You get to make art here!
Programming
Weekly Offerings
Teen Art Club
Tuesdays, 3:15PM - 5:15PM | 20 Jan - 19May
Ages: Teens (anyone with a 1 plus another digit who loves art!)
$180 for all 18 sessions or $12 each
Teens are welcome to hang out, make art and make friends. Students can sketch quietly on their own with others nearby, draw or paint from a still life, or they can collaborate and plan special projects together. This spring, can work on a backdrop for a play. We will have guest artists join from time to time to share their art and their art journey. Ultimately, the students will help form what this is and how it will work. No instruction provided, but staff offer guidance.
Open Studio
Mondays, 1:00PM - 4:00PM
$5
Open studio. No instruction. Bring your own materials and enjoy our space and our community. Drop in only. No registration needed. There is no adult guidance, so adults must accompany children needing guidance.
Working Artist Series: Demystifying the Art Critique
April 2
6-8PM
Instructors: Jessie Rebik and Troy Aiken
Ages: 14+
Level: For artists leaning into professional art making
$5
This two-hour workshop will share tips for getting helpful information out of art critiques. Instructors Jessie Rebik and Troy Aiken will provide critique strategies for artists to provide and receive useful feedback.
Home school Art Adventures (Wednesdays)
Wednesdays 10:00am-noon
Apr 8, May 6
Instructor: Jess Ochoa
Ages: Grades 3 and up
$30 per class
Miss Jess will introduce students to activities based in fundamental art skills and FUN!
Harnessing Color + Design
10 April 6-8pm
11-12 April 9am-4pm each day
Instructor: Hector Acuna
Ages: 16+
$250
Adults may head to a local establishment Friday night after class. Bring your lunch Saturday and Sunday!
All images, regardless of history and medium, can be created and understood through universal visual languages and concepts of color and design. The ability to understand an image through these concepts can be learned and practiced. In this robust studio workshop students of all levels are invited to learn accessible ways of recognizing and employing principles of composition while practicing functional relationships of color theory.
Middle School Art Adventures (Saturdays)
Saturdays 10:00am-noon
Apr 11, May 9
Instructor: Jess Ochoa
Ages: Middle School
$30
Miss Jess will introduce students to activities based in fundamental art skills and FUN!
Figure Drawing OPen Studio
Experienced figure models, a great space, and a wonderful community. Join us for open figure drawing sessions. Nude models. Must be 18+. No instruction is provided. No registration necessary! $15/session
ReFraming Art: Art for Everyone
Enjoy an evening out celebrating art and community!
Tickets: $35 if purchased in advance, $40 at the door.
Grades 3-5 Art Adventures (Saturdays)
Saturdays 10am-noon
Apr 18, May 16
Instructor: Brie Nadermann
Ages: Grades 3-5
$30
Miss Brie will introduce students to activities based in fundamental art skills and FUN!
Home school Art Adventures (Wednesdays)
Wednesdays 10:00am-noon
May 6
Instructor: Jess Ochoa
Ages: Grades 3 and up
$30 per class
Miss Jess will introduce students to activities based in fundamental art skills and FUN!
Middle School Art Adventures (Saturdays)
Saturdays 10:00am-noon
Apr 11, May 9
Instructor: Jess Ochoa
Ages: Middle School
$30
Miss Jess will introduce students to activities based in fundamental art skills and FUN!
Painting the Iowa Landscape in Pastel
16-17 May, 9am-4pm
Instructor: Tom Christopher
Ages: 16+
$250
A wonderful chance to learn about Tom's unique approach. Tom begins each class day with a complete pastel painting demonstration. Attending artists will produce a pastel painting using Tom's award winning techniques for a textured underpainting in acrylics. During this painting period Tom will meet with each student independently to offer critiques and suggestions.
Materials List
Bring the following:
1. Small set of soft pastels (note that not all pastels are soft!)
2. Small set of acrylic or watercolor paints and brushes
3. Three sheets of sanded pastel paper. recommended (Tom uses u-art sanded pastel paper.)
4. Small sketch pad
5. Paper towels or rags
6. Landscape reference photos.
Tom will supply each student with one gator board panel to learn his technique for an acrylic pastel underpainting.
Grades 3-5 Art Adventures (Saturdays)
Saturdays 10am-noon
Instructor: Brie Nadermann
Ages: Grades 3-5
$30
Miss Brie will introduce students to activities based in fundamental art skills and FUN!
