There are quite a few options for lots of different forms of art here in the Provo-Orem-Springville area. When it comes to getting your art on, we know it’s a discretionary income expense and therefore needs to be scrutinized with some measure of cost-benefit analysis so as not to waste money you could have used going to the movies or out to a nice dinner. I initially attempted to index each of these art class-offering studios according to its price, but what I discovered was that it really just depends on how you slice it. Some studios, such as Gomm Stained Glass offer a six-session (two hour per session) course for $175. That comes out to not even $15 per hour for art instruction, a pretty great deal. But even if you broke down what each studio charged you per hour of instruction, that wouldn’t accurately portray the true costs associated with most classes. Many classes will also charge you for supplies or other random fees, the cost of which you’d need to spread out over all the hours your class takes place. Most studios are fairly reasonable, and some (like Patty's Ceramics) offer a ridiculously good bang for your buck. Enjoy!
Definitely among the better organized of all the art studios in the area, the rec center offers classes on seasonal and introductory photography, comic book art, painting, drawing, bookbinding and ceramics. Some are age group specific, so your kids can learn with other kids, or so you can get a break from your kids.
Classes in pottery, anime, cartooning/illustrating, watercolor, and standard drawing and painting are listed on Scera’s website. Courses are semester length, and are offered at an attractive price. The adult watercolor class for example, meets every Wednesday night for two hours for over three months. At a price tag of $225 (art supplies included!), you’re only looking at something like seven bucks per hour of instruction, one of the best deals around! Also, the Scera Art Studio has a seriously large selection of home school art classes, so if that applies to you or your child they would be worth checking out.
If crocheting, sewing, dreamcatchering, weaving, dye-yarn-with-Kool-Aiding, embroidering or essential oil-make-and-takes are for you, you might consider making a trip over to Harmony. Also, there are sporadic classes on fun topics, such as a class from a few Saturdays ago about how to make delicious looking pancake taco things, so check their website frequently for updates.
The Drawing Room Art Studio is likely the least formal studio on this list, so if that appeals to you, check out their Facebook account. Classes in drawing and painting for children and teens are offered, as well as cartoon drawing and ceramics for all ages.
Daily classes in cake decorating, painting, drawing, paper crafting, knitting and crocheting. Michael’s charges class customers per visit, not for the entire course, or for the suite of courses. For example, one of the cake decorating suites, the Wilton Cake Decorating Method, contains three different courses, each with three individual sessions within them. So, if you want to become a Michael’s cake master, you need to dish out $15 * 9 sessions, which equals $135, not too bad. One nice thing about Michael's is that they sometimes sponsor events where your children get to make a craft and you can shop, such as this Saturday from 10 AM-Noon when kids can make paper lanterns for FREE.
Look for on-sale classes from Joann’s. For example, each of the three Wilton courses offered are currently only $22.50! And that’s for FOUR two hour sessions, so the price of the entire Wilton Cake Decorating program will only run you $67.50, exactly half the price of Michael’s. Now, not all of the courses are one sale, in fact most of them are about the same as Michael’s.
Liquid Lead Art has classes year round on niches such as airbrushing, and lots of specific acrylic and oil painting sessions on topics like landscapes, Christmas, Easter, Halloween, July 4th, gardens, and lighthouses. Some of the classes, such as the airbrushing one, are month long subscriptions containing four or five sessions, and others like the class on lighthouses are just a one time event. Single events are a bit pricey here, so consider signing up for longer courses here.
HERE is a fun new consignment shop on Center Street in Provo that just opened a few short months ago. You should leave your home right now and buy some art there, actually. (Disclaimer, we have art for sale there :) ). Up above in the loft there are rows of clipboards with class sign-up sheets for topics from book-binding to glass-staining. During your next night on the town, check this place out.
Ceramics classes are offered on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. You must bring your own supplies, but the classes are abnormally cheap at only $3 per session!
Color Me Mine has an adult beginners canvas painting class about once a month for around $30. They have many more options for children, mostly in the form of camps. They recently held a camp where on one day the children painted Angry Birds canvas paintings, so they have pretty fun stuff!
Directly from their website: “Cost is $175 for six stained glass sessions. Each session is 2 hours long and with the course of instructions come supplies (including $20 of solder and $14 of copper foil and most of the glass) for a first panel and a ($20) glass cutter. We teach one on one and will arrange to meet with you at the times that are best for you.” The Gomms are a really experienced and approachable couple, give them a shot if you want to work your way up to making bigger stained-glass objects such as sun-catchers and would like to do so in a personal environment.
We hope you'll get involved in the local art community and enjoy all that the Provo area has to offer!