Word Up!
Styles | Contemporary Explorations of Using Words in Art
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OVERVIEW
Painterly’s two-hour beginner’s workshop provides a unique approach to visual art by placing text and typography at the center of the composition.
Drawing inspiration from artists like Jean-Michel Basquiat and Conceptual artists, students will learn to use words not just for meaning, but as visual elements, texture, and abstract form. The class will focus on techniques for integrating written phrases, stylized lettering, repetition, and symbolism to create layers of meaning and visual complexity. Participants will experiment with how font size, spacing, and bold application can convey emotion, resulting in an original piece where the language is as much a part of the image as color or line.
PRICING
All classes are $100 per canvas with a ten (10) student class minimum.
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to counteract the age of disposable experiences by teaching genuine creative skills. Painterly’s framework promotes the creation of keepsake artwork that carries lasting personal value, rather than becoming clutter. In a world where art is often mass-produced or prohibitively expensive, we offer an affordable and intentional pathway for our students to create their own meaningful, display-worthy creations rooted in solid artistic foundations.
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Art incorporating text is compelling because it forces the viewer to engage both their visual perception and their linguistic understanding simultaneously, challenging the traditional separation between reading and looking. By using words, artists can imbue the abstract qualities of line, shape, and color with specific, potent narrative or political meaning, adding an immediate, intellectual layer to the visual experience.
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Probably everywhere, especially in the age of advertising. Some famous artists who often used words with art include Andy Warhol, Roy Liechtenstein, Ed Ruscha, Barbara Kruger, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and more.
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Guided group demonstration
Personalized instruction
Premium 12 x 16 gallery wrap canvas
Workshop guide
Shared class supplies (brushes, paints, etc.)
Fresh, frameable art compositions
Deeper understanding of art history
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AGES | All ages welcome but 13+ is recommended to benefit the most from instruction.
PREREQUISITE | None. No prior artistic skill required, either.
ARRIVAL | Please allow an extra 15-30 minutes for mingling to ensure you are settled when instruction begins.
ATTIRE | Heavy-duty canvas aprons are provided for class, but because accidents happen sometimes, we do recommend wearing clothes that you don’t mind getting a tad messy.
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TO BOOK | Click here to book a painting event at the location of your choice. Once your booking is confirmed, a 25% non-refundable deposit is required to secure your event.
RESCHEDULING + CANCELLATION POLICY |72-hour notice is required for a 75% refund of prepaid class bookings; bookings may be transferred to a future class before the 72-hour notice timeframe by contacting events@painterly.co. If cancellation or a request to rebook occurs after 72- hours before the start of class, no refund will be provided regardless of reason (note: this policy enables Painterly to protect our artist instructors, who are directly impacted by last-minute cancellations).