The Firehouse Arts Center offers a variety of classes for all ages! In our classes, participants will learn the fundamentals of art, as well as the techniques and skills they need to create their own works of art. They will also have the opportunity to explore different art mediums and styles. Our classes are a great way for participants to develop their artistic skills, learn about art history, and have fun!
Our Instructors
Debbie Wardrope
Debbie Wardrope is a Bay Area native and longtime Pleasanton resident who has always loved art and has pursued painting for most of her life, even during her 20-year career in mortgage banking. Debbie’s primary medium is pastel, but she also paints in oils and acrylics. Her recent work focuses on the effects of light at sunset and twilight on the city, landscape and ocean. Debbie says, “I believe that art should be beautiful, accessible and evoke an emotional response in the viewer. I strive to create images that are immediately recognizable but are things that are frequently overlooked in the rush of everyday life. I love to capture the glory of God’s creation through the use of light and color.”
Young@Art: Trains!
Love trains? Come see the Livermore/Pleasanton Rails Connect Exhibit, learn about the history of the railroad in our city and be inspired to create your own awesome train art!
Thursday, 9/53:45 pm – 5:00 pmAges 5-10Register here!
Young@Art: Local Color!
Take a gallery tour of our own Pleasanton Art League’s annual art show for inspiration and join us in having a great time creating your own colorful artworks!
Thursday, 11/213:45 pm – 5:00 pmAges 5-10Register here!
Art Fun with Ms. Debbie:
Amazing Autumn Art
Come and make a cute candied apple and candy corn door hanger, a pumpkin mouse house and much more!
Friday, 9/201:30 pm – 2:45 pmAges 4-10Register here!
Friday, 9/203:45 pm – 5:15 pmAges 4-10Register here!
Art Fun with Ms. Debbie:
Monster-rific Halloween Art
Let’s have a monster-rific time creating some cute Halloween art! We’ll make a fun monster mash painting, a ghost and pumpkin wall hanging and more!
Friday, 10/41:30 pm – 2:45 pmAges 4-10Register here!
Friday, 10/43:45 pm – 5:15 pmAges 4-10Register here!
Art Fun with Ms. Debbie:
Frightfully Fun Halloween Art
Join us for a fun-filled afternoon making a cute trick or treat ghost sign, a black cat lantern and more!
Friday, 10/181:30 pm – 2:45 pmAges 4-10Register here!
Friday, 10/183:45 pm – 5:15 pmAges 4-10Register here!
Art Fun with Ms. Debbie:
Thanksgiving P-ART-y!
Join us for a Thanksgiving themed art party! We’ll be making a colorful Native American corn watercolor, a tom turkey collage and more!
Friday, 11/81:30 pm – 2:45 pmAges 4-10Register here!
Friday, 11/83:45 pm – 5:15 pmAges 4-10Register here!
Art Fun with Ms. Debbie:
Jingle Bell Holiday!
Come make some fun and creative Christmas art! We’ll create a snowy Christmas village display, a snowglobe painting and more!
Friday, 12/131:30 pm – 2:45 pmAges 4-10Register here!
Friday, 12/133:45 pm – 5:15 pmAges 4-10Register here!
Tuesday, 12/173:45 pm – 5:15 pmAges 4-10Register here!
Art Fun with Ms Debbie:
Let it Snow!
Join us for some wintery art fun! We’ll be creating all kinds of snowy, glowy winter art projects with a variety of art materials.
Wednesday, 12/4-12/181:30 pm – 2:30 pmAges 4-10Register here!
Wednesday, 12/4-12/183:45 pm – 5:00 pmAges 4-10Register here!
Art Fun with Ms. Debbie:
Merry and Bright
Come create some merry, bright, and sparkly art to display this holiday season! We’ll use glitter, gems, acrylic paint and more to make a snowy, glowy Christmas tree, a cute dog and cat holiday sign and more!
Friday, 12/61:30 pm – 2:45 pmAges 4-10Register here!
Friday, 12/63:45 pm – 5:15pmAges 4-10Register here!
Tuesday, 12/103:45 pm – 5:15pmAges 4-10Register here!
Art Fun with Ms. Debbie:
Frosty Art Fun!
Love snow people? We’ll be creating all kinds of different snow people including a 3D snowman, a snowperson portrait and much more!
Friday, 1/171:30 pm – 2:45 pmAges 4-10Register here!
Friday, 1/173:45 pm – 5:15 pmAges 4-10Register here!
