Church of Art

2-hour blocks of unstructured studio time for you to paint, draw, collage, enjoy our collection of art books with a cup of hot tea or coffee (provided), or just hang out and chat in a warm, inviting space! Friend date? Romantic date? Date with yourself? Church of Art studio is that (alcohol-free) third space to […] ...

This class sold out fast in February, so if you’ve wanted to learn how to make your own art journal then register ASAP! In this 5-hour workshop, artists Fran Halperin and Erika Halperin will guide the group in making 4.5″ x 10″ art journals using a primarily a variety of used business-sized envelopes for the […] ...

Sounds like “gwash” and feels like magic–you asked for a class and Church of Art delivers! Allie Yacina, a well-known Portland gouache artist, will guide the group through all stages of starting and finishing a beautiful still-life painting. This is an honest to goodness beginner friendly class open to all adults. We’ll start with understanding […] ...

Learn how to slow down and appreciate a good ol’ PNW ‘forest bath’ through close observation and sketching. Enjoy and experience the evolving flora of late summer as the dried seed heads dominate the forest floor and patches of meadow. For this workshop, Erika will lead the group on a relatively short urban forest* hike […] ...

2-hour blocks of unstructured studio time for you to paint, draw, collage, enjoy our collection of art books with a cup of hot tea or coffee (provided), or just hang out and chat in a warm, inviting space! Friend date? Romantic date? Date with yourself? Church of Art studio is that (alcohol-free) third space to […] ...

Learn to draw in this 4-part introductory series at Church of Art with artist and Church of Art founder, Erika Halperin. Learning as a cohort across multiple sessions allows students to develop friendships and adds to the supportive nature of the learning environment. In this 4-part series, we’ll cover the fundamentals relevant to both illustration […] ...

Understanding, seeing, and capturing values is the foundation for a strong drawing practice. It is through values that we see where shadows fall, where light hits, and the shape (form) of the drawing subject. Artist and Church of Art founder, Erika Halperin, will start the workshop by leading the group through a discussion of selected […] ...

2-hour blocks of unstructured studio time for you to paint, draw, collage, enjoy our collection of art books with a cup of hot tea or coffee (provided), or just hang out and chat in a warm, inviting space! Great for friend dates, romantic dates, and even the all-important YOU time! Church of Art is that […] ...

Ah, the human face! We spend every day looking at our own and others’ so why is drawing faces so challenging? In this workshop, you’ll learn tips and tricks for drawing faces at a variety of angles as well as the subtle facial characteristics to look for when you want to draw a specific person. […] ...

If you’ve been struggling to render rooflines, windows, or buildings, or even feeling frustrated when drawing the interior of a room, you are ready to finally understand and master perspective. Artist and Church of Art founder, Erika Halperin, will start the workshop by leading the group through a discussion of selected artworks with a particular […] ...

Make a commitment to yourself and your drawing practice through Church of Art’s 4-part drawing Mentorship Series. This series provides regular blocks of studio time for you to draw and get constructive feedback on the work you create both in the studio and on your own. This Drawing Mentorship provides: Drawing exercises targeted to your […] ...

Atmospheric perspective is a fundamental element of any landscape or urban art and line quality lends itself to indicating atmospheric perspective as well as creating drawings that are unique to you! Artist and Church of Art founder, Erika Halperin, will start the workshop by leading the group through a discussion of selected artworks with a […] ...

2-hour blocks of unstructured studio time for you to paint, draw, collage, enjoy our collection of art books with a cup of hot tea or coffee (provided), or just hang out and chat in a warm, inviting space! Great for friend dates, romantic dates, and even the all-important YOU time! Church of Art is that […] ...

Our Sketchbook Revivals are relaxing, engaging sessions of drawing and painting in your own sketchbook, often with a theme, and the theme for this one is Dia de los Muertos (“Day of the Dead”)! Dia de los Muertos is a colorful celebration throughout Mexico to honor the lives of loved ones–people and pets–who have passed. […] ...

Church of Art’s collaborative neurographics is a mindfulness-based creative activity providing therapeutic mental relaxation through intuitive mark-making on a grand scale. For this mindfulness-based collaborative art activity, we will cover a long row of tables with a roll of paper along with acrylic paint pens in a variety of sizes and colors. Participants will move […] ...

Why does one artist’s drawing of a vase look mesmerizing while another’s artist’s drawing of the same thing looks, well, boring? Composition has a lot to do with it, as does the idea of taking artistic license. In this class, we’ll learn about how to use both composition and artistic license to find your own […] ...

2-hour blocks of unstructured studio time for you to paint, draw, collage, enjoy our collection of art books with a cup of hot tea or coffee (provided), or just hang out and chat in a warm, inviting space! Great for friend dates, romantic dates, and even the all-important YOU time! Church of Art is that […] ...

While Church of Art began as a series of art workshops in Erika’s home, its true start was when the current Slabtown studio opened in November 2025, one year ago! To celebrate, Church of Art will open its doors to drop-in visitors on Saturday November 14th and Sunday November 15th from 11am to 4pm. If […] ...

While Church of Art began as a series of art workshops in Erika’s home, its true start was when the current Slabtown studio opened in November 2025, one year ago! To celebrate, Church of Art will open its doors to drop-in visitors on Saturday November 14th and Sunday November 15th from 11am to 4pm. If […] ...

This series is intended for anyone new to drawing or who wants to strengthen their drawing skills. In this 4-part beginner drawing series, we’ll cover drawing building blocks relevant to both illustration and realistic representation. Artist and Church of Art founder, Erika Halperin, will start each week’s session by guiding the group through a discussion […] ...

2-hour blocks of unstructured studio time for you to paint, draw, collage, enjoy our collection of art books with a cup of hot tea or coffee (provided), or just hang out and chat in a warm, inviting space! Great for friend dates, romantic dates, and even the all-important YOU time! Church of Art is that […] ...

Back by popular demand! Have you wondered what the difference is between gouache and watercolor or how to use pastels or why so many artists are obsessed with Neocolors? Do you want to uncover the ways of the Woodies, learn how to use acrylic inks in multi-media pieces, or discover the magic of a stick […] ...

2-hour blocks of unstructured studio time for you to paint, draw, collage, enjoy our collection of art books with a cup of hot tea or coffee (provided), or just hang out and chat in a warm, inviting space! Great for friend dates, romantic dates, and even the all-important YOU time! Church of Art is that […] ...

Church of Art is here to de-mystify watercolors for beginners! Whether you’ve tried painting with watercolors and given up or want to try watercolors but don’t know where to start, this workshop will give you the confidence you need to continue on your own. Artist and Church of Art founder, Erika Halperin, will first teach […] ...