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Beginning Acrylic Painting

April 6 @ 10:00 am 1:00 pm

Date: Thursdays, April 6 – May 25
Time: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Sessions: 8
Instructor: Melisse Herman
Location: Room 208, Print Studio
Ages: Adults, 18+
Skill Level: Beginning
Sliding Scale: $185 / $285 / $385
Financial aid available below


Class Description

This 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.

Please view the supply list to learn what materials to bring to class. If you would like to take this class but find the cost of the paint is prohibitive, you can arrange to use shared materials by sending an email to jill@sonomacommunitycenter.org.

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 College of the Arts and Mills College as well as other institutions for over 35 years.

Sliding Scale Guidance

When you register for a class, you’ll be offered three price tiers. The middle tier comes closest to what our registration fees used to be, and covers about 50% of the full cost of your participation in the class – with the other 50% covered by community donations. The first tier creates accessibility for people with limited income, while the third tier covers the full cost of participation – so that we can use community donations to support other people’s registration costs. When you choose to register at the third tier, you directly help support the Center’s efforts to remove financial barriers for others.

Class Policies

The Sonoma Community Center (the Center) strives to create an inclusive, safe community where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. The Center is committed to creating such an environment because it brings out the fullest potential in each of us, which, in turn, contributes directly to creating a community of belonging. In order to ensure a positive, safe, and welcoming experience for everyone, all program participants are asked to abide by the following policies, community agreements, and restorative safety protocol.

Financial Aid

Financial aid is handled on an individual basis. If you think you qualify, follow the link below to apply.


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