FREE Fall Art Classes @ Marwen
Updated: Aug 24
Fall 2023 | Sept 13 - Nov 18, 2023
Photos: Young people creating artwork throughout Marwen's studios.
[Haga clic aquí para ver y registrarse para cursos en Español]
Marwen’s free programs exist for young artists in Chicago who want to explore visual arts, can commit to a multi-week art class, are in 6-12th grades during the 2023/24 school year, and do not have access to arts programming due to financial and systemic barriers. Learn more about our values and how we invest in the power of young artists.
Returning student? You’re first in line to select classes! Online registration is now closed for Fall 2023. Bookmark marwen.org/registration for Spring 2024!
New to Marwen? Complete our Interest Form to get started. We'll follow up to schedule a (required) virtual orientation.
Key information:
Fall session runs September 13 - November 18, 2023.
Fall term offers 25 unique 10-week in-person classes and two unique 5-week Zoom classes.
Click here to read Marwen Eligibility Requirements.
All art materials and supplies are provided by Marwen thanks to our generous donors.
All experience levels are welcome.
Young people can register for up to 2 classes.
Each course meets 1 day a week and runs for 10 weeks:
Wednesdays from 5-7:30 pm
Thursdays from 5-7:30 pm
Saturday mornings from 10 am-12:30 pm
Saturday afternoons from 1:30 - 4 pm
Have questions? Reach out to us anytime at registrar@marwen.org or via text at 312.374.2968.
Scroll to view all 12 middle school, 11 high school, and 2 mini online courses offered this Fall.
MIDDLE SCHOOL CLASSES
COURSE #1
Adjust Your Focus: Digital Photo
Joselyn Corona she/they
6-8th grade
Wednesdays September 13 - November 15, 5-7:30 pm
Develop an eye for portrait photography by learning how to capture the personality of a person or group. Learn how to create a photoshoot from the ground up using effective lighting, backdrops, and poses to capture decisive moments. Create remarkable scenes through editing software, such as Lightroom and Photoshop.
COURSE #2
Mini-Decked Out: Skateboard Design
Aileen Castro she/her
6-8th grade
Wednesdays September 13 - November 15, 5-7:30 pm
Create your own custom skateboard mini-deck! Gain inspiration from skateboarding culture, artists, and designers. Learn hands-on painting and drawing techniques and how to digitally paint like a pro using iPads and the Procreate app. Create sketches, designs, and cool illustrations like your favorite skaters, and develop your own personal design style.
COURSE #3
Upcycling Fashion
Izzy Jackson she/her
6-8th grade
Wednesdays September 13 - November 15, 5-7:30 pm
Give thrift clothes a new life! Restructure garments and learn DIY fashion techniques to create a cool new denim bag, wallet, or whatever else your mind can dream up. Finish the course with a better understanding of your artistic perspective and learn sewing and pattern-making skills. All skill levels are welcome, all materials provided.
COURSE #4
Painting from Photos
Katie Romans she/her
6-8th grade
Wednesdays September 13 - November 15, 5-7:30 pm
Have you ever wanted to remake your favorite photos as colorful and bold acrylic paintings? Take your painting skills to the next level by learning how to paint with different brush techniques and color mixing. Develop your style through individual and collaborative prompts that challenge you to paint from photos in new imaginative ways.
COURSE #5
Lights, Camera, Action! Filmmaking
Philip Alvy he/him
6-8th grade
Thursdays September 14 - November 16, 5-7:30 pm
Hone in on your production skills! Come with your independent movie ideas in mind and learn, step-by-step, how to produce your own short video. Explore the fundamentals of visual storytelling and film production, including screenwriting, directing, camera operation, editing, and producing. Build your skills, create music videos, and several short video projects.
COURSE #6
3D Printed Jewelry
Nathan Knize he/him
6-8th grade
Thursdays September 14 - November 16, 5-7:30 pm
Create a jewelry collection using 3D printing and traditional crafting methods. Learn how to use TinkerCad, Nomad Sculpt, and chainmaille patterns to create a ring, bracelet, pendant, and a pair of earrings. Mix it up and add jewelry elements such as chains, beads, and mixed media materials.
