Events at Push/Pull Ballard

This program requires registration. Sign up here.

Come spend your Wednesday afternoons with us at Push/Pull in Ballard! We will spend time creating, sharing, storytelling and using a diverse array of media to create finished works of art. This program is ideal for teens ages 12-18.

We'll have three different series of artistic topics that you can sign up for during the semester. Each series comprises 5 weekly sessions. Sign up for one series or all three!

Making Comics (Sep. 10th - Oct. 8th)
Learn the fundamentals of creating characters and developing your own story lines. Practice different drawing techniques, explore work from different comic artists, play with writing and graphics to develop your own style and tell your own stories. End these five days with your own complete comic book and those created by your fellow artists. No drawing or writing experience necessary!

Fundamentals of Printmaking (Oct. 15th - Nov. 12th)
Come create your own series of prints! In these five days we'll try tons of different methods for creating prints, including block printing, screen printing, Risograph, and monotype gel plate printing. Explore different inks, colors, and methods to create bold images. Each day you’ll come away with a work of art.

The Art of Illustration (Nov. 19th - Dec. 17th)
Ever wanted to bring to life the words in your head or on your paper? Come learn how to illustrate stories, poems, nature journals, or whatever text and images your imagination can come up with. During these four days we’ll explore storytelling and visual images and use mixed media to create our own impactful illustrated works of literature, or are they art?

For Teen After School Art, we offer pay-what-you-can pricing. We are a small business that heavily relies on income from our classes. We recommend $25 - $100 per section listed above, though no one will be turned away for lack of funds. Please pay what you are able to help us provide our teen programs through Bal-Art.org.

Julia (she/her) is an insatiably curious educator and artist. She enjoys working in different media and has recently been spending a lot of time block printing and using charcoal and colored pencil to try and capture her experiences and imaginings. In her spare time she loves being outside with her pup, getting unreasonably excited about vegetables, and searching out ways to build community.

This is a paid class that requires registration. Sign up here.

Join us at Push/Pull for a beginners drawing workshop on the third Wednesdays of the month. Have you always drawn stick figures? Want to impress your friends or work towards drawing illustrations and comics?

In Drawing Techniques, we'll cover different topics each month, so you can choose sessions that interest you, or come to all of them to get a well-rounded drawing foundation!

October: Creating Graphite Value Scales: HB? B? H?? Ever wonder how graphite artists can achieve realism with just a pencil? Learn how to unlock the power of the humble graphite pencil, understand the hardness scale, and apply the rules to create convincing, semi-realistic, grey and white compositions.

November: Drawing From Imagination: Join Max M. and practice drawing from your mind’s eye. We will utilize fun and creative prompts to spur your imagination as we put pencil to paper during this 2-hour workshop.

December: Constructive Sketching: It’s as easy as playing with building blocks! Learn to draw complex creatures and characters by combining simple geometric shapes. Take it to the next level with 3-D thinking, and emerge a more confident artist.

January: Drawing Still Life: Train your eye to see beauty in the mundane, and practice your hand-eye coordination in this still-life course. We will spend 2 hours sketching geometric 3D shapes and fresh produce.

February: Using references: Want to draw subjects from photos? Not sure where to start? Learn to train your eye, use the grid method, and take your drawing skills to the next level. We will supply photo references, but please feel free to bring your own to work from.

All supplies are included! Just bring your sketchbook--otherwise, we'll provide the paper.

Class takes place at Push/Pull, 2000 NW Market St. from 5:30 - 7:00 pm on Third Wednesdays of the month.

"My name is Max Mandell! I've been drawing for work, school, and fun for over 10 years. It's a joy to share my love of traditional (and digital) media with the students at Push/Pull, and I am excited to make cool art with you :-)"

This event is free. Help keep it that way with a suggested donation of $10.

We're the Part Time Poets. We wordsmith on weekends, scribble on our lunch breaks, and scrawl in the margins.

We often don't dedicate real time to sit down and write poetry, and that's what this Meetup is for! Come sit in good company with your fellow Part-Time Poets to meet other poets, swap ideas, and most of all, dedicate time to your craft.

Join us every Third Thursday to pen your (part-time) masterpiece.

This event is all ages! Feel free to bring snacks, but please, no alcohol.

****PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED FOR THIS EVENT. Please register in advance here.****

Figure drawing sessions are back! Push/Pull now hosts live-model figure drawing after our store hours. Settle in and develop your studies on the human form in a unique art space on Market Street.

Push/Pull provides some drawing supplies, or you're welcome to bring your own favorite materials.

We have a nude model; for this reason, students should be 18 and up.

This event takes place on the third Friday of each month.