Beginner adult art classes
2026-01-05 18:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | Franciscan Life Process Center – Lowell Campus, 11650 Downes St. NE, Lowell, MI, 49331
So you want to be an artist!
Start your artistic journey with our beginner art classes, made for adults who want to build a strong creative foundation. Whether you’re picking up a paintbrush for the first time or rediscovering a hobby, you’ll gain the skills and confidence to create beautiful drawings and paintings in this series, which begins in January and ends in March.

Taught by Center Art Director Kathy Bechtel, students will progress through three sessions: drawing, color theory and painting. Each course offers hands-on instruction in an intimate 10-person class. All classes are held at the Franciscan Life Process Center, 11650 Downes St. NE in Lowell.
Sign up for the beginner adult art classes online.
Please view the supplies list here.

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Session 1 – Drawing

Students select either Mondays or Thursdays:
Mondays 6-9 p.m. – Jan. 5-Feb. 2
Thursdays 9 a.m.-noon – Jan. 8-Feb.5

This five-week course will start with lessons in drawing basic objects and shapes and exploring how light and shadows affect each shape from different perspectives. In the following weeks, students will apply these skills to create still lifes, landscapes and portraits. Students are responsible for purchasing items on the supply list prior to the class. The cost of this session is $200 per person.

Please note: Session 1 is required as a prerequisite for Session 2.

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Session 2 – Color theory

Select Mondays or Thursdays:
Mondays 6-9 p.m. – Feb. 9 and 16
Thursdays 9 a.m.-noon – Feb. 12 and 19

In this two-week course, students will discover how colors interact and learn to create primary, secondary and tertiary colors using acrylic paint. Participants will learn how to mix and manipulate colors to build harmonious palettes and gain a stronger understanding of the color wheel. Students are responsible for purchasing items on the supply list prior to the class. The cost of this session is $80 per person.

Please note:

Students must attend Session 1 in order to join Session 2.
If a student would like to skip Session 1 and progress to Session 2, please contact Art Director Kathy Bechtel at kbechtel@lifeprocesscenter.org.

________

Session 3 – Painting
Select Mondays or Thursdays:
Mondays 6-9 p.m. – Feb. 23-March 16
Thursdays 9 a.m.-noon – Feb. 26-March 19
In this four-week course, students will bring together the skills learned in Sessions 1 and 2 to create a complete acrylic painting. Lessons will include composition, edges, mood and dramatic lighting, helping participants create depth and enhance their paintings. Students are responsible for purchasing items on the supply list prior to the class. The cost of Session 3 is $160 per person.

Students who sign up for all three sessions will receive $40 off, making the whole 11-week series $400 per person.

Beginner adult art classes - Session 1 - Drawing - Thursdays
2026-01-08 09:00 - 12:00
Session 1 – Drawing

Thursdays 9 a.m.-noon – Jan. 8-Feb.5

This five-week course will start with lessons in drawing basic objects and shapes and exploring how light and shadows affect each shape from different perspectives. In the following weeks, students will apply these skills to create still lifes, landscapes and portraits. Students are responsible for purchasing items on the supply list prior to the class. The cost of this session is $200 per person.

Please note: Session 1 is required as a prerequisite for Session 2.

Paint and Sip
2026-02-07 13:00 - 16:00
Participate in a cozy Paint and Sip perfect for friends, couples or a solo afternoon escape from 1-4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 7. Experienced artist and Center Art Director Kathy Bechtel will teach students how to paint a beautiful flower arrangement on a 14 inch by 11-inch canvas. All skill levels are welcome.

The cost is $50 per person and includes all painting supplies and non-alcoholic drinks, including coffee, tea and cider, with light snacks.

The class is held at the newly renovated Franciscan Life Process Center, 11650 Downes St. NE in Lowell. An easy drive from Grand Rapids and Lansing, our Lowell campus offers a beautiful and calming environment perfect for unplugging from city life.

Register online at http://weblink.donorperfect.com/paintsip.

