Painting Classes in NYC for Adults
The Educational Alliance Art School at Manny Cantor Center offers painting classes in NYC for adults of every level — from people picking up a brush for the first time to experienced painters refining a body of work. Our light-filled Lower East Side studios are open for oil, acrylic, and watercolor classes across weekly sessions, with small class sizes, personalized instruction, and working artists as your instructors.
Choose your medium, choose your level, and register for the next term. Weekday mornings, evenings, and weekend slots are available, with locker rental and wet-work storage included.
- Personalized instruction in a small group setting.
- Weekday morning, afternoon, and weekend classes are offered.
- Locker rental and storage space for wet work included.
- Please see the menu above under ‘Art School’ for our schedule at a glance, open studios, or for help with your registration.
- Materials are not included in course tuition for painting classes. Please see our course materials lists here.
Fall 2026 Classes
10-WEEK COURSES
Painting in Oil and Acrylic
Dates: Mondays, 9/14/26 to 11/23/26
Time: 10 am – 12:30 pm
Location: 197 East Broadway
Age: 18+ years
Cost: $445.00
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This painting course, for painters of all skill levels, encourages artists to pursue a personal project in oils, water-based paints, or mixed media.
Instructor: Jodie Niss
Intro to Painting
Dates: Tuesdays, 9/15/26 to 11/24/26
Time: 6:30 pm – 9 pm
Location: 197 East Broadway
Age: 18+ years
Cost: $445.00
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Students of all levels will develop acrylic or oil painting skills through personalized instruction, learning techniques, color mixing, texture, and composition while creating original works from photos or still lifes.
No Class Dates: 11/3/26
Instructor: Jodie Niss
Painting: Studio Art
Dates: Wednesdays, 9/16/26 to 11/18/26
Time: 6:30 pm – 9 pm
Location: 197 East Broadway
Age: 18+ years
Cost: $445.00
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Painting: Acrylic and Oil
Dates: Thursdays, 9/17/26 to 11/19/26
Time: 10 am – 12:30 pm
Location: 197 East Broadway
Age: 18+ years
Cost: $445.00
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Students will explore acrylic and oil painting, learning color mixing, texture, tonal control, and composition while creating original works to develop their personal artistic vision.
No Class Dates:
Instructor: Thomas Legaspi
Oil Painting for All Levels
Dates: Saturdays, 9/19/26 to 11/21/26
Time: 10 am – 12:30 pm
Location: 197 East Broadway
Age: 18+ years
Cost: $445.00
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This oil painting course welcomes students of all skill levels to build confidence while learning foundational techniques such as sight measuring, planar studies, shading, and geometric forms to create original artworks from still lifes and photo references.
Instructor: Julia Chen
Acrylic Painting for All Levels
Dates: Saturdays, 9/19/26 to 11/21/26
Time: 1:30 pm – 4 pm
Location: 197 East Broadway
Age: 18+ years
Cost: $445.00
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This acrylic painting course welcomes students of all skill levels to build confidence while learning foundational techniques such as sight measuring, planar studies, shading, and geometric forms to create original artworks from still lifes and photo references.
Instructor: Julia Chen
Painting: Principles of Color Theory
Dates: Sundays, 9/20/26 to 11/22/26
Time: 1:30 pm – 4 pm
Location: 197 East Broadway
Age: 18+ years
Cost: $445.00
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5-WEEK COURSES
Painting: Watercolor
Dates: Mondays, 9/14/26 to 10/19/26
Time: 6:30 pm – 9 pm
Location: 197 East Broadway
Age: 18+ years
Cost: $270.00
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Painting: Acrylic Foundational Techniques
Dates: Mondays, 10/26/26 to 11/23/26
Time: 6:30 pm – 9 pm
Location: 197 East Broadway
Age: 18+ years
Cost: $270.00
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In this 5-week workshop, students are introduced to the foundational techniques of painting with acrylics. Students will learn how to start a painting, mix colors, and add mediums, as well as how to use different applications such as texture and blending.
