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Palo Alto is a good town for an adult who wants to start drawing again or finally learn to etch a plate. The city runs its own art center with four studios and weekly drop-in sessions. A nonprofit art league has taught downtown since 1921. Paly's classrooms fill with adult students on weeknights and Stanford opens its continuing education catalog to anyone with a high school diploma. Foothill College is a short drive away for credit courses.
This guide covers adult classes only. For children, see our classes for kids. Clay has its own page, pottery and ceramics. Schedules and fees below come from each provider's own pages in October 2026. Class lists change every term, so confirm details before you pay.
The options at a glance
| Provider | Where | Best for | How it runs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palo Alto Art Center | 1313 Newell Road | Studio classes, drop-in life drawing, jewelry, printmaking | Quarterly classes through the city's Enjoy! catalog |
| Pacific Art League | 668 Ramona Street, downtown | Drawing, painting, printmaking, workshops | Quarterly catalog, member discount |
| Palo Alto Adult School | Paly and other PAUSD sites | Low-cost evening classes, one-night workshops | Quarterly catalog, open to anyone 18 or older |
| Stanford Continuing Studies | Stanford campus and online | Drawing, painting and photography with a syllabus | Quarterly, open enrollment |
| Foothill College | Los Altos Hills | Credit courses and longer study | Quarter system, per-unit fees |
Palo Alto Art Center
The Palo Alto Art Center is the city's own art school and gallery, set in the 1953 former city hall beside Rinconada Park. The city describes four well-equipped studios and adult programs for every level, from first-timers to working artists. Adult classes run each quarter in these areas:
- Ceramics
- Painting and drawing
- Jewelry and metalsmithing
- Printmaking
- Fiber arts and basketry
- Collage and mixed media
- Floral arranging, plus specialized workshops
How registration works
Adult classes are listed in the city's Enjoy! catalog and booked online. Residents get a one-week head start each season and registration opens at 10 a.m. In 2026 the Art Center's adult registration opened March 5, May 7 and August 20 for residents, with everyone else a week later. For winter 2027 the city's catalog opens to residents on December 3, 2026 and to nonresidents on December 10. Popular evening classes fill fast, so set up your account before registration morning. The Art Center's adult classes page links to the current catalog.
Drop-in programs
The drop-ins are the best way to keep working between classes. The city's drop-in page lists these for 2026:
| Program | When | Cost | Who can come |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life drawing, nude model, quick poses | Tuesdays, 6 to 9 p.m. | $15 cash | Open to all, reserve through Bookeo |
| Life drawing, costumed model, long pose | Tuesdays, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. | $15 cash | Open to all |
| Life drawing, nude model, long pose | Thursdays, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. | $15 cash | Open to all |
| Collage group | Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. | $10 | Open to all |
| Paula Kirkeby Press printmaking | Quarterly schedule after approval | $14 residents, $16 nonresidents per day | Experienced printmakers 18 and over |
| Open jewelry studio | Monthly schedule after approval | $39 or $45 a month, or a day pass | Experienced jewelers 18 and over |
Life drawing sessions cap at 22 people and you bring your own materials. The collage group skips November 11, December 23 and December 30, 2026. Printmaking and jewelry need a skills check first, so call the Art Center at (650) 329-2366 to set one up. The adult studios stay open into the evening Monday through Thursday, later than the galleries.
Pacific Art League
The Pacific Art League began in 1921 as the Palo Alto Art Club, founded by about 40 artists, many with Stanford ties. It bought its current home at 668 Ramona Street in 1965, a Spanish Revival building designed by Birge Clark. It took its present name in 1984. A $4 million renovation in 2014 added seismic work and accessibility. Today the league describes itself as a nonprofit art school and gallery with about 35 to 40 instructors and more than 2,000 students a quarter.
The fall 2026 catalog covered drawing, painting, printmaking and mixed media, with classes and shorter workshops for a range of levels. The league also announced a Yumiko Tsumura Oil Painting Atelier for 2027. Class listings live in a new online registration portal on the Pacific Art League site.
Fees and policies
- Membership: $100 a year, which takes 10% off most classes and workshops.
- Supplies: each class page has a supply list. Some classes charge a materials fee paid to the instructor at the first meeting.
- Model fees: figure classes list their own model fee and need at least five students by the start date.
- Cancellations: for classes, withdraw 8 or more days ahead for a credit or a refund less $20. Workshops need 4 days' notice and the fee drops to $15. There is no refund once a class has started.
- Late entry: you can often join after the start if there is space and the instructor agrees.