Looking to enhance your artistic abilities? View and enroll in our upcoming professional art workshops.

Beginner adult art classes - Session 2 - Color Theory- Mondays
2026-02-09 18:00 - 21:00
Session 2 – Color theory

Mondays 6-9 p.m. – Feb. 9 and 16

In this two-week course, students will discover how colors interact and learn to create primary, secondary and tertiary colors using acrylic paint. Participants will learn how to mix and manipulate colors to build harmonious palettes and gain a stronger understanding of the color wheel. Students are responsible for purchasing items on the supply list prior to the class. The cost of this session is $80 per person.

Please note:

Students must attend Session 1 in order to join Session 2.
If a student would like to skip Session 1 and progress to Session 2, please contact Art Director Kathy Bechtel at kbechtel@lifeprocesscenter.org.

Beginner adult art classes - Session 2 - Color Theory - Thursdays
2026-02-09 18:00 - 21:00
Session 2 – Color theory

Thursdays 6-9 p.m. – Feb. 9 and 16

In this two-week course, students will discover how colors interact and learn to create primary, secondary and tertiary colors using acrylic paint. Participants will learn how to mix and manipulate colors to build harmonious palettes and gain a stronger understanding of the color wheel. Students are responsible for purchasing items on the supply list prior to the class. The cost of this session is $80 per person.

Please note:

Students must attend Session 1 in order to join Session 2.
If a student would like to skip Session 1 and progress to Session 2, please contact Art Director Kathy Bechtel at kbechtel@lifeprocesscenter.org.

Beginner adult art classes - Session 3 - Painting - Mondays
2026-02-23 18:00 - 21:00
Session 3 – Painting
Mondays 6-9 p.m. – Feb. 23-March 16
In this four-week course, students will bring together the skills learned in Sessions 1 and 2 to create a complete acrylic painting. Lessons will include composition, edges, mood and dramatic lighting, helping participants create depth and enhance their paintings. Students are responsible for purchasing items on the supply list prior to the class. The cost of Session 3 is $160 per person.

Beginner adult art classes - Session 3 - Painting - Thursdays
2026-02-26 09:00 - 12:00
Session 3 – Painting
Thursdays 9 a.m.-noon – Feb. 26-March 19
In this four-week course, students will bring together the skills learned in Sessions 1 and 2 to create a complete acrylic painting. Lessons will include composition, edges, mood and dramatic lighting, helping participants create depth and enhance their paintings. Students are responsible for purchasing items on the supply list prior to the class. The cost of Session 3 is $160 per person.

M. Joy Lemon-Luminous Florals in Charcoal and Chalk
2026-03-31 09:00 - 2026-04-02 16:00
March 31-April 2, 9 AM – 4 PM

Through guided demonstrations and focused individual support you will learn how to prepare materials, develop a solid block-in drawing, transfer your composition, identify and mass in shadow shapes, and softly turn form with sensitive, textureless shading, all while building your sensitivity to proportion and values.

The cost of this workshop is $420.00

To find a complete listing of this workshop please go to: M. Joy Lemon-Luminous Florals in Charcoal and Chalk Tickets, Tue, Mar 31, 2026 at 9:00 AM | Eventbrite

Andy Evansen-A Valuable Approach to Watercolor
2026-04-07 09:00 - 2026-04-09 16:00
April 7-9, 2026
There seems to be a never-endinq quest to loosen up in watercolor and it’s probably the most common goal of students. As I tell my students, what you leave out of a painting is as important as what you put in. The cost of this workshop is $650.00.
To find out more about this workshop please go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/andy-evansen-a-valuable-approach-to-watercolor-tickets-1450484350739?aff=oddtdtcreator

Diane Hamel-Beyond Words-An Icon Writing Workshop
2026-04-13 09:00 - 2026-04-17 16:00
April 13 – 17, 9 AM – 4 PM

Come and spend a week with Diane Hamel at the Franciscan Life Process Center in prayerful contemplation as she leads participants in painting an icon of St. Mary of Egypt. Beginner to Advanced accepted.

