Art meets life at the center.
We believe that art can enrich every life, and here at the Art Center of Northern New Jersey, we’ve made it our mission to keep arts education accessible to everyone, from complete beginner to lifelong practitioner.
Welcome to the Art Center
of Northern New Jersey
A legacy of Arts education
Established in 1956
In 1955, a group of New Jersey artists, working with the Museum of Modern Art and its legendary education director Victor D'Amico, imagined an art center where anyone could learn to make art.
In 1956, that idea became the Art Center.
Seventy years later, we're still doing exactly what those founders imagined: teaching sculpture, painting, watercolor, and printmaking to students of every age and every level, in the same community, with the same open door.
upcoming special events
The Art Center is excited to present a special opportunity to enjoy a chamber concert in our gallery, created with an upcoming exhibit by ACWA, the ACNNJ Affiliates group for watercolor in mind. Join us for music and art!
Delight to sounds from the 12th to 21st centuries performed by a flautist who is "one of her generation's most interesting talents," a soprano/multi-hyphenate storyteller-artist who has championed both contemporary American opera and lesser-known classical gems, and a cellist/gambist with deep expertise in historical performance.
The concert is designed by the program’s Artistic Director Flannery Cunningham.
This program, approximately 75 minutes, will include:
Hildegard von Bingen arr. Missy Mazzoli - O frondens virga
Flannery Cunningham - as if my eyes were caught
Claudio Monteverdi - "Pur ti miro" from L'incoronazione di Poppea
Roger Zare - Apricity
Carl Friedrich Abel - Prelude
Warren Benson - selections from Five Lyrics of Louise Bogan
Kaija Saariaho - Changing Light
No intermission. Look for more details in the Event Page in the event tab on our website as the date approaches.
Date: Sunday, November 1
Time: 2 pm, approximately 75 minutes
Tickets: $20.00 in advance, purchase here or contact the Art Center to arrange purchase/reservation. Door tickets on the day of the concert are $24.00.
We’ve had to reschedule the October date for logistical reasons, all registrants will be kept informed. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your patience. Updates will be posted here on a revised dates and revisions to the model schedule.
3 session choices, 1-2 figures: Join us all day or choose the morning, afternoon, or early evening session. This intensive day of workshops takes place in the 1200 square foot ACNNJ Gallery, a historical setting featuring stained glass, an apse, and vaulted ceiling. Be inspired in this unique space and the creative energy within. Spaces will be limited and advance registration is required.
9:00am –12:00pm GESTURES AND SHORT FORM: Sets of dynamic posing begin this day long opportunity to work from live figures. In the morning, 2 figures pose in a series of sequential poses in 20 minute segments. Capture the motion of these relating figures in an ongoing work or use this opportunity for a gesture drawing intensive. This session features dynamic couple Andrew and Chrissy.
12:30 – 3:30pm STORYTELLING: Create a more realized drawing or painting from life with a long pose in a costumed narrative setting. Work from a 3 hour pose recreating a narrative scene with 2 costumed models as characters in the setting - Malcolm and Richard take the model stand with a musical theme. In this afternoon session, participants are welcome to document the narrative with photographs to continue to work on their piece after the session.
4:00 – 7:00pm THE LONG POSE: Work from the figure model for 3 hours in 20 minute segments. This is an opportunity to create one more fully realized work, or move within the space to re-frame your view as you wish. Our model for this session is Rainey.
Stay all day - 3 sessions: $85.00 for non-members* Choose one 3 hour session, morning or afternoon with 2 models: $45.00 for non-members* Choose the 3 hour evening session with 1 model: $35.00 for non-members*
* Members: Save $5.00 and choose the discounted price for your selection.
This event is facilitated on a volunteer basis by S.R. & Sandy Iyer, in support of the Art Center. Proceeds beyond model fees directly support Art Center operations and programming.
Register in advance! Limited enrollment.
