Whether it’s taking an outdoor watercolor class, learning to use a pottery wheel, making a comic, or creating a print, Marion County offers a wide variety of courses for all ages. Ceramics are particularly well-represented, with both the Willamette Art Center and Clay and Kiln Collective focusing entirely on pottery skills. Sites like the Art Department and the Ash Creek Arts Center offer an array of classes, from Japanese calligraphy and book arts to life figure drawing and printmaking. Whatever your interest or age, you can likely find something to interest you in the Marion County arts world.
The Art Department
254 Commercial Street NE, Salem
The Art Department in downtown Salem is an excellent fine art supply store that also hosts weekend classes. Current offerings include everything from life figure drawing (for adults), a comic club for artists 14+, watercolor and acrylic workshops, an exploration of Japanese calligraphy and haiku, and a Christmas card-making class. Most of the class fees do not include supplies, but do include a list of items artists will need that they can purchase for 20% off at the Art Department.
The Willamette Art Center
3995 Fairview Industrial Drive SE, Suite 100, Salem
The Willamette Art Center is a community ceramics studio that offers classes for all ages. Previously located in the Oregon State Fairgrounds, the Willamette Art Center has moved to a new, larger site in Southeast Salem set to open in November of 2025. For many years, visitors to the Willamette Art Center have been able to learn about an array of clay techniques, from handbuilding and wheel to raku and paper clay…