Figure Drawing
Experienced figure models, a great space, and a wonderful community. Join us for open figure drawing sessions. Nude models. Must be 18+. No instruction is provided. No registration necessary! $15/session
From Stone to Color: Making Pigment from Place (Dubuque)
20-21 June
9am-Noon
Instructor: Erin Kono
Ages: 14+
$85
This two-day workshop introduces students to the origins of pigment by transforming locally collected stone into usable watercolor paint. Participants will explore geology, material history, and collaborative artmaking while creating pigment sourced directly from downtown Dubuque.
Students will take home watercolor they made. The workshop culminates in a collaborative striation collage made from hand-painted papers using place-based color.
Art Camp: Rising Middle Schoolers (Week One)
Bluff Strokes Art Camps
Inspired by Nature. Powered by Imagination: Youth Art Rendezvous
9am-noon daily
22-26 June
Rising Middle Schoolers
Instructor: Jess Ochoa
Spend a week creating fun, imaginative art inspired by nature. Campers will experiment with a wide range of materials, learn new techniques, and share ideas as they develop their own creative voices. Along the way, campers will build confidence, connect with others, and enjoy the simple joy of creating together.
$175 per week
Additional dates
Rising Middle Schoolers
Jess Ochoa
6-10 July
Rising 3rd-5th Graders
Brie Nadermann
20-24 July
3-7 August
Art Camp: Rising Middle Schoolers (Week TWO)
Bluff Strokes Art Camps
Studio Sampler: Try It All
9am-noon daily
July 6-10
Rising Middle Schoolers
Instructor: Jess Ochoa
This one-week art camp gives middle school students the chance to explore a variety of art materials, techniques, and creative ideas. Each day focuses on a new skill and theme, from drawing and painting to mixed media and design. Campers will experiment, discover what they enjoy, and build confidence as artists in a fun, supportive studio environment.
$175 per week
Additional CaMP dates
Rising 3rd-5th Graders
Brie Nadermann
July 20-24
August 3-7
Art Camp: Rising 3rd - 5th Graders (Week One)
Bluff Strokes Art Camps
Mythical Makers and the Quest for Creativity
9am-noon daily
July 20-24
Rising 3-5th graders
Instructor: Brie Nadermann
Step into a world of legends, heroes, and mythical creatures this summer at Bluff Strokes Art Center's Youth Art Camp! Students will be exploring myths and folktales from around the world, bringing their own stories to life, and investigating the idea that art can tell stories. Using a variety of materials and exploring various techniques in art-making, artists will design mythical creatures, create symbolic objects, and build imaginative worlds while learning how art can communicate storytelling, meaning, and tradition. This camp blends creativity, imagination, artistic skill building, cultural exploration and storytelling that is sure to engage your young artist.
$175 per week
Additional dates
Rising 3rd-5th Graders
Brie Nadermann
August 3-7
Art Camp: Rising 3rd - 5th Graders (Week TWO)
Bluff Strokes Art Camps
The Mighty Mississippi Makers
9am-noon daily
August 3-7
Rising 3-5th graders
Instructor: Brie Nadermann
What makes Dubuque special? In this camp, young artists will celebrate and explore the beauty, history, and environment of our community while developing artistic skills through a variety of art-making techniques. From the Mississippi River to the bluffs, wildlife, neighborhoods, and local landmarks, students will learn about inspiration, making personal connections, and how artists can highlight and protect the places they love. This camp encourages creativity, observation, inspiration, connection, and how artists can make responsible choices to be kind to this special city that we call home.
$175 per week
Whimsical Stitching: Put a Bird on It
29 March 1-4pm
Instructor: Candace Eudaley-Loebach
Level: Beginners and up
Ages: Middle School and up
$30
Birds are present in mythology, art, literature, religious traditions and political movements and symbolize wisdom, resilience, omens in nature, resistance, freedom, love and transformation. Embroidery is an excellent way to add your favorite bird symbol to any garment.
In this class, each student will be provided with a pre-printed bird pattern designed by the course instructor. Students are encouraged to think about a bird that represents them, their home or their beliefs and come prepared to customize the pattern with colors that depict their bird of choice.
Materials
Required
Students must bring their own garment or item to embellish. Sturdy cotton or linen fabrics with a tight weave work best for embroidery. A standard sweatshirt, button-up shirt, baseball cap, bucket hat or canvas tote bag or backpack are all great options. Do not bring large knit items like sweaters. If you are unsure if your item meets these criteria for beginner embroidery, send a picture to the class instructor in advance of the class or bring an extra item in case the first is not a good fit.
