Ohio residents: Apply to CIA and qualify for the Creative Spark Scholarship, making art and design education more accessible!
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Fall Instructor Short Series
Classes start in November and run 3-4 weeks. Instructor Short Series provide an art experience that fits into your busy schedule. Whether you're honing your skills or exploring new techniques, these shorter sessions will inspire your creativity and allow you to refine your artistic skills.
Mondays, 6-9pm | Nov. 9-30 | $250
Student will begin with learning how to scan an object, progressing to 3D model clean up using Blender, and finally printing their 3D object.
This course will be held at CIA’s Interactive Media Lab
Instructor: Camron Wright
Tuesdays, 6-9pm | Nov. 10 – Dec. 1 | $250
This class will encourage you to see the world and your work with new eyes. Students will work with a variety of drawing tools such as pencils, conte crayons, markers, as well as acrylic paint to learn key techniques and concepts that will develop your appreciation and skills in non-representational and mixed media drawing. The course will pull inspiration from an eclectic array of sources, including modern artists, YouTube videos, and avant garde film.
Instructor: David Verba
Mondays, 6-9pm | November 9-30 | $250
Articulated Rod Puppet will include drawing a 2D character design, construct armature for their 3D character with Air-Dry clay, and engineer movement with jointed appendages. Costume design and facial characteristics in paint and with found materials, all with movement potential.
Open to students 16+
Instructor: Linda Zolten Wood
Tuesdays, 6-9pm | Nov. 10 – Dec. 1 | $250
This course is intended to prepare clay artists to advance their studio practice with technical skills and knowledge. If you are setting up a home studio, operating a kiln or want to mix your own glazes from recipes, we will help you take the next steps. Students will also make small objects on the potter’s wheel or by hand-building to test their glazes. Bring a N95 mask, and covered containers to class.
Instructor: Seth Nagelberg
Saturdays, 1-4pm | November 14 – 28 | $200
This class explores techniques for controlling and manipulating the surface of felt. Students will investigate laminate felting, appliqué, and other methods for incorporating pattern, imagery, texture, and dimension into their work. Through a series of studies and small projects, participants will learn how fabric, pre-felt, and embedded materials can be used to create both subtle and dramatic surface effects while expanding their understanding of felt as a versatile creative material. No prior experience is required.
Open to students 16+
Instructor: Sarah Paul
Saturdays, 9:30am – 12:30pm | Nov. 14 – Dec. 5 | $250
One of the most fun aspects of 3D animation is using realistic physics to automatically simulate real physics with gravity, friction, bounciness, constraints, collisions, and more. In this four-week course, you’ll create physics simulations with rigid and soft body physics, as well as cloth, smoke, fire and fluid. We will also look at particle systems, force fields, and dynamic paint, as time allows. Each class will include a quick example for you to try in class and perfect at home.
Open to students 16+
A basic knowledge of Blender is recommended.
Instructor: Josh Usmani
Spring Young Artist Classes
Classes begin Saturday, February 6. K-4 classes run for 4 sessions and begin February 6 or March 6 (noted in description). Registration for spring classes opens Monday, November 9 at noon.
Saturday, 9-11am | February 6 – March 27 | $250
Students will explore the vibrant world of acrylic painting over 8 weeks. We will cover fundamental techniques from color theory to composition. Students will experiment with various styles, culminating in a final masterpiece on canvas that showcases their unique creative voice.
Instructor: Camron Wright
Saturdays, 11:30am – 1:30pm| February 6 – March 27 | $250
Learn to make your very own pocket-sized plushies! No prior sewing experience necessary; in this class you’ll learn to sew basic and complex 3D shapes, design unique plushies, draft sewing patterns, and create a horde of mini plush characters to customize, swap, and collect!
Instructor: Erica Kraus
Saturdays, 11:30am – 1:30pm| February 6 – March 27 | $250
This course introduces students to the fundamentals of creative writing, with an emphasis on storytelling, character development, dialogue, plot, and setting. Through a combination of writing exercises, group discussions, and individual projects, students will explore different genres and techniques while developing their own creative voices. The class encourages experimentation, imagination, and constructive feedback, giving students opportunities to share their work and learn from one another. Students of all experience levels are welcome, whether they’re new to creative writing or looking to strengthen their existing skills.
Instructor: Matt Christensen
Saturdays, 2-4pm | February 6 – March 27 | $250
Over eight weeks, students will design and decorate a one-of-a-kind custom hoodie. Students will learn how to work with fabric and felt and explore creative costume design. Using a blank hoodie as the base, students will transform their jacket into a unique piece of clothing using felt, googly eyes, fabric paint, and other provided materials.
