Petersen Art Center Classes
All classes at the Petersen Art Center meet once a week for two hours, four times per month. They are ongoing and students may enroll in open classes (classes that have open spaces in them) at any time. Students may go on waiting lists for classes that are full and will be notified when a spot opens for them to take the class they are waiting for. Once enrolled, enrollment will continue until the student withdraws (via email, phone or in person).
SCROLL DOWN FOR INFO. ON CLASSES FOR KIDS & ADULTS
Art Classes for Kids
Throughout over 40 years as one of Utah’s leading art educators, Harold Petersen has taught thousands of young artists with many going on to successful careers in the arts. Even more have gone onto successful lives that include art as part of well rounded and successful lifestyles. Over the past years Pete, has worked steadily to organize and record his program of concepts and skills. This program is now available for students at the Petersen Art Center starting as early as the first grade. It teaches the same artistic concepts that are taught to older students but it teaches those principles in a manner that matches the age of the student. Our instructors also always work to maintain the child’s self esteem and personal sense of creativity. This curriculum is currently available for grades 1 through 3, grades 4 through 6, and grades 7 and 8. Classes are taught once a week for two hours on a year around basis to ensure continuity for the students. Each of these classes has an additional $10.00 per month materials fee which covers all materials and supplies needed for the class.
Once students are in high school (grade 9 and above) they may then take classes in any of our adult classes (400 series class numbers).
Pottery Classes
We are proud to offer Salt Lake’s finest private pottery studio. This includes a newly enlarge studio featuring 20 electric wheels, expanded glazing area, expanded shelving and ample tables for hand building. There are over 15 high fire glazes to choose from and all glazed work is reduction fired in our 36 cubic foot Olsen kiln (we are the only privateschool offering cone 10 reduction firings for our students). Students of all abilities are welcomed from complete beginners, to advanced potters. Tuition includes a two hour class once per week and up to 6 hours of additional studio time each week to come in continue working on your own. We have a wide selection of Kemper tools for sale. You are welcomed to bring your own tools or buy from us (a professional Kemper starter kit is $30, and our recommendation for beginning students). We offer a wide range of cone 10 stoneware and porcelain clays for $40 to $45 per 25lb. bag which includes a glazing and firing fee to cover all processing of that bag of clay (we require that clays be purchased from us in our pottery studio to protect our kiln and the works of others, and because it is how firing and glazes are paid for).
Watercolor Classes
Watercolor is our most popular painting class offering and is structured by Harold Petersen our founder (who after teaching until he was 90 passed away in January of 2023). Instructors Gayle Allen, Maura Naughton, JoAn Coon, and Nick Gardner continue to teach the principles and approach that he pioneered, offering classes for students of all backgrounds, 14 years and older. Everyone from beginners to professionals are welcome. It is among the most expressive of all two dimensional media while also being easy to use for the average home artist (there are no toxic fumes and clean up is with soap and water). Students study basic drawing, color theory, and numerous application techniques. Approaches include both representational and abstract schools of expression.
Oil Painting Classes
Oil painting is another rich and expressive medium offered at the Art Center. Instructors Patty Schafbuch and Maura Naughton are ready to work with students of all backgrounds from total beginners to experienced painters. They will guide each student on their paintings, emphasizing the development of drawing skills as well as the use of color and value. Students generally work on subject matter that they select and that is meaningful to them, and Patty and Maura are also ready to help them in the style they would like to work, from modern expression and abstraction to more realistic approaches.
Drawing and Colored Pencil Classes
Instructor Sheri Lynn Boyer Doty is a recognized national master of this unique medium (having won both national and international awards). This is another medium ideal for home use. Sheri treats colored pencil in a painterly fashion, much like one would use oil paint, starting with an underpainting and then layering pigment to develop color of great depth and intensity. Sheri’s colored pencil drawings have earned her awards in regional, national and international art exhibitions and invitational shows including purchase awards and permanent museum acquisitions. Sanford Corporation, formerly known as Berol USA., used her artwork to showcase its PRISMACOLOR colored pencil product line internationally for over 25 years. Sheri is a signature member of the Colored Pencil Society of America [C.P.S.A.]. This is one of our most highly recommended and exceptional instructors. In addition to colored pencil she also offers a course in drawing that covers all of the principles of drawing. Find out more about Sheri and her work at Sherry Doty Fine Art and Illustration.
If you have questions not answered here, please email us at Info@PetersenArtCenter.com or feel free to give us a call at 801.467.5444 for a prompt response!