COURSE #7
Monster Ceramics
6-8th grade
Thursdays September 14 - November 16, 5-7:30 pm
Learn how to build your very own ceramic monster! Monsters don't have to be just scary, they can be fun too. Using the pinch pot and sculpting methods, we will work together to brainstorm materials and qualities to make your monsters tell their own story. Create a cool sculpture that you can display in your room, home, or anywhere else a monster might reside.
COURSE #8
Accessorize: Shoe Design
Brittany Polk she/her
6-8th grade
Saturdays, September 16 - November 18, 10am-12:30 pm
Want to make cool bags and your own unique shoe design? Learn the process of designing your own accessories, from building a concept, sketching, and using a mood board to practicing new techniques with fabric, leather, decoupage, and design. Take your boring shoe and create a new design to stand out!
COURSE #9
The Art of Making Comics
Tor Warren he/him
6-8th grade
Saturdays, September 16 - November 18, 1:30-4pm
Learn how to draw comics, and even how to sell them! Explore the fundamentals of drawing using inkwork techniques and collage to put together comics and books that you can share with your friends. Create stories from scratch to develop a meaningful anthology.
COURSE #10
Crafting Costumes
Eseosa Edebiri she/ze
6-8th grade
Saturdays, September 16 - November 18, 10am-12:30pm
Transform your everyday life into fantasy! Learn how to use a sewing machine and pattern making to create outfits from your wildest dreams. Explore craft techniques like paper-mâché to create masks and wire armature to create wings and appendages.
COURSE #11
Piece It Together: Mosaics
JoVonna Jackson she/her
6-8th grade
Saturdays, September 16 - November 18, 1:30-4 pm
Do you enjoy collage and sculpture and want to try something new? Brighten up your home with handmade mosaic masterpieces. Learn to arrange glass and tiles to create 2D or 3D patterns and designs.
COURSE #12
No Cap Creatives: Acrylic Painting
Lindsey Everett Bates he/him
6-8th grade
Saturdays, September 16 - November 18, 1:30-4pm
Learn painting techniques in texture, color mixing, lighting, shape, form, depth, material setup, and brush control. Understand how to emphasize the important points in your story through painting. Practice building your own piece of work with freedom to create your own destination. Listen to your creative instincts and be true to yourself, no cap!
HIGH SCHOOL CLASSES
COURSE #13
Street Masks: Graffiti and Sculpture
Miguel Del Real he/him
9-12th grade
Wednesdays September 13 - November 15, 5-7:30 pm
Create paper-mâché masks using your face as a form. Build on the mask to make designs inspired by your culture and the urban environment. Then decorate the masks and express your personality with graffiti lettering.
COURSE #14
Check Out My Sketchbook: Zines
Jade Rector she/they
9-12th grade
Wednesdays September 13 - November 15, 5-7:30 pm
Have you ever looked at your sketchbook and gone blank? Learn drawing techniques, typography, block printing, and zine making to incorporate into your own sketchbook. We’ll also experiment with collaborative sketchbooks as a class.
COURSE #15
Selfie-ish: Darkroom Portraits
l o t i Walker she/her
9-12th grade
Thursdays September 14 - November 16, 5-7:30 pm
Explore the basics of black and white darkroom photography, and experience this medium through a different lens. This course is all about slowing down and unplugging by creating selfies and portraits through analog photography. Discover the power of capturing yourself and your friends using traditional techniques that will help you connect with your inner artist.
COURSE #16
Experimental Oil Painting
Jessica Zawadowicz she/her
9-12th grade
Thursdays September 14 - November 16, 5-7:30 pm
Learn how to translate form into paint, experiment with various oil painting mediums and techniques, and discover your own natural ways to paint. We’ll look at past and present work that includes different types of mark-making, picture-making, and more. Experiment with your style, approach, and ways to paint!
COURSE #17
Flash Art: Tattoo Design
Aileen Castro she/her
9-12th grade
Thursdays September 14 - November 16, 5-7:30 pm
Create traditional tattoo flash sheets while learning design principles and tattoo history. Learn watercolor skills, bold outlines and color palettes, and what makes good tattoo designs. Discover how tattoos are traditionally used to express oneself and identity. By the end of class, turn your flash sheets into temporary tattoos to wear and share.
