Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts

Making Together: Camp Chair
2025-06-15 13:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago)
Work together with your teenager to build a simple, durable camp chair in this fun, hands-on workshop.
Learn basic woodworking skills and how to work safely in the wood shop while designing a practical object for your camping trips. It’s a great way to spend time together, and no experience is required!

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 Drawing
2025-06-18 18:00 - 21:00, 2025-07-02 18:00 - 21:00, 2025-07-16 18:00 - 21:00, 2025-07-30 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: Wall Vases with Natural Impressions
2025-06-20 18:00 - 21:00
Create a floral-themed ceramic vase that cleverly hangs on your wall. Learn how to decorate your wall vase from an expert ceramic artist by pressing leaves, stems, and greenery into the soft clay.
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 glaze 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.

Tapestry Workshop (SOLD OUT)
2025-06-21 10:00 - 13:00
Explore the art of tapestry weaving, a technique used to create small, decorative woven pieces. Participants will learn the basics of setting up a loom, warping, and weaving various textures and patterns.
By the end of the workshop, each participant will have completed a small woven tapestry ready to display as wall art or use in other textile projects. No prior weaving experience is required!

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.
Tapestry by Danielle James..

Drop-in Printmaking
2025-06-25 18:00 - 21:00, 2025-07-09 18:00 - 21:00, 2025-07-23 18:00 - 21:00, 2025-08-06 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: Glass Flowers (SOLD OUT)
2025-06-27 18:00 - 21:00
Learn how to create eye-catching floral and botanical glass artwork using a hot torch and flame. Under the guidance of an expert glass artist, you will learn the fundamental techniques for sculpting flowers, leaves, and other vibrant botanical features with 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.
Glasswork by Donnell Williams.

Poetry and Limited Palette Painting Workshop with Greta Kresse
2025-06-28 13:00 - 16:00
Write, reflect, and paint in this hands-on workshop with Delta Voices artist Greta Kresse. Explore how language and color can inspire one another as you craft a limited palette, using a small but intentional selection of colors, shaped by the mood, rhythm, and imagery of your writing.
Through guided exercises, discussion, and painting, discover how creative constraints can open new possibilities for storytelling and self-expression.
This two-day workshop meets on Saturday, June 28, and Sunday, June 29, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.

About Greta Kresse

Greta Kresse (b. 1999, Little Rock, AR) is a plein-air painter based in Fayetteville, AR. She received her BA from Hendrix College and is pursuing an MFA at the University of Arkansas, supplementing her education through programs at the New York Studio School and The Mount Gretna School of Art. Kresse teaches workshops at the Arts and Science Center for Southeast Arkansas.

Working primarily in oils, she creates vibrant narrative paintings that explore human connection within the Southern landscape, particularly focusing on intimate scenes along Arkansas rivers. Her documentary-style approach captures moments of profound connection between community members, investigating themes of isolation, beauty, and love in the American South. Drawing inspiration from regional poetry and direct observation, Kresse’s work proposes comfort and connection as forms of resistance, presenting authentic representations of her community.

ARTWORK: Greta Kresse, Like a Bug in Brandy (detail), oil on board, 30 x 30 in.
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 by Michael Laughter. Reduced tuition is automatically applied to all classes through 2025.

Drop-In Demonstration with Mona Cliff
2025-06-28 14:00 - 17:00
Experience the intricate beadwork of Delta Voices artist Mona Cliff (Aaniiih), whose drop-in demonstration blends traditional Indigenous techniques with contemporary materials.
Cliff’s work explores generational knowledge passed between Native women and uses beadwork as a powerful expression of identity, connection to land, and cultural resilience.
Through interacting with the artist and observing her process up close, learn how Cliff connects to traditions and contemporary practices that speak to heritage and Native futurism.

About Mona Cliff

Mona Cliff (Aniiih) b.1977 is a multidisciplinary visual artist. Seedbead beadwork & sewing appliqué have been a primary foundation of her artist practice. Her art practice focuses on how traditional arts are passed down between generations of women, thus influencing culture. Mona pursues the concepts of generational knowledge while exploring other topics such as native futurism and contemporary indigenous identity.

She recently concluded a commissioned work for the newly built Kansas City International Airport. A beaded piece that spans 17 feet. Her work can also be seen at the Autry Museum of the American West in Los Angeles included in the Future Imaginaries exhibition, which will be on display until 2026. She is preparing for several solo exhibits in 2025 and 2026.

Mona is married and has three children. She currently resides in Lawrence, Kansas. Mona Cliff is an enrolled member of the Gros Ventre tribe (A’aninin/Nakota Nations).

ARTWORK: Mona Cliff, stratification, 2024, seedbeads, beeswax (copal, pine rosin, petroleum jelly), rhinestone, thread, maple wood, plywood, 100 x 42x 3 in.
Drop-in Demonstration with Mona Cliff is supported in part by the Windgate Foundation.

Woodturned Bottle Stopper Workshop
2025-07-10 18:00 - 21:00
This one-session workshop offers an excellent introduction to woodturning, perfect for beginners or those looking to try something new.
You will learn fundamental woodturning techniques, including proper tool handling, methods for shaping wood, and essential lathe safety practices. After a brief demonstration, students will practice these techniques hands-on before creating two unique wine bottle stoppers to take home.
With step-by-step guidance from an expert woodturner, participants will gain confidence in using the lathe and exploring their creativity.
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.
Bottle stoppers by Kim Fifer.

Art For Two: Pottery on the Wheel (SOLD OUT)
2025-07-11 18:00 - 21:00, 2025-08-08 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.
Windgate Art School’s Reduced Tuition Program is supported by Michael Laughter. Reduced tuition is automatically applied to all classes through 2025.

