Thunderbird Arts Center, in partnership with the City of Phoenix, is a satellite location of Phoenix Center for the Arts, serving our North Phoenix communities. The facility opened to the public in the fall of 2016, and began offering classes for adults and youth year-round.
Students can register for a variety of art classes at this location, including: Ceramics, Mosaics, Painting & Drawing, Photography, Printmaking, Mosaics, Youth Art, and more!
Note: Click the “Sign Up” button at the bottom of a class description to register through the Center’s Mindbody registration platform. A Mindbody account is required to register for classes at the Center. Questions about registration or financial aid? Call (602) 254-3100 or email frontdesk@phoenixcenterforthearts.org to speak to a Patron Services Associate to speak to a Patron Services Associate.
Prior to arriving for in-person classes, students are required to digitally sign our Student Agreement.
Address:
Thunderbird Arts Center
1106 E. Grovers Ave
Phoenix, AZ 85022
(located in the building behind the Mountain View Community Center)
Hours of operation:
Our hours vary based on class schedules. Please contact our office to confirm the weekly hours.
Phone:
(602) 293-3267
Painting exercises: POINTILLISM (Thunderbird)
Date: October 06, 2025 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Location: Thunderbird Arts Center
Available Slots: 12/12
Instructor: Hristi Wilbur
Description: 3 hour acrylic workshop dedicated to the technique of painting landscapes with dots. An introduction to the art of the French artists George Seurat and Paul Signac will be the starting point for our experimentations. Ste-by-step instructions. All materials provided.
Materials: No materials required
Duration: 1 Day
Prerequisites: No experience required
Ages: 16+
Cost: $50
Getting a Grip on your Digital Camera (Thunderbird)
Date: October 07, 2025 6:00 pm - October 21, 2025 7:30 pm
Location: Thunderbird Arts Center
Available Slots: 5/9
Students or Guardians must bring ID to the first class.
Instructor: Bill Guy (He/Him)
Description: If your digital camera has been the bane of your creative expression or you just want to start taking better images, then this class is for you. Bill will help you understand both the creative settings of your camera and show you how to create better images. You are encouraged to bring a camera to class and Bill will help in getting your camera set up for getting the shots you want.
Materials: Camera or cell phone
Prerequisite: None
Duration: 3 weeks
Ages: 15+
Cost: $55
Please arrive 15 minutes before class begins
Fun & Easy Acrylic Painting (Thunderbird)
Date: October 07, 2025 6:30 pm - October 28, 2025 8:30 pm
Location: Thunderbird Arts Center
Available Slots: 0/12
Description: Fun for all levels, but specifically designed for beginners. We learn the basics of painting while also experiencing perspective, value, abstract, and impressionism.
Materials: No materials required
Duration: 4 weeks
Prerequisites: None
Ages: 16+
Cost: $85
Fun & Easy Acrylic Painting (Thunderbird)
Date: October 08, 2025 6:30 pm - October 29, 2025 8:30 pm
Location: Thunderbird Arts Center
Available Slots: 0/12
Description: Fun for all levels, but specifically designed for beginners. We learn the basics of painting while also experiencing perspective, value, abstract, and impressionism.
Materials: No materials required
Duration: 4 weeks
Prerequisites: None
Ages: 16+
Cost: $85
Drawing into Painting (Thunderbird)
Date: October 11, 2025 12:30 pm - November 08, 2025 3:00 pm
Location: Thunderbird Arts Center
Available Slots: 9/12
Fundamentals of Drawing II (Thunderbird)
Date: October 11, 2025 9:30 am - November 08, 2025 12:00 pm
Location: Thunderbird Arts Center
Available Slots: 12/12
Students or Guardians must bring ID to the first class.
Expand your artistic vocabulary as you experiment with shading, perspective, and composition. Develop your unique style and express your creativity with confidence. Whether you're aspiring to pursue a career in art or simply seeking personal fulfillment, this course is the perfect stepping stone to elevate your artistic journey."
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Painting exercises: TREES
Date: October 20, 2025 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Location: Thunderbird Arts Center
Available Slots: 9/12
Students or Guardians must bring ID to the first class.