Attendees should be confident with threading a needle and basic hand sewing.
$6 materials fee OR bring these required materials:
One 6” embroidery hoop
Two #5 needles with sharp point (not round)
Four or more colors of DMC brand 6-strand embroidery floss (one color should be black brown or gray for outlining the bird shape)
Needle threader (optional)
Fundamentals of Figure Drawing (6 Wednesdays)
March 25
April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
6-8PM
Instructor: Zoë Couvillon
Ages: 18+
Level: Previous drawing instruction helpful
$185
Learn one approach to more accurately capturing human poses. We will be drawing nude models. Students must be 18 or older.
Materials
5 Graphite pencils (6H, 4H, HB, 4B, 6B)
Vine charcoal
Compressed Charcoal (soft, medium, hard)
6-10 sheets 18x24" drawing paper
Optional: Newsprint pad (We have newsprint roll you may use)
Creating Meaning and Emotion in Painting (6 Wednesdays)
6 Wednesdays, March 25, April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
12:30-2:30pm
Instructor: Jessie Rebik
$180
What you choose to paint is important, but how you paint it is equally important and often overlooked. This class will approach painting as a means of personal expression and communication.
Students will learn how to utilize the characteristics of painting to embed their paintings with meaning and emotion. Students with some prior painting experience will be most comfortable. Any painting media is appropriate.
Sketchbook
Materials List
Drawing pencils and eraser
Scrap painting surfaces—canvas paper, gessoed cardboard, cheap watercolor paper, etc… This will be used for experimentation with your paint medium, so whatever works for you is acceptable!
Your preferred painting materials.
One or two higher quality painting surfaces (stretched canvas, gessoed panel, high quality watercolor paper). This will be used to make a finished painting.
View finder (handmade or store-bought)
Beginning Painting with Acrylic (6 Tuesdays)
6 Tuesdays, March 24, 31, April 7, 14, 21, 28
6-8pm
Instructor: John Anderson-Bricker
Ages: 14+
Level: Beginners and those returning to painting
$180
John will introduce how to paint on canvas. The course is designed to aid students in learning how to paint from life and provide a guided entrance into working with acrylic paint. If you're returning to acrylic after a pause, this will also be a great refresher course.
Beginning Drawing (6 Mondays)
Mondays 6:00-8:00pm
March 23, 30
April 6, 13, 20, 27
Instructor: Jessie Rebik
Ages: 14+
Level: Beginners and those wanting to dip back into art
$180
Drawing is as much about seeing as it is about creating an image. This course will strengthen students’ seeing skills, which will in turn, unlock the skills needed to make more accurate drawings. Through observation of still life objects, students will learn to utilize negative space, sight measuring, gesture, and line to translate what they see onto paper. These building blocks of drawing apply to any subject, style, and technique, and are the foundation to any two-dimensional art making.
Materials List
1. Sketchbook (about 9x12 inches)
2. Drawing pencils--at least one hard (H) and one soft (B)
3. View finder- handmade or store-bought
4. vine charcoal- soft or extra soft
5. Compressed charcoal- soft or extra soft
6. charcoal pencils
7. Kneaded eraser
8. T-square or ruler (at least 12 inches)
9. Apron or Overshirt--or something to protect your clothing from getting dirty
10. Container to transport your materials
Middle School Art Adventures (Saturdays)
Saturdays 10:00am-noon
Mar 21, Apr 11, May 9
Instructor: Jess Ochoa
Ages: Middle School
$30
Miss Jess will introduce students to activities based in fundamental art skills and FUN!
Grades 3-5 Art Adventures (Saturdays)
Saturdays 10am-noon
Mar 21, Apr 18, May 16
Instructor: Brie Nadermann
Ages: Grades 3-5
$30
Miss Brie will introduce students to activities based in fundamental art skills and FUN!
Talking About Art: Art in Context
March 20, Noon-1PM
Instructor: Bruce Kahler, PhD
Insight into how historians approach art. Bruce will use his research on the Arts and Crafts Movement in Chicago as an example and bring several books along for illustration.
Talking About Art explores themes in philosophy of art, art history, and more.
Bring your lunch. We’ll provide cookies and coffee.
No registration necessary. Free will offering.
Figure Drawing OPen Studio
Experienced figure models, a great space, and a wonderful community. Join us for open figure drawing sessions. Nude models. Must be 18+. No instruction is provided. No registration necessary! $15/session
Home school Art Adventures (Wednesdays)
Wednesdays 10:00am-noon
Mar 18, Apr 8, May 6
Instructor: Jess Ochoa
Ages: Grades 3 and up
$30 per class
Miss Jess will introduce students to activities based in fundamental art skills and FUN!
