Art Classes at TAM
Tacoma Art Museum’s art classes offer adults a chance to learn new techniques, practice core skills, and build connections through hands‑on workshops. From exploring color to developing expressive figures, each session encourages growth and community among people who want to keep creating.
Painting in Contrasts
Contrast brings energy to your artwork—and in Painting in Contrasts, you’ll learn how to harness it to create visually compelling landscapes that guide and excite the viewer’s eye. This dynamic, hands-on workshop explores how contrast can be used to build focal points, evoke emotion, and enhance engagement through thoughtful design.
Together, we’ll dive into nine creative techniques for using contrasting elements to elevate your paintings. Whether you’re new to the series or continuing from a previous class, this is a welcoming space to grow your skills and connect with fellow artists.
March 12 | 11 am – 1 pm
March 19 | 5 – 7 pm
Watercolor Your Tacoma Neighborhood
Discover a new way to see your neighborhood through color, pattern, and sensory memory. In this immersive workshop, participants will use deliberate hand‑eye coordination and focused brushwork to paint watercolor “Art Maps” of their Tacoma neighborhoods. Using a printed map as your guide, you will trace streets, blocks, and familiar patterns as you translate the urban fabric into expressive, personal artwork.
Together, we will mix colors inspired by how our neighborhoods feel. This includes sensory impressions, emotional tones, and everyday textures that make each block meaningful. As you paint and watch your map come to life, you will have space to reflect on the places you move through every day. These may include the parks and pathways you love, the streets that shape your routines, and the memories tied to them.
Beyond the artwork itself, this workshop encourages connection to Place and to one another. Through guided conversation, we will share stories about neighborhood, community, and belonging. Participants are invited to explore how they can appreciate the places they call home and how deeper understanding can foster more meaningful personal connections.