I Want To Take An Art Class. Where Should I Start?

Are you gifted artistically? Well congratulations if you are but unfortunately even though most of us have a desire to learn art at some stage, we just have no idea how to get started.

When the colder winter season comes around, there are people that get a dose of cabin fever because of the limited availability of outdoor activities. If you are normally quite an active person, when it is cold, raining or snowing outside, you are pretty much automatically deprived of most activities which you are used to doing. Working in the garden is pretty much a no go and you have got to be pretty brave if you like to walk alot. If you like to go to the mall, you will probably end up doing some impulse shopping which is not a good move for your household budget. Even watching TV gets pretty boring after a while. Reading a good book is an option or even cleaning the house but eventually you will start to get edgy after being stuck indoors. This is where taking an art class can be a fantastic idea.

I can hear you saying it already ...but, I don't have a single artistic bone in my body! Well how would you know? More likely than not, it is just force of habit that makes you think this way, or a school teacher who may have discouraged you when you were younger.

Art classes can provide you with so much more than just therapy for the winter blues. You will find that Art classes can stimulate you creatively and boost your confidence as well. If you take an art class at your local community college, it costs only a little for a lot of enjoyment. You even get to meet a classroom full of new people. What's not to like about that?

All you need to remember is that you don't need to be able to paint a Mona Lisa! Remind yourself that you are doing this for the fun and creative stimulation. If you are not feeling confident about taking a beginning painting class because you believe everyone else will be a better painter, start with art classes that are less 'threatening'.

How about taking a class in composition and design? A course like this will teach you about using space, color and design elements to produce projects that do not require you be able to understand the human anatomy. The beauty of these projects is that they are purely abstract. You will more than likely be amazed at how involved you can become working on each project, designed to teach you on how to create a balanced and attractive picture that positively uses the elements which the instructor delivers during your class time. These instructors quite often use slide shows to demonstrate certain effects and how you can use these effects to impact the final composition.

There are three other types of art classes which are extremely good for beginners. These include stained glass workshops, perspective drawing and even graphic design:

1. Stained Glass Workshops: If you start by choosing a class in composition and design, what you learn will fit in neatly with a stained glass class. You will know what makes a good design and it will be easier to make a lovely stained glass picture.

2. Perspective Drawing: Art classes in perspective drawing provide a good background for that beginning painting class we talked about earlier.

3. Graphics Design: If you like working with graphics software, sign up for an art class in graphic design. You'll then be able to design your own stationery or business cards.

Whilst taking an art class during the colder months may not see you in to a new career, you will make some new friends whilst enjoying yourself and gaining some new skills. On top of this you will be able to show off some of your work in your home!