2026 Fall Classes
October 5 – December 12, 2026
REGISTRATION OPENS: Monday, August 24, 2026!
Fall Term Dates: October 5 – December 12, 2026
Registration Opens: Monday, August 24, 2026
The first half of the term begins: Monday, October 5, 2026
The second half of the term begins: Monday, November 9, 2026
From novice to expert, artists at all levels can engage in immersive and inspiring experiences at VBMA’s Museum Art School. The fall term offers a variety of ten- and five-week courses that introduce various mediums and topics. Students of all levels have multiple options for exploring their creativity in art history, contemplative arts, photography, drawing, painting, mixed media, and more.
IMPORTANT REGISTRATION INFORMATION
2026 Fall Term Registration Information
Classes from October 5 – December 12, 2026
Registration opens Monday, August 24, 2026, at 9 a.m.
Register online at www.vbmuseum.org. All registration is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Instructors
VBMA instructors are experienced teachers with rich education and studio backgrounds in addition to being professional artists.
Registration Information
Registration opens Monday, August 24, 2026, at 9 a.m. Register online at www.vbmuseum.org. All registration is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Instructors
VBMA instructors are experienced teachers with rich education and studio backgrounds in addition to being professional artists. Click here for instructor biographies.
Materials
Tuition does not cover the cost of materials used for students’ own production unless stated otherwise. Materials lists for each course or workshop are available on the website.
Cancellations
Courses are canceled if minimum enrollment is not met. If a course is canceled, the VBMA will inform students one week in advance to offer a refund or a transfer to another course of equal value.
Guest Policy
We regret that we are unable to accommodate guests in any art studio, humanities, or film class.
Waiting Lists
The Education Department maintains waiting lists for all filled classes. Please contact the VBMA to be placed on a waiting list. No deposit is necessary to hold a space.
Class Refund Policy
For multi-week classes, refund requests must be made through the Education Department within the first week of class. A $25 administrative fee will be assessed on all refunds.
Cork, Canvas & Company Refund Policy
For Cork, Canvas & Company classes, refund requests must be made through the Education Department at least one week prior to the class.
Workshop Refund Policy
Refund requests must be made through the Education Department at least two weeks prior to the first day of the workshop. A $25 administrative fee will be assessed on all refunds.
ART HISTORY AND ART APPRECIATION
NEW Art History of Japanese Landscapes: The World of Hiroshige and Hokusai
Chris Fasolino
All levels
This course will enhance appreciation for the VBMA exhibition Hokusai, Hiroshige, Hasui: Japanese Landscapes in Print. Discover the stories behind the colorful landscapes and learn how the artists found inspiration from nature. Participants will learn about the history of Japanese civilization and discover how palace intrigue, samurai traditions, and varied environments shaped the lives and the work of Hiroshige, Hokusai, and other great artists.
October 5 – December 7, 2026
Mondays, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Location: VBMA Studio 4, Galleries, and via Zoom
#26FA-01 $335 (VBMA Members $285)
NEW Lives of the Artists
Chris Fasolino
All levels
This is an introduction to some of the great names in art history! Learn how their lives were interwoven with their artwork. Featuring Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Rembrandt, and Claude Monet, as well as the lesser-known gem Maria Sibylla Merian, who was an adventurous pioneer of nature art. Settings include Florence, Rome, Amsterdam, Paris, and the rainforests of South America. This class will cover one artist each week during this 5-week course.
October 7 – November 4, 2026
Wednesdays, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Location: VBMA Studio 4 and via Zoom
#26FA-02 $205 (VBMA Members $175)
NEW The Great Wave in Art History: From Japanese Landscapes to European Impressionism
Chris Fasolino
All levels
What should visitors look for at VBMA’s exhibition Hokusai, Hiroshige, Hasui: Japanese Landscapes in Print? This course provides an introduction to Japanese art and adds to the enjoyment of the exhibition. It highlights how Hokusai and Hiroshige influenced Impressionists and Post-Impressionists, including Claude Monet, who had 50 Japanese prints in just one room of his home at Giverny, and Vincent van Gogh, who wrote that inspiration from Japanese art was a key basis for his style.
