Art Instruction
In-Person Art Classes
The Adler Center reserves the right to cancel any class that does not meet its minimum student enrollment prior to the first class.
If a class is cancelled by the Adler Center due to lack of enrollment, the Adler Center will offer a full refund or credit to the student in the manner in which tuition was paid. (Cash payments will be refunded by check.)
Student cancellations up to 7 days prior to the start of class will receive a full refund or credit, minus a $20 withdrawal fee.No refunds are available after this time.
Refund requests must be made in writing and submitted to Ellen Williams at ellen@adlercenter.org.
Spring art session
Youth Classes
Creative Explorers!
(Ages 5-8)
In Creative Explorers, young artists set out on an exciting journey of imagination and discovery! Each week, students will experiment with a variety of art materials and techniques- from drawing and painting to collage, printmaking, and simple sculpture. Through playful projects and creative prompts, kids will explore new ideas, tell visual stories, and bring their imaginations to life. With plenty of time to experiment, make colorful messes, and try new things, this class encourages curiosity, creativity, and confidence while helping young artists discover the joy of making art.
$200
mondays 4:30 - 6pm
or
Wednesdays 4:30 - 6pm
(6 weeks)
April 13 - May 20
Instructor : Heather Krebs
Youth Clay
(Ages 8-12)
This fun and engaging ceramics class introduces young artists to the fundamentals of working with clay. Students will explore basic hand building techniques such as pinch, coil, and slab construction while learning how to shape, texture, and decorate their creations.
Throughout the six-week session, students will create a variety of functional and sculptural pieces while gaining confidence in the ceramics studio and expressing their creativity.
$250
Tuesdays 4:30 - 6pm
(6 weeks)
april 14 - may 19
Instructor: Emily Luna
Youth Painting
(Ages 9 - 12)
In this fun and imaginative six-week class, young artists will explore the exciting world of painting while building creativity and confidence. Using a variety of materials such as tempera and watercolor paints, students will learn foundational techniques including color mixing, brush control, and simple composition. Through playful, themed projects, they’ll experiment with shapes, textures, and layering—painting from both observation and imagination.
Each session introduces new skills in an age-appropriate, hands-on way, encouraging self-expression and a love of art. Perfect for kids who love to paint and want to grow their artistic skills in a fun, supportive setting.
$200
Thursdays 4:30 - 6pm
(6 weeks)
april 16 - may 21
Instructor: Amanda Losness Ross
Spring art session
Teen/Adult Classes
Reading Junk Journals
(Ages 13 & Up)
$175
Tuesdays 6-8pm
(3 weeks)
April 14 - 28
Instructor: Genevieve Modlin
Adult Ceramics Open Studio
(Ages 18 & Up)
For Returning Adler Arts Center ceramics students only
This spring open studio offers dedicated ceramics studio time for students who have previously taken ceramics classes at the Adler Arts Center. Work independently on your own clay projects -functional, sculptural, or experimental – while enjoying access to studio tools and materials.
Designed for experienced Adler ceramics students who are comfortable working without instructor guidance, this session provides a relaxed space to continue creating and developing your practice. All kiln firings will be handled by Adler instructors and staff according to the studio firing schedule.
$200
Wednesdays 6:30-9pm
(6 weeks)
april 14 - may 19
No Instructor
Drawing 102: Building Depth & Detail
(Ages 13 & Up)
Take your drawing skills to the next level in this six-week course designed for students who have completed Drawing 101 or have basic drawing experience. In this class, we’ll focus on developing stronger observational skills while learning techniques that add depth, dimension, and refinement to your work.
Through guided exercises and longer studies using graphite, charcoal, and ink, students will explore advanced shading, value transitions, texture, and composition. We’ll practice drawing more complex subjects while learning how to create convincing form, atmosphere, and spatial depth on the page.
$225
Thursdays 6:30-8:30pm
(6 weeks)
april 16 - may 21
Instructor: Amanda Losness Ross
spring art session
Workshops & Drop-ins
The Adler Arts Center offers dynamic Workshops and welcoming Drop-In opportunities for all skill levels.
Experiment with inspiring materials, learn new techniques, and enjoy relaxed, creative exploration.
A perfect way to engage with the arts – on your schedule.
Adler Art Faculty
Heather enjoys working in gouache and watercolor when she paints. She generally focuses on animals and pastries. She additionally works with fiber, knits, crochets, and renovates her clothing. She often plays with depth and implied texture and movement.
Heather was classically trained in painting, sculpture, and printmaking at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and was a high school art teacher for over 16 years. She lives and makes things in Libertyville.
Amanda holds a degree in Fine Art and English from Montana State University Billings and brings a wonderful blend of creativity, curiosity, and outdoor enthusiasm to our youth art program.
With a strong background in leading children’s summer camps, Amanda discovered her passion for combining artistic expression with outdoor exploration. Her own artwork is deeply inspired by nature, and she loves sharing that inspiration with her students.
An avid backpacker, camper, and wilderness explorer, Amanda brings that same spirit of adventure into her teaching. She helps kids connect with the natural world through hands-on art projects that spark curiosity, imagination, and a lasting appreciation for creativity in the outdoors.
Emily is an artist and maker who works primarily in clay and occasionally in prints. She’s driven by a basic desire to make, and in doing so draws inspiration from her Mexican cultural upbringing and the visual eclecticism of popular cultures and symbols. Her hope is to make art that is brimming with layers of color, pattern, pain and joy, and which showcases the resilience of the human spirit.
She studied drawing, printmaking, sculpture, and ceramics at Carleton College where she got her Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art. Since then, she has been making art, teaching ceramics, and residing in the Chicagoland area.
Phil is a color pencil artist that paints with the pencil. His botanical renderings are not drawings of plant specimens as seen in scientific books, rather, they are renderings of plants as seen through the eye of an artist.
In his drawings, he focuses on achieving realism and tries to put in as much detail as possible, wanting the viewer to look and then get lost in the scene as if they were standing in it.
He attended Eastern Illinois University with an Art Scholarship, and received his Bachelor of Arts with a double major in Graphic Design and 2D Studio Art 1984. Since that time he has worked for printing companies and, since 1993, has been a self employed Graphic Artist.
Website
Roberta is a working artist who’s media is usually clay, but recently has been welding metal to support, display, and complement ceramic objects. Her path to making has been constant, although circuitous, with professional time being applied as a potter, graphic designer, and art educator. Her hope is to create work inspired by subconscious and intuitive leanings with triggers from gestures, memories, and patterns.
“Why do I make objects? It is a way for me to express feeling and thought about my experience as a human; it connects me to the earth, her inhabitants, and my own shadowed light.”