About the class

This eight-week acrylic painting course is designed for beginners and students with minimal experience. The class focuses on the fundamentals of painting, covering basic techniques and skills, using a variety of approaches. Students will learn how to handle paint and mix colors, as well as develop composition while exploring a wide range of subject matter, including still life, portraiture, abstraction, and the landscape. Group discussions and slide presentations are interspersed throughout the course, as well as time for one-on-one progress reviews with the instructor. If you have been considering painting this class will open the door for your exploration. Repeat students welcome.

This class requires students to purchase materials ahead of time. You can view the full materials list here.

Are you an SCC Member? All Memberships(Excluding the $50/year tier) receive 10% off any purchase above $40. You should have received your discount code in your membership confirmation email.

If you have any questions regarding the use of your code, you can contact Sean Baskin at sean@sonomacommunitycenter.org or call the office at (707)938-4626.

Not a member? View more information about our monthly and yearly plans here.

The Sonoma Community Center is committed to creating an accessible learning environment. If you require any special considerations(medical, physical, learning) please share them with Sean Baskin, Program Associate, by emailing him at sean@sonomacommunitycenter.org so that he can forward them to the relevant Program Director and Instructor.

About the instructor

Melisse Herman

Instructor / Artist

Melisse Herman works with themes of Absence and Presence, compelling a dialogue in which the viewer draws their own meaning from each work – engaging with what is first unseen, then subtly visible, and finally clear. Melisse graduated with distinction from California College of the Arts, and received her MFA with honors in painting and drawing from Mills College. She has exhibited on both the East and West Coasts and has featured in a number of significant collections, including the Chevron Corporation and the United States Embassy in Hong Kong. She helped to compose a young adult novel, and has taught at both California.

https://www.melisseherman.com/

Questions and Answers

What skill level is right for me?

• All Levels
• Welcomes participants from beginning through advanced. Instructor provides a balanced and flexible curriculum suitable for participants with any level of experience.
• Beginning
• Participant has little to no experience with this medium and needs or expects guidance at every step during the class. Participant wants to learn about materials, techniques, and vocabulary of the medium.
• Intermediate
• Participant is comfortable with the medium and expects both guidance and time to work alone with the medium.
• Advanced
• Participant is very confident with all aspects of the medium. Participant is self-motivated; ready to experiment and develop their artistic voice.

Is there a building map so I can find my room ahead of time?

You can click on the images below to expand them.

What is the process for cancelling my registration?

We ask that you notify us at least 10 days in advance of a class if you need to cancel your registration. You may cancel by phone or email and we will gladly offer you a refund or credit toward a future class. If you cancel with less than 10 days’ notice, we will not be able to provide refunds, due to our contractual obligations and material purchases for each class. 

Sometimes, the Sonoma Community Center has to cancel a class due to low enrollment or unforeseen circumstances, such as a natural disaster or health emergency. If this happens and we do not offer a reschedule date, you will be refunded 100% of your registration fee, or credit towards a future class. If we are able to offer a reschedule date but you are unable to make the new date, we will gladly offer credit towards a future class.

Do you pro-rate late additions to classes?

Late additions to any program, class, or workshop that has already begun will be allowed on a per-case basis depending upon the Program Director & instructors approval. Late additions will have to pay the full registration cost of the class, along with any materials fees, and will not be prorated for the time missed. You may reach out to the program directors directly, or the Program Associate Sean Baskin at sean@sonomacommunitycenter.org to request a late addition.

I am interested in teaching, where can I find more information?

We are always looking for new instructors. You can find more information about the process here, or fill out the form directly here.

Where can I find your full class policies and guidelines?

You can view our full class policies and guidelines here.

Related Events

• 

  Figure Arts Open Studio

  December 21 @ 10:00 am – 12:30 pm

  |Recurring Event (See all)

  An event every month that begins at 10:00 am on day First of the month, repeating indefinitely

  An event every month that begins at 10:00 am on day Third of the month, repeating indefinitely

• 

  Figure Arts Open Studio Long-Pose Session

  December 21 @ 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm

  |Recurring Event (See all)

  An event every month that begins at 1:30 pm on day Third of the month, repeating indefinitely

• 

  Figure Arts Open Studio

  January 4, 2025 @ 10:00 am – 12:30 pm

  |Recurring Event (See all)

  An event every month that begins at 10:00 am on day First of the month, repeating indefinitely

  An event every month that begins at 10:00 am on day Third of the month, repeating indefinitely