The Art Base

Sunday, April 12 - Crafternoon
2026-04-12 10:00 - 12:00 (America/Denver) | The Art Base, 174 Midland Ave., Basalt, CO, 81621, United States
Free family Crafternoons at the Art Base

This monthly arts and crafts program is designed for the whole family. Each session features a new theme inspired by the calendar and seasonal holidays. Bring your children and join in on the fun!
No need to register.
Questions? Please email info@theartbase.org.
Upcoming 2026 Crafternoon dates:

Sunday, March 15, 10 AM — 12 PM Theme: Rainbows & Raindrops (and whispers on kittens)
Sunday, April 12, 10 AM — 12 PM Theme: Butterflies & Bugs
Sunday, May 3, 10 AM — 12 PM Theme: Spring flowers & Frogs (Mother’s Day cards) Open House at the Art Base!

June – September every Sunday at the Basalt Sunday Market, 10 am – 2 pm!

Art After School (Tuesdays - April)
2026-04-14 15:30 - 17:00, 2026-04-21 15:30 - 17:00, 2026-04-28 15:30 - 17:00

Watercolor Techniques, Methods & Creative Exploration Series: with Rebecca Stirling
2026-04-15 10:00 - 12:30, 2026-04-22 10:00 - 12:30
April 1, 8, 15, 22, 2026 (4 classes)
Wednesdays, 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM
All Skill Levels Welcome
Supplies Provided
Discover watercolor’s versatility in a skill-building, creatively rich course. Learn wet-on-wet, wet-on-dry, salt texture, and wax resist, plus paint handling, layering, and composition. Build confidence with guided exercises, then create finished pieces: a landscape, floral portrait, and expressive watercolor collage. All levels welcome—experiment, refine your style, and deepen your understanding of watercolor as a medium of personal expression.
Register

Art After School (Wednesdays - April)
2026-04-15 15:30 - 17:00, 2026-04-22 15:30 - 17:00, 2026-04-29 15:30 - 17:00, 2026-05-06 15:30 - 17:00, 2026-05-13 15:30 - 17:00, 2026-05-20 15:30 - 17:00, 2026-05-27 15:30 - 17:00, 2026-06-03 15:30 - 17:00 and 1 more date
This after-school art class is a creative playground for middle school students who love to make, experiment, and try new things.

Mend + Embellish + Stitch
2026-04-15 18:00 - 20:00
April 8 and 15, 2026
Wednesdays, 6:00PM – 8:00PM
No experience necessary
Bring textile items you wish to decorate or repair
Learn the art of visible mending and hand stitching. Repurpose your well-loved clothing and textiles by repairing and reimagining. Using simple hand-sewing techniques, you’ll explore both practical and creative ways to mend holes, reinforce worn areas, or simply to add personal style through stitch. Learn Sashiko Basics – a traditional Japanese hand-stitching technique using strong thread and small running stitches (“little stabs”) in geometric or freeform patterns to repair, patch, and strengthen fabric. Darning Basics – an introduction to darning, a woven repair technique used to rebuild worn or missing areas in garments. Embroidery Basics – basic hand stitching, pattern transfer methods, and decorative techniques to create the look you want while adding beauty and durability.This workshop is ideal for beginners as well as anyone interested in sustainable fashion, textile arts, or giving favorite pieces new life. You’ll leave with practical skills, creative inspiration, and more confidence in hand mending.
Register

Thursdays - Youth Art Academy (Printmaking)
2026-04-16 15:30 - 17:00, 2026-04-23 15:30 - 17:00, 2026-04-30 15:30 - 17:00
Printmaking: with Sarah McMahon (4 Classes)
Thursdays, April 9-30
3:30 PM – 5:00 PM
Ages 9+

This is a beginner friendly printmaking class designed just for kids – no experience needed! Young artist will design, carve, ink and create their own original prints in a fun hands on environment. All materials are provided, and kids will get to take home their own unique prints.
Register

Exhibition: Claudette Carter ARTMentors
2026-04-17 11:00 - 2026-05-01 17:00
On view: April 17 to May 1, 2026
Opening Reception: Friday, April 17 from 5 PM- 7 PM
Artist Talk: Friday, April 17 at 5:30 PM

The Claudette Carter ARTMentorship (CCAM) is a free five-month program that connects aspiring young artists with experienced local mentors to explore the value of the artistic process. The program culminates in a group exhibition at the Art Base.
CCAM is open to high school sophomores, juniors, seniors, and homeschool students. Each mentor-mentee pair works together to build strong communication skills, solve creative challenges, and, most importantly, make art!

Thank you to our generous 2026 Annual Exhibition Sponsor, Alpine Bank

Opening Reception: Claudette Carter ARTMentors Exhibition 2026
2026-04-17 17:00 - 19:00
Opening Reception: Friday, April 17 from 5 PM- 7 PM
Artist Talk: Friday, April 17 at 5:30 PM
On view: April 17 to May 1, 2026

The Claudette Carter ARTMentorship (CCAM) is a free five-month program that connects aspiring young artists with experienced local mentors to explore the value of the artistic process. The program culminates in a group exhibition at The Art Base.
CCAM is open to high school sophomores, juniors, seniors, and homeschool students. Each mentor-mentee pair works together to build strong communication skills, solve creative challenges, andÑmost importantly—make art!

