Olivia TaylorWhether you’re a professional artist or a curious beginner, Ottawa offers a vibrant and diverse art scene that caters to all levels of creativity. In fact, there are plenty of art classes in the city that are ready to help you improve your artistic abilities.
And what’s great is that these classes can teach you a lot, from traditional techniques to contemporary expressions. Let’s explore and discuss a couple of amazing art classes in Ottawa that can inspire you and nurture your artistic journey.
Ottawa School of Art
Website: https://artottawa.ca/
Address: 35 George St, Ottawa, ON K1N 8W5, Canada
Contact details: +1 613-241-7471
Operating hours:
8:30 AM – 9:00 PM (MON-THURS)
8:30 AM – 4:00 PM (FRI and SAT)
12:30 PM – 4:00 PM (SUN)
The Ottawa School of Art, located in the heart of Ottawa’s Byward Market, is a vibrant hub for artistic expression. It has a remarkable history, as this institution has been producing artists since 1879.
Its picturesque location sets the stage for offering a diverse array of art courses, including life drawing, landscape painting, and watercolour painting. Depending on your skill level, it might take you a couple of weeks or months to finish a course here.
But it’s not just about classes; the Ottawa School of Art also boasts gallery spaces where they display the works of their students. If you’re interested in applying for one of their courses, check out this link.
| Pro tip: As mentioned earlier, the Ottawa School of Art has galleries where you can see the various artworks made by their students as well as their teachers. Here are their addresses if you plan on visiting them some time: Main Gallery – 35 George Street, Byward Market, Ottawa, ON, K1N 1K2 Lee Matasi Gallery – 35 George Street, Byward Market, Ottawa, ON, K1N 1K2 (adjacent to the Main Gallery)Orleans Campus Gallery – 245 Centrum Boulevard, Ottawa, ON |
Art Haven Ceramic Cafe
Website: https://www.arthaven.ca/
Address: 200 Kennevale Dr #102, Ottawa, ON K2J 6B6, Canada
Contact details: +1 613-823-6822
Operating hours:
11:00 AM – 7:00 PM (SUN-THURS)
11:00 AM – 9:00 PM (FRI and SAT)
Art Haven Ceramic Cafe, located on Kennevale Drive, is a delightful spot where you can unleash your artistic flair. Here, you can learn from a wide range of art classes, workshops, and paint nights on how to become a better artist.
In particular, most art lessons offered here are centred around ceramic painting and canvas painting. When it comes to ceramic painting, you can choose from over 160 ceramic items, like mugs and plates, to show off your creative skills.
Another amazing thing about Art Haven Ceramic Cafe is that it has no studio fees or reservations. All visitors are encouraged to walk into one of their art classes and participate, no matter their age or skill level.
| Pro tip: Art Haven Ceramic Cafe has its own drink bar where you can get a couple of refreshing drinks like bubble teas and smoothies. You can bring your drinks to your art classes, so feel free to sip while creating your masterpiece. |
ViReMiMe Art
Website: http://viremime.com/
Address: 114 Discovery Cres, Ottawa, ON K2S 0Z9, Canada
Contact details: +1 613-801-4205
ViReMiMe Art, located on Discovery Cres, is a sanctuary for artistic expression and learning. Founded by the talented artist Meghna Mehta, this studio has a holistic vision to help people discover their creative abilities and craft beautiful works of art.
All art classes are headed personally by Meghna herself, and she accepts all kinds of students, regardless of age or skill level.
Students are encouraged to use a variety of mediums for their artwork, including crayons, acrylic, oil paint, and shading pencils.
If you’re interested, her classes are held on a weekly basis, and you only need to pay $100 every month to join. Can’t make it to her art studio on Discovery Cres? Don’t worry, because Meghna can teach you online via Skype or FaceTime!
| Pro tip: ViReMiMe Art can provide on-site art workshops and face-painting classes to spice up your parties and special events. You can leave a message on ViReMiMe Art’s email, [email protected], to learn more. |
Wild Pigments Art Studio
Website: https://www.wildpigments.com/
Address: Brookfield Road, Ottawa, ON K1V 8L7, Canada
Contact details: +1 613-558-6507
Our next entry, Wild Pigments Art Studio, has been nurturing artists for over 15 years. Its owner, Elaine Comeau, aims to make learning art accessible and affordable for everyone.
That’s why most art classes here are held through Zoom, so students can learn from Elaine without having to travel to her studio. During each session, students are taught to explore various art forms, like acrylic paintings and ink drawings.
Elaine’s classes are open to both beginners and professional artists, and students as young as teenagers can join. If you’re curious about some of her students’ works, you can check them out on Wild Pigments Art Studio’s website.
| Pro tip: If group classes aren’t your thing, Elaine also offers one-on-one art coaching lessons for only $30 per half-hour. With a background in interior design, she has deep insight when it comes to colour theory, space, and balance. |
ACE Arte Studio
Website: https://www.aceartestudio.com/
Address: 2095 St Joseph Blvd Unit 1, Orléans, ON K1C 1C5, Canada
Contact details: +1 613-590-1010
Operating hours: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM (TUES-SUN)
Distance from the Ottawa CBD: 15 minutes
ACE Arte Studio is all about making learning art a fun and exciting experience for everyone. Located in the nearby eastern town of Orléans, this art studio offers a vibrant and inclusive space where artists are free to discover their passion for art.
