Upcoming Art Classes with Betsy

Here's the schedule of my latest classes. You don't need any art experience to join me and find joy, self-expression and community in my art classes.  I offer in-person classes, and talk you through every step of the creative process.  I hope you'll join me for one of these sessions!

Beginner's Pencil Drawing

Mondays, Feb. 16, 23, March 2 & 9, 2026 from 6-9 PM

$109
Make a fresh start in 2026 with this versatile & portable art form. Instructor Betsy Bangley will lead you through a series of activities designed to help you learn how to capture the world around you with a pencil on paper. We’ll start by playing with our materials to find out how to make a variety of marks, lines and shading types, move on to sketching everyday objects, and build up to exploring perspective and textures. Discover a new way to express yourself, and embark on an art adventure!
Sessions: 4/Hours: 12 
Room: Visual Fine Arts 3104
Or by phone: 724-480-3575

Pencil Drawing: Colors & Shading

March 16, 23,30 & April 6, 2026, 6-9 PM

$109
This is an extension of our 4-week Beginner’s Pencil Drawing class, and is open to all. Would you like to advance your drawing skills? Perhaps you’re a beginner who would like guided practice. Jump into drawing fruit with colored pencils, creating portraits, and exploring more exciting drawing projects with Betsy Bangley. Whatever your skill level, you will gain drawing ability through working in this supportive group and practicing weekly. 
Sessions: 4/Hours: 12 
Room: Visual Fine Arts 3104
Or by phone: 724-480-3575

Watercolor Leaves and Florals (Botanicals)

April 4,11,18 & 25, 2025 10 AM to 1 PM

$109
Join Betsy Bangley for a relaxing course in watercolor florals. Paint away your stress, and learn brush strokes, color mixing and layout ideas to create beautiful flowers and leaves. Use your new skills to decorate journal pages, stationary, and framed art, or simply create for the joy of painting. 
All materials are provided.
Sessions: 4/Hours: 12 
Room: Visual Fine Arts 3104
Or by phone: 724-480-3575

Figure Drawing

Discover a new world of artistic exploration and connect with humanity by learning to draw another human being. Beginning artists will learn the basics of observational drawing in a supportive environment, while experienced artists will enjoy honing their skills through the open studio format of the class. Our model will hold a variety of poses for us to observe and sketch. Each week we will start with quick gesture sketches and move on to longer drawings. You’ll be surprised at the progress you make as you develop your new creative skills! Bring a pad of newsprint, drawing paper, a soft pencil, and charcoal.  

Fridays, March 13 through April 17, 2026, from 9:30 AM to noon.
Cost: Requires membership in Osher at CMU.  Membership information here:
Dues & fees information here:

Previous Classes:

Watercolor Explorations
Osher at CMU
May 6-June 3, 2022






Watercolor Landscape with the Figure Class:
May 8, 2020
The wind & snow kept us from going outside. Instead, we used reference photos taken one day earlier, when the weather was lovely & sunny.

Lyn's Painting:


This week's reference photo:




Watercolor Landscape Class:
May 1, 2020
Covid-19 has awakened the resourcefulness in us all.  My thanks to my students who are experimenting with me in plein air landscape painting via Zoom. We listen to the Song Sparrows and Cardinals singing outside, and hold our breath as the clouds sweep in and darken the scene, then celebrate as the sun bursts through the clouds and picks out every detail.  Below are paintings by my students and information about future classes.  I hope you'll join me!
The webcam is looking out the door while I paint from the monitor like everybody else.


Laying in the first washes of color.

The scene we painted.




Kathy's painting

Lyn's Painting:



Nature Journaling

Are you looking for a new hobby that reduces stress, invites creativity, AND develops your drawing and writing skills? Would you like to create sketches even if you don't consider yourself an artist? Joins us for THREE weeks of nature journaling. We will begin each session indoors with practice activities and inspiration before going outdoors to make observations and drawings in your new journal! We welcome beginners and experienced journalers alike. Please dress for the weather, though in rainy or stormy weather, we will create indoors. All materials provided.All materials are provided. Please dress for the weather.
Mondays, July 7-21, 2025, from 6-9 PM
Cost: $89


Nature Journaling

Discover the joy of connecting with nature. Nature journaling allows you to slow down, practice mindfulness, and make discoveries about the place where you live, while building your observational drawing skills. We will begin each session indoors with practice activities and inspiration, before going outdoors to make observations & drawings on the CMU campus. This class involves walking & sitting outdoors. Please dress for the weather and bring a sketchbook and favorite drawing materials (pencil, eraser, sharpener, colored pencils). Ideal for beginners and those who want to enrich their lives with a mindful practice of nature observation.

Thursdays, October 9, 16 & 23, 2025, from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM
Cost: Requires membership in Osher at CMU.  Membership information here:


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