Personal interest courses
Fall Registration is open!
Courses run from October - November 2026
Online registration closes one week before the start date
Explore your creative side with a studio-based art course on our campus in Calgary, Alberta. Open to all skill levels, Personal Interest courses offer hands-on learning in a variety of disciplines. Whether you're looking to develop new skills, refine your craft, or simply enjoy a creative outlet, our expert instructors and state-of-the-art facilities offer the perfect space to grow.
Advanced registration and payment are required - secure your spot by clicking the course links below to register and pay online.
Don't see what you're looking for? Our Course Calendar helps you plan ahead by providing a year-long view of what is available by term.
Already registered? View your course Supply List and prepare for your first class! Don't forget to checkout the Student Handbook for important information about taking a course through Continuing Education.
Earn a Certificate of Completion by taking multiple courses in your desired discipline.
About Personal Interest Courses
Personal Interest courses are taught by professional artists in the same well-equipped facilities that support our degree students. Located on our campus in Calgary, AB.
Weeknight courses run once a week for eight-weeks, from 6:30 - 9:30pm. Saturday course times vary.
Weeklong summer courses run from Monday - Friday (except holidays) from 10am - 4pm.
Welcoming artists ages 17 and up!
Our team can provide assisted enrollment (subject to capacity) up to 1-week after the first class meeting, by reaching out to coned@auarts.ca or (403)284-7640. Please note, assisted enrollment requests will be subject to an additional fee of $25. We encourage students to register online and on-time to avoid additional fees and secure their spot.
Ceramics
Learn hand building and wheel throwing techniques to create functional and sculptural pottery.
Course Name | Start & End Dates | Day & Time | Price | Instructor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ceramics Basics | Sept 28 - Nov 23 No class: Oct 12 | Mondays: 6:30 - 9:30pm | $590 + GST | |
| Explore the fundamentals of ceramics through both wheel throwing and hand building techniques. Perfect for novices and experienced students alike looking to strengthen your skills. Learn to shape clay using a potter’s wheel as well as hand-forming methods, gaining confidence working with your hands through a series of projects. You will also go over glazing and kiln firing, as you complete the full process of creating finished ceramic pieces. | ||||
Design
Transform ideas into visual concepts using colour, text, and images.
Course Name | Start & End Dates | Day & Time | Price | Instructor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Graphic Design Fundamentals | Oct 7 - Nov 25 No class: Nov 11 | Wednesdays: 6:30 - 9:30pm | $400 + GST | |
| Gain an understanding of visual communication design and the role of a graphic designer. Focus on building strong problem-solving and idea-generation skills through sketching, drawing, and hands-on exploration. You will learn how to apply the elements and principles of design with intention, as you take on creative projects that challenge you to communicate clearly, think critically, and design with purpose. | ||||
| Sept 29 - Nov 17 | Tuesdays: 6:30 - 9:30pm | $400 + GST | ||
| Create unique comic characters through a series of thumbnail sketches that you develop into final drawings for a comic book or graphic novel. Develop a personal style that becomes identifiable with you as you hone your drawing and communication skills. Use a variety of media including pen and ink, marker, pencil, and water-based colour to complete your comics. | ||||
Oct 7 - Nov 25 No class: Nov 11 | Wednesdays: 6:30 - 9:30pm | $400 + GST | Zach Schuster | |
| Prerequisite: Art experience, this is not a beginner course. Strengthen your visual communication skills while exploring the many markets where illustration plays a key role—from publishing and advertising to editorial and entertainment. Learn how to take an idea and develop it visually through sketches, iterations, and thoughtful refinement, leading to a final, polished illustration. Weekly projects and real-world examples will support your learning as you build a deeper understanding of concept development, visual storytelling, and industry expectations. | ||||
Digital Media Arts
Create visual art & media through a variety of digital technologies.
Course Name | Start & End Dates | Day & Time | Price | Instructor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1 - Nov 19 | Thursdays: 6:30 - 9:30pm | $400 + GST | Yeisen Chang | |
| Prerequisite: Clear understanding of design fundamentals, this is not a beginner course. Learn the fundamentals of Adobe Illustrator and InDesign. Through a series of projects you will explore typography, layouts, grids, vector graphics, and page composition as you apply principles of good design and visual communication. Develop a basic workflow between Illustrator and InDesign as you create posters, brochures, editorial spreads, and other print and multi-page materials. Focus is on using the software as a tool for thoughtful, effective design and building confidence with the essential features of each program. | ||||
Drawing
Create artwork with traditional drawing materials such as graphite, charcoal, and conte.
If you are new to art or drawing, we recommend that you start with Drawing Fundamentals.