The cost of this workshop is $650.

To find a complete listing of this workshop please go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/diane-hamel-beyond-words-an-icon-writing-workshop-tickets-1962610402546?aff=oddtdtcreator

Carole Wilson-WATERCOLOR COLLAGE WORKSHOP
2026-04-16 09:00 - 2026-04-17 16:00
April 16 & 17, 9 AM – 4 PM

The marriage of watercolor and collage creates a beautiful and “unique medium.” Watercolor’s fluidity and transparency provide the foundation for our painting … and then… we add the texture and vibrancy of Collage materials to enhance our painting.

The cost of this workshop is $285.

To find a complete listing of this workshop please go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/carole-wilson-watercolor-collage-workshop-tickets-1360697616199?aff=oddtdtcreator

Judith Tummino-Finding the Abstract in Nature
2026-04-21 09:00 - 2026-04-22 16:00
April 21 & 22, 2026, 9 AM – 4 PM

This class focuses on the simplification of form to create a beautiful and energetic abstract painting. Drawing from photo references on the first day and painting en plein air the second day, the student will learn to find the “bones” of the landscape.

The cost of this workshop is $285.

To find a complete listing of this workshop please go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/judith-tummino-finding-the-abstract-in-nature-tickets-1977734158106?aff=oddtdtcreator

Beth Charles-ACRYLIC ABSTRACT LANDSCAPE WITH COLLAGE
2026-05-05 09:00 - 2026-05-06 16:00
May 5 & 6, 2026

Beth will demonstrate the importance of understanding the difference between transparent and opaque paint. The use of collage to enhance color, composition, and interest, will also be demonstrated. Participants will be encouraged to let go of control and allow shapes, colors, and strokes to emerge spontaneously.

The cost of this workshop is $285.

To find a complete listing of this workshop please go to: Beth Charles-ACRYLIC ABSTRACT LANDSCAPE WITH COLLAGE Tickets, Tue, May 5, 2026 at 9:00 AM | Eventbrite

William Mancuso-Sketching: Keeping it Simple & Small
2026-05-05 09:00 - 2026-05-06 16:00
May 5 & 6, 2026, 9 AM – 4 PM

I approach Sketching as a conversation between the Sketcher and the Sketched, and the resulting visual image is simply a record of that particular moment and your experience. No tricks, no filters, just you paying attention with a pen and leaving a map of the territory you discover.

The cost of this workshop is $285

To find a complete listing of this workshop please go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/william-mancuso-sketching-keeping-it-simple-small-tickets-1977410582282?aff=oddtdtcreator

John Fleck-Large and Loose Landscapes with Charcoal
2026-05-18 09:00 - 2026-05-19 16:00
May 18 & 19, 2026, 9 AM – 4 PM
Work large with charcoal in the landscape. This 2–Day workshop will allow you to work loose, large, and even painterly. Charcoal is among the most malleable of drawing media, letting you smear, soften, and blend, to render the beauty of the landscape on paper.
The cost of this workshop is $275.
To find a complete listing of this workshop please go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/john-fleck-large-and-loose-landscapes-with-charcoal-tickets-1087146306869?aff=oddtdtcreator

Keiko Tanabe-Painting Impressions with Watercolor
2026-05-19 09:00 - 2026-05-21 16:00
May 19-21, 2026, 9 AM – 4 PM
In this class, you will start seeing things differently and learn how to turn reality into a captivating, impressionistic image. The goal is to capture the essence of the subject that conveys a certain mood and atmosphere.
The cost of this workshop is $650.
To find a complete listing of this workshop please go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/keiko-tanabe-painting-impressions-with-watercolor-tickets-1269143806289?aff=oddtdtcreator

Richard Jordan Plein Air-Developing Artistry
2026-05-27 09:00 - 2026-05-29 16:00
May 27-29, 2026, 9 AM – 4 PM

The focus of this 3-Day workshop is on transforming the ordinary landscape into a work of art. There are dozens of ways to paint the same landscape, but it’s your ability to see creative possibilities which moves an ordinary scene into artistry.

