Art Lessons at the Amory

626 792 5101

For art lessons in Pasadena, it’s hard to beat the Armory Center for the Arts. Located in an old armory across the street from lovely little Memorial Park, the center is a bustling bundle of art activity. In addition to its extensive offerings of classes, the Armory Center has galleries that display changing exhibits of contemporary art and performance art. These galleries are available to those taking art lessons and are free to the general public.

Art lessons generally last about two hours and are each class is one day a week for about two months. Cost is from $150 to $175 per class for non-members. A $60 membership will get you a 10% discount on all classes. There are scholarships and tuition assistance available. Classes are taught by highly trained, working artists, most of who have an MFA (Master of Fine Arts). Art lessons are offered to pre schoolers, to seven to 10 year olds, to middle schoolers, high school students, and adults.

To give a flavor of some of the classes here are a few brief descriptions of classes offered to pre-schoolers:

? Puppet Playtime-children make their own puppets, then make a stage and put on a puppet show
? Super Racetrack-children make and use things that move and then race their creations on their own racetracks
? Superheroes-children make art about their favorite superheroes
? Recycled Art-children make paintings and 3 D collages using found materials
? Deep Blue Sea-children make watery plants and sea creatures from paint, pastels, beads, sequins, and more
? Lunch Bunch-during lunch time children read about food and then use many materials to make food art

In addition to the above classes, preschoolers can take art lessons in Gardens and Fairies, Amazing Animals, Dance and Art, Forts and Secret Hideaways, Gone Fishing, Three is the Magic Number, and Mad Scientists.

All ages can use the Build a Class option. A group of six can get together and the Armory will schedule a class of their choice.

Seven to ten year olds can take art lessons in Fun with Drama; Skyscrapers, Towns, and Bridges, Burnishing (Ceramics), Art and Science, Drawing and Painting, 3-D World, Make a Movie, Stop Motion Animation, Environmental Art, Loch Ness Monster and Bigfoot were Artists, and Painting from Sculpture.

Middle school students can study Flip Book Animation, Painting, Street Photography, Traditional and Experimental Drawing, DIY Punk Art, Ceramics, Death on Paper, Art Photography, Architecture and Art, and Super Flat to Super Thick.

High School students can register for adult classes with approval from the Studio Director and the specific instructor. Serious students can take the Art High Profile Lab. This is a rich and intensive course designed to help the student create an art profile which could be used for college or job applications.

The Armory has partnered with Pasadena City College to offer several art classes for college credit. Students must be registered at Pasadena City College.

Real bargains for adults are the free classes offered through r.o.p. Lessons are given in photography, letterpress, video production, and design.

It’s hard to beat the Armory for the quality and creativity of its class offerings.