November 11 – December 9, 2026
Wednesdays, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Location: VBMA Studio 4, Galleries, and via Zoom
#26FA-03 $205 (VBMA Members $175)
Art History of Color
Chris Fasolino
All levels
Back by popular demand! For anyone who has looked at a historic painting and wondered where the colors came from, this unique course reveals the origin of the pigments used by artists. From royal purple, which came from a shellfish, to scarlet red, which came from an insect, to the “Blue Road” that brought lapis lazuli to Europe, discover the exotic secrets and palace intrigue behind your favorite colors!
October 8 – December 10, 2026
(No class November 26. Make-up class TBD.)
Thursdays, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.
Location: VBMA Studio 4 and via Zoom
#26FA-04 $335 (VBMA Members $285)
NEW Key Moments in Art: Renaissance to Contemporary
Lynn Berkowitz
All levels
The art world is driven by pivotal moments that give rise to impactful works that drive profound changes. Some celebrated, some bizarre, always dramatic, stories abound that shed light on the how’s and why’s new art came to be. Explore the roll-out of innovative objects from key moments of the Renaissance and early modernism to post-WWII and contemporary by a diverse range of artists from Giotto and Caravaggio to Kahlo and Kusama.
October 8 – November 5, 2026
Thursdays, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Location: via Zoom
#26FA-05 $140 (VBMA Members $120)
NEW Women Artists: Different Times and Places
Lynn Berkowitz
All levels
Take a deep dive into 5 different timeframes and a diversity of locales where women artists have shaped their own spaces for the making of dazzling works as part of both the traditional art establishment and brand new movements. Discover an array of artists, famous and less-so, taking part in the Dutch Golden Age1600-1775, Danish art scene1880-1910, German Expressionism1890-1924, British artist activism1875-1945, and the African diaspora from the 1920s to now.
November 12 – December 10, 2026
(No class November 26. Make-up class TBD.)
Thursdays, 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Location: via Zoom
#26FA-06 $140 (VBMA Members $120)
CONTEMPLATIVE ARTS
Chair Yoga
Elise Mahovlich
All levels
Students will enjoy an invigorating yoga practice with a slight modification – the chair is the ‘ground.’ Students will employ this everyday prop to take them through the range of motion for a full body workout that will include forward bends, backbends, and spinal twists for flexibility; standing and balancing poses to build stability and core strength; and breathing techniques for body awareness and stress reduction.
October 5 – November 2, 2026
Mondays, 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Location: VBMA Atrium
#26FA-07 $85 (VBMA Members $75)
November 9 – December 7, 2026
Mondays, 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Location: VBMA Atrium
#26FA-08 $85 (VBMA members $75)
Qigong
Katie Nall
All levels
Qigong is an 8,000-year-old movement program that exercises the body as a whole. With over 9,000 variations, it is the parent form for Tai Chi, Kung Fu, acupuncture, acupressure, and Emotional Freedom Technique (Tapping). Qigong is known as the Longevity Exercise. No special equipment required.
October 6 – November 3, 2026
Tuesdays, 6 – 7 p.m.
Location: VBMA Atrium
#26FA-09 $85 (VBMA members $75)
November 10 – December 8, 2026
Tuesdays, 6 – 7 p.m.
Location: VBMA Atrium
#26FA-10 $85 (VBMA members $75)
Art of the Tai Chi Form
John Walcott
All levels
The art of tai chi feeds body, mind, and spirit. In this course, students will learn a series of forms that focus on balance, health, and well-being. A combination of brief lecture and practice, sessions will include opening the energy gate exercises for body, 18-step Qigong for mindfulness, and 24-step tai chi moving meditation for flow of spirit.
October 7 – November 4, 2026
Wednesdays, 8:30 – 9:30 a.m.
Location: VBMA Atrium
#26FA-11 $85 (VBMA members $75)
November 11 – December 9, 2026
Wednesdays, 8:30 – 9:30 a.m.
Location: VBMA Atrium
#26FA-12 $85 (VBMA members $75)
Qigong
John Walcott
All levels
October 8 – November 5, 2026
Thursdays, 8:30 – 9:30 a.m.
Location: VBMA Atrium
#26FA-13 $85 (VBMA Members $75)
November 12 – December 10, 2026
(No class November 26. Make-up class TBD.)
Thursdays, 8:30 – 9:30 a.m.