Learn to Screen Print at JMJ Printing (2 Thursdays)
12 and 26 March
Instructor: Rich Rossignol
Ages: 16+
Level: Beginner
$85
Your favorite band t-shirt, posters that end up being saved and framed, personal branding, clothing design and so many more options...
Beginner Screen Printing at JMJ Printing with master printer, Rich Rossignol, will equip you with a basic, hands-on understanding of the process of screen printing. Create your own one-color print by selecting your image and/or text, composing your design, burning it onto a screen and printing it! Join us off-site for a Bluff Strokes Art Center class at JMJ Printing. Experience a working print studio and see examples of work being produced for a variety of client projects.
Students will learn fundamentals of screen printing from design through process. Day one is instruction. Create a design for homework. Day two is creating your screen and printing. Instructor will provide guidelines for your printing surface, or you may purchase a t-shirt from them. Great for those making merch!
NOTE: This class is not at the art center. It is at JMJ Printing on University.
Grades 3-5 Art Adventures (Saturdays)
Saturdays 10am-noon
Feb 21, Mar 21, Apr 18, May 16
Instructor: Brie Nadermann
Ages: Grades 3-5
$30
Miss Brie will introduce students to activities based in fundamental art skills and FUN!
Make a Willow Basket
Instructor: Briana Cushman
Ages: 14+
Level: Beginners
$90 (materials included)
This class will introduce you to the functional beauty of basketry, one of humanity's oldest art forms. During this class, we will create a small "rib-style" basket from willow.
Students may bring a sharp pruning shears and a small knife (box cutters are fine) if you prefer to use your own tools.
Talking About Art: What Defines Art?
Friday, February 20, Noon - 1PM
An exercise exploring how definitions matter.
Instructor: Tom Riley, PhD
Talking about Art explores themes in the philosophy of art, art history, and more.
Bring your lunch. We'll provide cookies and coffee.
Free will offering. No registration necessary.
Figure Drawing Open Studio
Experienced figure models, a great space, and a wonderful community. Join us for open figure drawing sessions. Nude models. Must be 18+. No instruction is provided. No registration necessary! $15/session
Middle School Art Adventures (Saturdays)
Saturdays 10:00am-noon
Feb 14, Mar 21, Apr 11, May 9
Instructor: Jess Ochoa
Ages: Middle School
$30
Miss Jess will introduce students to activities based in fundamental art skills and FUN!
Home school Art Adventures (Wednesdays)
Wednesdays 10:00am-noon
Feb 11, Mar 18, Apr 8, May 6
Instructor: Jess Ochoa
Ages: Grades 3 and up
$30 per class
Miss Jess will introduce students to activities based in fundamental art skills and FUN!
Open Studio (Mondays)
Mondays, 1:00PM - 4:00PM
$5
Open studio. No instruction. Bring your own materials and enjoy our space and our community. Drop in only. No registration needed. There is no adult guidance, so adults must accompany children needing guidance.
TEEN ART CLUB
Tuesdays, 3:15PM - 5:15PM
20 Jan - 19May
Ages: Teens (anyone with a 1 plus another digit who loves art!)
$180 for all 18 sessions or $12 each
Teens are welcome to hang out, make art and make friends. Students can sketch quietly on their own with others nearby, draw or paint from a still life, or they can collaborate and plan special projects together. This spring, can work on a backdrop for a play. We will have guest artists join from time to time to share their art and their art journey. Ultimately, the students will help form what this is and how it will work. No instruction provided, but staff offer guidance.
Open Studio (Mondays)
Mondays, 1:00PM - 4:00PM
$5
Open studio. No instruction. Bring your own materials and enjoy our space and our community. Drop in only. No registration needed. There is no adult guidance, so adults must accompany children needing guidance.
TEEN ART CLUB
Tuesdays, 3:15PM - 5:15PM
20 Jan - 19May
Ages: Teens (anyone with a 1 plus another digit who loves art!)
$180 for all 18 sessions or $12 each
Teens are welcome to hang out, make art and make friends. Students can sketch quietly on their own with others nearby, draw or paint from a still life, or they can collaborate and plan special projects together. This spring, can work on a backdrop for a play. We will have guest artists join from time to time to share their art and their art journey. Ultimately, the students will help form what this is and how it will work. No instruction provided, but staff offer guidance.
