“Colors have the capacity to change our respiration, our blood pressure, even our body temperature.”
― Susan Magsamen, Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us

This class is perfect for anyone looking to unleash their creative side or expand their skill set beyond their primary medium. As a bonus, we will discuss the benefits and mechanics of observing, making, and finding your flow state with art.

Try watercolors, pastels, acrylics, and more. Learn basic techniques for each medium, color theory, composition, and painting from life and photos. We’ll even explore abstract art. It’s a great foundational course to sample a variety of materials and methods without risk, as all materials are included in tuition!

Instructor: Meredith Fitzgerald
As a working artist, Meredith currently focuses on varying interpretations of landscapes of place, body, and memory. Through oil paint, pastel, installations, and videos, she explores landscapes affected by the passage of time. Meredith has experience with printmaking, knitting, sewing, embroidery, wreath making, calligraphy, origami, woodworking, welding, and robotics. Meredith has an MFA from the Pratt Institute and has been a resident at the Vermont Studio Center. (meredithfitzgerald.com)

Age: Adult
Dates: 8 Thursdays, January 22 to March 19, 2026
No Class: February 19
Time: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Materials: Tuition includes all supplies

HCA Policies: Please review our website's HCA Student Policies and Procedures here.

• Injury Waiver: You must agree to the HCA injury waiver to register for classes. 
  
  
• Photo Release Agreement: You can agree to the HCA's Photo Release Agreement during registration.
  
  
• Waiting List: If this class is sold out, it will say so below and will not allow you to register. If so, please add your name to our waitlist here. 

Scholarships: The HCA believes the arts are for everyone. Thanks to the generosity of the Dora Kishibay Garabedian Scholarship Fund and individual donations to our scholarship fund, we can assist children, teens, and adults who might not otherwise be able to afford classes. Assistance is awarded based on demonstrated need, motivation, and potential benefit to the student. Apply for a scholarship here.

MEMBERS SAVE ON CLASSES: Your membership helps the HCA change the lives of artists and art lovers through its nurturing faculty, state-of-the-art facility, and need-based scholarship program. We are pleased to offer 5% off class costs to HCA Members from the Insider–Plus LEVEL and up.

To apply your membership discount to your order, please log into your account at the top of this page. Once logged in, your membership level discounts will be reflected in your cart at checkout.