COURSE #18
Character Design: Animation
Margaret Bialis she/her
9-12th grade
Saturdays, September 16 - November 18, 10am-12:30pm
In this introduction to the art of character design and animation, you’ll explore unique qualities of the medium by using a variety of animation techniques such as hand-drawn, stop-motion, and digital cutout animation. Learn the history and practice of animation to bring your unique character design to life.
COURSE #19
Sculpture for the Stage: Portfolio Development
Grace Needlman they/she
9-12th grade
Saturdays, September 16 - November 18, 10am-12:30pm
Curious about careers in scenic design? Learn to make puppets, masks, and sculptural costumes, and explore what it takes to be a theater or movie artist. Expand your sculpture toolkit with techniques like mold-making, puppet mechanics, pop-up design, and more. Connect with the Chicago theater community through a back-stage field trip. Develop your artist statement, build a professional portfolio, and document your work in this Pathway portfolio course.
COURSE #20
Graffiti Painting: Murals
9-12th grade
Saturdays, September 16 - November 18, 10am-12:30pm
Learn graffiti lettering, painting, drawing, and spray painting techniques while learning the importance of creating an identity specific to you. Explore tagging as a language to develop and create while designing a collaborative mural.
COURSE #21
Exploring Digital Art
9-12th grade
Saturdays, September 16 - November 18, 1:30-4pm
Explore computer-based mediums such as digital collage, video, GIFs, sound, and creative coding. Apply these new skills to construct your own interactive, web-based artworks using Twine (an open-source tool for telling interactive stories). By the end of this course you will feel comfortable creating your own digital artwork!
COURSE #22
From Image to Object: Ceramic Sculpture
Sonya Bogdanova she/her
9-12th grade
Saturdays, September 16 - November 18, 1:30-4pm
Have you ever wanted to turn your sketches into physical, playful ceramic objects? You can visibly change your environment using clay and intuition. Learn how to draw and paint with underglaze on clay, then use hand-building techniques to create a sculpture based on your image.
COURSE #23
Custom Jacket Design
Emma McKee aka Stitchgawd she/her
9-12th grade
Saturdays, September 16 - November 18, 1:30-4pm
Learn how to make a one-of-a-kind jacket from celebrity jacket maker and embroiderer “Stitchgawd.” Learn dying, sewing, design, as well as branding. We will spend time talking about the ethos behind fashion and how that informs the things we make. Break out new ideas, and translate them into clothing. The class will end with a stylized photoshoot of the maker’s piece!
ONLINE/VIRTUAL CLASSES
Online courses are open to middle and high school students, 6-12th grades.
COURSE #24
DIY Plushies
5-week mini-course ON ZOOM
Mikey Anderson they/them
6-12th grade
Saturdays, September 16 - October 14, 10am-12:30pm
Design and sew playful 3D stuffed fabric figures. Create animals, monsters, and characters from your own imagination that celebrate many spectrums of identity. Use fabric and basic sewing techniques, then embellish your plushies with stitching, buttons, and sequins.
COURSE #25
DIY Comics + Drawing Games
5-week mini-course ON ZOOM
Mikey Anderson they/them
6-12th grade
Saturdays, October 21 - November 18, 10am-12:30pm
Develop your unique character and style of visual storytelling. It could be a space creature or a unicorn, or even a space creature unicorn! Learn how to write and panel comic books and tell your stories in pictures. Level up your drawing skills with weekly drawing games.
PATHWAYS WORKSHOPS
Workshop #1
Designing Fun
Tuesday, October 3, 5- 6:30pm
Join us for a conversation with toy designer Eileen Kim. If you’ve ever had a Happy Meal, chances are you’ve seen Eileen’s work, because she is a toy designer for Mcdonald’s Happy Meal Toys. LEARN MORE
Workshop #2
Marwen Portfolio Day
Tuesday, October 10, 5-6:30 pm
Bring your art to Marwen for a professional review! Learn the fundamentals of putting together a professional artist’s portfolio, including how to structure a portfolio that can be used to apply for schools, job opportunities, and more. LEARN MORE
Workshop #3
Art Institute Opportunities
Tuesday, October 17, 5-6:30pm
Virtual on Zoom
Are you interested in internship and job opportunities at the Art Institute of Chicago? Learn about current opportunities as well as how to submit an outstanding internship application. LEARN MORE