Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts

Art For Two: Still Life Paintings
2025-10-17 18:00 - 21:00 (America/Chicago)
Experience the art of acrylic painting and learn how to create a colorful still life! An expert intsructor will lead you step-by-step to explore the interplay of color and texture as you develop skills and bring your artistic vision to life on canvas.
Art For Two is the perfect one-night class experience for two where you each take home a finished piece. Class materials, a charcuterie board, and refreshments are included, no skills required – just come ready to create, unwind, and add some artistic spark to your evening.

The Windgate Art School is generously supported by the Windgate Foundation with additional support from Sherry Worthen in memory of George Worthen.
Windgate Art School’s Reduced Tuition Program is supported by Michael Laughter. Reduced tuition is automatically applied to all classes through 2025.
Image courtesy of Jason Masters.

Drop-in Printmaking
2025-10-22 18:00 - 21:00, 2025-11-12 18:00 - 21:00, 2025-12-03 18:00 - 21:00
Experiment with printmaking during this three-hour drop-in experience at AMFA’s Windgate Art School. Open to beginner and experienced artists alike, it’s a great way to learn a new art form or work independently on your own projects.
An instructor will moderate the session and be available for critiques and questions upon request.
Students are encouraged to bring their own materials or purchase materials from the AMFA Museum Store. Recommended materials are a carving block, five-piece cutters and stamp carving tool, and high-quality paper. Basic printmaking materials will also be available.

The Windgate Art School is generously supported by the Windgate Foundation with additional support from Sherry Worthen in memory of George Worthen.
Windgate Art School’s Reduced Tuition Program is supported by Michael Laughter. Reduced tuition is automatically applied to all classes through 2025.
Photo by Rachel Cobler.

Art For Two: Candle Votives with Natural Impressions
2025-10-24 18:00 - 21:00
Create a set of floral themed ceramic candle votives! Learn to decorate the clay from an expert ceramic artist by pressing soft clay into a textured mold that has patterns of leaves, stems, and greenery.
Art For Two is the perfect one-night class experience for two where you each take home a finished piece. Class materials, a charcuterie board, and refreshments are included, no skills required – just come ready to create, unwind, and add some artistic spark to your evening.
Your creations will be fired and ready for pick up approximately four weeks after the class.

The Windgate Art School is generously supported by the Windgate Foundation with additional support from Sherry Worthen in memory of George Worthen.
Windgate Art School’s Reduced Tuition Program is supported by Michael Laughter. Reduced tuition is automatically applied to all classes through 2025.
Image courtesy of Jason Masters.

Experimental Drawing Workshop
2025-10-25 10:00 - 13:00
Explore drawing in new and imaginative ways with renowned artist Clark Valentine. Learn to build a strong foundation in drawing fundamentals, such as line, shape, value, and composition, while experimenting with a wide range of materials and techniques.
Through mixed media approaches including ink, charcoal, collage, and unconventional tools, push the boundaries of traditional drawing. This workshop is perfect to develop your skills, spark creativity, and dive deep into expressive and meditative mark-making.

The Windgate Art School is generously supported by the Windgate Foundation with additional support from Sherry Worthen in memory of George Worthen.
Windgate Art School’s Reduced Tuition Program is supported by Michael Laughter. Reduced tuition is automatically applied to all classes through 2025.
Artwork by Clark Valentine.

Seasonal Floral Design Masterclass with Shane Connolly (SOLD OUT)
2025-10-25 14:00 - 17:00
Join royal floral designer Shane Connolly as he demonstrates his sustainable approach to floral design, offering inspiration and guidance to help you create your own seasonal arrangements with confidence.

This programming is provided in partnership with P. Allen Smith’s Moss Mountain Farm and the Little Rock Garden Club.

About Shane Connolly

Connolly is a renowned floral designer and ambassador for sustainable floristry. His clients range from public institutions like the Victoria & Albert Museum, the Royal Academy of Arts, and the National Portrait Gallery in London, to a veritable “who’s who” in British society.