Art classes here are open to everyone, regardless of their skill or age. There is plenty of stuff you can learn here, as there’s a huge variety of classes and workshops offered, including drawing, painting, crafts, and pottery.
Another awesome thing about ACE Arte Studio is that it always maintains small class sizes, so instructors can personally guide every student they handle. Art supplies are also included in the class fee, so you don’t have to worry about additional expenses.
| Pro tip: Because ACE Arte Studio promotes free creative expression among its students, most classes tend to get messy. Make sure that you or your child are wearing clothes you’re totally okay with getting soiled with paint before attending an art class! |
Ply Studio
Website: https://plystudio613.com/
Address: 15 Dufferin Rd, Ottawa, ON K1M 1W7, Canada
Contact details: +1 613-850-8485
For a relaxing yet creative experience, check out Ply Studio, located on Dufferin Road. Founded by Carmen Bohn, this art studio aims to use art as a form of meditation.
Here, you can enrol in a variety of art classes that cover different art forms, like watercolour painting, knitting, and pottery. These classes are offered to students ages 13 and up, and students can either attend them in person or virtually.
To encourage mental wellness among students, Carmen actively encourages them to freely express their imaginations without any deadlines to meet. They are also incentivized to try out different mediums to keep their minds engaged and active.
| Pro tip: Don’t have the time to attend one of Ply Studio’s art classes? Don’t worry because Carmen has made several mini-courses and workbooks that let you study topics like colour theory and sketching techniques at your own pace. Learn more about these offerings through this link. |
JasonsAllaPrimaArt
Website: https://jasonsallaprimaart.com/
Address: 90 Baldcypress Way, Ottawa, ON K2V 0N6, Canada
Contact details: +1 613-864-9198
As its name suggests, JasonsAllaPrimaArt is an art studio that specializes in teaching the alla prima method. Its founder, Jason Masney, is a Bob Ross certified (CRI) landscape instructor and can teach you how to draw like the legend himself.
Jason himself personally oversees every student and guides them through every step of the way in learning how to do wet-on-wet painting. As his class sizes are small, he can guarantee that all students will be able to finish painting in one day.
Like Bob Ross, Jason too believes that anyone can paint. That’s why his classes are available to everyone, regardless of their skill level.
As long as you’re keen on learning, you’re welcome to attend his classes.
| Pro tip: Please take note that Jason only offers his art lessons through appointments. Make sure to leave him a message on this website so he can reserve you a spot in one of his art classes. |
4Cats Arts Studio
Website: https://4catstheglebe.com/
Address: 846 Bank St, Ottawa, ON K1S 3W1, Canada
Contact details: +1 613-422-6030
Operating hours:
1:00 PM – 8:00 PM (MON, THURS, and FRI)
10:30 AM – 5:00 PM (SAT and SUN)
Next on our list is the wonderful 4Cats Arts Studio, located in the charming neighbourhood of The Glebe. Founded in 2005, it draws inspiration from the Els Quatre Gats Cafe in Barcelona, which is Picasso’s favourite hangout spot.
Here, creativity knows no bounds, as both kids and adults can immerse themselves in the diverse art classes. Under the guidance of skilled instructors, you can learn skills like clay sculpting, acrylic painting, and mixed media art forms.
Aside from regular art classes, 4Cats Arts Studio also offers special workshops for seasonal events like Christmas and Easter. For ages 5 to 12, this studio also has training camps where kids can develop their art skills during school vacations.
| Pro tip: Looking for a gift? Then you’re in luck because 4Cats Arts Studio has gift cards your recipient can use to attend any of their art classes! If you’re interested, you can buy them through this website. |
Beacon Hill Craft Club
Website: https://bhcraftclub.ca/
Address: 2200 Montréal Rd Unit C1, Ottawa, ON K1J 6M5, Canada
Contact details: +1 613-695-6720
Operating hours:
6:00 PM – 9:00 PM (MON and WED)
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (TUES, THURS, and FRI)
10:00 AM – 3:00 PM (SAT and SUN)
Another amazing art studio you’ll find in Ottawa is the Beacon Hill Craft Club. It’s currently led by Sarah McMaster, a lifelong artist who’s passionate about helping people of all ages explore their natural talents and creative abilities.
What I love about this studio is its wide array of classes and workshops that can help you hone your artistic skills and more. Some noteworthy examples are classes for moss decorating, painting, stitching, terrarium making, and anime drawing.
Furthermore, as a non-profit community art school, they don’t charge a premium for their art classes. In fact, some of their classes, like their stitching lessons, are available for free!
| Pro tip: If you have a couple of unused art materials at home, you can donate them to the Beacon Hill Craft Club to help them with their goal of making art classes affordable to everyone. They will happily accept items like yarns, craft papers, paintbrushes, and more. Leave your contact details here, and one of their staff will reach out to you. |
