Class: BIG Words – Bold Typographic Paintings

Make a statement—literally! In this bold, large-format painting class, led by Mary Olsen, students will explore the power of words, letters & numbers through large-scale typographic art inspired by the style of artists such as Robert Indiana, Jasper Johns, Mel Bochner and Keith Haring. Using strong, simple shapes, vibrant color palettes, and monumental letters, students will design and paint their own artwork that combines visual design with personal meaning.

The class will include a focused dive into color theory, exploring how hue, contrast, and saturation affects your artwork. Working BIG on a 24” x24” canvas, you’ll learn how to choose a color palette and balance colors for maximum visual impact. Whether it’s a single letter or word, a short phrase, a symbol or a combination of all three, you’ll learn how to turn language into a visual experience making your artwork POP!

This is an explorational class for all levels – beginners to advanced – everyone is welcome to come and make art with us. All supplies are included, but feel free to bring your own supplies you’d like to experiment with. Before class, you might want to think about what letter(s), word(s) or phrase(s) you want to use in your artwork.

About Mary Olsen:
Mary Olsen is a working artist driven by a belief that art instruction is an integral part of a quality education. Mary founded Art Start NW to bring enrichment into Edmonds Public Schools. That mission expanded with the creation of Graphite, a physical home for artists to work in their preferred medium, collaborate and show their work. Mary’s commitment to making Edmonds a center for visual art inspires teachers, Art Start NW staff and visitors every day.

When: February 18 & 25, 2026 (2 sessions)
Time: 6:00PM – 8:00PM
Cost: $130 (includes all supplies, including a 24″ x 24″ canvas)
Ages: Adults 18+
Instructor: Mary Olsen
Supply Fee: All supplies included – 24″ x 24″ canvas, paints and use of brushes & painting tools
Location: Graphite Arts Center, 202 Main St., Edmonds, WA 98020
Pre-registration required

Class fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. Register early! If there are less than 6 people in a class, the class could get cancelled and your money will be refunded.

Questions? Contact workshops@graphiteartscenter.org

Registration coming soon.