He is perhaps best known for his public work for The Royal Family. His most recent commission was The Coronation of Their Majesties The King and Queen at Westminster Abbey in 2023. He also designed the flowers for their marriage at Windsor Castle in 2005 and for the wedding of The Prince and Princess of Wales in 2011.

He has been awarded the Royal Warrants of Appointment to both His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen in 2024 and a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to sustainable floristry in 2025. He has written five books and teaches his approach to flower design all over the world, with its roots and ethos firmly in sustainability.

Drop-in Figure Drawing
2025-10-29 18:00 - 21:00, 2025-11-19 18:00 - 21:00
Immerse yourself in a three-hour drawing session set in an untutored environment at the Windgate Art School. This dynamic experience will feature a variety of timed poses with draped and undraped models, providing an excellent opportunity for first-time students and experienced artists alike to hone their skills.
Students must be 18+ to attend, as the session may use the undraped model. An instructor will moderate the session and be available for critiques and questions upon request.
Students are encouraged to bring their own materials or purchase materials from the AMFA Museum Store. Recommended materials are graphite drawing pencils, charcoals, and a kneaded eraser. Basic drawing materials will also be available.

The Windgate Art School is generously supported by the Windgate Foundation with additional support from Sherry Worthen in memory of George Worthen.
Windgate Art School’s Reduced Tuition Program is supported by Michael Laughter. Reduced tuition is automatically applied to all classes through 2025.
Photo: Iwan Baan.

Art For Two: Halloween Brooches
2025-10-31 18:00 - 21:00
Create a vibrant and colorful Halloween-inspired glass brooch using a torch flame!
Under the expert guidance of a skilled glass artist, you will learn the process of sculpting a brooch using the torch to melt and manipulate colorful glass rods.
Art For Two is the perfect one-night class experience for two where you each take home a finished piece. Class materials, a charcuterie board, and refreshments are included, no skills required – just come ready to create, unwind, and add some artistic spark to your evening.

The Windgate Art School is generously supported by the Windgate Foundation with additional support from Sherry Worthen in memory of George Worthen.
Windgate Art School’s Reduced Tuition Program is supported by Michael Laughter. Reduced tuition is automatically applied to all classes through 2025.
Image courtesy of Jason Masters.

Nevelson-Inspired Sculpture Workshop (SOLD OUT)
2025-11-01 10:00 - 14:00
Create a unique, free-standing clay sculpture inspired by the work of Louise Nevelson on view in AMFA’s Architects of Being exhibition. Students will visit the AMFA galleries to explore artworks, gathering ideas for incorporating shapes and form into a sculptural design.
Using a special black clay for this project, ceramic artist India Childress will lead you through manipulating the clay with slabs to achieve an exciting and complete artwork. This workshop offers a unique opportunity to draw inspiration from a rich collection while learning about and developing your ceramic techniques.

Architects of Being: Louise Nevelson and Esphyr Slobodkina is supported in part by the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, Alan DuBois Fund for Contemporary Craft, Ellsworth Kelly Foundation, Anita Davis, and The Jewish Federation of Arkansas.
The catalogue for Architects of Being: Louise Nevelson and Esphyr Slobodkina is supported in part by the Wyeth Foundation for American Art.

This exhibition is organized by the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts.
The Windgate Art School is generously supported by the Windgate Foundation with additional support from Sherry Worthen in memory of George Worthen.
Windgate Art School’s Reduced Tuition Program is supported by Michael Laughter. Reduced tuition is automatically applied to all classes through 2025.
ARTWORK: Louise Nevelson (Kyiv, Ukraine (formerly Russian Empire), 1899 – 1988, New York, New York), Tide Garden IV, 1964, painted and assembled wood construction, 91 x 140 x 10 in., Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts Foundation Collection: Gift of Sidney Singer, Sr., Stephens Inc., Gerald Cramer, Martin Oppenheimer, Edward Rosenthal, and John Rosenthal. 1983.030.