Instructor: Camron Wright
Saturdays, 11:30am – 1:30pm | February 6 -27 | $125
Students will explore the vibrant world of color and expression over 4 weeks. This class focuses on building fundamental artistic skills through age-appropriate painting techniques, from sensory finger painting to structured landscapes and self-portraits. Students will develop their fine motor skills and creative confidence while completing a unique portfolio of artwork.
Instructor: Camron Wright
Saturdays, 9-11am | February 6 – March 27 | $250
In this course, students will learn how to use collage, ink, and other traditional methods through the focus of comic art. Projects include both individual and collaborative experimentation with the intention of getting students familiar using traditional mediums to find their individual voice in the world of sequential art.
Instructor: Felix Mathoslah
Saturdays, 9-11am | February 6 – March 27 | $250
Learn the basic building blocks of stitchery, no machine or prior experience needed! Beginning with simple projects to get comfortable with the basics, we’ll then learn how to add detail, flair, and function through techniques like embroidery, beadwork, blocking, patterning, and patchwork, to name a few. Sewing for craft, fashion, mending, and more!
Instructor: Erica Kraus
Saturdays, 2-4pm | February 6 – March 27 | $250
Obsessed with aesthetic clutter and memory keeping? Join us as we dive into the colorful world of junk journaling, and learn new ways to make your mark. We’ll start by exploring bookbinding methods to make custom journals, and learn a new technique each week, including printmaking, stamp cutting, texture etching, collage, hand lettering, and more!
Instructor: Erica Kraus
Saturdays, 2-4pm | February 6 – March 27 | $250
Illustrations for children’s books help kids visualize stories in their imagination and can make reading a more enjoyable, shared experience for families. These illustrations require a special skill: visualizing the story in a way that captures each moment in a single, dynamic image. This process is collaborative, working with the story’s writer to capture their vision in your artistic style. These illustrations can be done in many styles with a variety of materials. We will use famous copyright-free stories to create illustrations for this class.
Instructor: Josh Usmani
Saturdays, 11:30am – 1:30pm | February 6 – March 27 | $250
Ready to elevate your art portfolio for college applications? This intensive high school preparation class focuses on building a cohesive and well-rounded portfolio using traditional mediums including graphite, charcoal, and colored pencil. Master the seven core principles of drawing, engage in constructive peer critiques, and study influential historic artists. Beyond technical mastery, we will explore diverse creative career options and uncover the exact criteria admissions look for in a standout submission. Transform your creative potential into an undeniable portfolio and take the next step toward your bright future in the arts!
Instructor: Liam Mealey
Saturdays, 9-11am | February 6 – March 27 | $250
Discover the creative possibilities of printmaking in this hands-on studio course! Students will experiment with a variety of techniques, including foam relief printing, monotypes, collagraphs, and stamp printing. Through the exploration of color, texture, layering, and composition, students will learn how to transform their ideas into original prints. Each technique offers new opportunities for experimentation as students develop their artistic skills and personal style. By the end of the course, students will have created a collection of unique prints showcasing their creativity.
Instructor: Susan Atheneos
Spring Adult Classes
Adult classes meet once a week beginning Monday, February 1. Registration for spring classes opens Monday, November 9 at noon.
Wednesday, 6-9pm | February 3 – March 24 |$495
In this advanced sewing class, students will learn the process of appliqué and reverse appliqué. These techniques require layering of fabric before cutting and sewing negative space. Students will use this process to construct garments that can be worn.
Instructor: Camron Wright
Open to students 16 +
Saturday, 1-4pm | February 6 – March 27 | $395
Students will learn some animation fundamentals (such as timing and spacing), along with some basic After Effects techniques such as animating text, rotoscoping, using shape layers, some basic effects from the effects panel and as a bonus, a brief introduction to some character animation principles.
Instructor: Zack White
Tuesday, 6-9pm | February 2 – March 23 | $495
In this introductory painting course, students will learn the fundamental techniques and processes of painting with acrylic paint. Class projects will target basic painting principles and guide students to develop a better understanding of tools and materials, acrylic paint and mediums, basic color theory, and two-dimensional design concepts. Discussions, demonstrations, and handouts will provide students with valuable resources to facilitate good painting practices and artistic growth.
Instructor: Susan Danko
Open to students 16 +
Thursday, 6-9pm | February 4 – March 25 | $495
This class introduces the fundamental skills needed to create jewelry and small metal objects using the casting process. Students will use found objects/materials, wax carvings, and casting machinery to create projects using sawing, filing, carving, soldering, polishing, and casting. During the course, students will complete projects and samples. Open to beginners as well as intermediate students. More advanced students will be encouraged to work on independent projects.