Art for Two: Punched Pendants
2025-07-11 18:00 - 21:00
Discover how to transform brass and copper into a new layered pendant! Learn simple metalsmithing techniques to cut discs, drill holes, and add custom texture to your piece using disc-cutters, hammers, and stamps.
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.
Pendants by Myriam Saavedra.

Figure Drawing Workshop
2025-07-12 13:00 - 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!

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 Planters with Natural Impressions (SOLD OUT)
2025-07-18 18:00 - 21:00
Create a small, floral-themed planter that brightens up any space or countertop. Learn how to decorate your planter from an expert ceramic artist by pressing leaves, stems, and greenery into the soft clay.
p>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 glaze 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 Jenn Perren.

Art For Two: Landscape Watercolor Paintings (SOLD OUT)
2025-07-18 18:00 - 21:00
Capture the beauty of nature in this relaxing, one-night watercolor landscape workshop.
Learn the fundamental techniques of watercolor and apply them in a straightforward way. With step-by-step guidance, you will create your own scenic landscape painting while exploring color mixing and brush control.
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.

Botanical Plastics: Plastic Paintings Workshop with Aurora Robson
2025-07-19 10:00 - 16:00
Collaborate with The Long View artist Aurora Robson during an engaging, hands-on workshop exploring creative ways to transform consumer plastics into intricate plastic paintings.
Work directly with Robson in AMFA’s Windgate Art School to experiment with new techniques and manipulate discarded materials into meaningful artworks that highlight the importance of environmental sustainability.
This unique opportunity allows students to learn from Robson’s creative process and gain insight into how innovative artmaking can inspire environmental awareness, creative problem-solving, and social change.

The Long View: From Conservation to Sustainability: Works from the Bank of America Collection is presented by Bank of America.

Additional support is provided by Anne and Merritt Dyke.
This exhibition has been loaned through the Bank of America Art in our Communities® program.
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 by Michael Laughter. Reduced tuition is automatically applied to all classes through 2025.
ARTWORK: Aurora Robson, Shhh, 2023, 3D-printed post-industrial medical grade plastic, tinted polycrylic, fiber optics, and motion sensors (permanent public art), 65 x 14 x 7 ft.

Art for Two: Beetle Brooches (SOLD OUT)
2025-07-25 18:00 - 21:00
Create a vibrant and colorful beetle inspired glass brooch using the technique of flame-working glass over a torch flame. This hands-on workshop is an excellent opportunity to develop your glass sculpting skills while creating a stunning, one-of-a-kind piece that captures the beauty of nature.
Under the expert guidance of a skilled glass artist, you will learn the process of sculpting a brooch and work with a variety of colorful glass rods, using the torch to melt and manipulate the material.
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.

Raku and Glaze Workshop (SOLD OUT)
2025-07-26 10:00 - 14:00
Learn all about the basics of Raku firing during this one-day workshop in AMFA’s Windgate Art School.
Two pieces of pottery will be provided for students to decorate, glaze, and fire. Experienced students can bring two hand-sized wheel thrown or handbuilt bisqueware to glaze and fire. The instructor will demonstrate proper safety, glazing techniques, and preparing materials.

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: Simple Rings (SOLD OUT)
2025-08-01 18:00 - 21:00
Transform scrap metal like into a new fitted ring in this hands-on, art recycling focused workshop. Learn shape, solder, and add texture to your ring using hammers and stamps.
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.
Pendants by Myriam Saavedra.

Woodturned Bottle Stopper Workshop (SOLD OUT)
2025-08-07 18:00 - 21:00

Camp Chair Workshop
2025-08-09 13:00 - 16:00
This one-session workshop offers an excellent introduction to common hand tools for woodworking. Sign up to gain hands-on experience using a variety of tools, including the circular saw, miter saw, jig saw, cordless hand-drill, and router.
Under expert guidance, you will measure, lay out the project, and learn to safely operate tools to create a traditional 2” x 12” camp chair. This unique design easily breaks down for ease of transport.
Students are encouraged to profile the chair back in any way they see fit using any of the hand tools covered in this workshop.

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.
Chair by Chad Loucks.

Gallery Drawing Workshop
2025-08-10 13:00 - 16:00
Immerse yourself in art and drawing during this hands-on workshop designed to explore artistic techniques and styles! This workshop offers a unique opportunity to creatively work in the galleries and gain insight from an artistic professional in AMFA’s Windgate Art School.
Our experienced instructor will lead you through the AMFA galleries and use artwork as inspiration to create a personalized work of art. Develop your drawing skills while deepening your understanding of creating line, shape, texture, and space.

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.

Drawing and Composition Workshop
2025-08-12 13:00 - 16:00
Dive into the fundamentals of drawing and composition and learn about balance, proportion, contrast, and scale during this one-day workshop in AMFA’s Windgate Art School.
An expert artist will teach you simple drawing and mixed media techniques to organize your vision on paper. Then, capture the line, shape, form, and texture and explore composition to create unified drawings.
This is a perfect workshop for all skill levels and interests to develop drawing skills!

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.

Color Theory Workshop
2025-08-13 09:00 - 12:00
Learn how to use and better understand how to apply color as an artist in this one-day workshop. Visualize how colors relate to another by studying the color wheel.
Gain understanding of how to mix colors to achieve a desired result as well as learn the technique of optical blending. Explore how to lighten and darken color intensity, color harmonies, and how to create strong color relationships. This is a great introduction to the techniques that are taught in AMFA’s Windgate Art School.

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.