Course Name | Start & End Dates | Day & Time | Price | Instructor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Sept 28 - Nov 23 No class: October 12 | Mondays: 6:30 - 9:30pm | $400 + GST | ||
| Oct 1 - Nov 19 | Thursdays: 6:30 - 9:30pm | $400 + GST | TBD | |
| Build confidence and core drawing skills through a series of projects designed to sharpen your observation and strengthen your hand-eye coordination. You will focus on the essential elements of drawing—line, shape, value, and composition—and be introduced to a range of media and techniques. Through in class projects you will develop your perceptual abilities, gain a deeper understanding of how to see, interpret, and express the world around you through drawing. | ||||
Oct 7 - Nov 25 No class: Nov 11 | Wednesdays: 6:30 - 9:30pm | $445 + GST | ||
| Prerequisite: Previous drawing experience. The human figure offers endless inspiration for artists at every level. Work from live models using a range of media to build hands-on studio experience. Develop your skills in gesture drawing, analytical study of form, and creating depth through light and shadow. Focus on mastering perspective, proportion, and diverse drawing techniques to bring the figure to life with accuracy and expression. Please see your course supply list online and come prepared for the first class. | ||||
| Sept 29 - Nov 17 | Tuesdays: 6:30 - 9:30pm | $400 + GST | Maedeh Mosaverzadeh | |
| Strengthen your drawing skills by working from life and learning to truly observe what’s in front of you. Emphasis is on careful looking and thoughtful interpretation as you develop an understanding of spatial relationships, angles, light and shadow, texture, and tone. You will also explore how to simplify complex subjects, focusing on what’s essential to capture the character and presence of your subject with clarity and confidence. | ||||
Oct 1 - Nov 19 | Thursdays: 6:30 - 9:30pm | $400 + GST | Maedeh Mosaverzadeh | |
| Prerequisite: Previous drawing experience. Focus on building a strong set of drawings to include in your portfolio for submission to AUArts or any other visual arts institution. Your instructor will guide you through a series of drawings including still life, landscape, the human figure, self-portraiture, and collage – all aimed at increasing your observational drawing skills and creative output. In addition to weekly critiques of your work, you will also discuss how to select work to include in your portfolio, work on a written statement, and learn how to effectively document and upload your work as part of the online application to AUArts. | ||||
Sept 29 - Nov 17 | Tuesdays: 6:30 - 9:30pm | $400 + GST | Nicole Gruszecki | |
| Prerequisite: Previous drawing experience. Improve your skills in capturing the unique likeness of a face by mastering facial proportions and accurate measurement techniques. Through paired exercises, self-portraits using mirrors, and working from photographs, you’ll experiment with various drawing media and techniques to bring your portraits to life. Please review the course supply list online and come prepared for the first class. | ||||
Fibre Arts
Make wearable art using natural or synthetic fibre, materials and dyes.
Course Name | Start & End Dates | Day & Time | Price | Instructor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 17 - Nov 21 | Saturdays: 9:30am - 1:30pm | $455 + GST | ||
| Explore the process of screen printing your own designs on fabric. You will design and print your own images on yardage, clothing, or accessories using hand-cut stencils and pigment-based inks. Learn how to cut custom stencils, mix your own colors, and layer multiple prints to create vibrant, one-of-a-kind pieces. Printing will be done using water-based inks on natural fibers, giving you a solid foundation in sustainable and creative textile design. | ||||
| Sewing Basics | Oct 1 - Nov 26 | Thursdays: 6:30 - 9:30pm | $405 + GST | Avery Thatcher |
| Does your sewing machine intimidate you? Do you have sewing projects where you just don’t know where start? Learn all the sewing basics you need to get started…no experience required! Get (re)introduced to basic hand sewing techniques, learn how to properly operate a sewing machine, choose fabrics, read a basic pattern, and master basic construction methods. You will also review how to layout a pattern, pin, cut, and mark. | ||||
Sept 28 - Nov 23 No class: October 12 | Mondays: 6:30 - 9:30pm | $455 + GST | Avery Thatcher | |
| Re-consider your clothing's role in your life and redefine its value through care and attention. Through different upcycling techniques, explore the boundaries of your garments and create one-of-a-kind pieces, unique and meaningful to you. Bring in your shirts, jackets, pants, and skirts and add new life to them by deconstructing, re-constructing, and embellishing. You will learn some simple design tips and tricks from your instructor to make your clothes unique and stylish…and fit better. | ||||
Glassblowing
Blow hot glass into beautiful objects and forms.