Location: VBMA Atrium
#26FA-14 $85 (VBMA Members $75)
CLAY
NEW Bas-Relief Sculpture and Mold-Making
Rob Buller
Beginner to intermediate levels
Turn a photograph, drawing, or other 2D image into a 3D low-relief sculptural tile. Through demonstrations in carving and modeling, students create an original design, cast it in a simple plaster mold, and make impressions using air-dry clay. Finished pieces can be enhanced with faux metallic, stone, or acrylic paint, and students leave with their original impressions and a reusable mold for creating future works. Click here for a list of recommended supplies.
October 7 – November 4, 2026
Wednesdays, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Location: VBMA Studio 4
#26FA-15 $205 (VBMA Members $175)
November 11 – December 9, 2026
Wednesdays, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Location: VBMA Studio 4
#26FA-16 $205 (VBMA Members $175)
DRAWING
NEW The Art of Pet Portraits
Sherry Haaland
All levels
Create a portrait of a beloved pet while learning techniques for capturing its unique character and personality. Working from a clear photograph, students will explore proportion, composition, color, texture, and the details that bring an animal portrait to life. Soft pastels and pastel pencils will be the primary focus, or students may work in another medium of their choice. Through individual instruction and guidance, students will develop their pet portrait from beginning to completion.
October 5 – November 2, 2026
Mondays, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Location: VBMA Studio 2
#26FA-17 $205 (VBMA Members $175)
November 9 – December 7, 2026
Mondays, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Location: VBMA Studio 2
#26FA-18 $205 (VBMA Members $175)
Pastels: More Than Just Drawing
Sherry Haaland
All levels
Students will learn pastel techniques of strokes/ marks, scumbling, crosshatching, dabbing, and blending. By experimenting with these methods, students can experiment on their own individual artworks. Click for a list of recommended supplies.
October 8 – November 5, 2026
Thursdays, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Location: VBMA Studio 3
#26FA-19 $205 (VBMA Members $175
November 12 – December 10, 2026
(No class November 26. Make-up class TBD.)
Thursdays, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Location: VBMA Studio 3
#26FA-20 $205 (VBMA Members $175)
NEW Drawing from Observation
Rob Buller
Beginner to intermediate levels
Create original drawings of meaningful subject matter from life experiences. Participants are invited to explore a variety of drawing media, techniques, and different types of drawing through in-class demonstrations, sketchbook exercises, and finished works as they build drawing and observational skills. Class projects include drawing familiar places and a charcoal portrait and/or self-portrait. Although naturalism is emphasized, participants are encouraged to express themselves in how they see the world.
October 8 – November 5, 2026
Thursdays, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Location: VBMA Studio 3
#26FA-21 $205 (VBMA Members $175)
November 12 – December 10, 2026
(No class November 26. Make-up class TBD.)
Thursdays, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Location: VBMA Studio 3
#26FA-22 $205 (VBMA Members $175)
Beginning Drawing: Learning to See
Gerry Geary
Beginner level
Students will learn how to break down what they see into simple shapes, accurate proportions, light, shadow, and form. Through demonstrations and guided practice, students will work from still-life arrangements, natural objects, and photo references while developing skills with graphite and charcoal. In a supportive environment that values progress over perfection, beginners will build confidence and learn to see from an artist’s perspective.
October 8 – December 10, 2026
(No class November 26. Make-up class TBD.)
Thursdays, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Location: VBMA Studio 1
#26FA-23 $335 (VBMA Members $285)
MIXED MEDIA
Focused Open Studio
Judy Burgarella
All levels
Students will work independently in this open studio, bringing their own supplies in the medium of their choice and references to work from. The instructor will offer individual guidance along with demonstrations of various techniques and helpful tips and tricks. Click here for a list of recommended supplies.
October 5 – November 2, 2026
Mondays, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Location: VBMA Studio 2
#26FA-24 $205 (VBMA Members $175)
November 9 – December 7, 2026
Mondays, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Location: VBMA Studio 2
#26FA-25 $205 (VBMA Members $175)
PAINTING
NEW Foundational Painting
Sarah Bernhardt
Beginner and intermediate levels
This course provides a comprehensive foundation in the essential principles of representational art. Working in the medium of choice, students will learn to see like an artist by developing skills in drawing, composition, value, color theory, brushwork, and the application of paint or pastel. Through demonstrations, individualized instruction, and hands-on studio practice, students will complete finished works while gaining the knowledge and confidence needed to continue their artistic journey.
