Adult Art Classes In San Diego
Your Gateway to Creativity and Community
Explore, Create, Connect: Art Classes for Adults
San Diego creatives, we are your art headquarters! Join our Adult Art Classes in San Diego to learn painting in oil, acrylic, and watercolor. Learn to draw in pastel, colored pencil, charcoal, and graphite. Learn stained glass, resin pouring, mosaics, alcohol ink, and more! Explore art in a one time workshop, dive in with a series, or share with friends at our private parties! Or visit our pottery page!
Prefer to work independently? Visit our Art Memberships page to learn about open studio access.
Don’t Miss These Upcoming Workshops
Paint Night: Watercolor Lemons
6:30pm – 8:30pm PDT
Paint Night - Watercolor Lemons
A fresh and vibrant 2-hour watercolor workshop focused on painting a simple lemon still life. Learn how to mix luminous yellows, create soft shadows, and build depth using classic watercolor techniques. Perfect for beginners and beyond, this class is all about loosening up, letting the paint flow, and leaving with a bright, finished piece. All materials provided!
Clay Handbuilding: Jewelry Dishes & Ring Cone
9:00am – 11:00am PDT
In this hands-on workshop, you’ll design and craft a custom ceramic jewelry dish and ring cone set—perfect for your nightstand, bathroom, or as a thoughtful handmade gift. We’ll take this classic project a step further, focusing on organic shapes, modern textures, and elevated design details that feel more boutique than basic.
Resin Soap Dispenser + Trinket Box Workshop
9:00am – 11:00am PDT
Resin Soap Dispenser + Trinket Box Workshop
Create a functional piece of art in this 2-hour resin workshop, where you’ll design a custom soap dispenser and matching trinket box in soft, marbled tones. Learn how to mix, pour, and swirl resin with pigments and metallic accents to achieve that dreamy, layered look. Perfect for beginners, this class is all about playing with color, embracing the flow, and leaving with two beautiful, one-of-a-kind pieces. ✨
All materials included!
Clay Handbuilding: Wine Bottle Chillers/Utensil Crock
9:00am – 11:00am PDT
Create something beautiful and functional for your home
In this hands-on workshop, you’ll design and build your own ceramic wine bottle chiller or kitchen utensil crock—a timeless piece that’s equal parts practical and artful. Using simple handbuilding techniques, we’ll guide you through forming a clean cylinder shape, then elevating it with texture, carving, and personalized details that match your style. 
Oversized Abstract Art Painting Workshop
6:00pm – 8:00pm PDT
Go big and bold in this expressive abstract art workshop 🎨 Create your own oversized canvas masterpiece while exploring color, texture, and movement in a fun, relaxed environment. Using brushes, palette knives, and mixed media techniques, you'll experiment with layering, composition, and mark-making to create a statement piece that's uniquely yours. No experience needed—just bring your creativity and get ready to loosen up, play, and paint without limits.
Clay Teapots - Handbuilding Workshop
9:00am – 11:00am PDT
Create a one-of-a-kind ceramic teapot in this fun and creative handbuilding workshop ☕ Using slab, coil, and sculpting techniques, you'll design and build your teapot from the ground up while learning how to balance both form and function. Personalize your piece with unique textures, decorative details, and your choice of handle, lid, and spout styles. Our instructors will guide you every step of the way, and your finished teapot will be professionally fired and glazed, ready for pickup in a few weeks as a beautiful handmade keepsake or functional piece for your home.
Oversized Mixed Media Expression Workshop
6:30pm – 8:30pm PDT
Let your creativity run wild in this oversized mixed media workshop 🎨 Create a bold, expressive piece of art on a large canvas using layers of paint, stencils, stamps, collage materials, stickers, words, and unique mark-making techniques. Explore texture, color, symbols, and meaningful imagery as you build a personal visual story that's entirely your own. No experience is necessary—just bring an open mind and a willingness to experiment. All materials are included, and you'll leave with a one-of-a-kind mixed media masterpiece.
ART SERIES CLASSES
All classes are beginner-friendly and include all materials. Click on “Book Multi-Class Series” to see our themes for each class being taught.
Oil Painting
$325
Acrylic Painting
$300
Watercolor Painting
$300
Pastel Drawing
$300
Charcoal & Graphite Drawing
$300
Figure Drawing
$365
Portrait Drawing
$365
Stained Glass
$395
ART WORKSHOPS
We bring back these favorite workshops every month. Our Adult Art Classes in San Diego include “Paint Your Pet,” a fun and easy painting experience with a pre-drawn canvas. Enjoy the treasure hunt and puzzle-solving of stained glass, create gallery-ready pieces with resin pouring, and receive step-by-step guidance from our expert teachers.
Resin Pouring
Learn to resin pouring! Be mesmerized by this fluid painting process that mimics the complexity of the ocean or cosmos like no other! Your AH-MAZE-ING epoxy resin will be on 16" x 20" wood. (Inquire about resin jewelry!)
Paint Your Pet
Paint a portrait of your favorite muse, make friends, and learn basic painting techniques. We pre-draw your canvas so you can jump right into painting!
Stained Glass
Learn the art of stained glass. Build a whimsical project out of a variety of glass shapes and colors. You get to select, puzzle, cut, grind, foil, and solder it together. This intro is all about process, not perfection. Each piece will be unique!
PAINT NIGHTS & LIFE DRAW
Figure Drawing
Advance your skills and techniques by drawing from a nude model. We work with about 6 models who host different months. This is our only workshop with no instruction or supplies.