Course Name | Start & End Dates | Day & Time | Price | Instructor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Sept 28 - Nov 23 No class: October 12 | Mondays: 6:30 - 9:30pm | $650 + GST | Carli Castle | |
| WAITLIST: Glassblowing & Coldworking Basics | Oct 18 - Nov 22 | Sundays: 9:30am - 1:30pm | $650 + GST | Kayla Brown |
| Learn the basic processes of hot glasswork, in a fully equipped, professional hot shop studio. Focus on solid and simple blown forms in a small class setting giving you plenty of work time and access to your instructor for assistance and coaching. The last class meeting will be for students to learn how to finish off their pieces properly in the coldworking studio and to critique their work. | ||||
| Oct 17 - Nov 21 | Saturdays: 9:30am - 1:30pm | $650 + GST | Carli Castle | |
| Prerequisite: Glassblowing Basics, or glassblowing experience. Expand your knowledge of hot glasswork as you develop your skills further in a small class setting with lots of individualized instruction. Challenge yourself and try creating different forms and working with colour. Spend the last class meeting will be for students to coldwork only to finish their blown pieces and critique their work. | ||||
Jewellery & Metals
Design and fabricate jewellery.
Course Name | Start & End Dates | Day & Time | Price | Instructor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Sept 28 - Nov 23 No class: Oct 12 | Mondays: 6:30 - 9:30pm | $590 + GST | ||
| It’s amazing how flat sheets of metal can be transformed into unique, handcrafted jewellery. Learn essential metalworking techniques - including sawing, piercing, filing, shaping, stamping, surface texturing, and finishing - using simple hand tools in a fully equipped jewellery studio. With plenty of supported studio time and hands-on instruction, you will gain confidence in the fundamentals of metal fabrication and begin developing your own creative approach to jewellery design. | ||||
| Oct 1 - Nov 19 | Thursdays: 6:30 - 9:30pm | $590 + GST | ||
| Prerequisite Jewellery Fundamentals: Cold Connections must be completed before registering into Soldering Skills. Soldering is a foundational skill that expands your creative possibilities in metalwork. Focus is on learning the technical aspects of essential methods for joining metal components, including butt joints, sweat joints, and the use of resists and heat sinks. You will also learn how to choose and apply different types of solder effectively. You will receive guided instruction and hands-on practice, as you build confidence and precision in your soldering skills - an essential step in advancing your jewellery-making abilities. | ||||
Painting
Learn a variety of painting techniques across acrylic, watercolour and oils.
Course Name | Start & End Dates | Day & Time | Price | Instructor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1 - Nov 19 | Thursdays: 6:30 - 9:30pm | $400 + GST | ||
| Acrylic paints are so versatile and perfect for those who are interested in building a strong foundation in painting. Learn the essentials of color theory, paint mixing, brushwork, and composition through a series of guided projects, focusing on still life and landscape subjects. Through consistent practice you will develop your technical skills and gain confidence in your creative abilities, whether you're new to painting or returning to it. | ||||
Oct 7 - Nov 25 No class: Nov 11 | Wednesdays: 6:30 - 9:30pm | $400 + GST | TBD | |
| Prerequisite: Previous painting experience recommended . Landscape painting can have artistic and technical challenges for painters, but through an analytical understanding of perspective and composition and an exploration of colour and tonal relationships, you can master how to shape the mood and depth of your work. Through hands-on exercises, demonstrations, and guided projects, you will also learn effective techniques for controlling your chosen media—whether acrylic, oil, or watercolor—to capture texture, light, and the dynamic qualities of the natural world to create compelling landscapes that reflect both observation and personal expression. | ||||
Oct 7 - Nov 25 No class: Nov 11 | Wednesdays: 6:30 - 9:30pm | $400 + GST | Clinton St. John | |
| Experience the rich, tactile qualities of oil paint while building a strong foundation in this timeless medium. Explore colour theory, paint mixing, application techniques, and composition through a series of guided projects. With a focus on still life and landscape subjects, you'll gradually develop your skills and confidence, learning how to work with oils in a thoughtful and expressive way. | ||||
Sept 28 - Nov 23 No class: October 12 | Mondays: 6:30 - 9:30pm | $400 + GST | ||
| Watercolour can be a challenging medium, especially if you are new to painting—but understanding some basic watercolour handling and techniques, it becomes both manageable and rewarding. Learn essential watercolour skills, including how to stretch paper, control your brush, and work with both wet-on-wet and drybrush methods. Pick up practical tips and tricks as you build confidence through a series of guided projects designed to help you develop control, creativity, and success with the medium. | ||||
Photography
Capture and create lasting images using your camera.
Course Name | Start & End Dates | Day & Time | Price | Instructor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sept 29 - Nov 17 | Tuesdays: 6:30 - 9:30pm | $400 + GST | Tracy Elliot | |
| Note: DSLR Cameras only. Take control of your digital camera and elevate your photography skills by moving beyond auto mode. Get introduced to essential camera functions, including exposure, aperture, and shutter speed, to help you understand how these settings impact your images. Explore composition, lighting, and the use of different lenses as you experiment with creative techniques, under the guidance of your instructor. Work through shooting sessions, file conversion, and digital image management, and receive constructive feedback to refine your skills throughout the course. | ||||
Print Media
Produce and transfer your ideas onto a variety of surfaces.
