Brickton Art Center

Brickton Art Center

Brickton Art Center

Centennial Activity Center is home to Brickton Art Center, a non-profit organization serving the people of Park Ridge and surrounding communities through creative outreach services in art therapy, art education, and exhibitions using various artistic disciplines and media. 

Each season, Brickton offers classes at the Park Ridge Park District for all ages and ability levels. Classes are held in the art studio at the Centennial Activity Center.

Brickton Art Class
We Put the ART in PARTy!

Brickton Art Parties are a great way to celebrate your birthday!

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Programs

4090111 / The Kids & I

Adults and pint-sized artists come together in this unique class to create masterpieces! This class uses a variety of art mediums and techniques such as clay, watercolors, collage, and pastels, with the focus on the colorful process of art. It’s a great way for caregivers to bond with children creatively! In order to provide the best quality time with your child, we ask that you refrain from bringing other children to class. No class 7/5 CAC

4090112 / Mini Masters

We look at works by a famous artist each week, create a project inspired by their work, and learn why they were important to culture and history. With the help of Picasso, Monet, and many others who inspired the world, young artists experience many mediums, from drawing, painting, and clay to watercolor and sculpture! No class 7/1 CAC

4090113 / Creative Kids

Join a Brickton classic! Tots come to have some fun at the gallery learning the basics of creating art. We paint, draw, glue, cut paper, and form clay. These small artists are learning and pro-gressing while having a colorfully good time! No class 7/5 CAC

4090116 / Mixed Media

Our mixed media course will focus on art making through the application of various mediums including painting and drawing, oil pastels, collage and clay. Basically, we will use a lot of fun materials to make some fabulous art. No class 6/30 CAC

4090117 / Art of Summer

In this lively and fun mixed media class, you'll explore the season's joys through paint, fabric, collage, and more. Draw inspiration from classic summer favorites like refreshing ice cream cones, colorful pool floats, and the soft golden glow of sunsets. Use materials like textured pa-pers, fabric swatches, and vibrant paints to create layers that bring the feeling of summer to life. Whether you're capturing the sparkle of a pool day, the sweetness of fresh strawberries, or the playful spirit of a beach picnic, you'll experiment with bold colors and textures to make each piece as fun and free-spirited as the season itself. No class 7/3 CAC

4090118 / Painting on Canvas

Learn the proper way to paint on canvas using acrylic paints. From priming your canvas, creating an undertone, transferring images and more! You will be painting like an expert in no time. Students will create one larger canvas and a couple smaller pieces. No class 7/1 CAC

4090119 / Adventures in Art

This class is a staple in our curriculum for a reason! Here is a wonderful opportunity for this age group to get their hands in a little bit of everything. Learn a bit about every art medium, such as drawing, clay, watercolor, and sculpture. We use ink, graphite, pastel, paints, and clay as we re-ally get our creativity pumping! No class 6/30 CAC

4090120 / Kids' Clay

Calling all clay-crazy kids! We use hand building techniques as we create pinch pots, animals, tiles, masks, unusual objects, and vessels in this fun class! Safe glazes are used to add color to your work. Each week offers a new project. There is no such thing as too much clay! No class 7/2

4090121 / Tween Wheel Throwing

This class will introduce students to throwing on the potter’s wheel. Students will get plenty of practice time on the wheel and will even have time to handbuild. Pieces will be fired and glazed. No class 7/2 CAC

4090123 / Cool Clay

In this class, we will do a variety of projects which use the basic techniques of ceramics, and grow from there. Students will be led in a series of projects, and end this session with a project they design themselves! No class 7/2 CAC

4090128 / Painting & Drawing Studio

For all levels of experience and run as a studio session, students explore their own ideas for painting and drawing, using a variety of drawing and paint techniques and mediums. The instructor works briefly with students as a group, and then works with students individually while they develop their ideas. No class 7/1 CAC

4090133 / Intro to Plaster Art and Sculpture

Exploring sculptural techniques with plaster gauze and pour methods. Projects will include a va-riety of figural sculpture, plaster bowls, planters, and more! No class 6/30 CAC

4090139 / Beginning Animation Workshop

This course will provide an introduction to the basics of animation. Learners use traditional animation practices to create artwork and apply the elements and principles of art and design, as well as the principles of animation. Learners in this course will experiment, take inspiration with watching examples and create artworks demonstrating the elements of art: Animation Basics, Principles of Animation, Character Design, Backgrounds, Movement, Script and Storyboards. Last session of class will be a showcase of projects for friends and family. No class 6/30 CAC

5090111 / The Kids & I

Ages 2-5 with adult Adults and pint-sized artists come together in this unique class to create masterpieces! This class uses a variety of art mediums and techniques such as clay, watercolors, collage, and pastels, with the focus on the colorful process of art. It’s a great way for caregivers to bond with children creatively! In order to provide the best quality time with your child, we ask that you refrain from bringing other children to class. No class November 24 & 27 & 29. CAC

5090112 / Paint it All!

