Adult Art Classes
Professional artist/instructor, Kay Witherspoon, teaches adult art classes in Realistic Studio Oil Painting. These adult art classes promote standards of excellence within a stimulating community of artists from Denver, Aurora, Littleton, Lone Tree, Centennial, Highlands Ranch, Castle Rock, and Parker, Colorado.
December 26, Update
2026 Registration is now open
2026 Witherspoon Fine Art Since 1997
“Art is essential for all our spirits”
The experience itself is the entire end … and this is what makes art beautiful and pure. Art is complete – a circle of energy between the artist, the viewer, and the Divine – needing nothing else but to simply exist.
Like all true beauty, art possesses us, we do not possess it.
Kay Witherspoon
INSTRUCTOR (https://kaywitherspoon.com/artist/)
Artist, Instructor, and Gallery owner of Witherspoon Fine Art
I began teaching art in Hamilton High School, Montana in 1972. After moving to Denver in 1975 I started Witherspoon Fine Art in 1979 and set up my studio in leased commercial spaces in and around the Denver area. In 2006, I purchased a new, 1864 sq. ft. townhome to serve as my private art studio, gallery, and classroom. It offers far more needed space than a pricy commercial space and has enough room for my working studio; storage space for artwork, frames, packing and shipping supplies; and the finished, carpeted and furnished 2-car garage – complete with cabinets, sink, specialized lighting, easels, chairs, and taboret tables – serves as the classroom.
In my classroom I strive to ensure a safe and congenial atmosphere where artists can meet, learn and grow with one another. I invite you to attend a free orientation to check it out.
LOCATION
Kay Witherspoon Fine Art
“Moose Creek Drifters” (Moose) ©Kay Witherspoon, 12” x 22”, oil on linen, (SOLD) 🏆Award of Excellence by the Society of Animal Artists, canvas giclée prints available
Sample still life from the internet.
Witherspoon highly recommends the first painting for beginners be an 11″ x 14″ still life of fruit.
Adult Art Classes
Adult Art Classes are open to adults age 18 and above, with a strong interest in learning how to oil paint in the realistic tradition. I accept all skill levels subject to an individual orientation meeting. Classes are for serious studio art students seeking to learn the basic foundations of realistic oil painting. They are NOT of the “one class”, paint and sip variety, nor are they of the Bob Ross “Painting-in-a-5 hour-day variety. Witherspoon Fine Art classes, however, focus on enjoyment in the creative process and connection with fellow artists.
Subject Matter
“It is my belief that when a student is able to identify with their subject personally – and better yet, experientially and emotionally,” says Kay, “far more enjoyment and success occurs. Furthermore, in painting, emotion connects and propels more than craft. Art is not just what you paint, it is also and more importantly, what you want to communicate.”
This stated, I highly recommend the beginning student start with an 11′”x 14″ still life of fruit. These can be found on the internet. (Search: fruit images.) This gives the student practice in how to hold and manipulate the various brushes, how to mix the paint to achieve perspective, create form, and how to add an emotional quality to their work.
🎨 At the Loveland CO Art Gallery
Thank you for your interest in my studio art classes.
For the safety and security of the art instructor, students, and visitors, the following additions have been added:
1) two medical and commercial grade Medify Air MA-112 V2.0 purifiers with H13 HEPA Air filters have been added;
3) facilities include touch-free hand sanitizers, soap dispensers, paper hand towels, and waste cans with touch free lids;
4) disinfecting wipes are provided for safe handling as individually desired by the student;
5) class size has been restricted to a maximum of seven – eight (7 – 8) students per class.
*Also added: are specialized 95+ CRI bulbs and swing-arm clamp-on lamps for each easel which provide
the most accurate color quality for their paintings: and clamp-on ipad/iphone holders for each easel to hold their
subject image while the student paints.
STUDENT’S ART SUPPLY LIST
supplied by the artist
🎨 $180.00 – for four weekly, 3 hour classes per month. (See schedule below)
🎨 3 hr. makeup classes – $5.00 ea. , held during regularly scheduled class times as space allows. (paid at time of reservation)
🎨 Students are responsible for missed classes. NO REFUNDS.
🎨 An additional $5.00 Material Fee is added each month to cover the brush cleaning solvent and paper towels, as well as
cat liter for discarded solvent, and other classroom supplies not on the student’s supply list. * Fees paid are non-refundable.
🎨 Weekly classes are held four (4) times per month, one (1) class per week.
🎨 Sign up anytime.
NEW STUDENT ORIENTATIONS
Classes are open to beginners, intermediate, and advanced artists.
An initial short introductory meeting (30-60 minutes) between Kay and the new student must precede the first class and before any fees are paid. There is no cost for this meeting and it is to familiarize the student with the classroom, supplies, teaching style and instructor prior to registering. We also go over their first painting subject. The prospective student should have had some prior drawing and/or painting experience and/or interest. However, this is not mandatory. Each applicant is asked to bring samples of their prior work (if any) and samples of what they would like to start painting. This way Kay can assess how to best help the student in getting started. The student is encouraged to ask questions and is oriented to the facilities, art supplies, and care of supplies. Assuming both the student and instructor then wish to proceed, the first month’s class registration fee ($180.00) and a material fee ($5.00) are then paid. There are no refunds.
ART CLASS SIZE:
Class size is limited to a maximum of eight (8) students.
* A wait-list is generated when classes are filled. Students on the wait list are contacted as openings occur.
*New students may begin anytime, with the class fee adjusted accordingly.
PRIVATE
LESSONS
1 Hour – $90.00
2 Hours – $150.00
* WORKSHOP SCHEDULE
COMING SOON
MONDAY
EVENINGS
4 Weekly $180.00
Continues mo. to mo.
5:00pm-8:00pm
–
THURSDAY
EVENINGS
4 Weekly $180.00
Continues mo. to mo.
5:00pm-8:00pm
Important Changes:
* Just 2 evening classes.
*A $5.00 fee for each makeup class scheduled by the student is to be paid by ZELLE at the time of reservation..
PAYMENT:
Payment is due at time of enrollment to reserve the space. Student’s will be invoiced via my merchant account through “Square”. This allows the students to use their own credit cards, Zelle (*preferred), checks, or cash for payment.
* Students who choose to continue on will pay for the next month’s classes during the last class of each month.
* Late payments are charged +$15.00
🖊Checks, 💵 cash, 
Zelle, 
VISA/MC and PayPal accepted
LESSONS:
Lessons focus on learning how to create compositions that maximize an emotional connection between you, your art and your viewers.
Art terminology used to describe transparent vs opaque colors, tints vs pure pigments, glazing, scumbling and chiaroscuro will be discussed and demonstrated, for example. Color mixing studies will periodically be created to help students understand pigments and mixing qualities. Brush techniques and varieties will be demonstrated on a person by person basis.
Students work on their paintings for duration of each class. They may use their own photographs, web images, images from calendars, yet respect the limitations presented by copyright legislation. Exceptions are quick demonstrations, descriptive examples of Master’s works, discussions of techniques and/or materials, critiques of students work (with permission).
Periodically, descriptive lessons will be sent to students via email to be downloaded and stored on individual computers for easy reference. Demonstrations covering various lessons may occur. Classes include individualized attention with each student as they work on their paintings.
Thank you for visiting.
COMMENT FORM
I'd love to hear from you!
ANNOUNCEMENTS
🎨 Classes are open to beginners, intermediate and advanced artists pending a 1-hr orientation meeting with Kay Witherspoon
🎨 No workshops are scheduled at this time. Please use the Comment Form on this page if you wish to be contacted when a workshop schedule is available