Course Name | Start & End Dates | Day & Time | Price | Instructor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sept 29 - Nov 17 | Tuesdays: 6:30 - 9:30pm | $400 + GST | Alison Frank | |
| Discover the art of relief printmaking through linocut in a fully equipped studio. Learn safe carving techniques as you begin printing with a single color, then progress to reduction cutting and multi-color printing. You will explore both press and hand-printing methods, giving you the flexibility to continue creating prints independently after the course. Throughout the course, your instructor will provide expert guidance and support as you develop new skills and techniques. | ||||
Please note: The courses listed above are available for the Fall 2026 term. For a breakdown of what courses are available each term, please download our 2026/2027 Course Calendar (coming soon).
For more information please contact the Continuing Education office.
NEW! Handcrafted Holiday Workshops
Give an extra special gift this year; one that you made!
Join us for our limited series of hand-made workshops. Unlike regular Personal Interest courses, workshops are designed to be completed in a single session while giving you access to the same studio spaces and talented instructors. With guided support you will create a one-of-a-kind gift to give to someone special or keep for yourself.
Workshop Name | Date | Time | Price | Instructor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| There are no workshops being offered at this time. | ||||
Weeklong Summer Courses
Registration will close 2-weeks before the course start date. Contact Continuing Education if you would like to enroll past the registration deadline.
Get into the studio for five full days of productivity.
Weeklong Personal Interest courses provide committed artists with dedicated time and space in a studio environment. In addition to course content and open studio time, you will participate in group discussions and critiques that will deepen your understanding of your work and how others interpret it.
All skill levels are welcome.
Course Name | Start & End Dates | Day & Time | Price | Instructor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
100 Drawings in a Week | July 13 - 17, 2026 | Monday - Friday 10:00am - 4:00pm | $505 + GST | |
| Get really creative and push yourself to complete 100 drawing in a week. You’ll improve your drawing skills through your sustained drawing practice as your instructor helps you move from concentrating on mostly formal issues to more conceptual ones. Be introduced to past and current artists who have strong drawing practices and participate in individual and group critiques which will aide in your artist growth. | ||||
Abstract Painting Week | July 27 - 31, 2026 | Monday - Friday 10:00am - 4:00pm | $550 + GST | |
| Take your abstract painting practice to the next level and spend an uninterrupted week in the studio! Work alongside other abstract painters and build community under the guidance of your instructor as you produce new work or explore a new technique or approach to what you’ve been doing. You will participate in individual and group critiques throughout the week. Acrylic paint will be the medium used as it is flexible and dries quickly. | ||||
Figure for the Week | July 6 - 10, 2026 | Monday - Friday 10:00am - 4:00pm | $595 + GST | |
| Learn a classical approach to drawing and painting the figure as you spend a full week in the studio working from a live model. All artists are supported by the instructor to work on honing their figure drawing and/or painting skills. You will participate in discussions about both the historical and contemporary figures in drawing and painting as well as addressing formal and technical issues. Both individual and group critiques play an important role in the workshop and serve as a valuable learning tool for all artists involved. All levels welcome. | ||||
Mixed Media & Collage Week | July 20 - 24, 2026 | Monday - Friday 10:00am - 4:00pm | $550 + GST | |
| Working with mixed media can be daunting but it can also be very exciting and freeing. Grow your understanding of working with different materials and techniques as you collage and layer, building up and scratching away your surface to create pieces that are totally unique. Learn about historical and contemporary artists who have used mixed media and the impact of their work within an art context, as well as participate in group discussions and critiques to stimulate your own practice. All levels welcome. | ||||
Open Jewellery Studio Week | August 24 - 28, 2026 | Monday - Friday 10:00am - 4:00pm | $675 + GST | |
| Here’s your chance to complete past projects in a jewellery studio, while having access to a professional jeweler for advanced instruction and guidance. Be prepared to generate your own projects. Your instructor will provide technical advice, critical feedback, and new skills demonstrations on request. Please Note: Previous metal fabrication, soldering, and jewellery skills and the ability to work independently is required. | ||||
Urban Sketching Week | July 27 - 31, 2026 | Monday - Friday 10:00am - 4:00pm | $550 + GST | |
| Capture the bustling energy of a busy street corner or the quietness of a single person on a bench, as you explore the downtown Calgary. Meet in a different location each day and draw from observation in your sketchbook. Please see your course supply list online. All levels welcome. | ||||
Watch and learn!
Note
Please note: Courses are subject to cancellation based on minimum enrolment levels.
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