The cost of this workshop is $425.

To find a complete listing of this workshop go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/richard-jordan-plein-air-developing-artistry-tickets-1907787426549?aff=oddtdtcreator

Eric Michaels-Pulling your Paintings Together in Watercolor
2026-05-28 09:00 - 2026-05-29 16:00
May 28 & 29, 2026, 9 AM – 4 PM
We will explore the utilization of light and dark values, warm and cool colors, soft and hard edges, areas of detail and rest, and more. All of these create depth and realism, guide the viewer’s eye and enhance the visual impact.
The cost of this workshop is $285.
To find a complete listing of this workshop please go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/eric-michaels-pulling-your-paintings-together-in-watercolor-tickets-1838184412059?aff=oddtdtcreator

Mary Jo Roys Drueke, IAPS/MC-From Skies to Rocks in Soft Pastels
2026-06-03 09:00 - 2026-06-04 16:00
June 3 & 4, 2026, 9 AM – 4 PM

We will make use of both small thumbnails to set up an interesting design. A major emphasis will be placed on ever important values! You can expect to have two sketches at the end of the second and a more confident skill set to bring to your landscapes.

The cost of this workshop is $285.

To find a complete listing of this workshop please go to: Mary Jo Roys Drueke, IAPS/MC-From Skies to Rocks in Soft Pastels Tickets, Wed, Jun 3, 2026 at 9:00 AM | Eventbrite

Nancie King Mertz-Paint What Scares You!
2026-06-09 09:00 - 2026-06-11 16:00
June 9-11, 2026, 9 AM – 4 PM
Be open to trying something that pushes your boundaries, rather than painting your usual subject matter. Nancie will guide you toward success! Bring your printed reference materials of scenes you’ve always wanted to paint but never quite knew how to approach artistically. This is a pastel workshop.
The cost of this workshop is $500.
To find a complete listing of this workshop please go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nancie-king-mertz-paint-what-scares-you-tickets-1020863168217?aff=oddtdtcreator

Barbara Hack-Portraits in Oil
2026-06-09 09:00 - 2026-06-11 16:00
June 9-11, 2026, 9 AM – 4 PM
This hands-on workshop with award winning artist Barbara Hack is designed to take you through a classically inspired approach to painting the head/ portrait from a photo reference. All four stages of the painting process will be covered, including under painting .
The cost of this workshop is $625.
To find a complete listing of this workshop please go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/barbara-hack-portraits-in-oil-tickets-1115877773459?aff=oddtdtcreator

Grace DeVito-Painting the Organic Still Life
2026-06-23 09:00 - 2026-06-25 16:00
June 23-25, 2026
Join nationally acclaimed artist Grace DeVito for a 3-day oil painting workshop “Painting the Organic Still Life”. Learn her process of multi layered still life painting by lecture, demonstration and critiques. Focus will be given to technique, paint application and creating form.
The cost of this workshop is $545.
To find a complete listing of this workshop please go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/grace-devito-painting-the-organic-still-life-tickets-1337230054089?aff=oddtdtcreator

Phil Starke-Mixing Color to Suggest Light and Form
2026-06-23 09:00 - 2026-06-26 16:00
June 23-26, 2026, 9 AM – 4 PM

Unlock the power of color to create light, depth, and three-dimensional form in your paintings. This class focuses on the essential skills of color mixing as a means to capture atmosphere, model form, and direct the viewers eye.

The cost of this workshop is $700.

To find a complete listing of this workshop please go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/phil-starke-mixing-color-to-suggest-light-and-form-tickets-1977396631555?aff=oddtdtcreator

Barbara Schilling-Be Bold!
2026-06-30 09:00 - 2026-07-01 16:00
June 30 – July 1, 9 AM – 4 PM

Creating a successful painting is about more than just utilizing skills. A painting should be more than just a representation of a subject. No matter how skillfully executed, without passion and energy your work will not hold a viewers attention. Find out how.