Art Making with Ms. Debbie:
Get Wild With Watercolor
Watercolor is a fun way to make super cool, colorful and creative art projects! We’ll be using pan, tube and liquid watercolors to learn different watercolor techniques including splattering, how to mix color and creative ways to use it with other mediums including oil pastel, salt, and more Join us and get wild with watercolor!
Wednesday, 9/4-9/251:30 pm – 2:30 pmAges 4-10Register here!
Wednesday, 9/4-9/253:45 pm – 5:00 pmAges 4-10Register here!
Art Making with Ms. Debbie:
Animal Art Adventure
Love tigers, sloths, koalas and foxes? Come explore the jungle, rainforest, outback and wilderness with art that’s all about wild animals! We’ll use a variety of art materials including acrylic, watercolor and oil pastels to learn to draw and paint some amazing animals and their environments. All new for fall!
Wednesday, 10/2-10/231:30 pm – 2:30 pmAges 4-10Register here!
Wednesday, 10/2-10/233:45 pm – 5:00 pmAges 4-10Register here!
Art Making with Ms. Debbie:
Awesome Ocean Art!
If you love sea creatures, the ocean and beach, this class is for you! We’ll be focusing on subjects including whales, dolphins, tropical beach sunsets, boats, lighthouses and more! We’ll look at the art of marine artists and explore different art mediums as we draw, paint and collage our ocean-themed art.
Wednesday, 10/30-11/201:30 pm – 2:30 pmAges 4-10Register here!
Wednesday, 10/30-11/203:45 pm – 5:00 pmAges 4-10Register here!
Art Making with Ms. Debbie:
Modern Art Mania
Explore the fun and engaging world of modern art! Inspired by several modern art movements and artists, we’ll create colorful and unique projects using cut paper, mixed media, acrylics and more Kids will get a little art history along with learning cutting, gluing, drawing and painting skills.
Wednesday, 1/8-1/291:30 pm – 2:30 pmAges 4-10Register here!
Wednesday, 1/8-1/293:45 pm – 5:00 pmAges 4-10Register here!
Art Making with Ms. Debbie: Drawing for Tweens and Teens
Learn to draw in a fun and creative way! We’ll be covering the basics of drawing while creating unique works of art in pencil, charcoal, pen and ink and colored pencil. If you love to draw and want to improve your skills, this class is for you.
Tuesday, 9/10-10/14:00 pm – 5:15 pmAges 10-16Register here!
Art Making with Ms. Debbie: Animal Drawing and Painting for Tweens and Teens
From domestic pets to wild forest, jungle and rainforest animals and sea creatures, we’ll be creating a fun variety of creative and unique drawings and paintings you’ll love
Come join us as we explore the animal kingdom through art!
Tuesday, 11/5-12/3*4:00 pm – 5:15 pmAges 10-16Register here!
*No class 11/26
Beginning and Intermediate Drawing
Want to learn to draw or improve your skills? Come join us! Beginning students will learn drawing basics such as contour, negative space, perspective and values while more
advanced students are welcome to bring their own projects or use the instructor-provided materials or still life.
Tuesday, 10/8-10/297:00 pm – 9:00 pmAges 16+Register here!
Beginning and Intermediate Painting
Want to learn to paint or improve your painting skills? Beginners will be instructed in the basics including color mixing, value, atmospheric perspective and more using
acrylic paint. More advanced students can paint in any medium and work on their own projects with help from the instructor.
Thursday, 1/9-1/307:00 pm – 9:00 pmAges 16+Register here!
Painting Workshop: Pastel, Oil, and Acrylic
This class is for anyone who wants to learn and grow in their artistic endeavors in a relaxed and supportive environment. Beginners and more experienced students are welcome. Beginners will receive painting exercises to get them started on the medium of their choice.
Wednesday, 9/4-9/259:30 am – 12:30 pmAges 16+Register here!
Wednesday, 10/2-10/239:30 am – 12:30 pmAges 16+Register here!
Wednesday, 10/30-11/209:30 am – 12:30 pmAges 16+Register here!
Wednesday, 12/4-12/189:30 am – 12:30 pmAges 16+Register here!
Wednesday, 1/8-1/299:30 am – 12:30 pmAges 16+Register here!
Charlotte Severin
Charlotte Severin is an award winning Bay Area Plein Air Artist whose works are displayed in public and private collections in the United States and many foreign countries! She has led painting trips for forty years and taught watercolor for 27 years for The City of Pleasanton.
Art Made Easy with Charlotte Severin – Intermediate/Advanced
Experiment with watercolor, textures, rice paper collage and painting. Subject matter to include people, animals, and nature paintings from life or abstract. Some watercolor experience needed.