Explore all different kinds of paints from watercolors to acrylics and create colorful projects on a variety of surfaces like canvas, foil, rocks, clay and more! If you love to paint and explore, then this is the class for you! CAC

5090113 / Creative Kids

Join a Brickton classic! Tots come to have some fun at the gallery learning the basics of creating art. We paint, draw, glue, cut paper, and form clay. These small artists are learning and progressing while having a colorfully good time! No class November 24 & 27. CAC

5090114 / Mixed Media

Our mixed media course will focus on art making through the application of various mediums including painting and drawing, oil pastels, collage and clay. Basically, we will use a lot of fun materials to make some fabulous art. CAC

5090117 / See & Draw

Ages 5-8 Finally, a class to introduce the fundamentals of drawing to younger children and help them grow in their understanding, ability, and confidence. We use visuals to strengthen our artistic hand-eye coordination as we explore the fundamentals of drawing. Each week we pick an object, animal, or scene and learn how to draw it. CAC

5090118 / Holiday Kaleidoscope

Celebrate the warmth, wonder, and diversity of the holiday season through art! In this mixed media class, we'll explore the traditions and visual beauty of holidays like Diwali, Día de los Muertos, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, Winter Solstice, and more. Using paint, collage, textiles, and found objects, students will create layered artworks that reflect personal stories and cultural inspirations. All skill levels welcome—bring your creativity and your festive spirit! No class November 27 CAC

5090119 / Adventures in Art

Ages 5-8 This class is a staple in our curriculum for a reason! Here is a wonderful opportunity for this age group to get their hands in a little bit of everything. Learn a bit about every art medium, such as drawing, clay, watercolor, and sculpture. We use ink, graphite, pastel, paints, and clay as we really get our creativity pumping! No class November 26 & 29. CAC

5090120 / Kids' Clay

Calling all clay-crazy kids! We use hand building techniques as we create pinch pots, animals, tiles, masks, unusual objects, and vessels in this fun class! Safe glazes are used to add color to your work. Each week offers a new project. There is no such thing as too much clay! No class November 25. CAC

5090121 / Tween Pottery & Wheel Throwing

This class will introduce students to throwing on the potter’s wheel and more advanced hand building techniques. Pieces will be fired and glazed. CAC

5090123 / Cool Clay

This fun class is designed to be challenging and fun for older children. We will do a variety of projects which use the basic techniques of ceramics and grow from there. Students will be led in a series of projects and end this session with a project they design themselves. No class November 25. CAC

5090127 / Creative Ceramics

Whether you are an old pro or have never touched clay, there is a place for you in this wonderful class! Learn and refine clay hand building skills using coil and slab, pinch and drape construction techniques to create relief and three-dimensional ceramic forms. Learn the basics of forming pottery on the wheel. Color glazes are used for embellishment. Use your own creative ideas to design functional and decorative art works for you and your home!

5090128 / Painting & Drawing Studio

For all levels of experience and run as a studio session, students explore their own ideas for painting and drawing, using a variety of drawing and paint techniques and mediums. The instructor works briefly with students as a group, and then works with students individually while they develop their ideas. Materials are provided for the first class, with a supply list for the remainder of the classes.

5090130 / Art All Day! School's Out & Holiday Break

Don’t stay home bored on a day off of school—spend it with us making art ALL DAY! Bring a peanut-free lunch, and we take care of the rest. Art projects, movie during lunch, and games are included. Must register a minimum of 24 hours in advance.

5090134 / Painting on Canvas

Learn the proper way to paint on canvas using acrylic paints. From priming your canvas, creating an undertone, transferring images and more! You will be painting like an expert in no time. Students will create one larger canvas and a couple smaller pieces. CAC

5090135 / Drawing for Older Children

Instructor will use exercises and projects to encourage practice of the fundamentals of drawing to older children and help them grow in their understanding, ability, and confidence. We use visuals to strengthen our artistic hand-eye coordination as we explore still life and portrait drawing. CAC

5090137 / Cartooning & Comic Book Art

Explore the possibilities of storytelling through character development and skilled artwork within the comic book format, basic drawing skills are stressed while learning how to construct a character utilizing modes of expression and exaggeration. The emphasis is on having fun while drawing. No class 11/24 CAC

5090138 / Animal Mania

Does you love art AND animals? We are excited to offer this camp for those animal lovers with a creative side. Throughout the week, campers will get the opportunity to express themselves through a wide variety of art materials and explore a lot of different animals and their habitats. No class 11/24 CAC

5090141 / Intro to Plaster Art and Sculpture

Exploring sculptural techniques with plaster gauze and pour methods. Projects will include a variety of figural sculpture, plaster bowls, planters, and more! No class November 24 CAC