Children's art classes currently enrolling for:
Weekly 2 hour classes designed to provide opportunities for self-expression while learning foundational techniques in a variety of fine-art practices. All students visit the Danforth Art Museum to enhance study.
At the Danforth, children develop an understanding of the elements and principles of design, use high quality artists materials, explore ideas and spend time in the museum to expand critical and creative thinking. All students go home at the end of the session with a portfolio of quality work.
Fall 2026 Catalog is now available!
Click here to read about the offering, prices, and schedules for children art classes!
Our goals for learning within the children/teens program include:
- presenting classes focused on developing foundational concepts and skills within distinct media which are aligned with the stages of artistic development
- providing individualized attention to each student encouraging the representation of unique creative perspectives and the development of the portfolio
- providing opportunities for students to talk about their perceptions, their experience, their own work and the work of others reinforcing vocabulary specific to art making
- incorporating gallery learning in the museum in order to create opportunities to respond to the original work of other artists and to enhance student awareness of art, artists, and context
- providing an end of session synopsis outlining projects produced, references used, and skills and concepts covered
No class on 11/24
Join us for this new class which creates a link between viewing art in the museum with learning to make art in the studio. Students will be inspired by colorful artworks in the museum galleries as they experiment with many types of art materials and methods including painting, drawing, sculpture, collage, printmaking and more. Children at this level benefit from exposure to multiple art materials as they learn skills of self-expression and to think like an artist. At the end of the session, students will participate in an exhibition in the studio and go home with a portfolio of artwork that expresses their unique point of view.
Register For ClassesNo class on 11/24
Join us for this new class which creates a link between viewing art in the museum with learning to make art in the studio. A visit to the Danforth Art Museum will provide students with many examples of nature in art to inspire creating a body of work all their own. They will have the chance to experiment with many types of art materials and methods including painting, drawing, sculpture, collage, printmaking and more. As children grow, our approach becomes a little more focused on skill and concept development as they continue to learn to think like an artist. At the end of the session, students will participate in an exhibition in the studio and go home with a portfolio of beautiful artwork.
Register For ClassesNo class on 10/10 or 11/25
Join us for this new class which creates a link between viewing art in the museum with learning to make art in the studio. Students will have fun looking closely at the art on view in the Danforth Art Museum, making sketches and notes of what they see. These sketches will inspire creations in the studio as they experiment with many types of art materials and methods including painting, drawing, sculpture, collage, printmaking and more. Children at this level benefit from exposure to multiple art materials as they learn skills of self-expression and to think like an artist. At the end of the session, students will participate in an exhibition in the studio and go home with a portfolio of artwork that expresses their unique point of view.
Register For ClassesNo class on 10/10 or 11/25
Join us for this new class which creates a link between viewing art in the museum with learning to make art in the studio. Many works of art at the Danforth Art Museum tell a story, through images, materials or other methods. After visiting the museum, students will learn how to use color, line, form, texture and other concepts to communicate an idea in their own art. At this level, instruction includes building skills with observational representation and craftsmanship with materials. At the end of the session, students will participate in an exhibition in the studio and go home with a portfolio of artwork that expresses their unique point of view.
Register For ClassesNo class on 11/26
In this innovative class, caregivers and toddlers alike will be introduced to a new picture book and artful idea each week. Storytime will be followed by exploratory time with art materials and time for adults to visit together. Maximum of 12 child/adult pairs.
Register For ClassesNo class on 11/26
Join us for this new class which creates a link between viewing art in the museum with learning to make art in the studio. Circles, spheres, squares and cubes…many of the pieces on view in the Danforth Art Museum feature shapes and forms like these. Students will be inspired these works, creating their own unique pieces by experimenting with many types of art materials and methods including painting, drawing, sculpture, collage, printmaking and more. As children grow, our approach becomes a little more focused on skill and concept development as they continue to learn to think like an artist. At the end of the session, students will participate in an exhibition in the studio and go home with a portfolio of beautiful artwork.
Register For ClassesNo class on 11/26
Students will explore both realistic and abstract styles while developing their own unique visual voice using acrylic and watercolor paint. Instructor will demonstrate techniques to provide students opportunities to experiment with color, texture, light, and patterns to set mood and movement. We will look at contemporary examples and visit museum exhibitions to inspire exciting artwork to fill a portfolio by the end of the session.