Instructor: Jodie Niss
Painting: Alla Prima Techniques
Dates: Fridays, 9/18/26 to 10/16/26
Time: 6:30 pm – 9 pm
Location: 197 East Broadway
Age: 18+ years
Cost: $270.00
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In this course, you’ll learn the art of wet-on-wet painting, completing each piece in a single session. This direct approach allows for a more spontaneous and expressive style, perfect for capturing the essence of your subject.
Instructor: Thomas Legaspi
Painting: Advanced Drawing and Painting
Dates: Fridays, 10/23/26 to 11/20/26
Time: 6:30 pm – 9 pm
Location: 197 East Broadway
Age: 18+ years
Cost: $270.00
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This advanced course is designed for students with prior drawing and painting experience who want to refine their technical abilities and develop a personal artistic voice. Emphasis is placed on strengthening observational accuracy, expanding compositional complexity, and exploring a wider range of expressive strategies.
Instructor: Thomas Legaspi
Oil Painting Classes in NYC
Our oil painting classes in NYC introduce the medium’s rich, layered possibilities — color mixing, building glazes, working with painting mediums, and developing a painting across multiple sessions. Oil rewards patience, and our instructors guide you through both the technique and the slower rhythm the medium asks for.
Beginners learn to set up a palette and handle materials safely; experienced painters get studio time and individual feedback on in-progress work. Current oil painting offerings include Painting in Oil and Acrylic (Monday mornings, Jodie Niss) and Oil Painting for All Levels (Saturday mornings, Julia Chen) — see the course listings below for dates and registration.
Watercolor & Acrylic Painting Classes
Prefer a faster, more fluid medium? Our watercolor classes in NYC focus on transparency, wet-on-wet technique, washes, and color blending — ideal for floral painting, landscapes, and observational work. Our acrylic painting classes in NYC cover a versatile, quick-drying medium well-suited to bold color and experimentation. Each medium has its own class track so you can go deep on what interests you.
Current offerings include Painting: Watercolor Techniques (Monday evenings, Jodie Niss) and Acrylic Painting for All Levels (Saturday afternoons, Julia Chen). Browse the full schedule below or email art@mannycantor.org if you are not sure where to start.
Painting Classes for Students Across NYC & Brooklyn
Our Lower East Side location at 197 East Broadway is easily reached by subway from Brooklyn and every borough. Many of our painters travel in from Brooklyn for painting classes, drawn by an affordable, nonprofit art school with serious instruction and a welcoming studio environment.
If you have been searching for painting classes in Brooklyn or anywhere across the city, our Lower East Side studios are worth the trip. Convenient subway access — J, M, Z, F trains — makes a weekly session realistic even with a commute. Courses run $215–$396 per session depending on length and format, with scholarship assistance available.
Frequently Asked Questions About MCC Painting Classes
Where can adults take oil painting classes in NYC?
Adults can take oil painting classes at the Educational Alliance Art School at Manny Cantor Center, 197 East Broadway on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. The school offers oil, acrylic, and watercolor classes for all levels across seasonal sessions taught by working artists.
What painting mediums can I study at Manny Cantor Center?
MCC’s art school offers classes in oil, acrylic, and watercolor painting, each with its own class track. Students can choose a medium based on their interests and goals, and staff can help newcomers decide where to start.
Are MCC’s painting classes good for beginners?
Yes. Painting classes at MCC are open to all levels, including complete beginners. Classes are structured so first-time painters get grounded in fundamentals while experienced painters get studio time and individual feedback on their work.
Can I take painting classes at MCC if I live in Brooklyn?
Yes. MCC’s art school at 197 East Broadway on the Lower East Side is easily reached by subway from Brooklyn — J, M, Z, and F trains all stop nearby. Many students commute from Brooklyn regularly. It is an affordable, nonprofit alternative to painting classes within Brooklyn.
How much do painting classes at MCC cost?
Painting classes at MCC range from $215 to $396 per session depending on the length and format of the course. Scholarship assistance is available. Contact the Art School office at art@mannycantor.org or (646) 395-4264 for details.
How do I register for painting classes at MCC?
Browse current painting sessions on the Manny Cantor Center website, choose your medium and level, and register online. New sessions open for registration ahead of each seasonal term. You can also email art@mannycantor.org or call (646) 395-4264 with questions.
