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: PALETTE KNIFE LANDSCAPE
Date: January 21, 2025 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Location: Thunderbird Arts Center
Available Slots: 4/10
Students or Guardians must bring ID to the first class.
Instructor: Hristi Wilbur
Description: 3-hours acrylics workshop for everyone interested in learning a new experimental technique. The biggest challenge to paint with a palette knife is that there is no way to work on small details/ The reward-your work will have bold, textural and expressive quality.
Duration: 3 Hours
Prerequisites: None
Ages: 16+
Cost: $50
Drawing Exercise: Portrait
Date: January 28, 2025 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Location: Thunderbird Arts Center
Available Slots: 3/10
Students or Guardians must bring ID to the first class.
Instructor: Hristi Wilbur
Description: 3-hour workshop dedicated to introducing beginners to drawing a portrait. We will discuss proportion, shading and how to achieve realistic look and catch the person’s character.
Duration: 3 Hours
Prerequisites: None
Ages: 16+
Cost: $50
Fun & Easy Acrylic Painting (Thunderbird)
Date: February 04, 2025 6:30 pm - February 25, 2025 8:30 pm
Location: Thunderbird Arts Center
Available Slots: 5/12
Students or Guardians must bring ID to the first class.
Instructor: Nancy Troupe
Description: If you are looking for a fun and ever changing class, this unique bundle is structured to create a new painting each week during your class time. Learn through fun and easy step by step instruction. All supplies will be provided, so you can easily get started creating wonderful works of art. All new paintings from previous classes!
Materials: Supplies provided
Duration: 4 weeks
Prerequisites: None
Ages: 16+
Cost: $85
Drawing Exercise: Perspective
Date: February 04, 2025 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Location: Thunderbird Arts Center
Available Slots: 6/10
Instructor: Hristi Wilbur
Description: 3-hour workshop with main goal to introduce students to linear and aerial perspective, as well as shading. To achieve the illusion of space we will do a step-by-step drawing of mostly architectural objects. Important art terms like horizon, vanishing point will be discussed, as well as the difference between one-, two- and three-point perspective. All materials provided.
Materials: None
Duration: 1 day
Prerequisites: None
Ages: 16+
Cost: $50
Fun & Easy Acrylic Painting (Thunderbird)
Date: February 05, 2025 6:30 pm - February 26, 2025 8:30 pm
Location: Thunderbird Arts Center
Available Slots: 6/10
Students or Guardians must bring ID to the first class.
Instructor: Nancy Troupe
Description: If you are looking for a fun and ever changing class, this unique bundle is structured to create a new painting each week during your class time. Learn through fun and easy step by step instruction. All supplies will be provided, so you can easily get started creating wonderful works of art. All new paintings from previous classes!
Materials: Supplies provided
Duration: 4 weeks
Prerequisites: None
Ages: 16+
Cost: $85
Painting exercises: DESERT SUNSET
Date: February 11, 2025 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Location: Thunderbird Arts Center
Available Slots: 6/10
Instructor: Hristi Wilbur
Description: Three-hour acrylic workshop with a focus on the desert sky at 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: None
Duration: 1 Day
Prerequisites: None
Ages: 16+
Cost: $50
Intro to Drawing (Thunderbird)
Date: February 15, 2025 9:30 am - March 15, 2025 12:00 pm
Location: Thunderbird Arts Center
Available Slots: 3/12
Students or Guardians must bring ID to the first class.
Description: Created as a precursor to Drawing 1, this is a great starter for those who have little experience in drawing and have a desire to learn the fundamentals of drawing and delineation. Beginners who want to learn to "see" and apply methods which will lead to the creative world of art.
Duration: 5 weeks
Prerequisites: None
Ages: 16+
Cost: $150
Materials: One drawing pad at least 8 x 10, 1 charcoal pencil, 1 2b pencil & a kneaded eraser. A small supply list will be provided on the first day of class.
Please arrive 15 minutes before class starts.