The gallery and office are open Tuesday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. On the first Friday of each month the league holds an exhibition opening from 5:30 to 8 p.m., which is a relaxed way to meet instructors before you sign up. Street parking nearby has a two-hour weekday limit. The Civic Center garage under City Hall at 250 Hamilton Avenue is across the street. Our downtown guide covers dinner nearby.
Palo Alto Adult School
The Palo Alto Adult School is the low-cost option. It is open to anyone 18 or older, with the same fees for residents and nonresidents. Most art classes meet at Palo Alto High School on weeknights. The fall 2026 catalog shows the range:
- Discover the Art Within You: drawing and watercolor over 10 weeks, $200 online or $250 in person at Paly.
- Glassblowing workshop: a one-night beginner session in Paly's Fiery Arts studio making a glass flower and paperweight, $250, limited to four students.
- Ikebana: Sogetsu-style Japanese flower arranging, five weeks for $150 plus materials.
- Knitting and crochet: eight-week evening classes for $80 to $160.
- Craft workshops: one-night sessions on wreaths, Hawaiian lei making, soap and candles.
The fall quarter runs to December 18. The school posts its winter catalog on its website. It is also recruiting new art instructors, so offerings shift each term.
Stanford Continuing Studies
Stanford's continuing education program lists studio arts among its departments, including drawing and painting, photography and film. Classes meet on weeknights or weekends on campus, online by Zoom or in hybrid form. There is no application: any adult with a high school diploma or equivalent can enroll. Tuition varies by course and a $35 registration fee applies once per quarter.
For winter 2027, courses appear online on November 9, 2026 and registration opens November 30 at 8:30 a.m. The quarter runs January 4 to March 12. Studio courses with enrollment caps fill early. Our Stanford Continuing Studies guide explains refunds, discounts and the wait list.
Foothill College
For a longer course with college credit, Foothill College in Los Altos Hills has an art department with pathways in ceramics, life drawing, painting, digital art and art history. Its painting pathway covers oil, acrylic and watercolor, with indoor studio work and some painting outdoors. Winter 2027 classes run January 4 to March 26 and priority registration begins November 9. California residents pay a per-unit enrollment fee. Visitors and students may need a daily digital parking permit.
Choosing a class
- Decide how much structure you want. A drop-in life drawing session costs $15 and needs no commitment. A 10-week course builds skills step by step.
- Count the extras. Supplies, model fees and materials fees can add a lot to a low tuition.
- Look at the clock. The Art Center and Paly run many evening classes. The Pacific Art League and the Art Center drop-ins include daytime sessions that suit retirees and shift workers.
- Try a first session. Stanford's refund policy lets you attend the first meeting of a multi-session course and still drop by the deadline for full tuition.
- Mind the deadlines. Residents get early access to city classes. Plan around December 3 for winter.
Good to know
- The city adds a 2.75% fee to card payments for Enjoy! registrations. Cash and checks avoid it.
- Life drawing at the Art Center is cash only. Bring exact change.
- Galleries make good classrooms too. The Cantor Arts Center at Stanford is free and our gallery guide lists local shows.
- Visiting for a workshop weekend? Compare hotels near downtown if you want to walk to Ramona Street.
More ways to make art
The city library runs free hands-on craft programs, such as collage and card-making afternoons, listed on its events calendar. Our libraries guide explains where each branch is. For a day out with a creative theme, the Art Center's Friday night openings and Family Days are free. If you would rather look than make, browse Bay Area art and museum tours.
Frequently asked questions
Where can adults take art classes in Palo Alto?
The city's Palo Alto Art Center on Newell Road runs quarterly adult classes in painting, drawing, printmaking, jewelry, fiber arts, collage and ceramics. The Pacific Art League on Ramona Street teaches drawing, painting, printmaking and mixed media. The Palo Alto Adult School and Stanford Continuing Studies add evening and online courses.
Is there drop-in life drawing in Palo Alto?
Yes. The Palo Alto Art Center lists drop-in life drawing and painting from a model on Tuesday evenings and on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. Each session costs $15, paid in cash to the drop-in coordinator, with room for 22 artists. Bring your own supplies.
When does registration open for city art classes?
City classes, including the Art Center's, are listed in the Enjoy! catalog. For winter 2027, Palo Alto residents can register from December 3, 2026 and nonresidents from December 10. Registration opens at 10 a.m.
Does the Pacific Art League offer discounts?
Pacific Art League membership costs $100 and gives members 10% off most classes and workshops. Tuition is listed as a regular price and a member price on each class page.
Can I take an art class at Stanford without being a student?
Yes. Stanford Continuing Studies is open to adults with a high school diploma or equivalent and its catalog includes drawing, painting and photography. Winter 2027 courses are posted November 9, 2026 and registration opens November 30.