In this two and a half hour class, kids and their accompanying adults will dive into the exciting world of color through hands-on exploration and playful experimentation. Using water-based paints, water, and a variety of brushes on paper, participants will discover how colors move, blend, and transform. We will begin by working with the three primary colors—red, blue, and yellow—and explore how they interact. Through guided mixing, students will create secondary colors and experiment with making lighter and darker shades by adjusting the amount of water and paint.
Along the way, we’ll notice how colors can feel warm or cool, bright or soft, bold or subtle. Participants will explore the unique characteristics of various tools and surfaces, learning simple techniques to get started and discover inspiration—whether drawn from the inner world or the world around us. The focus is on the process of making: approaching art as a meditative, exploratory practice. Together, we’ll experiment, play, and pay close attention to what unfolds on the page, moment by moment. There are no expectations for finished pieces or specific outcomes —the class itself is the experience and the goal. Each session will close with a supportive group reflection, where we’ll share and appreciate each other’s progress, process, and discoveries.
This workshop is designed for ages 10 and up and accompanying adults.
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR
Margrethe Aanestad is a Norwegian visual artist working between Norway and New York City. Her practice explores abstraction through mainly drawing, painting, and sculpture, with a focus on materiality, space, and intuitive expression. In addition to her studio work, Margrethe is a seasoned Teaching Artist with over a decade of experience leading art workshops for children, teens, and adults. She has taught in a wide range of settings—from art colleges and cultural institutions to public schools and independent initiatives—consistently fostering creativity, experimentation, and personal expression through hands-on art-making. Based in Brooklyn, she currently works with KokoNYC, and recently founded her own platform offering creative coaching and guided art-making sessions for adults. Margrethe led this well-received workshop series at Scandinavia House in the summer of 2025 is excited to return to share it with a new group of students.