Looking to get in touch with your inner artist? Denver is lucky to have a plethora of artists living among us, many of whom are passionate about passing their love of the arts on to the next generation. Keep your eye out for flyers at the art galleries, First Fridays and the Denver Art Museum to discover little known opportunities.

Vino Virtuosos
The latest fun trend for date night or a ladies night out combines wine with canvas for beginners through advanced painters. You’ll be given a fresh white canvas, a sample to follow, all the materials needed and a nice glass of wine. Expect a fun and upbeat instructor who knows how to pull out your inner artist. The wine is a reminder to not take yourself too seriously.  Those new to painting may come into classes feeling intimidated, possibly coerced by a friend or family member, and leave excited to have created something uniquely personal in just a couple of hours.

Three companies in Denver are doing a fantastic job of combining these two passions:

Average class price $30-35

Average class price: $35-$40

Average class price: $35

For the best bargains in casual art classes look no further than your neighborhood recreation centers:

Prices range from $35 – $75 a session

The newly opened PACE Center in Parker is offering KidzArt and TeenzArt classes every month and in January of 2012. Cabernet and Canvas classes for adults are being added to the menu as well.

Prices range from $20 a class to $85 a session for non-residents

Wheat Ridge Recreation Center has classes starting at $25, with a winter schedule including water color, paper making, pottery, crocheting, jewelry making and wood carving.

Highlands Ranch Recreation Department
Locations vary, so visit the website for full details: www.hrcaonline.org
Highlands Ranch Recreation Department offers three full pages of art classes in its winter brochure including pottery, jewelry making, photography, crocheting, drawing and painting. There are multiple options for toddlers through seniors.

Prices range from $22 per person for private parties to $78 for 8 classes for non-resident students.

The city of Boulder has a full state-of-the-art pottery studio and offers private lessons, pottery parties and classes for home schooled students.

Lakewood Recreation Center (Classes are offered at two locations)

Prices range from $20-$85 a session

The Lakewood Recreation Center has a huge selection of arts classes for beginning through advanced with 4 week and 9 week sessions. Try your hand at china painting, figure drawing, watercolor, pastels, oils, felt making, paper making, jewelry making, pottery, stained glass, weaving and woodcarving.

Call for supply lists and other information
Prices range from $50 to $75 a session

The City of Aurora Arts offers classes for kids, teens and adults in anime, painting, photography, oil pastels and Bob Ross wet-on-wet oil painting.

Visit the recreation center nearest you for their complete class schedules. Even if you aren’t a resident, the non-resident prices for art classes are usually just a few dollars more.

Chrissy Morin is a third-generation Colorado native, wife, mom, freelance writer and web developer living in South Denver. Her work can be found here.