Register For ClassesNo class on 10/10 or 11/28
Join us for this new class which creates a link between viewing art in the museum with learning to make art in the studio. A visit to the Danforth Art Museum will provide students with many examples of nature in art to inspire creating a body of work all their own. They will have the chance to experiment with many types of art materials and methods including painting, drawing, sculpture, collage, printmaking and more. As children grow, our approach becomes a little more focused on skill and concept development as they continue to learn to think like an artist. At the end of the session, students will participate in an exhibition in the studio and go home with a portfolio of beautiful artwork.
Register For ClassesNo class on 10/10 or 11/28
Join us for this new class which creates a link between viewing art in the museum with learning to make art in the studio. The Danforth Art Museum galleries feature many images of people, which will inspire our students as they experiment with many types of art materials and methods including painting, drawing, sculpture, collage, printmaking and more. Children at this level benefit from exposure to multiple art materials as they learn skills of self-expression and to think like an artist. At the end of the session, students will participate in an exhibition in the studio and go home with a portfolio of artwork that expresses their unique point of view.
Register For ClassesNo class on 10/10 or 11/28
Creative problem solvers and finders, stem enthusiasts, and/or table top / video gamers, bring your ideas or find inspiration in Zach Shiff’s hybrid: Digital and/or Analog Art Maker Space. Your goal is to create something interactive: it could be a Board Game, Card Game, or even Video Game! It could even be Role Playing Game inspired art like his past class Fantasy Art . Here the term Art is open to interpretation: Writing, Programming, Inventing, Building: this is a space for you to follow your own passions and use time the way you need to be your most creative self. Zach will be your guide on the side The tools at your disposal are both real and/or digital (your choice). Zach is an illustrator turned art teacher who is really passionate about how art is used to tell interesting and interactive stories. His background in comic book storytelling, animation, and illustration allows him to simulate real world commercial art experiences for young aspiring artists.
Register For ClassesDoes not meet on 10/10, 11/28
NEW! Drop in on Saturday afternoons for creative time for the whole family. We will have a different self-guided project set up in one of our studios for a fun afternoon outing of creation. Free with paid museum admission or 10$ per family per visit.
No need to register ahead of time, just drop in and check in with staff either at the school or museum!
Register For Classes
Important Information for Children's Classes
Please see our student behavior expectations here.
Yes! Danforth provides everything students need to experiment with materials and practice techniques. Students learn to select from various sized brushes and types of paint, different types of drawing pencils and a variety of other drawing materials. Our studios are equipped with easels, stools, painting tables and specialized lighting to enhance the learning experience.
Although we understand this may be more convenient for you, it our policy not to permit children under 18 to leave the school unaccompanied. Please plan to come up to the school level to meet your child at the conclusion of class and thank you.
In our programs, we have noticed that mixed peer groups can often support learning as they approach lessons differently. Younger artists can emulate techniques of older artists, and the older students can appreciate the exuberance and fearlessness of the younger students. Our small class sizes allow instructors to provide individualized instruction to all our artists in the studio.
Not usually. Our classes maintain a portfolio of artwork which allows students to keep collect all process pieces such as sketches together with finished works. It also allows them to go back to revisit ideas or to keep working on pieces if needed over time.
Lessons in the Children’s Program at the Danforth are designed to build upon each other throughout the session, reinforcing concepts and techniques which allows for growth over the period of the class.
We hold an informal exhibition of artwork on the last class so that students can have practice experiencing showing their work, and discussing what they learned.
Yes! At some point during the session, teachers will take a “field trip” to the museum to view works on display. Students will often have the opportunity to sketch in the museum as they learn how to actively view artwork in a museum, and to think critically about what they see and notice. We emphasize visual literacy skills during these visits so that children learn how to understand techniques, genres, content, and the elements and principles of design which are the building blocks of art making.
We welcome any information about your child that helps us support their learning in the art studio and museum. Please email danforthartschool@framingham.edu and we will ensure the instructor is informed.
Teaching here is such a joy Angela Ackerman, instructor—Learn more about Angela
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