Thursday, 9/12-10/24*1:30 pm – 3:30 pmAges 18+Register here!
Thursday, 11/14-1/16*1:30 pm – 3:30 pmAges 18+Register here!
*No class 10/3, 11/28, 12/5, 12/26, 1/2
Zina Kassab
Zina grew up to love art and painting from a young age, painting next to her father who was a well-recognized oil and watercolor artist, her father was her first art teacher. Being that art was such a big part of Zina’s life she obtained a B.A in Print Design from the Academy Of Art and later continued her education earning another certificate in graphic design.
Zina has lived in the Tri valley for over 30 years and has been teaching with the City Of Pleasanton and The Town Of Danville for over 8 years.
Zina loves teaching art to all ages!
She strives to create a wonderful experience for all of her students if they are a beginner or an experienced artist.
Zina has enjoyed sketching, painting in watercolors and acrylics and has exhibited her work at the Pleasanton museum, the gallery at John Muir hospital and Harrington gallery at the Firehouse art center and continues to exhibit her art.
Acrylic Painting for Kids
Come have fun painting with acrylic! We’ll create themed paintings using sponges, different brushes, and other fun materials! Students will be guided with step-by-step
instructions and will go home with beautiful works of art.
Thursday, 9/5-9/264:00 pm – 5:30 pmAges 5-10Register here!
Thursday, 10/3-10/244:00 pm – 5:30 pmAges 5-10Register here!
Thursday, 11/7-11/214:00 pm – 5:30 pmAges 5-10Register here!
Thursday, 12/5-12/194:00 pm – 5:30 pmAges 5-10Register here!
Thursday, 1/9-1/304:00 pm – 5:30 pmAges 5-10Register here!
Acrylic Painting
Learn all about painting with acrylics, mix colors, and explore acrylic techniques and textures. All levels are welcome. No experience is necessary. We’ll paint a landscape or still life from a photo. You can bring your own photo or use one of the provided photos.
Thursday, 9/5-9/2610:30 am – 12:30 pmAges 18+Register here!
Thursday, 10/3-10/2410:30 am – 12:30 pmAges 18+Register here!
Thursday, 11/7-11/2110:30 am – 12:30 pmAges 18+Register here!
Thursday, 12/5-12/1910:30 am – 12:30 pmAges 18+Register here!
Thursday, 1/9-1/3010:30 am – 12:30 pmAges 18+Register here!
Sketching
Learn how to draw, understand perspective, and contrast. Students will learn how to use the sketching pencils, shade, and learn a variety of sketching techniques. We’ll sketch
landscape, seascape, and still life. All levels are welcome! Optional $12 supply fee is payable to the instructor at the first class for new students.
Tuesday, 9/10-10/110:30 am – 12:00 pmAges 18+Register here!
Tuesday, 10/8-10/2910:30 am – 12:00 pmAges 18+Register here!
Tuesday, 11/5-11/1910:30 am – 12:00 pmAges 18+Register here!
Tuesday, 12/3-12/1710:30 am – 12:00 pmAges 18+Register here!
Tuesday, 1/14-1/2810:30 am – 12:00 pmAges 18+Register here!
Cindy Kiraku Ting
Cindy Kiraku Ting Certified Sogetsu Ikebana Instructor & Floral Designer
Ikebana has been a part of Cindy’s life for the last 25 years. Throughout her career in technology and her dedication as a mother and wife, she has remained passionate about expanding her ikebana knowledge and expertise. More recently, with exposure to both eastern and western influences, Cindy continues to advance her style and techniques. Utilizing both fresh and unconventional materials, she loves creating classic as well as more modern structures as part of her Ikebana arrangements. Cindy has been teaching and sharing her learnings and style through workshops, classes, and exhibitions as a certified Sogetsu instructor for the last few years. Cindy believes Ikebana is a lifelong journey as she continues to learn, teach and share.
Ikebana Flower Arrangement
Ikebana is a Japanese style of flower arrangement that focuses on creativity and individuality. The philosophy is that Ikebana can be done by anyone, anywhere, with almost anything. Students will learn the basics of Ikebana, create their own arrangements, be critiqued by Cindy Sensei, and take their arrangement home and enjoy. Fresh materials will be provided.
Friday, 9/6-10/259:30 am – 11:00 amAges 16 years & upRegister here!
Friday, 11/1-12/20*9:30 am – 11:00 amAges 16 years & upRegister here!
Friday, 1/10-1/319:30 am – 11:00 amAges 16 years & upRegister here!
*No class 11/22, 11/28, 11/29
