The Art Base

Journaling with Watercolor: with Missy Prudden
2026-04-11 10:00 - 15:00 (America/Denver) | The Art Base, 174 Midland Ave., Basalt, CO, 81621, United States
April 11, 2026
Saturday, 10:00AM – 3:00PM
All Levels Welcome
Supplies including journal are provided
Capture journeys near and far with watercolor journaling. Combine your love of the outdoors with a creative practice as you write, sketch, and paint both indoors and out. Learn simple watercolor techniques, quick drawing tips, and ways to add words to your pages—turning everyday moments and adventures into a personal, portable record.
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Sunday, April 12 - Crafternoon
2026-04-12 10:00 - 12:00
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.
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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
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.
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Oil Painting: with Matt Hays (Session I)
2026-04-16 13:00 - 15:30, 2026-04-23 13:00 - 15:30
April 2 – 23, 2026
Thursdays, 1:00PM – 3:30PM
All Skill Levels
Supplies Provided
Explore the full painting process from start to finish, with an emphasis on using light to create depth, atmosphere, and life. Learn surface prep and why it matters, then dive into underpainting, grisaille, and the slow build of color through glazing and finishing. With demos, guided practice, and individual feedback, you’ll strengthen values, form, and luminosity at every stage—great for oil beginners or painters refining their process.
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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.
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Figure Drawing: with Mike De La Rosa
2026-04-16 17:30 - 19:30
Join our bi-monthly Figure Drawing Class!
Every 1st Thursday and 3rd Thursday
April 16, 2026
Thursday, 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Open to all skill levels
Bring your own supplies
Join us for a relaxed evening figure drawing session open to artists of all levels. Working from a live model, participants will explore gesture, proportion, anatomy, and expressive mark-making through a series of timed poses ranging from quick sketches to longer studies. This monthly class offers a supportive, community-focused environment to practice, experiment, and sharpen your observational drawing skills. Instruction and light guidance will be available, making this an ideal space for both beginners and experienced artists to draw regularly and stay inspired.
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Bringing Nature into the Studio: with Dan Young
2026-04-17 10:00 - 15:00, 2026-04-18 10:00 - 15:00, 2026-04-19 10:00 - 15:00
April 17 – 19, 2026
Friday, Saturday, Sunday, 10:00AM / 3:00PM
Open to all skill levels
Supplies Provided
Learn the fundamentals of landscape oil painting—design, color, and composition—while working from photos in the classroom to bring the outdoors in. Through demonstrations indoors and out, Dan will teach you how to simplify and edit the natural world for stronger, more dynamic paintings. You’ll also learn how to create a solid plan up front, so you spend more time painting and less time fixing mistakes.
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Exhibition: Claudette Carter ARTMentors
2026-04-17 11:00 - 2026-05-02 17:00
On view: April 17 to May 2, 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!
We would like to thank Richard Carter and Laura Donnelley for proudly sponsoring this program.
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 2, 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!
We would like to thank Richard Carter and Laura Donnelley for proudly sponsoring this program.
Thank you to our generous 2026 Annual Exhibition Sponsor, Alpine Bank

Gelli Block Prints - Celebrating Earth Day (Level 2): with Pam Porter
2026-04-21 09:30 - 14:30
April 21, 2026
Tuesday, 9:30 AM – 2:30 PM
Open to all skill levels
All Supplies Provided
Create a series of nature-inspired Gelli Block Prints and take your process further. This workshop is designed for students who have taken the beginner class with Pam and are ready to expand their skills.
Build on your knowledge of layered printmaking using Gelli plates, hand-carved linoleum blocks, and custom rubber stamps. Begin by creating vibrant, more intentional background prints with acrylic paints, stencils, and textured materials. Then, design and carve nature-based images into linoleum and soft rubber, exploring more developed imagery.
Learn how to layer with greater depth, experiment more confidently with composition and texture, and create prints that feel cohesive and expressive. Finish the day with a small collection of beautiful, layered Earth Day–inspired prints
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Drawing Intensive: with Megan George
2026-04-25 10:00 - 13:00
April 25, 2026
Saturday, 10:00AM / 1:00PM
In this fun, fast-paced 3-hour crash course, you’ll learn how to draw what you actually see—not what your brain thinks it sees. Through simple, confidence-building exercises, we’ll cover proportion, measuring and sighting, contour and shape, values (lights/darks), and a few “artist tricks” that make drawing feel doable right away. We’ll work from still life objects and/or photo references, with step-by-step demonstrations and individual guidance. Perfect for beginners and anyone who wants a refresher—come ready to practice, loosen up, and leave with new skills (and a drawing you’re proud of).
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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.

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Sponsored by ASPEN OUT

Oil Painting: with Matt Hays (Session II)
2026-04-30 13:00 - 15:30, 2026-05-07 13:00 - 15:30
April 30 – May 21, 2026
Thursdays, 1:00PM – 3:30PM
Open to all skill levels
Supplied Provided
Explore the complete painting process from beginning to end, with special emphasis on using light to bring depth, atmosphere, and life to your work. Students will be introduced to surface preparation and why it matters, then focus primarily on underpainting, grisaille techniques, and the gradual build-up of color through glazing and finishing.
Through demonstrations and guided practice, participants will learn how to establish strong values, develop form, and harness light at every stage of the painting. Whether you are new to oils or looking to refine your process, this class offers practical tools, clear structure, and individual guidance to support your growth as a painter.
Register

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.
Join us for the full experience or drop in when you can!

The Art Base Community Open House
Saturday, May 2
12 PM – 5 PM

12 – 4 PM
🎨 Hands-on Art Making
🖍️ Crafternoons
🖌️ Button-Making
🖼️ Collaborative Mural
✏️ Chalk Art

12 – 2 PM
🐾 Sticker Tattoo Station

3 – 3:30 PM
🗣️ Bilingual Guided Tour

4 PM
📣 Public Talk and Champagne Toast
with Founder Deb Jones and artist, Reina Katzenberger

All-day activities!
Fun for all ages and abilities!
Free and open to the public!

We hope you’ll join us!