Painting exercises: TUSCAN COUNTRYSIDE
Date: February 18, 2025 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Location: Thunderbird Arts Center
Available Slots: 10/10
Description: Three-hour acrylic workshop. We will discuss and practice all main elements of landscape painting-composition, proportion, linear and aerial perspective, gradation and more. Step-by -step instructions. The Tuscan scenery is represented in the Fall, so the painting will be especially rich when it comes to color. This workshop is beneficial for all students interested in realistic and impressionistic painting. All materials provided.
Materials: None
Duration: 1 Day
Prerequisites: None
Ages: 16+
Cost: $50
Soldering 101 (Thunderbird)
Date: February 22, 2025 10:00 am - 3:30 pm
Location: Thunderbird Arts Center
Available Slots: 2/6
Instructor: Yvette McCollum
Description: Ignite your inner jeweler! Learn the foundational skills of soldering to craft a timeless bracelet. This class covers essential techniques and tool usage, setting you on a path to creating stunning jewelry pieces. Let's melt away the complexity and build a strong soldering foundation together!
Materials: Provided by Instructor. Please wear closed toe shoes, cotton clothes, and have hair ties if needed.
Prerequisite: No experience needed. Experience with a torch is helpful.
Duration: 5.5 Hours
Ages: 18+
Cost: $120
Getting a Grip on your Digital Camera (Thunderbird)
Date: February 25, 2025 6:00 pm - March 11, 2025 7:30 pm
Location: Thunderbird Arts Center
Available Slots: 9/10
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: 18+
Cost: $55
Please arrive 15 minutes before class begins
Landscape Painting in Oils or Acrylics (Thunderbird)
Date: February 25, 2025 9:30 am - April 15, 2025 12:30 pm
Location: Thunderbird Arts Center
Available Slots: 12/12
Students or Guardians must bring ID to the first class.
Instructor: Nancy Price
Description: Enjoy painting, in a relaxed environment, from your own landscape photo or one provided. Individual attention will be given to students of all levels. Students will be assisted with creating dynamic compositions, mixing colors, simplifying shapes and establishing focal points & correct values.
Materials:
-Canvas
-Basic starter set of oils OR acrylics
-Brushes in a variety of sizes and shapes including a filbert, a liner a mop, a round, a fan brush and a flat brush
-ODORLESS Turpenoid and linseed oil, if using oil paint
-2 small jars with lids
-palette knife (metal for oil paint and plastic for acrylic paint)
-PRINTED OUT original landscape photos. Please bring several different photos with both light and shadows with a variety of colors. (NO Pinterest paintings or painting from other artists.)
-A painting apron or old shirt because painting is messy!
-A roll of paper towels, (Viva is preferred.)
-Pencil and a kneaded eraser
-Sketch paper
-A covered palette box with disposable palette paper or glass insert
Duration: 8 weeks
Prerequisites: None
Ages: 18+
Cost: $265
Painting exercises: SEASCAPE
Date: February 25, 2025 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Location: Thunderbird Arts Center
Available Slots: 8/10
Description: Three-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: None
Duration: 1 Day
Prerequisites: None
Ages: 16+
Cost: $50
Fun with Stained Glass Painting (Thunderbird)
Date: March 03, 2025 5:00 pm - April 14, 2025 7:00 pm
Location: Thunderbird Arts Center
Available Slots: 9/9
Instructor:Patti Kaloczi
Description: Unleash your inner artist and explore the captivating world of stained glass painting. This immersive workshop is teens who want to refine their artistic skills and create stunning works of art.
We'll guide you through the process of outlining or "leading" your chosen painting or picture, then introduce you to the art of color blending and mixing to achieve the luminous effects of traditional stained glass. This is a fantastic opportunity to elevate your creativity and produce beautiful pieces that you'll cherish for years to come.
You'll complete two projects during the workshop, and we promise a lot of fun and artistic satisfaction along the way. Join us and experience the joy of stained glass painting!
Duration: 7 weeks
Prerequisites: No Experience Required
Materials: All Materials Provided
Ages: 13-18
Cost: $205
Please arrive 15 minutes before class begins.