Discover Your Creative Path This Fall at VBMA

Registration Now Open - Classes Begin October 6

Fall is the perfect season for new beginnings, and the Vero Beach Museum of Art's Museum Art School is ready to welcome artists of every level. Whether you've always wanted to try watercolors, dive into art history, or find balance through mindful movement, this fall's diverse lineup has something to inspire you.

Registration is now open for classes starting October 6, and spots are filling fast.

Journey Through Art History Without Leaving Vero

Ever dreamed of exploring the masterpieces of Europe? This fall, you can travel the world from the comfort of VBMA's studios. Instructor Chris Fasolino leads three captivating virtual journeys that bring history's greatest art to life.

Set sail on a Virtual Mediterranean Cruise visiting Barcelona, Rome, Venice, Athens, and Istanbul, where you'll discover artistic treasures spanning centuries. Prefer the British Isles? The Virtual Britain and Ireland Cruise explores London's museums, the English countryside, Edinburgh's historic streets, the Scottish Highlands, and Dublin's vibrant culture. Both courses run for five weeks and are offered via Studio 3 and Zoom, making them accessible whether you're attending in person or from home.

For those seeking deeper immersion, Fasolino's ten-week course The Art of the Medici reveals the drama behind Renaissance Florence. Explore works by Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Raphael while uncovering tales of the flamboyant Medici family, complete with assassination attempts, palace intrigue, and poisoned rings.

Lynn Berkowitz brings fresh perspectives with two brand-new courses. World of Work: Paintings of Service, Toil, and Tasks examines how artists from Brueghel to Jacob Lawrence have depicted labor throughout history. Her second offering, Artist Colonies, Co-ops, Salons and Soirées, explores the power of artistic communities, from the Steins' legendary Parisian salon to today's Black artist cooperatives. Both include enriching video content and are offered exclusively via Zoom.

Get Your Hands Dirty: Studio Art Classes

Watercolor Awaits

Adam Conard's Watercolor Basics for All Levels is so popular that the first session (October 6 - November 3) already has a waitlist, but spots remain in the November session. No experience necessary, just bring your curiosity and willingness to experiment. You'll learn color mixing, brush handling, washes, layering, and how to create engaging compositions.

Oil Painting Mastery

Conard also offers Painting with Oil, diving deep into this classic medium's rich history and contemporary applications. Whether you're new to oils or transitioning from another medium, you'll learn to create depth, tone, and value while enjoying complete freedom in subject matter.

Pearl Lau brings the French masters to life in How to Paint Like an Impressionist, exploring how Monet and his contemporaries broke from tradition to capture light and color. Her How to Paint a Landscape course focuses on composition, perspective, and creating depth. Both classes welcome all skill levels and mediums, pastel, oil, or acrylic.

Barry Shapiro rounds out the painting offerings with three distinct courses: Abstract Painting explores contemporary non-representational art, Still Life Painting covers the history and techniques of this timeless genre, and Introduction to Painting gives beginners a solid foundation in oil or acrylic fundamentals.

Drawing and Pastels

Never picked up a pencil for art? Marlene Evans Putnam's You Can Draw is designed specifically for beginners, teaching you to see shapes, understand shadows, and use lines confidently. You'll be amazed at your progress.

For those drawn to color and texture, Sherry Haaland's Pastels: More Than Just Drawing explores techniques like scumbling, crosshatching, dabbing, and blending, giving you the skills to create your own unique artworks.

Photography in the Digital Age

Ken George Jr.'s brand-new course Visual Storytelling: Photography in a New Era is perfect for today's image-makers. Learn to shoot, edit, and enhance photos using modern tools like Adobe Creative Cloud and Lightroom, with emphasis on creating narratives that resonate.

Good news for aspiring photographers: The Stuart Segal Scholarship covers tuition for any photography course for students facing financial challenges. Additionally, VBMA offers cameras and lenses to check out during class, no need to invest in expensive equipment before you begin.

Work at Your Own Pace

Judy Burgarella's Focused Open Studio is ideal for self-directed artists who want dedicated studio time with expert guidance. Bring your own supplies and references in any medium, and receive personalized instruction, demonstrations, and helpful tips.

Nourish Your Whole Self: Contemplative Arts

Art isn't just about what you create on canvas, it's also about cultivating inner peace and physical wellness. VBMA's contemplative arts classes offer gentle, accessible practices for all fitness levels.

Chair Yoga with Elise Mahovlich brings the full benefits of yoga practice using a chair as your foundation. Enjoy forward bends, backbends, spinal twists, standing poses, and breathing techniques that build flexibility, stability, and stress relief.

Katie Nall teaches Qigong, the ancient 8,000-year-old movement practice known as the "Longevity Exercise." The parent form of Tai Chi and Kung Fu, Qigong exercises the body as a whole with no special equipment required.

John Walcott's Art of the Tai Chi Form feeds body, mind, and spirit through a series of forms focused on balance and well-being. Classes combine brief lectures with practice, including energy gate exercises, 18-step Qigong for mindfulness, and 24-step tai chi moving meditation.

How to Register

Registration is now open at www.vbmuseum.org on a first-come, first-served basis. Don't wait, popular classes fill quickly!

Pricing: Most five-week courses are $205 (VBMA members $175), ten-week courses are $335 (members $285), and contemplative arts classes are $85 (members $75). Not a member? Consider joining to enjoy savings on all classes plus other museum benefits.

What You Need to Know:

Classes run from October 6 through December 18, with two five-week sessions plus select ten-week courses
Materials are not included unless otherwise noted; supply lists are available online
If a class is full, contact the Education Department to join the waitlist at no charge
Refunds are available within the first week of class (with a $25 administrative fee)
A limited number of cameras and lenses are available for checkout during photography classes

Questions? Contact the VBMA Education Department or visit www.vbmuseum.org for complete course details, instructor biographies, and supply lists.

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Ava Cook

Community Manager at Vero Vine

Hello!
My name is Ava Cook and I am a Freshman at Florida Southern College in Lakeland FL. I am currently a B.F.A musical theatre major with a minor in Business Administration. I love reading, singing, acting, dancing, and writing. My favorite part about Vero Beach and Indian River County as a whole is how close the community is. Vero Vine is important to me as it allows me to do my part it bringing the community together also, sharing events, small businesses, and other local happenings. If you have any questions or any recommendations for me, my email is always open [email protected].