Making Together: Stitching Stories
2025-11-02 13:00 - 16:00
Inspired by the art on view in Uncommon Threads in Contemporary Art, weave your personal narrative using mixed media art materials. Sew layers of colors and threads to create your story, using fabric and photography to build meaningful artwork.
Making Together offers families an opportunity to come together and create. Register now to enjoy a day full of artmaking fun with your child!

Uncommon Threads in Contemporary Art is supported in part by the Alan DuBois Fund for Contemporary Craft.
This exhibition is organized by the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts.
The Windgate Art School is generously supported by the Windgate Foundation with additional support from Sherry Worthen in memory of George Worthen.
Windgate Art School’s Reduced Tuition Program is supported by Michael Laughter. Reduced tuition is automatically applied to all classes through 2025.

Windgate Art School Showcase
2025-11-05 17:00 - 20:00
Step into an inspiring evening at AMFA’s Windgate Art School for a celebration of creativity, community, and conversation. Join faculty, students, and guests for a lively night filled with artwork, engaging dialogue, and artistic camaraderie. An impressive collection of pieces crafted by our talented faculty and students will be on display throughout the evening.
Whether you are an art enthusiast or a curious visitor, you are welcome to explore the studios, experience the creative energy of the Windgate Art School, and connect with the artists who bring it to life.

Windgate Art School Showcase is supported in part by the Windgate Foundation.
The Windgate Art School is generously supported in part by the Windgate Foundation with additional support from Sherry Worthen in memory of George Worthen.
Windgate Art School’s Reduced Tuition Program is supported in part by Michael Laughter. Reduced tuition is automatically applied on all classes through 2025.
Image courtesy of Jason Masters.

Figure Drawing Workshop
2025-11-08 12:00 - 16:00
Explore masterful figurative artworks in the AMFA galleries and draw your own figurative work of art. An expert artist will lead you through the AMFA galleries to view select artworks in person, and then return to the studio in AMFA’s Windgate Art School to instruct techniques of figurative drawing in this hands-on workshop.
Working with a live model, learn how to capture form, light, shadow, and texture. This is a perfect one-day workshop for all skill levels and interests to develop figurative drawing skills!
Must be 18+ to attend, as this workshop may use an undraped model.

The Windgate Art School is generously supported by the Windgate Foundation with additional support from Sherry Worthen in memory of George Worthen.
Windgate Art School’s Reduced Tuition Program is supported by Michael Laughter. Reduced tuition is automatically applied to all classes through 2025.
Image courtesy of Jason Masters.

Art For Two: Small Dishes with Natural Impressions (SOLD OUT)
2025-11-14 18:00 - 21:00
Create a set of floral themed ceramic candle votives! Learn to decorate the clay from an expert ceramic artist by pressing soft clay into a textured mold that has patterns of leaves, stems, and greenery.
Art For Two is the perfect one-night class experience for two where you each take home a finished piece. Class materials, a charcuterie board, and refreshments are included, no skills required – just come ready to create, unwind, and add some artistic spark to your evening.
Your creations will be fired and ready for pick up approximately four weeks after the class.

The Windgate Art School is generously supported by the Windgate Foundation with additional support from Sherry Worthen in memory of George Worthen.
Windgate Art School’s Reduced Tuition Program is supported by Michael Laughter. Reduced tuition is automatically applied to all classes through 2025.
Pottery by Kelly Edwards.

Art For Two: Pottery on the Wheel
2025-11-14 18:00 - 21:00
Learn how to throw pottery on a wheel!
Art For Two is the perfect one-night class experience for two where you each take home a finished piece. Class materials, a charcuterie board, and refreshments are included, no skills required – just come ready to create, unwind, and add some artistic spark to your evening.
Your creations will be fired and ready for pick up approximately four weeks after the class.

