Workshops
and Classes
Let’s Get Creative.
Each session is a chance to learn with creative people and get messy. Perfect for a date night or a fun outing with friends. All supplies are included unless otherwise noted; check your expectations at the door and let’s play! See our calendar for class offerings.
Questions? workshops@graphiteartscenter.org.
Drop-in: Make Art with MaryRepeating Event
Join us for “Sunday in the Studio with Mary”. This is your opportunity to work with Graphite Arts Center founder and artist, Mary Olsen in a relaxed and inspiring environment. Bring your own supplies and a project to work on. If you need inspiration, Mary will have supplies for you to use and some fun […] ...
Class: Paint Your Partner – February 2026
February is the month for Valentines, Galentines and Palentines! Celebrate love and friendship with a unique and playful watercolor painting class where you are the artist and your partner is the model (and vice versa). Whether you’re bringing a friend, favorite pal or significant other, this lighthearted experience is all about creativity, laughter, and connection. […] ...
Class: BIG Words – Bold Typographic PaintingsRepeating Event
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, geometric shapes, vibrant color palettes, and monumental letters, […] ...
Class: Creative Drawing Techniques
Explore the expressive possibilities of drawing through a variety of traditional materials and mark-making techniques. This course introduces students to creative approaches using pencil, pen, charcoal, and ink to develop personal style, improve technical skills, and experiment with texture, contrast, and composition. Through a combination of guided exercises, observational drawing, and imaginative projects, students will […] ...
Class: Exploring Plants in Art – March 2026Repeating Event
Immerse yourself in the beauty of plants, from delicate houseplants to blooming florals, wildflowers, and majestic trees. Using a variety of mediums, including pencils, charcoal, watercolor, and acrylics, you will learn to capture the intricacies and textures of plants, experimenting with different techniques to bring your subjects to life on paper or canvas. Graphite Arts Center […] ...
Class: Watercolor for Relaxation – April 2026
Unwind and let go with watercolor painting. This class is designed to help you de-stress through the process of painting. We will begin with a few warm-up exercises followed by a 10-minute visualization to help you completely relax. Then tapping into our intuition, we will use watercolor painting to calm our minds. Along the way […] ...
Class: Poetry and Collage – Fun with Words and Images
Get ready to play with words, color and your imagination as we turn text and images into expressive works of art. We’ll explore various exercises to get our creative juices flowing including blackout poetry (uncovering secret poems hidden in plain sight) and using poems to inspire visual imagery. Ways to incorporate words and phrases into […] ...
Class: ArtLab – Mark Making in Ink
Discover the expressive power of ink in this hands-on class exploring mark making through a variety of tools and techniques. Working with alcohol inks, India ink, and pens, students will experiment with line, texture, color, contrast and layering to discover how different inks interact on different papers. These papers can then be used as the […] ...
Class: ArtLab – Gelli Plate Printing
Explore the versatile world of Gelli plate printing in this hands-on workshop focused on creating unique textured papers. Students will experiment with layering, stencils, and tools to produce a variety of patterns, textures, and color effects. These papers can then be used as the foundation for collage, journaling and other mixed media projects. This class […] ...
Class: ArtLab – Mixed Media Collage
Using papers created with gelli prints and inks*, you’ll experiment with layering, tearing, cutting, and combining materials to create textured, dynamic mixed media collages. Different types of composition and color theory will be discussed as well as how to take individual images and combine them to create a cohesive design. *We are using papers that […] ...
Class: Watercolor for Relaxation – May 2026
Unwind and let go with watercolor painting. This class is designed to help you de-stress through the process of painting. We will begin with a few warm-up exercises followed by a 10-minute visualization to help you completely relax. Then tapping into our intuition, we will use watercolor painting to calm our minds. Along the way […] ...
We are currently still planning new events, classes and workshops.
Please check back soon.
More Ways to Create Art
Community Art Space
Art Start Northwest supports Art For All, a non-profit organization empowering people with disabilities to create and exhibit art in the greater Puget Sound area. Art For All community classes are held at Graphite Arts Center on the 1st Wednesday of each month.