The Art Center offers a variety of core classes all year long
At the Art Center of Northern New Jersey we offer a wide variety of classes taught by working artists — from our growing figurative program; oil painting and watercolor courses; to stone carving and print making. Our dedicated Stone and Print Studios set the Art Center apart. Whatever you're looking for, and whatever your level, you're likely to find it here.
FEATURED classes
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The ACNNJ is uniquely positioned for those who want to learn the art of stone carving. With one of very few fully equipped, dedicated stone carving studios in the state we offer space to learn with traditional and pneumatic tools.
High-quality classes run year-round, taught by an internationally recognized carver and sculptor.
You will be in good hands to gain the knowledge and skills to evaluate a piece of stone, imagine a sculpture within, and begin to realize your vision. Find the joy and excitement in carving a form in stone in a congenial atmosphere. Non-representational as well as figurative methods are taught with the emphasis on creating three-dimensional shapes. All levels of ability are welcome.
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Explore the possibilities of contemporary printmaking. Join a group of seasoned printmakers and expand your skill level with the guidance of a professional instructor. This session features primarily linoleum cut, collograph and mono print, but other techniques can be considered at the Art Center’s spacious print studio.
The studio features Charles Brand printing presses, generous work surfaces and exhaust. Each student receives individual guidance and is encouraged to explore a variety of methods and find one that appeals to their artistic sensibilities.
Some prior experience in a print studio is recommended, but the Art Center encourages motivated beginners to arrange a visit to tour the studio and meet the teacher in an active session and evaluate the possibilities.
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Join us for a relaxed, self-guided drawing session every Friday morning. Our monitored session provides an opportunity to hone your skills, enhance your drawing practice, and to work in a collegial environment with life drawing students. Featuring a live nude model, this session offers a unique opportunity to capture the human form. Participants range from beginner to professional level.
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We currently have two offering for watercolor classes at the center. See below for more details.
MONDAY
Lessons on color, value and techniques are taught. Demonstrations will be given at each class for a range of levels, as appropriate. Beginners learn foundational skills with practical, effective introductory approaches; advanced students access professional guidance and fine tune their art practice. Learn how to work with water and pigments to achieve a range of effects. Subject matter changes and may include flowers, landscape, portraits, figures or still life.
THURSDAY
Develop your own style in this spontaneous and fast-moving medium. Classes stress the importance of design, composition, value studies and color theory. Personal assistance, demos and individual critiques weekly. Join this dynamic group to hone your skills and build on foundational knowledge.
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Discuss how accessing all senses in the painting process can lead to growth in your art practice, and focus on actualizing measurable advancement. Our collegial “One Room Schoolhouse” environment benefits both newer and experienced artists at any level.
Still life and graphic references are available or supplied by students. For new students, emphasis starts with basic oil painting concepts: composition, form, value, color, line, and space. Lectures and discussion about painting technique and history, demos and easel critique are regular features. New students and abstract painters are encouraged to join.
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This class, for 2nd to 5th graders, guides young artists through the creative process of making their very own comic strips. Over four weeks, students will explore and develop their personal stories, design unique characters and vibrant worlds, plan dynamic storyboards, and bring their tales to life with color and dialogue. Perfect for fostering imagination, storytelling skills, and artistic confidence, our class provides a supportive environment for finding and expressing their own stories. Enroll your child today and watch their comic creations unfold!
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Capture the best spots throughout are area with an organized plan mapped out for you by a dedicated painter in oil and water media. Consideration is given to accessibility and comfort.
Guidance on how to capture the changing moment is offered as well as a wealth of information regarding preparation, tools and materials.
Founded on philosophy
“The arts are a humanizing force and their major function is to vitalize the living”
— Victor D'Amico
The Art Center of Northern New Jersey traces its 70 year old history to foundational philosophy of Victor D'Amico, founding Director of Education at MoMA and one of the very first members of the board here and the Center. His belief in every person's creative potential became ACNNJ's guiding light.
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where to find us
250 Center Street
New Milford
New Jersey
07646