The Museum School

For more than three decades the Amarillo Museum of Art has been dedicated to providing quality visual arts programming to the residents of Amarillo and the Texas Panhandle through collections, exhibitions, research, and educational programming.  The Museum School is just one aspect of our long-standing commitment to arts education and to our community. 

Classes & Workshops for Children

This spring, the Museum School is offering a wide variety of art activities for young artists.  Museum School classes help children develop critical thinking and problem solving skills while stimulating creativity and self-expression.  After school classes and Holiday Workshops are just some of the fun and exciting ways children can experience art at the Museum.  After school classes are limited to 10 students, thus ensuring individual attention.  All supplies are furnished for children's activities.  Classes do not meet during Spring Break.  Please call the Museum at 371-5050 to register. 

Art Adventure (ages 4 -5)  Teacher: Julie Brooks Talley

Wednesdays, 4:00-5:00 p.m   Feb. 13 - April 9

Explore! Experiment! Experience!  This excellent introduction to materials and methods is the perfect first art class.  Children will experience the sheer joy of making art while learning about color, shape, texture, and line through painting, drawing, clay, collage and prints.

Tuition:  $60

Drawing and Painting (ages 6-9)  Teacher:  Julie Brooks  Talley

Tuesdays, 4:00-5:15 p.m.  Feb. 12 -  April 8

This popular class focuses on drawing and painting techniques.  Students will explore expressive color, patterns, lines, shapes, light and shadow while using a variety of media such as pencil, charcoal, pastel, watercolor and acrylic on paper and canvas.  This class may be taken more than once as the projects are not repeated and students can expand on their skills while learning new techniques.

Tuition:  $70

Drawing and Painting (ages 9-12)  Teacher:  Julie Brooks Talley

Thursdays, 4:00-5:15 p.m.  Feb. 14- April 10

This class will be similar to the class description above except it will be geared toward the older child.

Tuition:  $70

Art-O-Rama (ages 6-9)  Teacher:  Helen Kilburn

Wednesdays, 4:00-5:15 p.m. Feb. 13- April 9

Come experience the fun, creativity and joy of making art in this wonderful

introductory class.  A variety of art concepts, techniques and materials will be explored through painting, printmaking, clay, collage and more.

Tuition:  $70

Clay:  A Few of My Favorite Things (ages 6-9) Teacher:  Helen Kilburn

Thursdays, 4:00-5:15 p.m. Feb. 14- April 10

What are your "favorite things"?  Make this clay class your own as you make a few of your favorite things!  Children will be introduced to the endless possibilities of clay through projects that teach innovative yet simple techniques such as hand-building, glazing, and surface texture decoration. 

Tuition:$70                          

Clay:  A Few of My Favorite Things (ages 9-12) Teacher:  Helen Kilburn

Tuesdays, 4:00-5:15 p.m.  Feb. 12 - April 8

This clay class will be similar to the class description above with one exception-students will create one of their clay projects using the potter's wheel.

Tuition:  $70

"Heart Art"  Valentine Workshop

The Amarillo  Museum of Art invites children ages 4-10 to our annual Valentine Workshop.  The Workshop will be held on Saturday, February 9th from 10:00-11:30 a.m.  Tuition is $15.  Children will enjoy a variety of hands-on art activities, music, and refreshments.  Because attendance is limited, registration must be made in advance by calling the Museum at 371-5050.

Classes for Adults

The Amarillo Museum of Art is pleased to offer the following classes for adults.  Classes are limited to 10 students and do not meet the week of Spring Break. 

Ceramics  Teacher:  Alex Gregory

Thursdays, 6:30-8:30  p.m.  Feb. 21 - May 1

For the beginning student, this course is an introduction to the processes of forming clay into objects of both beauty and function.  For the student already familiar with the processes of forming clay, this course will be an investigation into the finer aspects of clay form and surface.  The hand-building methods of pinching, coil construction, slab construction and extrusion will be explained, demonstrated and practiced.  Paperclay and image transfer techniques will be used to create objects and enhance their surfaces.  The potter's wheel will also be utilized for the creation of various ceramic forms.  The ceramic pieces will be glazed and fired using stoneware, raku, or smoke firing techniques.

Tuition:  $120

Portrait & Human Figure Drawing & Oil Painting  Teacher:  Emin Abbasov

Wednesdays, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Feb. 12 - April  22

In this class students will learn how to create accurate and realistic renderings of the human figure.  Students may choose to bring either drawing or painting materials, whichever they prefer.  A supply list will be provided for each.   Working from a live nude model, students will be instructed in a variety of painting and drawing techniques specific to rendering the human figure.

Tuition:  $140

Workshops for Teens & Adults

The Amarillo Museum of Art is pleased to offer the following clay workshops for teenagers and adults.  Instructors for these workshops are Alex and Mandy Gregory.  Alex and Mandy hold MFA degrees in ceramics and manage Canyon Clay Company, a day studio, gallery, and custom frame shop in Canyon, TX. 

Raku Workshop

Saturday, February 16, 2008, 9:30 - 4:30 (will break for lunch)

Experience the mystery and excitement of this unique firing process.  You will learn about glazing and other surface decorating techniques for Raku as well as participate in the firing of a Raku kiln. Students may bring their own clay pieces or use pieces provided by the Museum for an additional $10 fee.

Tuition:  $60

Paperclay Workshop

Saturday, March 8,  2008, 9:30 - 4:30 (will break for lunch)

Learn about this exciting and versatile clay medium.  The workshop will include demonstrations on how to prepare your own paperclay, its unique working properties, and printmaking and image transfer processes to enhance the surface of the paper clay forms.  Clay and materials will be provided by the Museum.

Tuition:  $60

Wheel-thrown Pottery Workshop

Saturday, April 12, 2008, 9:30 - 4:30 (will break for lunch)

This workshop will focus on the techniques of throwing pottery on the wheel.  There will be demonstrations of various throwing techniques, altering the thrown forms, and surface enhancement.  All levels of experience are encouraged to participate in this muddy, hands-on, "dirty job".  There will be plenty of time to practice the techniques on the Museum's electric pottery wheels.  Clay and materials will be provided by the Museum.

Tuition:  $60