The Windgate Art School is generously supported by the Windgate Foundation with additional support from Sherry Worthen in memory of George Worthen.
The Windgate Art School’s Reduced Tuition Program is supported by Michael Laughter. Reduced tuition is automatically applied to all classes through 2026.

Tool Making for Clay Workshop
2025-11-15 10:00 - 13:00
Create and design a customized wooden tool to use for forming and shaping your clay artwork. Use basic woodworking techniques to carve, cut, and sand a hard wood into a personalized, long-lasting tool for your studio.

The Windgate Art School is generously supported by the Windgate Foundation with additional support from Sherry Worthen in memory of George Worthen.
Windgate Art School’s Reduced Tuition Program is supported by Michael Laughter. Reduced tuition is automatically applied to all classes through 2025.
Tools by Kim Arcega.

Glass Holiday Tree Workshop (SOLD OUT)
2025-11-15 10:00 - 13:00
Create beautiful glass holiday trees to decorate your home or give away as gifts!
Learn all about the fundamentals of glass fusing – such as glass cutting, snipping, and layering – to make geometric shapes and form each design.

The Windgate Art School is generously supported by the Windgate Foundation with additional support from Sherry Worthen in memory of George Worthen.
Windgate Art School’s Reduced Tuition Program is supported by Michael Laughter. Reduced tuition is automatically applied to all classes through 2025.
Glasswork by Andy Sandage.

Slobokina-Inspired Abstract Painting Workshop
2025-11-15 10:00 - 13:00
Explore the groundbreaking artwork featured in AMFA’s exhibition Architects of Being and immerse yourself in the world of Esphyr Slobodkina during this exciting workshop.
Learn about Slobodkina’s abstract paintings and investigate how to organize a painting through composition. Using acrylic paint on canvas, students will experiment with composition, focusing on line, shape, and color to create a dynamic painting.
Whether you are new to abstract painting or looking to deepen your understanding, this workshop provides a hands-on opportunity to express your own artistic vision while looking at masterful works of art by Esphyr Slobodkina.

Architects of Being: Louise Nevelson and Esphyr Slobodkina is supported in part by the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, Alan DuBois Fund for Contemporary Craft, Ellsworth Kelly Foundation, Anita Davis, and The Jewish Federation of Arkansas.
The catalogue for Architects of Being: Louise Nevelson and Esphyr Slobodkina is supported in part by the Wyeth Foundation for American Art.

This exhibition is organized by the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts.
The Windgate Art School is generously supported by the Windgate Foundation with additional support from Sherry Worthen in memory of George Worthen.
Windgate Art School’s Reduced Tuition Program is supported by Michael Laughter. Reduced tuition is automatically applied to all classes through 2025.
Image courtesy of Jason Masters.

Making Together: Jewelry & Textile Fusion
2025-11-16 13:00 - 16:00
Create a necklace using jewelry making techniques inspired by the functional fashion on view in Architects of Being: Louise Nevelson and Esphyr Slobodkina. Learn how to fashion a chain and clasp that adorns colorful felted and silk ribbon accessories.

Making Together offers families an opportunity to come together and create. Register now to enjoy a day full of artmaking fun with your child!

Architects of Being: Louise Nevelson and Esphyr Slobodkina is supported in part by the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, Alan DuBois Fund for Contemporary Craft, Ellsworth Kelly Foundation, Anita Davis, and The Jewish Federation of Arkansas.

The catalogue for Architects of Being: Louise Nevelson and Esphyr Slobodkina is supported in part by the Wyeth Foundation for American Art.

This exhibition is organized by the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts.

The Windgate Art School is generously supported by the Windgate Foundation with additional support from Sherry Worthen in memory of George Worthen.

Windgate Art School’s Reduced Tuition Program is supported by Michael Laughter. Reduced tuition is automatically applied to all classes through 2025.

Image courtesy of Jason Masters.

