GRAPHITE ARTS CENTER  

Located in downtown Edmonds at 2nd Ave & Main Street

Graphite Arts Center is Edmonds newest center for artists and the community

 

Graphite Arts Center is home to Art Start Northwest.

Art Start Northwest is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) which strives to make art more accessible to all, and directly supports arts in the classroom in the Edmonds School District.

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC | Saturdays 12:00pm-4:00pm & Fridays 1:00pm-5:00pm | During our open hours the public is invited to explore the gallery, enjoy our art library and stroll through the center to meet artists and watch them work.  The gallery is accessible through Charcoal Restaurant daily from 4:00pm-8:00pm

Art Walk Edmonds (AWE) | 3rd Thursdays monthly, 5:00pm-8:00pm | Stroll through the building and meet the Artists, watch them create, buy their art, enjoy live music from local musicians, view the current show in the Gallery at Graphite, and grab a bite to eat at Charcoal Restaurant.

CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS
Class fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. If there are less than 6 people in a class, the class could get cancelled and your money will be refunded. REGISTER EARLY – We typically cancel the class a minimum of 3 days before the start date.

Yes! You can gift a class to a friend. Use the registration forms below. In the “Notes” section mention it is a gift and include the recipients name and email.

Questions? Contact [email protected]

Sip & Spill | December 15, 2024 | 12:00pm-2:00pm (one session)
For Ages 21+ | $50 | Pre-registration Required

Want a fun-filled time dripping paint on canvas Jackson Pollock style? Join us for our very first “Sip & Spill” class. Students will don white coveralls and spend the class sipping a beverage (alcoholic & non-alcoholic) while spilling paint on canvas. Dress to de-stress and get messy! All levels are welcome to come and Make Art with Mary Olsen, founder of Art Start Northwest and owner of Graphite Arts Center.

No pre-requisites or experience required. All supplies are included.

Register for Sip & Spill here.

Making Art with Mary: Painting | January 8 & 15, 2025 (two sessions) | 6:00pm-8:00pm
For Ages 18+ | $80 | Pre-registration Required

Students will learn a variety of watercolor and acrylic painting techniques while exploring different brushes and genres – florals, landscapes, abstracts, etc. This is an explorational class for all levels – beginners to advanced – everyone is welcome to come and Make Art with Mary Olsen, founder of Art Start Northwest.

This is a two session class. No pre-requisites or experience required. All supplies are included.

Register for Painting here.

Making Art with Mary: Mixed Media | February 5 & 12, 2025 (two sessions) | 6:00pm-8:00pm

For Ages 18+ | $80 | Pre-registration Required

Students will combine art materials – paints, pens, papers, pastels, etc. to create one of a kind mixed media art. This is an explorational class for all levels – beginners to advanced – everyone is welcome to come and Make Art with Mary Olsen, founder of Art Start Northwest.

This is a two session class. No pre-requisites or experience required. All supplies are included.

Register for February Mixed Media here.

Making Art with Mary: Independent Study | February 5 or 12, 2025 (one session) | 3:00pm-5:00pm

For Ages 18+ | $40 | Pre-registration Required

Choose the medium you want to work in. This is an explorational class for all levels – beginner to advanced. Mary will be available for one-on-one help, questions, demonstrations and provide you with supplies. 

Sign up for one class or both classes.

No pre-requisites or experience required. Classes do not have to be taken consecutively. All supplies are included.

Register for Independent Study here.

Clay: Make a Cup with Julie | February 19, 2025, 6:30pm-9:00pm & February 26, 2025, 6:30pm-8:00pm (two sessions) | For Ages 18+ | $125 + $25 supply fee | Pre-registration Required

Make your own unique hand built pottery. Participants will learn to roll slabs of clay, experiment with texture and build a vessel, be it a cup, mug, bowl, pitcher, pot or flower vase. The first session will be 2.5 hours for construction and the second class will be 1.5 hours for glazing. Glazed pottery will need to be picked up approximately 2 weeks after the second class. All levels welcome.
 

Class Instructor: Graphite Arts Center resident clay studio artist, Julie Perrine.

This is a two session class. No pre-requisites or experience required. All supplies are provided with a $25 supply fee paid to the instructor on the first night.

Register for Clay here

Making Art with Mary: Mixed Media | March 5 & 12, 2025 (two sessions) | 3:00pm-5:00pm

For Ages 18+ | $80 | Pre-registration Required

Students will combine art materials – paints, pens, papers, pastels, etc. to create one of a kind mixed media art. This is an explorational class for all levels – beginners to advanced – everyone is welcome to come and Make Art with Mary Olsen, founder of Art Start Northwest.

This is a two session class. No pre-requisites or experience required. All supplies are included.

Register for March Mixed Media here.