October 5 – December 7, 2026
Mondays, 9:30 a.m.– 12:30 p.m.
Location: VBMA Studio 3
#26FA-26 $335 (VBMA Members $285)
Advanced Painting Techniques
Barry Shapiro
Advanced level
This course is designed for students who have had experience painting in acrylic and/or oil and who wish to expand their knowledge and technical skills. The instructor will encourage students to explore new techniques and work in larger formats. Click here for a recommended list of supplies.
October 5 – December 7, 2026
Mondays, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Location: VBMA Studio 1
#26FA-27 $345 (VBMA Members $295)
Still Life Painting
Barry Shapiro
Beginner to intermediate levels
Each class will start with a brief illustrated presentation, beginning with the history of still life painting. Subsequent presentations will be on specific artists and styles and classes will end with a group critique. Click here for a recommended list of supplies.
October 6 – November 3, 2026
Tuesdays, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Location: VBMA Studio 1
#26FA-28 $205 (VBMA Members $175)
Abstract Painting
Barry Shapiro
All levels
This class is for all levels of artists who want to explore the world of abstract painting by looking at its origins and its contemporary practitioners. Each week features a new style and approach for oil and acrylic painters. Click here for recommended supply list.
November 10 – December 8, 2026
Tuesdays, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Location: VBMA Studio 1
#26FA-29 $205 (VBMA Members $175)
Abstract Painting Techniques
Jack Reilly
All levels
Students will be introduced to various styles and techniques of non-representational, abstract painting, including Abstract Expressionism, Color Field, Figurative Abstraction, Geometric and Hard-Edge. Through a series of individual projects in oil or acrylic media, students will explore artistic techniques and concepts incorporating elements of line, shape, form, color, tone, and texture.
October 6 – November 3, 2026
Tuesdays, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Location: VBMA Studio 3
#26FA-30 $205 (VBMA Members $175)
NEW Experiencing Transparent Watercolor
Joel Johnson
All levels
This class focuses on the basic fundamentals of transparent watercolor, including paper, brushes, pigments, color, value, and painting surfaces. Students will explore primary, secondary, tertiary, and complementary colors, along with warm and cool relationships, light and dark, and the use of transparent pigments. Instructor demonstrations will cover palette arrangement, paint application, and techniques for working on wet, damp, and dry surfaces. Books, prints, and examples of transparent watercolor paintings will also be used throughout the course.
October 7 – December 9, 2026
Wednesdays, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Location: Studio 3
#26FA-31 $335 (VBMA Members $285)
Introduction to Painting
Barry Shapiro
Beginner level
This course is designed to teach beginners the art and science of oil or acrylic painting, including perspective, color, and brushwork. Classes cover what students need to know about how to start an enjoyable and successful lifetime of painting. Students will work on assignments in class with specific instruction. Click here for a recommended list of supplies.
October 7 – December 9, 2026
Wednesdays, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Location: VBMA Studio 1
#26FA-32 $335 (VBMA Members $285)
Intermediate Painting
Barry Shapiro
Intermediate level
This course is for students who have completed Introduction to Painting or are relatively experienced painters looking to enhance their skills. Students will learn from well-known artworks and artists as well as from in-class instruction. Students will study composition through painting exercises in oil or acrylics, including still life, and figurative proportions. Click here for a recommended list of supplies.
October 7 – December 9, 2026
Wednesdays, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Location: VBMA Studio 1
#26FA-33 $335 (VBMA Members $285)
NEW The Shape of Water: Seeing the Ocean with Fresh Eyes
Sarah Bernhardt
All levels
Inspired by Hokusai, Hiroshige, Hasui: Japanese Landscapes in Print on view at the Vero Beach Museum of Art, this class explores the structure and movement of ocean waves through observation, simplification, and intentional painting. Working in oil or pastel, students learn to see water as a series of organized shapes and value relationships rather than surface detail. Through a step-by-step approach, students develop a seascape painting from concept to completion. All instruction is applied directly to each student’s final work and is influenced by the techniques of master painters Frederick Waugh and Ivan Aivazovsky.
October 8 – December 10, 2026
(No class November 26. Make-up class Monday, December 7.)
Thursdays, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Location: VBMA Studio 2
#26FA-34 $335 (VBMA Members $285)