Making Together: Clay Gingerbread Houses
2025-11-16 13:00 - 16:00
Celebrate the season with a creative clay project perfect for families looking to make holiday memories through art!
Team up and build your very own clay gingerbread-style house. Learn simple hand-building techniques like slab construction and decorative stamping to create your cozy clay cottage. Once assembled, you will add charming, personalized details.
Projects will be kiln-fired and ready to take home as a special keepsake.
Making Together offers families an opportunity to come together and create. Register now to enjoy a day full of artmaking fun with your child!

The Windgate Art School is generously supported by the Windgate Foundation with additional support from Sherry Worthen in memory of George Worthen.
Windgate Art School’s Reduced Tuition Program is supported by Michael Laughter. Reduced tuition is automatically applied to all classes through 2025.

Image Transfer Workshop
2025-11-18 18:00 - 21:00
Join Arkansas artist Margo DuVall for a unique and exciting hands-on workshop in the art of image transfer. Learn how to transfer an image onto wood or paper.
Throughout the class, students will experiment with different objects and methods to produce several finished pieces while gaining a deeper understanding of the image transfer process, from preparation to exposure.
This class offers a creative and accessible way to explore alternative artmaking techniques.

The Windgate Art School is generously supported by the Windgate Foundation with additional support from Sherry Worthen in memory of George Worthen.
Windgate Art School’s Reduced Tuition Program is supported by Michael Laughter. Reduced tuition is automatically applied to all classes through 2025.
Artwork by Margo DuVall.

Art For Two: Swizzle Sticks (SOLD OUT)
2025-11-21 18:00 - 21:00
Create decorative and reuseable glass swizzle sticks to stir your favorite holiday beverages!
Experience the thrill of glass torchworking by melting, fusing, shaping, and layering glass rods together. Then, lean into your creativity and sculpt colorful glass ornaments to place on the top of the swizzle sticks.
Art For Two is the perfect one-night class experience for two where you each take home a finished piece. Class materials, a charcuterie board, and refreshments are included, no skills required – just come ready to create, unwind, and add some artistic spark to your evening.

The Windgate Art School is generously supported by the Windgate Foundation with additional support from Sherry Worthen in memory of George Worthen.
Windgate Art School’s Reduced Tuition Program is supported by Michael Laughter. Reduced tuition is automatically applied to all classes through 2025.
Swizzle sticks by Donnell Williams.

Between the Lines: Drawing Workshop with Antonius-Tín Bui
2025-11-22 09:00 - 12:00
Through imaginative exercises and group installations, discover how everyday items can speak to identity, memory, and belonging. In this hands-on workshop led by artist Antonius-Tín Bui, work together with other students to create collaborative still life drawings inspired by personal objects and shared narratives.
This is a two-day workshop that meets on Saturday, November 22, and Sunday, November 23, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Artist-in-Resident Antonius-Tín Bui is supported in part by the John and Robyn Horn Foundation.
The Windgate Art School is generously supported in part by the Windgate Foundation with additional support from Sherry Worthen in memory of George Worthen.
Windgate Art School’s Reduced Tuition Program is supported in part by Michael Laughter. Reduced tuition is automatically applied on all classes through 2025.
ARTWORK: Antonius-Tín Bui (New York, New York, 1992 – ), Holding onto these fragments, all these years (The Protectors) (detail), 2021, hand-cut paper, marker, graphite, and ink, 100 7/8 x 43 3/8 in., Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts Foundation Collection: Purchase. Photography by Edward C. Robison III.

Wood Ornament Design Workshop
2025-11-22 10:00 - 14:00
Make solid wood holiday ornaments while learning simple slot joint construction techniques, the basic properties of wood, and woodshop safety.
Use the band saw, scroll saw, jig saw, sanders, hand tools, and power tools. Choose from multiple templates or create your own unique designs with instructor assistance.
No prior experience is necessary, and all materials are provided!

The Windgate Art School is generously supported by the Windgate Foundation with additional support from Sherry Worthen in memory of George Worthen.
Windgate Art School’s Reduced Tuition Program is supported by Michael Laughter. Reduced tuition is automatically applied to all classes through 2025.
Image courtesy of Jason Masters.