EVENTS & MOVIES
Art Movie Night  | More movies coming in 2025! Updates coming soon.

Lectures, Sales & Events | More events coming in 2025! Updates coming soon.

Questions about events? Contact [email protected]

Art For All Free Community Classes: 1st Wednesday of the month at Graphite Arts Center

Art for All is a non-profit organization empowering people with disabilities to create and exhibit art in the greater Puget Sound area. Visit the Art For All website for more information about the Art For All community classes held at Graphite Arts Center. Art Start Northwest joyfully supports Art For All.   

CALLS FOR ART
CALL FOR ART
NuDNW 

Sequel to the popular NuD exhibit shown in January 2023, the Gallery at Graphite is proud to present NuDNW. NuDNW will explore the variety and beauty of the the nude figure in art, from the classical to the contemporary in both 2D and 3D works. All figurative artists are invited to apply. Artwork for entry must feature the nude human figure. 

CALL FOR ART Valentine

February is the month of love and sweethearts and Graphite Arts Center is swooning to present the heart-felt pop-up exhibit Valentine, January 10 – February 15, 2025. For this “lovely” show we are seeking unframed, works on paper only (drawings, paintings, prints, collage, photographs). Works should be on theme: valentine. This pop-up exhibition will be shown in our art library space with works displayed on art panels.

CALL FOR ART 2025 Open Call for Exhibits at The Gallery at Graphite Arts Center 

The Gallery at Graphite is seeking proposals for high quality art exhibits for our 760 sq ft gallery space in downtown Edmonds. Curators and established art groups (societies, associations, clubs, leagues, etc.) are encouraged to apply with a proposal

Current Gallery Exhibit – WINTER ABSTRACTION

November 9, 2024 – January 4, 2025

Gallery hours: Fridays, 1-5PM & Saturdays, 12-4PM
Open daily with access through Charcoal Restaurant, 4-8PM
Open for Art Walk Edmonds November 21 & December 19, 5-8PM
Opening Reception: Saturday, November 9, 7-8:30PM

Upcoming Pop-up Exhibit – VALENTINE

January 10 – February 15, 2025

In the Graphite Arts Center Library area
Hours: Fridays, 1-5PM & Saturdays, 12-4PM

Upcoming Exhibit – NuDNW

January 10, 2025 – March 1, 2025

Gallery hours: Fridays, 1-5PM & Saturdays, 12-4PM
Open daily with access through Charcoal Restaurant, 4-8PM
Open for Art Walk Edmonds January 16 & February 20, 5-8PM

Art Start Northwest School Program

What is the Art Start Northwest School Program? We teach teachers how to incorporate visual arts into the classroom to deepen learning and provide opportunities for creativity. In our second year, we are growing in a big way. Art Start NW will share with our partnership schools, 10+ easy to follow art projects that include an essential question, a learning objective, and that meet the WA State Learning Standards. The theme of these projects will celebrate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. We will again host a Student Art Show in the spring to celebrate all of the artworks being made as a result of the ASNW School Program.

Teacher Workshops

 

This year, we will host five Teach the Teacher workshops at Graphite Arts Center, including a two-part clay workshop in collaboration with Graphite Studio Artist Julie Perrine. Thanks to the generous support from the Edmonds Arts Festival Foundation, all of these workshops will be FREE for our partnership school teachers to attend. Any other teachers or educator in the area who are interested in joining us for one of these workshops are welcomed and encouraged to sign up for a low fee of only $25. Each of our workshops offer up to two professional clock hours.

Art Supply Donations

We will again donate sketchbooks and quality art supplies for our partnership elementary schools. We thank our collaborator, the Hazel Miller Foundation for contributing to this goal. Would you like to start an art cabinet at your school? Please reach out to Education Manager Missy Hancock at [email protected] and learn how!

Thank you for your generous support:

Would you like to support the Art Start NW School Program?

What is Art Start Northwest

Graphite Arts Center is home to Art Start Northwest, our non-profit, 501(c)(3). Founded by Mary Olsen, the mission of Art Start Northwest is to make art accessible to all.

In 2023, we launched the Art Start Northwest, School Program and built partnerships with five Edmonds elementary schools in the Edmonds School District. We created an art cabinet at each school, donated good quality art supplies and sketchbooks for every student.

Our goal is to make the Art Start NW School Program accessible to all schools who want to participate. If you would like to learn more, or help us meet this goal, please reach out to Education Manager, Missy Hancock at: [email protected]

ARTISTS INTERESTED IN BECOMING APART OF OUR COMMUNITY AT

We welcome professional Artists who need a place to create and sell their art, become part of our community and make connections.

Art Studio Rentals (Currently, all Art studios are rented)

Artist Locker Rentals (Currently all Art Lockers are rented)

To apply for a space below:

Apply to Volunteer:

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