Instructor: Braydon Cheek
Wednesday, 6-9pm | February 3 – March 24 | $595
The goal of this course is to explore the endless possibilities in working with clay both on and off the pottery wheel. Together we will go over basic to advanced techniques to achieve your artistic goals. By the end of the course students will have a complex understanding of how to manipulate clay on and off the wheel at all different stages of the making process. We will glaze and fire our work using multiple firing methods. The majority of supplies for this class are included with the tuition fee.
Instructor: Grace Bohlen
Open to students 16 +
Monday 6-9pm | February 1 – March 22 | $495
This class focuses on the principles of drawing, guiding students, from beginner to advanced, to become masters of observational drawing. Students will work with a variety of materials, gaining confidence in finding their artistic voice.
Instructor: Liam Mealey
Open to students 16 +
Saturday, 1-4pm | February 6 – March 27 | $495
This course is an exploration of the expressive potential of watercolor with a focus on landscape. Basic knowledge of watercolor is beneficial but not required. Students will learn to demystify color-mixing to achieve clean and vibrant hues, to effectively use tonal values that render depth, to create expressive textures and suggest movement, and to preserve the white of the paper to articulate light and atmosphere. Students will learn to read the paper to develop a sense of timing and utilize different wet-on-wet and wet-on-dry watercolor techniques accordingly. This course is inspired on the exhibition Spectacular Freedom: Andrew Wyeth and the Modern Watercolor on view at The Cleveland Museum of Art through January 14.
Instructor: Ana-Joel Falcon-Weibe
Tuesday, 6-9pm | February 2 – March 23 | $495
Have you ever wondered how forensic artists and anthropologists recreate a face from a skull? In this hands-on introduction to forensic-style facial reconstruction, students will explore the fascinating intersection of art, anatomy, and forensic science. Working with a life-sized plaster skull and sculpting clay, you will learn the techniques used to estimate facial features and build a three-dimensional face layer by layer. You will also draw the face to understand the underlying structures that complete the identity of the face.
Instructor: Beth Halasz
Saturday, 9:30am -12:30pm | February 6 – March 27 | $495
Have you ever wanted to shoot and process your own film? Film photography 101 is an introduction to the fundamentals of traditional black and white film processing and printing. We will learn basic exposure techniques, wet lab film processing, and darkroom printing while exploring the medium with creative assignments. CIA features a well-equipped darkroom with chemistry and hardware. Students must provide their own film cameras, plus recommended film and paper.
Instructor: Steven Mastroianni
Open to students 16 +
Tuesday, 6-9pm | February 2 – March 23 | $525
In Glass Casting, students will learn the basics of mold making and simple sculpting to create glass objects. Using found objects, clay, and wax, students will learn how to make molds from anything. Using these molds, students will cast glass and learn about kiln programs to melt the glass and create their desired outcomes. This class is open to all levels and anyone interested in creating glass objects with molds.
Instructor: Lane Grigson
Open to students 16 +
Thursday, 6-9pm | February 4 – March 25 | $525
In the glass fusing portion of the course, students will get a chance to make their own glass artwork. The heating cycle of kilns, how a kiln works and how to use it, and production techniques will all be a part of this course. The glassblowing portion of the course will consist of various techniques to make both blown and solid works out of hot glass. Beginners, starting with the bubble or simply a gather of solid glass, will learn ways to develop sculptural forms out of glass, while intermediate/advanced students explore more techniques and more challenging functional forms. Students are encouraged to lean into the abstract and fluid nature of glass. Natural fiber clothing is mandatory, nothing synthetic may be worn (Jeans and cotton T-shirts are recommended). Protective eyewear (safety glasses) and closed toe shoes are mandatory.
Instructor: Annie O’Brien
Open to students 16 +
Wednesday, 6-9pm | February 3 – March 24 | $495
In this hands-on course, adult learners will explore the fundamentals of metalsmithing, from basic techniques like sawing, soldering, and shaping to creating simple jewelry pieces. Students will develop skills in fabrication, forming, soldering, finishing, and other metals processes while working at a pace appropriate to their experience and interests. Whether you’re looking to start a new hobby or begin building a jewelry portfolio, this course offers a supportive environment for creativity and skill-building. All levels welcome.
Instructor: Madison Egleston
Monday, 6-9pm | February 1 – March 22 |$495
In this course, students will complete a series of projects that will teach the basics of sewing. Class will focus on learning pattern making for garments, and how to sew different seams. This will accumulate to a final project in which students will make their own garment.
Instructor: Camron Wright
Open to students 16 +
Wednesday, 6-9pm | February 3 – March 24 |$495
Discover the joy of painting in this welcoming, all-levels adult watercolor class designed to build creative confidence in a calm and creative space. Whether working from observation, photo references, or pure imagination, you will master essential watercolor techniques alongside foundational drawing principles. Explore unique experimental methods, share inspiration with fellow artists, and unlock your personal style. Develop true proficiency in both brushwork and composition while creating expressive works of art. Join a supportive community and bring your creative vision to life one brushstroke at a time!