Between the Lines: Drawing Workshop with Antonius-Tín Bui
2025-11-22 14:00 - 17:00
Through imaginative exercises and group installations, discover how everyday items can speak to identity, memory, and belonging. In this hands-on workshop led by artist Antonius-Tín Bui, work together with other students to create collaborative still life drawings inspired by personal objects and shared narratives.
This is a two-day workshop that meets on Saturday, November 22, and Sunday, November 23, from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Artist-in-Resident Antonius-Tín Bui is supported in part by the John and Robyn Horn Foundation.
The Windgate Art School is generously supported in part by the Windgate Foundation with additional support from Sherry Worthen in memory of George Worthen.
Windgate Art School’s Reduced Tuition Program is supported in part by Michael Laughter. Reduced tuition is automatically applied on all classes through 2025.
ARTWORK: Antonius-Tín Bui (New York, New York, 1992 – ), The limits of my language are the limits of my world (detail), 2021, hand-cut paper, ink, pencil, paint, 77 x 50 in., Courtesy of the artist and Monique Meloche Gallery, Chicago.

Art For Two: Hammered Copper Bracelets (SOLD OUT)
2025-12-05 18:00 - 21:00
Create a hammered copper bracelet with a personalized message or design! Learn how to hammer, bend, and stamp designs onto a piece of heavy copper wire.
Art For Two is the perfect one-night class experience for two where you each take home a finished piece. Class materials, a charcuterie board, and refreshments are included, no skills required – just come ready to create, unwind, and add some artistic spark to your evening.

The Windgate Art School is generously supported by the Windgate Foundation with additional support from Sherry Worthen in memory of George Worthen.
Windgate Art School’s Reduced Tuition Program is supported by Michael Laughter. Reduced tuition is automatically applied to all classes through 2025.
Bracelets by Myriam Saavedra.

"Uncommon Threads" Inspired Jewelry Workshop (SOLD OUT)
2025-12-06 10:00 - 14:00
Make an inspired pendant and earrings with polymer clayand learn how to create designs and patterns inspired by the art on view in AMFA’s exhibition, Uncommon Threads in Contemporary Art.
This workshop includes an hour lunch break while your work is fired in a kiln.

The Windgate Art School is generously supported by the Windgate Foundation with additional support from Sherry Worthen in memory of George Worthen.
Windgate Art School’s Reduced Tuition Program is supported by Michael Laughter. Reduced tuition is automatically applied to all classes through 2025.
Earrings by Danya Golden.

Glass Snowman Workshop (SOLD OUT)
2025-12-06 10:00 - 13:00
Design colorful and festive glass snowmen that will lighten up any tree or window!
Learn the basics of glass fusing to arrange shapes and patterns in a creative way. Your completed designs will be transformed in the kiln to achieve a smooth and glossy finish.
This is an excellent workshop for those interested in experiencing the basics of glass fusing.

The Windgate Art School is generously supported by the Windgate Foundation with additional support from Sherry Worthen in memory of George Worthen.
Windgate Art School’s Reduced Tuition Program is supported by Michael Laughter. Reduced tuition is automatically applied to all classes through 2025.
Glasswork by Lola Warren.

Phone Photography Workshop
2025-12-06 14:00 - 17:00
Travel to the AMFA galleries with professional photographer Margo Duvall and artistically explore the art on display with your camera phone.
Following museum guidelines, participants will take photographs while learning about composition, color balance, and how to use the viewfinder. Bring your camera phone and experience the art on display through the lens of a camera!

The Windgate Art School is generously supported by the Windgate Foundation with additional support from Sherry Worthen in memory of George Worthen.
Windgate Art School’s Reduced Tuition Program is supported by Michael Laughter. Reduced tuition is automatically applied to all classes through 2025.
Image courtesy of Jason Masters.
