classes & workshops

Explore Your Creativity

Learn a new skill, refresh your perspective, and imagine the world more creatively!

Explore a range of classes & workshops in a variety of mediums and themes, for beginners to advanced artists of all ages.

Connect with your creative side

Close-up of a person's hand holding a paintbrush over a watercolor palette, with various colors of paint, while creating a watercolor painting.

Introducing…

Create at the Mill

Creativity moves differently here…

Introducing Create at the Mill — a year-round series of hands-on creative experiences. Whether you’re trying something new or rediscovering your creative side, every session is designed to be welcoming, beginner-friendly, and fun!

Each month brings new opportunities to learn from artists, makers, and creatives inside one of Ontario’s most inspiring cultural spaces.

Come for an experience, stay for the studios, galleries, café, and creative atmosphere of the Mill.

No experience necessary — just curiosity.

Event Listing
All About Texture
Aug 15
All About Texture
Urban Sketching
Aug 16
Urban Sketching

The perfect addition to the collection of workshops and masterclasses already offered by the artists of the Alton Mill!

A woman with blonde hair in a bun, wearing a brown sweater, painting a floral picture on a canvas in an art studio filled with easels, paintings, and art supplies.

When once isn’t enough…

At the Alton Mill Arts Centre, creativity doesn’t have to be a one-time experience—it’s something you can return to again and again. Explore our lineup of ongoing workshops led by practicing artists, dive deeper into a medium you love, or try something completely new. Looking for a more personalized journey? Many of our artists also offer private lessons tailored to your interests, pace, and skill level. Whether you’re building confidence, sharpening technique, or simply craving time to create, there’s an adventure waiting for you in our studios.

See ongoing opportunities below
  • Students painting in C.J. Sheltons Studio

    Acrylic Painting & Mentoring

    Join artist CJ Shelton and spend some creative time in her studio working on your own individual painting project, learning as you go about different approaches and techniques using acrylics.

    Whatever subject you choose to work on, you will be receiving CJ’s expert guidance and feedback on techniques, composition, colour mixing and more, as well as lots of help with all those “tricky bits”!

    Thursdays 11am to 1pm OR 2pm to 4pm

    Block of 6 classes $240 + hst

    Details & REgistration
  • Student Drawing

    Drawing Classes

    Relax and learn the fundamentals of drawing in the calm ambience of a working artist’s studio and benefit from CJ’s 40 years of experience as an artist and illustrator. These classes are the perfect way to build and sustain a weekly habit of drawing regularly.

    Under CJ’s expert tutelage, your skills will develop exponentially as you learn the fundamentals and hone them through working with a variety of subject matter, including landscapes, animals, still life and more. Both beginners and advanced are welcome.

    Wednesday Afternoons OR Sunday Afternoons

    Block of 6 classes $240 + hst

    Details & Registration
  • Three painted canvases with mandala and floral designs, along with paint bottles, markers, and paintbrushes on a table.

    Mandala Making Parties

    Gather your favourite people for a colourful, soul-nourishing creative experience with CJ Shelton. In this guided workshop, your group will learn the basics of mandala design while creating your own meaningful, one-of-a-kind artwork. Perfect for birthdays, team outings, or a memorable friends’ night out.

    $175 per person • Minimum group of 4

    details & registration