In 2011, the Naperville Art League celebrated its 50th anniversary. Congratulations to this fine organization! The Naperville Park District is proud to partner with the Art League to offer a variety of art classes for both children and adults. 

Beginners as well as experienced artists are welcome in any of the League’s classes. “Students can work at their own pace and can learn from each other,” said Debbie Venezia, executive director of the Art League since 2002.

Along with its own art classes, the Naperville Park District lists Art League classes for kids and adults in each season’s Program Guide, and art camps in the annual Summer Camps Guide.

One local adult student, Sam Dalinis, began taking “Oil Painting in a Day” as a beginner approximately 10 years ago. “I wanted something else to do outside of work,” he said. He enjoyed the class so much that he enrolled continuously in it for many years. “The teachers are good, and it’s a lot of fun to get together with other people. The class is interactive and small enough so that you get the attention you need from the instructor.”



Oil paintings by Sam Dalinis

Although Dalinis is no longer enrolled in the oil painting class, he still is enjoying his art and has moved on to acrylic painting.

Debbie Venezia has seen many aspiring artists grow and flourish through art classes and other means of support offered by the Naperville Art League. “They come here, get involved with the Art League, and then reach a level of professionalism where they can support themselves through their art,” she said. “We help them find an audience.”

The Art League’s biggest event each year is the Riverwalk Fine Arts Fair in September, which is a juried show, and one of the top outdoor art fairs in the country.  The League also supports artists through networking and sending frequent e-mail updates about other exhibits and commission work.

If you want to begin learning more about painting, woodcarving, pottery, or any other visual art, the Naperville Park District and the Naperville Art League have classes to fit your interest.  Or if you are an experienced artist and would like to fine-tune your technique, or enjoy practicing your art with others, classes such as “Painting Techniques: Advanced” are available starting in January.

We encourage you to step out and try something new, to grow your creative side, and to experience the benefits of art, from stress reduction and personal enrichment to creating art to share with others, or even launching a career.