Classes
UPDATED August 4, 2026
Upcoming Classes and Workshops:
Explorations in Watercolor
6 Week Class Series
Mondays September 14 - October 26
(no class on September 21), 2026
10 am - 12:00 pm
Northwest Family YMCA, Baldwinsville, NY
(You do not have to be a member of the YMCA)
Register Here or call the YMCA at (315) 303-5966
Ages 16 to adults. All skill levels. We will explore the elements of watercolor and what potential it holds as a practice, as well as ways to silence the inner critic that keeps us from expressing ourselves.
This class is a mixed-ability, adaptive class that is fully inclusive of people with disabilities. Whether you want more control over the medium, or long to loosen up more, this class will give you strategies to tune into your unique artistic voice.
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Portrait Drawing Workshop
Sunday, August 23, 2026
10 am - 12:30 pm
Northwest Family YMCA, Baldwinsville, NY
(You do not have to be a member of the YMCA)
Register Here or call the YMCA at (315) 303-5966
Ages 16 - adult. I will teach you tips and tricks to really capture a likeness in pencil. Bring in a photo of a person you'd like to draw. No drawing experience required.
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Art in the Park - Sketching at Pass Arboretum
Sunday August 30, 2026
10 am - 12 pm
Pass Arboretum
300 S. Avery Ave, Syracuse, NY
(You do not have to be a Syracuse resident to register)
Register Here
All ages and skill levels. Spend a serene Sunday morning sketching at the Pass Arboretum. I will show you tips and tricks to compose landscapes and sketch trees. Bring your own sketchbook and supplies, or use ours.
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Drawing for Self Reflection
Monday September 28
7 pm - 8:30 pm
Northwest Family YMCA, Baldwinsville, NY
(You do not have to be a member of the YMCA)
Register Here or call the YMCA at (315) 303-5966
For ages 16 - adult. All skill levels. During this busy season, take a moment to reconnect with yourself. Using pencil and other media, create a personal image inspired by your intentions that can serve as a meaningful reminder of what matters to you.
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Make Your Own Sketchbook
2 Sessions to Choose from:
Sunday September 20, 2026
1 pm - 3 pm
Friday October 9, 2026
10 am - 12 pm
Northwest Family YMCA, Baldwinsville, NY
(You do not have to be a member of the YMCA)
Register Here for Sunday September 20
Register Here for Friday October 9
or call the YMCA at (315) 303-5966
In this workshop you will create your own sketchbook from scratch! We will learn a few options for decorating covers, and (time permitting) break your new book in with some drawing exercises.
All materials included. Optionally, If you have your own paper you would like to include in your book, please bring it.
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Drawing Workshop - How to Draw Hands
Sunday October 11, 2026
1 pm - 3 pm
Northwest Family YMCA, Baldwinsville, NY
(You do not have to be a member of the YMCA)
Register Here or call the YMCA at (315) 303-5966
For ages 16 - adult. All skill levels. Don’t be scared of drawing hands! Once you learn a few tips for drawing them, your drawings will come to life with bold expression.
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Paint n’ Sip (Tea!)
Sunday October 18, 2026
10 am - 12 pm
Northwest Family YMCA, Baldwinsville, NY
(You do not have to be a member of the YMCA)
Register Here or call the YMCA at (315) 303-5966
For ages 16 - adult. All skill levels. Unwind, learn, and make art while sipping seasonal hot drinks in this mellow workshop for adults. We’ll even try painting with tea! Everything is provided, just bring yourself.
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Spooky Watercolor Line and Wash
Monday October 19, 2026
7 pm - 8:45 pm
Northwest Family YMCA, Baldwinsville, NY
(You do not have to be a member of the YMCA)
Register Here or call the YMCA at (315) 303-5966
For ages 13 - adult. All skill levels. Get in the spirit of the autumn season while practicing watercolor line and wash technique. Create patterns in watercolor and pen of black cats, moths, pumpkins, and other spooky, seasonal elements.
Past Offerings
Hand-bound Sketchbook Workshop
In this workshop you will learn up to two methods for creating your own sketchbook from scratch! We will learn a few options for decorating covers, and (time permitting) break your new book in with some drawing exercises.
All materials included. Optionally, If you have your own paper you would like to include in your book, please bring it.
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Printmaking
All ages (children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult). Beginner to intermediate. Printmaking is the art of making reproductions by transferring ink from one prepared surface to a sheet of paper. In this introductory class series, we will make handmade prints using techniques such as monoprinting, collagraph, and block printing.
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Pet Portrait Watercolor Workshop
Create a likeness of your pet in watercolor. No drawing experience necessary; I will teach you a technique to transfer a photo directly to your watercolor paper, so please bring a print out or photo of your pet. All levels welcome!
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Watercolor Mandalas Workshop
Ages 16 to adults. Explore the art of mandalas, a geometric artform originating in India. We will create our own using watercolor techniques. No experience required for this mellow art excursion.
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Remembrance Jar Workshop
Many cultures traditionally spend the fall season remembering their deceased. Honor an ancestor or departed loved one with a mixed media jar you decorate with their photo, in this two hour workshop. All materials provided though feel free to bring in any items you’re drawn to add to your jar.
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Victorian Puzzle Purse Workshop
Ages 16 to adults. These unique intricately folded paper stationery were all the rage in Victorian England. We will create our own and decorate them using the language of flowers.
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Upcycled Art
All skill levels. Stretch your creative muscles and turn the old into gold! In this class we use supplies you might find around your house to craft unique pieces of art.
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Explorations in Watercolor
Ages 16 to adults. All skill levels. We will explore the elements of watercolor and what potential it holds as a practice, as well as ways to silence the inner critic that keeps us from expressing ourselves.
This class is a mixed-ability, adaptive class that is fully inclusive of people with disabilities. Whether you want more control over the medium, or long to loosen up more, this class will give you strategies to tune into your unique artistic voice.
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Intermediate / Advanced Watercolor Weekly Class
If you have taken Beginning Watercolor with me, or have experience in the medium, and want to stretch your creative muscles and further explore the medium, this class is for you. While the Beginning Class is largely techniques based, in the Advanced Class you have more time for independent projects.
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Drawing Class
Ages 16+. All skill levels. No drawing ability necessary, just the willingness to learn this timeless skill. More experienced drafts people, come hone your craft in the company of other artists. Learn how to see your world from a different perspective, set aside your self-doubts, and enter the “flow state.” We will cover techniques like composition and shading, as we draw what we see using pencil, ink, charcoal, and pastel. What you learn in this class, you can apply to any other art form—the sky is the limit.
It is my mission to make all of my classes inclusive of people with disabilities. Please reach out for details about accessibility and access needs.
If you have any questions, please call, text, or email me at jess@jessjakus.com