Drawing Workshop
A one-class drawing workshop that offers hands-on instruction to help participants improve their skills. Through guided exercises and personalized feedback, attendees will explore various techniques and complete a drawing by the end of the session. The workshop may focus on various subjects, such as still life, landscapes, or figure drawing, depending on the monthly theme. Appropriate for beginners to experienced artists!
Painting Workshop
A one-day painting workshop is a fun, hands-on experience where you'll explore new techniques, play with colors, and unleash your creativity! With guided exercises and personalized tips, you'll create your own masterpiece by the end of the day. Every month we have a different theme or subject! Perfect for beginners to experience artists, and those looking to spark their artistic side!
CRAFTS
Our Saturday craft workshops are friendly, mellow get-togethers that boost your dopamine and serotonin levels. Join our Adult Art Classes in San Diego and create something lovely for your home.
Candle Making
Learn how to make soy wax candles! Make three 7-8oz candles customized with colors, scents, and decor.
Alcohol Ink
Learn to paint dreamy images and florals with alcohol ink. Use a variety of tools to coax paint and alcohol on both paper and glass surfaces.
Mixed Media
Learn encaustic painting. Paint with fire and wax! Add tissue, original drawings, book text between layers of colored wax paint and fuse with fire.
Explore Your Artistry: Open Studio for 2D Artists
Dive into personal creative projects every Sunday from 10 AM to 1 PM at our Open Studio sessions. The Artist Outpost offers a stimulating environment where 2D artists can bring their visions to life. Whether you’re sketching, painting, or exploring other 2D mediums, our studio is your canvas. Bring your own materials or use ours for an additional fee. Ideal for artists seeking a space to focus and create, surrounded by fellow creatives. Book your spot now and let your creativity flow!
Gift Creativity!
Purchase a gift card today and unlock a world of artistic possibilities with our Adult Art Classes in San Diego. Ideal for any occasion, our gift cards let the recipient choose their favorite art class at their convenience.
Adult Art Classes in San Diego FAQs
What types of art classes do you offer for adults?
We offer a diverse range of adult art classes including acrylic painting, oil painting, watercolor, and specialty workshops such as ‘Paint and Sip’ nights. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to refine your skills, there’s a class to suit every interest and skill level.
What "school of thought" do you use when teaching?
Our experienced teaching artists love sharing “master” art school techniques with you so you have a tried and true foundation to build on. Literally and figuratively. These methods will elevate your creative process, no mater your medium. We aim to elevate your expectations and prove to you, making art can be really natural. Art belongs to you!
What will I learn in a Painting Series?
In our acrylic and oil painting series, you will learn all the foundations for thoughtful painting. We use under painting to provide our images with a rich tonal base and as a way to take over that boring white canvas. We color mix with pallet knives and learn about tint (adding white), shade (adding black), the importance of maintaining chroma (not mixing white or black), and tone. From there, series techniques vary. One series may focus on layering transparent glazes while another focuses on exclusively thick brushstrokes that are left on the canvas unblended.
What will I learn in a Drawing Series?
In our Charcoal Drawing series, you’ll learn that contrasting tone is everything. We tone our paper, draw in mid tones, dark shadows, and even draw in the light! Protip: we can use erasers to make magnificent highlights. The Pastel Series is a special medium that’s the perfect mix of drawing and painting methods. Contrasting light remains critical to our design, but we add color theory to create stunning works.
Do I need to bring my own materials?
All materials and tools you need for class are provided by us EXCEPT our monthly life drawing workshop which is BYO-supplies and is our only class that isn’t instructed. Some series and workshops require you to email us a photo ahead of time to be printed. For our monthly Paint Your Pet workshop, we ask you to email us a photo of your pet for us to pre-draw on your canvas.
Can I be a total beginner and still sign up for an art series?
Absolutely! Our classes are all designed for absolute beginners. You can take any of our classes with no prior experience. Our classes also welcome artists who’ve taken a hiatus from art who want it back in their lives. Our teachers are experienced in catering to students with a range of experience.
What if I need to cancel or reschedule my class?
Our classes are all designed for absolute beginners. You can take painting without ever having painted or drawn and visa versa. Our classes also welcome artists who’ve taken a hiatus from art who want it back in their lives. Our teachers are experienced in catering to students with a range of experience.
Why Join Us?
Join the Best Adult Art Classes in San Diego
Discover the joy and freedom of expressing yourself through art and pottery at The Artist Outpost. Join our Adult Art Classes in San Diego, perfect for aspiring artists and potters or anyone looking to unwind and have fun. Our studio provides the ideal setting to explore and enhance your artistic skills. We teach oil painting, acrylic painting and watercolor. Drawing in charcoal, pencil, pen, and pastel. We teach pottery, whether hand building or throwing on the wheel. Our classes take the form of workshops or courses.
Why Choose Us?
If you’re searching for “art lessons near me” or “pottery classes near me,” look no further than The Artist Outpost. Conveniently located in Ocean Beach at 4934 Voltaire St Suite A, our studio is just a short drive from Downtown San Diego, Mission Beach, Old Town, and Point Loma. Join us at The Artist Outpost and connect with fellow art lovers as you embark on your creative journey!
Community and Connection
Join a vibrant community of artists and art lovers. Our classes are more than just learning; they're about connecting with others and sharing the joy of creation.
Diverse Offerings
With a wide range of classes including painting, pottery, and special workshops, you can find the perfect fit for your interests and skill level. There’s always something new to try!
Expert Guidance
Our experienced instructors are passionate about art and dedicated to helping you achieve your artistic goals. They provide personalized attention and guidance to ensure your growth and enjoyment.