Instructor: Hristi Wilbur
Description: 3 hour acrylic workshop with step-by-step instruction on how to paint trees. We will cover a few aspects of landscape painting including composition, proportion, color mixing and shading. All materials provided.
Materials: No materials required
Duration: 3 Hours
Prerequisites: None
Ages: 16+
Cost: $50
Painting exercises: WATER LILIES
Date: October 27, 2025 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Location: Thunderbird Arts Center
Available Slots: 9/12
Students or Guardians must bring ID to the first class.
Instructor: Hristi Wilbur
Description: Three-hour acrylics workshop with a focus on landscape painting. The project is inspired by the famous water lilies of Claude Monet in Giverny, France. The step-by-step instruction will cover color mixing and the small, overlapping brushstrokes typical for Impressionist painting. All materials provided.
Materials: None
Duration: 3 Hours
Prerequisites: None
Ages: 16+
Cost: $50
Painting exercises: SEASCAPE
Date: November 03, 2025 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Location: Thunderbird Arts Center
Available Slots: 9/12
Description: 3 hour acrylic workshop representing the sea at the time of sunset. We will discuss and practice all main elements of landscape painting- composition, proportion, linear and aerial perspective, gradation and more. Step-by-step instructions. This workshop is beneficial for all students interested in realistic and impressionistic painting. All materials provided.
Materials: No materials required
Duration: 1 Day
Prerequisites: No Experience Required
Ages: 16+
Cost: $50
Please arrive 15 minutes before your class begins.
Fun & Easy Acrylic Painting (Thunderbird)
Date: November 04, 2025 6:30 pm - November 25, 2025 8:30 pm
Location: Thunderbird Arts Center
Available Slots: 10/12
Description: Fun for all levels, but specifically designed for beginners. We learn the basics of painting while also experiencing perspective, value, abstract, and impressionism.
Materials: No materials required
Duration: 4 weeks
Prerequisites: None
Ages: 16+
Cost: $85
Fun & Easy Acrylic Painting (Thunderbird)
Date: November 05, 2025 6:30 pm - November 19, 2025 8:30 pm
Location: Thunderbird Arts Center
Available Slots: 12/12
Students or Guardians must bring ID to the first class.
Description: Fun for all levels, but specifically designed for beginners. We learn the basics of painting while also experiencing perspective, value, abstract, and impressionism.!
Materials: No materials required
Duration: 3 weeks
Prerequisites: None
Ages: 16+
Cost: $70.00
Drawing Exercise: Shading
Date: November 10, 2025 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Location: Thunderbird Arts Center
Available Slots: 11/12
Instructor: Hristi Wilbur
Description: 3 hour workshop with the goal of giving students a lot of opportunities to sharpen their shading skills. Art terms like light source, highlight, core and traced shadow, value and scale will be practiced and explained. All materials provided.
Materials: No materials required
Duration: 1 Day
Prerequisites: No experience required
Ages: 16+
Cost: $50
Collage - Mixed Media
Date: November 15, 2025 12:30 pm - December 13, 2025 3:00 pm
Location: Thunderbird Arts Center
Available Slots: 12/12
Students or Guardians must bring ID to the first class.
Instructor: Robert Roselli
Description: Putting it all together. We will use the principles of design, drawing, and painting combined with collage materials to produce interesting compositions. Investigate the use of mixed media to lead you to produce innovative and personal art.
Materials: Drawing pad heavy enough to take wet and dry media, 12 pack Craypas oil pastels, Large gluestick, Pencils & charcoal pencil, scissors, acrylic paint in primary colors.
Prerequisites: Fundamentals of Drawing II
Duration: 5 weeks
Ages: 16+
Cost: $150.00
Advanced Drawing Studio I (Thunderbird)
Date: November 15, 2025 9:30 am - December 13, 2025 12:00 pm
Location: Thunderbird Arts Center
Available Slots: 12/12
Students or Guardians must bring ID to the first class.
Description:Each meeting will introduce a new project with emphasis on drawing, principles of art, and color. I invite you to bring into class your own projects for critique and developmental help.
Materials: For the first class you will need a medium sized drawing pad along with drawing materials.
Prerequisite: Fundamentals of Drawing II
Duration: 5 weeks
Ages: 16+
Cost: $150
Please arrive 15 minutes before your class begins.