Thank you to our generous 2026 Annual Exhibition Sponsor, Alpine Bank

Hues + Brews - Spring Linocut Printmaking: with Maya Abraham
2026-04-28 18:00 - 20:00
Tuesday, April 28, 2026
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
All levels welcome
Supplies included
Linocut Printmaking back by popular demand! Learn the basics of linoleum carving and block printing—safe tool use, simple carving techniques, inking, and printing—to create your own cards or prints. Perfect for beginners and experienced makers alike.
4th Tuesday LGBTQIA+ Art & Social Night On the 4th Tuesday of each month, local LGBTQIA+ community and allies gather to socialize, make art, network, and have fun—optionally with an adult beverage. Enjoy a rotating mix of creative projects in a variety of media; no art experience needed. Come as you are, meet new friends, and explore creativity in a welcoming, low-pressure space.

Register

Sponsored by ASPEN OUT

Collage Project, A Creative Workshop for Moms: with Angilina Taylor
2026-04-30 17:30 - 20:00
April 30, 2026
Thursday, 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM
Open to all skill levels
Supplies provided
Turn your kids’ art into a modern collage you’ll be proud to hang. As mothers, we save these little masterpieces to honor creativity and hold onto milestones—yet they often end up tucked in boxes or binders. Let’s slow down together. Join other mothers for an afternoon of reflection, mental fitness, and creativity as we explore the intersection of motherhood and well-being, then transform 20–30 saved pieces into meaningful new artwork. Bring: 20–30 pieces of your kids’ art.
Register

Saturday, May 2 - Crafternoon with Open House at the Art Base
2026-05-02 12:00 - 15:00
A Special Crafternoon runs alongside the Art Base Open House!
Our Open House event will celebrate the Art Base’s 30th Anniversary. Stay tuned for more details.

The Art Base Community Open House
2026-05-02 12:00 - 17:00
We’re opening our doors wide to welcome YOU, our community, for a special day of art, connection, and creativity at the Art Base on Saturday, May 2, 2026.
The Art Base, established in 1996 (formerly the Wyly Community Art Center), has been dedicated to fostering creative expression in the visual arts for all ages and abilities for 30 years. This event is our way of saying thank you and sharing the joy of what we do.
This community art event will be filled with hands-on art making and activities throughout the building, such as Crafternoons in the Twinkie King Cowboy classroom, collaborative mural making in the Imagination Station, make your own button & sticker art tattoo stations, a bilingual guided tour of the Claudette Carter ArtMentors exhibition, AND MORE. The celebration will conclude with a lively public conversation between our founder, Deb Jones and her daughter, Reina Katzenberger at 4 PM.
We hope you’ll join us!

The Art Base Community Open House
Saturday, May 2
12 PM – 5 PM
All-day activities – Fun for all ages and abilities.
Free and open to the public

Exhibition: Savanna LaBauve "Echoes"
2026-05-08 11:00 - 2026-06-06 17:00
On view: May 8 to June 6, 2026
Opening Reception: Friday, May 8 from 5 PM- 7 PM
Artist Talk: Friday, May 8 at 5:30 PM

“I find uncommon nuances in everyday occurrences & unlikely intersections. Noting the change in density of a shadow when one overlaps another. The power of multiples as a unit versus the fragility of an individual piece. The repetition of lines throughout our surroundings specifically parallels or in a grid formation. The obscurity of transparent layers. With these observations in mind, I make ceramic objects, both functional & sculptural.”

This exhibition is sponsored by Karen White Interior Design, and we are grateful to our 2026 Annual Exhibition Sponsor, Alpine Bank

Opening Reception: Savanna LaBauve "Echoes"
2026-05-08 17:00 - 19:00
On view: May 8 to June 6, 2026Opening Reception: Friday, May 8 from 5 PM- 7 PMArtist Talk: Friday, May 8 at 5:30 PM

“I find uncommon nuances in everyday occurrences & unlikely intersections. Noting the change in density of a shadow when one overlaps another. The power of multiples as a unit versus the fragility of an individual piece. The repetition of lines throughout our surroundings specifically parallels or in a grid formation. The obscurity of transparent layers. With these observations in mind, I make ceramic objects, both functional & sculptural.”

This exhibition is sponsored by Karen White Interior Design, and we are grateful to our 2026 Annual Exhibition Sponsor, Alpine Bank

Quickscapes - Landscapes and Libations: with Matt Hays
2026-05-14 18:00 - 20:00
May 14, 2026
Wednesday, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Supplies Provided
No experience necessary
Learn dynamic acrylic speed painting techniques to quickly create imaginative environmental landscapes in this painting class with Matt Hays. This class focuses on building scenes from your imagination using bold brushwork, efficient layering, and expressive color. Snacks and beverages included.
Register

Painting from Within: with Alissa Davies
2026-05-16 10:00 - 16:00
May 16, 2026
Saturday, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Open to all skill levels
Supplies Provided
Create a series of 12” x 12” abstract paintings using a rich mix of materials—including acrylics, graphite, oil pastels, collage, and charcoal. Learn how to prioritize process over product, using intuitive mark-making and layered surfaces as a pathway for emotional release and for uncovering your own unique artistic voice. Through demos, prompts, and supportive instruction, the instructor will gently encourage you to trust your instincts and listen to your inner (and wise) artist. As your paintings evolve through layers, you’ll bring in thoughtful attention to value, color, and design, refining what’s already emerging on the page.
Register

Nature’s Art Toolbox: with Sarah Schlichter
2026-06-08 09:30 - 2026-06-12 15:30
June 8 – 12, 2026
Monday – Thursday, 9:30AM – 3:30PM, Friday, 9:30AM – 12:00PM
Grades: 1+
What if your art supplies grew on trees? In this hands-on camp, young artists will explore nature like an art store—responsibly foraging leaves, twigs, grasses, and more to make brushes, stamps, and texture tools. Back in the studio, students will use their handmade supplies to create prints, collages, and original artworks to take home.
Register