Open Studio (Mondays)
Mondays, 1:00PM - 4:00PM
$5
Open studio. No instruction. Bring your own materials and enjoy our space and our community. Drop in only. No registration needed. There is no adult guidance, so adults must accompany children needing guidance.
Draw & Etch: Custom Brass Jewelry Making
1-3pm each day
24-25 January
Instructor: Amber Carlin
Ages: 14+
Level: For those with some art background
$60
Create your own handcrafted jewelry in this two-day etched brass workshop at Bluff Strokes Art Center in Dubuque, Iowa! Students will design and fabricate a custom pendant or pair of earrings using brass sheet metal. On Day 1, you’ll learn essential metalsmithing skills—cutting, filing, and sanding—before hand-drawing your unique design using Sharpie or acrylic paint pens. Your piece will be etched overnight, and on Day 2 you’ll assemble, finish, and polish your jewelry to take home. Perfect for beginners and creatives looking to explore metal arts.
All materials included.
Grades 3-5 Art Adventures (Saturdays)
Saturdays 10am-noon
Jan 24, Feb 21, Mar 21, Apr 18, May 16
Instructor: Brie Nadermann
Ages: Grades 3-5
$30
Miss Brie will introduce students to activities based in fundamental art skills and FUN!
The Power of Composition (6 Thursdays)
22, 29 Jan
5, 12, 19, 26 Feb
Instructor: Jessie Rebik
Ages: 14+
Level: All levels welcome
$180
Composition is a crucial component of an artwork regardless of subject, media, or technique. This class will teach artists working in all two-dimensional media how to implement the elements and principles of two-dimensional design so they can achieve greater impact in their work. This course is open to artists of all experience levels.
Materials
Sketchbook
Pencils and eraser
Viewfinder
Masking tape or painter’s tape
Ruler or T-square
Scissors
Media/materials that you primarily work with
Rendering Techniques in Drawing (6 Wednesdays)
21, 28 January
4, 11, 18, 25 February
Instructor: Zoë Couvillion
Ages: 14+
Level: For those with some drawing experience
$180
Learn to introduce light, shadow, and light-source through rendering techniques like hatching, cross hatching, stippling, and scumbling. Together we'll learn to better use pens, markers, and other line-focused tools to make your imagery come to life! Great for urban sketchers and other folks who love to draw.
Materials
(All materials can be found at Hobby Lobby and Michaels, with the pens often coming in multi-packs!)
Mechanical pencil (any size)
WHITE plastic eraser (any size)
Black Felt-Tip Pens in a variety of sizes: Brands like "PIGMA Micron" or similar cost-efficient comparisons! (The greater variety of pens you can afford to invest in, the more marks you can experiment with!)
2 different fine tips, Example Sizes: (001, 01, 02, 03)
2 middle/thick weight, Example Sizes: (05, 08, 10, 12)
1 black black brush pen in the same brand
1 regular OR extra large black Sharpie marker.
1 opaque WHITE Gel-Pen (Sakura Gelly-Roll Brand or similar is ideal!) OR a fine-lining opaque white paint pen (Sharpie makes some!)
Mixed-media sketchbook of ANY size with pages that are easy to remove. (You can use one you already have!)
Home school Art Adventures (Wednesdays)
Wednesdays 10:00am-noon
Jan 21, Feb 11, Mar 18, Apr 8, May 6
Instructor: Jess Ochoa
Ages: Grades 3 and up
$30 per class
Miss Jess will introduce students to activities based in fundamental art skills and FUN!
Beginning Drawing (6 Mondays)
FULL!
Jan 19, 26
Feb 2, 9, 16, 23
Instructor: Jessie Rebik
Ages: 14+
Level: Beginners and those wanting to dip back into art
$180
Drawing is as much about seeing as it is about creating an image. This course will strengthen students’ seeing skills, which will in turn, unlock the skills needed to make more accurate drawings. Through observation of still life objects, students will learn to utilize negative space, sight measuring, and value relationships. These building blocks of drawing apply to any subject, style, and technique, and are the foundation to any two-dimensional art making.
Materials List
1. Sketchbook (about 9x12 inches)
2. Drawing pencils--at least one hard (H) and one soft (B)
3. View finder- handmade or store-bought
4. vine charcoal- soft or extra soft
5. Compressed charcoal- soft or extra soft
6. charcoal pencils
7. Kneaded eraser
8. T-square or ruler (at least 12 inches)
9. Apron or Overshirt--or something to protect your clothing from getting dirty
10. Container to transport your materials