Acrylic Painting Class
Learn how to paint with acrylics! Master value, color mixing, and shades in this beginner art class. Create a finished painting today. Sign up now!
program overview
Learn how to paint with acrylics! In this class we’ll practice using black and white to understand value, play with mixing colors to make a color wheel, and experiment with using tints, tones and shades to complete a finished painting.
Please register before November 4th.
- Lesson 1 – value does the work
- Setting up your paints
- Mixing black and white
- Painting a value scale
- What can I use this for?
- Painting a sphere in black and white
- Looking at lit and shadow sides
- Terminator
- Cast shadow
- Highlight
- Lesson 2 – playing with color
- Mixing secondary and tertiary colors
- Making a color wheel
- Mixing tints, tones and shades
- Making color strips
- Mixing mutes
- Making browns
- Lesson 3 – a finished painting
- Painting a simple still life (apple, lemon, etc)
- What colors do you see?
- How is it like a sphere?
- Where are the lights and darks?
- Where are the warms and cools?
- What about saturation – where do you see subtle variations that you can add
instructor Overview
Julie Kirgis
Julianne Kirgis grew up in a family that appreciated art as observers, but not makers. Although she leaned towards painting, drawing and sculpture throughout her life, pursuing art as a career was never something she seriously considered. After finishing a career in higher education, she decided it was finally time to explore her creative side. Julie turned to oil painting full time, starting with taking classes at the local community college. From there, she pursued an MFA in painting and drawing, completed in 2026. While Julie’s work focused originally on portraiture, she has developed her practice to include both figures and fully abstract pieces, using both oil on canvas and oil and cold wax on wood. Julie teaches art online at Shelton State Community College and is an artist member of the Arts Guild of Sonoma.
Membership Has It’s Benefits
All Silver Memberships and above receive 10% off the registration cost for any class purchase over $40.
Materials fees are not discounted.
Membership helps support our programs, events, and financial aid programs.
Become a member today and find community, connection, and creativity.
Class FAQ
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 (minus the payment processing and services 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.
All credits must be used within 1 year.
You can view our full class policies and guidelines 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 [email protected] so that he can forward them to the relevant Program Director and Instructor.
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 [email protected] to request a late addition.
We are always looking for new instructors. You can fill out the form directly here.
Registration Cost:
$100
Materials Fee:
Included
Total Registration Cost:
$100