The cost of this workshop is $285.

To find a complete listing of this workshop please go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/barbara-schilling-be-bold-tickets-1975627330528?aff=oddtdtcreator

Ralph Annunziata-' w i t h I N & w i t h O UT'
2026-06-30 09:00 - 2026-07-02 16:00
June 30-July 2, 2026, 9 AM – 4 PM

we’ll work solo canvases as well as indulge a ‘series’ explorations through abstractExpression & representational components to enhance our own clarity from withIN silent walking meditation or just quietly sit with ‘softFocus’ eyes to feel, to listen to BE_PRESENT withOUT these BEautiful franciscanCenter grounds –

The cost of this workshop is $500.

To find a complete listing of this workshop please go to: Ralph Annunziata-‘ w i t h I N & w i t h O UT’ Tickets, Tue, Jun 30, 2026 at 9:00 AM | Eventbrite

Kathleen Conover-PAINTING FROM THE RIGHT (AND LEFT) SIDE OF THE BRAIN
2026-07-06 09:00 - 2026-07-08 16:00
July 6-8, 9 AM – 4 PM
The best paintings aren’t always planned, and they aren’t totally intuitive. They are a marriage of intent, basic design skills, and freely expressing our personal interpretation of the world.
The cost of this workshop is $600.
To find a complete listing of this workshop please go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/kathleen-conover-painting-from-the-right-and-left-side-of-the-brain-tickets-1070948960169?aff=oddtdtcreator

Robin Cole-Natural Harmony: The Limited Palette
2026-07-07 09:00 - 2026-07-09 16:00
Robin Cole-Natural Harmony: The Limited Palette
July 7-9, 2026, 9 AM – 4 PM
This workshop offers a deep dive into the benefits of working with a limited palette consisting of one pigment from each primary color family (yellow, red, blue) plus white. This simplified approach is one of creative constraints that trains the mind in keen decision-making and clever problem-solving.
The cost of this workshop is $585.
To find a complete listing of this workshop please go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/robin-cole-natural-harmony-the-limited-palette-tickets-1041249584537?aff=oddtdtcreator

Jon Redmond-Finding Perfect Balance
2026-07-14 09:00 - 2026-07-16 16:00
July 14-16, 9 AM – 4 PM

This workshop will help you gain the ability to push your paintings in opposing directions, introducing chaos and control into the act of painting. Loss of control is often necessary to push one’s paintings out of their comfort zone, focused critical correction can pull it all together.

The cost of this workshop is $590.

To find a complete listing of this workshop go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/jon-redmond-finding-perfect-balance-tickets-1677069001529?aff=oddtdtcreator

Telagio Baptista-The Magic of Watercolor
2026-07-14 09:00 - 2026-07-16 16:00
July 14-16, 9 AM – 4 PM

You will learn how to make a striking painting that employs a single-color, discovering simplicity with a 3-color palette, and fearless landscape or floral painting. Telagio will demo everyday and provide handouts to you, and provide one on one support.
The cost of this workshop is $620.
To find a complete listing of this workshop please go to: Telagio Baptista-The Magic of Watercolor Tickets, Tue, Jul 14, 2026 at 9:00 AM | Eventbrite

Julie Tibus-Explore Cold Wax and Oil Paint
2026-07-28 09:00 - 2026-07-29 16:00
July 28 & 29, 9 AM – 4 PM

Explore the fascinating medium of cold wax! Discover its unique buttery texture as we experiment with oil paint, graphite, and oil sticks. You’ll create four small abstract artworks throughout the day using tools like stencils, spatulas, and brayers.

The cost of this workshop is $285.

To find a complete listing of this workshop please go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/julie-tibus-explore-cold-wax-and-oil-paint-tickets-1839117422719?aff=oddtdtcreator
