Visual Arts & Crafts

Our visual arts and crafts classes offer an opportunity for people of all backgrounds and skill levels to flex their creative muscles and have fun working with with paint, charcoal, ink, metal, wood, glass, fiber, and more.

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All Visual Arts & Crafts

Printmaking

Call for Art! Recent Works Exhibition and Berta Golahny Student Awards

Cambridge Center for Adult Education invites visual arts students to submit work created recently for inclusion in our fall exhibition, Recent Works, which will run from Thursday, September 9 to Thursday, December 2. This show will feature two-dimensional work only—painting, drawing, photography, prints, collage and mixed media—created since January 2020. All accepted submissions will also be considered for the Berta Golahny Student Award, which includes a $100 cash prize given to 3 CCAE visual arts students. Please carefully read the details that follow.

Click here to submit to the exhibition.

Dates and Deadlines

The deadline to submit is Friday, August 6, 5pm.
You will be notified via email by August 13 if your piece was selected for the exhibition.
You must drop off artwork at CCAE. Exact timeframes during which you can drop off will be described in the acceptance letter.
Your piece will be on display at CCAE from Thursday, September 9 to Thursday, December 2. There will also be a virtual viewing option.
Opening Reception & Award Ceremony: Thursday, September 9, 6-8pm

Eligibility

You must submit artwork created since January 1, 2020.
You may submit work completed either during or outside of a CCAE class but must have been enrolled in a CCAE class at least once since January 2020.
You may submit up to 2 pieces for our review.
If selected for the exhibition, you must be able to deliver artwork that is ready to install. Framed work and canvas should have a hanging wire attached.
If you choose to list your work for sale, CCAE maintains a 70/30 split, the artist retains 70% of the sale price and CCAE retains 30%.
Students who have won the award before may still participate in the exhibition but are not eligible to win the award.

Propose a Small Art Group Show!

Small group shows are small groups (3-10 CCAE artists) who would like to display their work together under a specific shared vision. It is a chance for students to connect with other artists, display their own work, and participate in a larger artist community at CCAE. Read the Art Show Proposal Submission Guidelines or fill out the Art Show Proposal Submission Form.

Art Supplies

Many of the visual arts classes require the purchase of additional art supplies. The supply lists can be found in the section description for each class.

Once you register for a class, the supply list will be accessible through your online account under Academics > Current Classes > Section description.

CCAE Studio School

Since 1994, Cambridge Center for Adult Education’s Studio School offers a group of coordinated intensive classes that focus on perceptual drawing and oil painting. Students develop skills that enable them to record and interpret, analyze and express. Our Studio School classes include painting and drawing from life, stressing the importance of spatial relationships and careful observation. Studio School instructors include Jeremy Durling and Brett Gamache.

Learn more about CCAE's Studio School

“The teacher [Kelly Slater] is encouraging and inspiring, inviting all of us to try natural drawing and various kinds of reduction and trace monotype. It made me more open to experimentation and new techniques. Her positivity and enthusiasm made the class the high point of everyone’s pandemic week.”

Kathleen D., Trace Monotypes: Improvisational Printmaking at Home

"The way Nick [Mancini] organized the class was very impressive. I appreciated the mix of lecture, demonstration, time to work and critiques... I think this class was well organized and made the best use of distance learning."

Carole S., Watercolor Pen & Ink Illustration

"I appreciated the openness and interactive nature of the class. Dan [Paret] was wonderful to offer an extra class and help with questions. This class was one my few regular commitments during the COVID spring months and really looked forward to it."

Rebecca B., Woodcarving: Demo and Questions

“Jeremy [Durling] covered many of the basics of drawing with excellent demonstrations. The small size of the class made it possible to interact easily with both Jeremy and classmates. Jeremy spent time with each student individually giving feedback during every class. Everyone could follow along with his feedback.”

Ruth C., Beginner Drawing