pm
Learn the rich history of embroidery and how to use it in unexpected and contemporary ways, with an emphasis on embroidery as a drawing medium. No art or embroidery experience is needed.
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Poetry: What’s in a NameWeekly from February 14 to March 7, 10 am–12 pm
In this poetry-centered writing class, students will explore the idea of names and labels by reflecting on the self, and explore themes of identity in DAM exhibitions on view.
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Bookmaking: One-Page BooksWeekly from February 14 to March 7, 2023, 6-8 pm
Students will be introduced to various one-page book structures and develop content for their books with inspiration from DAM exhibitions on view.
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Etching for Everybody: Drypoint EtchingWeekly from March 14 to April 4, 2023, 6-8 pm
This class seeks to demystify etching through a simple nontoxic method. Students will learn about the intaglio etching processes, drypoint etching techniques, and how to ink and print an image.
Full Details -
Oil PaintingWeekly from April 5 to April 26, 2023, 10 am-12 pm
Learn how to use oil paints through fundamental painting techniques and materials with focus on composition, basic color theory, painting terminology, methods of application, working from observation, and historical contexts.
Full Details -
Block Printing on FabricWeekly from April 12 to May 3, 2023, 1:30–3:30 pm
In this class, students will learn how to carve their own block, and print on fabric—with inspiration from DAM exhibitions on view.
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1-Day Workshops
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Upcycled Indigo Dyeing–
Learn about the art of indigo dyeing and how to make natural indigo vats. Students will explore making various resist patterns including Japanese techniques, Shibori and Ita-jime, with the option to upcycle their own old textiles.
Full Details -
Poetry: What’s in a Name?–
In this poetry-centered writing workshop, students will explore the idea of names and labels by reflecting on the self, and explore themes of identity in DAM exhibitions on view.
Full Details -
Wet Felting Bowls and Bags–
Learn how to wet felt a vessel by creating a bowl or handbag. Students will learn the wet felting process, basic color theory, and explore fibers-based objects in the DAM’s collections.
Full Details -
Embroidery with Mixed Media–
Students will learn to embroider on found photographs, postcards, and vintage imagery to create unique mixed media artworks. No art or embroidery experience is needed.
Full Details -
Flow State–
Flow State is an abstract painting class that explores the connections between intuitive painting, mindfulness meditation, and community. Students will learn how to combine abstract painting and drawing skills with mindfulness meditation techniques.
Full Details -
Etching for Everybody: Drypoint Etching–
This workshop seeks to demystify etching through a simple nontoxic method. Students will learn about the intaglio etching processes, drypoint etching techniques, and how to ink and print an image.
Full Details -
Cyanotypes: Camera-less Photography–
Students will learn how to create a photograph without a camera through the process of cyanotypes, using varying found objects, drawing on transparencies, photography, and the sun.
Full Details -
Upcycled Indigo Dyeing–
Learn about the art of indigo dyeing and how to make natural indigo vats. Students will explore making various resist patterns including Japanese techniques, Shibori and Ita-jime, with the option to upcycle their own old textiles.
Full Details
Our Educators
Creative Classes educators are working professional artists, writers, dancers, actors, musicians, and others with a robust practice, who share their work at a national level. Our educators have instructional backgrounds within institutions such as colleges, universities, and museums. Each educator has a distinctive practice and is excited to share their expertise with others.