Instructor: Liam Mealey
Open to students 16 +
Thursday, 6-9pm | February 4 – March 25 | $495
Celebrate your love for the natural world in this welcoming, all-levels wildlife drawing class designed for adult artists. Working alongside a supportive community in a positive creative space, you will master foundational drawing principles while capturing the unique anatomy and spirit of animals. Explore a versatile array of traditional materials including India ink, charcoal, graphite, and color pencil. Gain technical proficiency with each medium, sharpen your observational skills, and bring incredible creatures to life in your artwork!
Instructor: Liam Mealey
Open to students 16 +
Spring Instructor Series
Classes begin in April run 3-4 weeks. Instructor Short Series provide an art experience that fits into your busy schedule. Whether you're honing your skills or exploring new techniques, these shorter sessions will inspire your creativity and allow you to refine your artistic skills. Registration for Spring Instructor Short Series opens Monday, November 9 at noon.
Saturday, 9:30am – 12:30 pm | April 10 – May 1 | $250
Learn to design your own custom designer art toy line from conceptual, technical drawings to a 3d model/sculpture with materials and textures. Complete the design with a unique package design and visual identity. We’ll use pencil on paper, Blender, and Adobe Illustrator and/or Photoshop at different points throughout the course.
Instructor: Josh Usmani
Open to students 16 +
Monday, 6-9pm | April 5-26| $250
Over the course of 4 weeks students will learn collaging and try different methods of collage. Students will use materials such as magazines, cardboard, and scraps to piece together new images that express the artist through visual art.
Instructor: Camron Wright
Open to students 16 +
Saturday, 9:30am – 12:30 pm | April 10 – May 1 | $250
Drawing with Light: the Art of Photograms explores the intersection of drawing and photography through traditional cameraless photo processes. Removing the camera from of the equation, we will create images directly on photographic materials, fixing the light and shadows we create with found objects, stencils, and drawing in this mysterious, historical (and completely analog) process. Both traditional silver-gelatin and cyanotype printing processes will be explored. Darkroom and chemistry provided by CIA, students must provide photographic paper and mixed media paper.
Instructor: Steven Mastroianni
Open to students 16 +
Tuesday, 6-9pm | April 6-20| $200
Discover the art of linocut printmaking in this hands-on introductory course! Learn how to transform your original designs into prints using traditional carving and relief printing techniques. Students will explore designing, carving, inking, and hand-printing while experimenting with color, composition, and layering. From carving your first printing block to producing a small edition of original artwork, this course introduces the tools and techniques needed to continue printmaking independently. No previous printmaking experience is necessary.
Instructor: Susan Atheneos
Open to students 16 +
Wednesday, 6-9pm | April 7-28| $250
Want to update your home with some handmade charm? This beginner friendly class walks you through basic metalsmithing techniques to create functional and decorative pieces for your space. In this class you will learn how to make a soap dish, coat hooks, and a charcuterie or sauce tray perfect for gifting to friends or incorporating into your home decor!
Students will learn how to saw metal, use a jumpshear, basic forming techniques, soldering, stamping, and polishing! Through this, students will learn creativity, fine motor skills, and how to notice craftsmanship in their daily lives.
Instructor: Elisa DeLorme
Open to students 16 +
Saturday, 1-4pm | April 10 – May 1 | $250
Bring digital characters to life through a complete real-time performance capture pipeline in this hands on workshop. You will learn to capture optical body tracking with OptiTrack Motive and stream animation data directly into Unreal Engine. We will integrate real-time facial capture using Live Link Face, then step onto the set with the Unreal VCam app for intuitive virtual cinematography. By the end of this session, you will know how to calibrate, record, and direct fully synchronized digital performances.
This course will be held at CIA’s Interactive Media Lab
Instructor: Harrison Walsh
Open to students 16 +
Saturday, 1-4pm | April 10 – May 1 | $250
This course will explore four distinct developmental stages in watercolor landscape. Basic knowledge of watercolor is beneficial but not required. The course is especially designed for students who wish to develop the techniques to sketch watercolor landscapes while traveling. Students will learn to synthesize the essence of complex compositions and to translate three-dimensional forms into two-dimensional space. In the first stage, Sketching and Iterating, students will learn new ways of seeing with a focus on the value of speed, gesture, and expressive mark-making. In the second stage, Textures, we will explore different techniques to create descriptive textures to render different surfaces and materials. In the third stage, Reflections, we will investigate reflective surfaces like water. In the fourth and final stage, Architecture, we will focus on techniques to suggest architecture on a landscape.
Instructor: Ana-Joel Falcon-Weibe