We are excited to announce our recent change of locations from the Penny Flats to the Downtown Artery in Old Town Fort Collins!
The move promises a great union with an art center gaining great traction in the arts and culture community in Northern Colorado. Our mission and training remains the same but we look forward to future expansion into different mediums that will include workshops and classes taught by other local artists and educators and to also host various specials events.

The upstairs  of the Artery consists of artist studios, an art gallery and spacious outdoor patio. They have over 40 in-house artists varying in medium and they also host two exhibitions per month in the main gallery.

The new school space is on the main level adjacent to the Artery Cafe which offers coffee, gourmet toasts and pastries. They also serve beer and wine so our parents and students 21 yrs. and older can purchase refreshments during their class time or while waiting for their children. Pretty great perk wouldn't you agree!? 
By the attached pictures you can see we have beautiful large windows to fill our new space with warmth and natural light.

Our figure drawing and portfolio classes will resume in February . In the meantime we have added adult and teen painting sections. Take a look at our calendar on our website for more details .  

Educators looking for a host venue for their classes or interested in joining our teaching staff please contact us at [email protected]
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I look forward to sharing this new adventure and new space with our current students and future ones! 

www.vancoschool.com 
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The VanCo School of Art welcomes homeschoolers of Northern Colorado to our art classes. We offer classes specifically for home school students and encourage community around friendship and art fostering an artist community for these children.

Owner and  teacher Coleen grew up in an art community in Boston at Acorn Gallery School of Art and loved how the atmosphere encouraged creativity and expression. She worked along side kids who enjoyed this type of home away from home, a comfortable place to create.

“I was inspired by the kids around me. They were strong and believed in themselves because of the encouragement from our teachers and peers.  It was truly a magical experience and the only time during the year I felt at home in the art world, like I belonged.  Acorn gave me what my school and local community wasn't, a place to believe in myself as an artist. ” said Coleen when reminiscing about her days at art school.

This type of experience and engagement is especially important for kids who have the artistic ability, but just need a little  guidance, encouragement and a place to create and be inspired! 

This atmosphere is what VanCo embodies. Students learn classical ways of painting and they also develop the skills to create beautiful pieces from their imagination and from still life.

We welcome you to come and try a drop-in class. You can try any class or one specifically with other homeschool students. If you're interested in signing up for a class, call the school at (970) 430-5113.
 

We started Summer Camp with a bang here at VanCo!

Our first week of summer art camps began with introduction to oil painting. Students first exercise was a value scale and then grisaille painting. A couple students painted the Apple & Pear as they learned various techniques and how to control oil paints while advanced students worked on still lifes.  

Recently, our Instructor Coleen took a trip back to Boston's Acorn Gallery School of Art to celebrate its 20 year anniversary. Coleen enjoyed over 14 years of art education at Acorn and couldn't miss such an amazing opportunity to reunite with owners Jack and Debra Highberger. 

The school has spent 20 years providing an artistic environment for students of all ages and so students of all ages were in attendance. Some from as far away as California! 

Many of those kids Coleen studied along side went onto become art instructors, gallery owners, and art handlers. In appreciation of Acorn, the adult students surprised Jack and Debra with a dedicated park bench right outside the school facing the wharf.

It was such an amazing experience for the Coleen to visit Boston for the anniversary because her vision for VanCo School of Art is to flourish and one day be just as impactful as Acorn has been for the Boston community. She's experienced first hand how important an art environment is to help children and adults artistic abilities thrive.

To 20 more years Acorn!

The CoCo Artist Studio, which is owned by Coleen, showcased about 15 students art pieces during May's Fort Collins Gallery Walk. The students chose their individual pieces from works they had previously completed while attending VanCo and new students had their first ever oil painting of the Apple and Pear for a visually stunning display.

The art show displayed the work of paintings of all levels and ages, our youngest student being 5 years old up to our adult students. It was a great chance for students to see their work up on the walls of a gallery, to see what their peers where doing in other classes  and gave many new students hope and inspiration for their creative ability. 

Our schools curriculum has students first start with an apple and pear, and then a vase still life. Once students complete those two paintings they have the option to paint whatever themes they would like: animals, portraits, landscapes, and the list goes on.  The art show really gave students a visual of where they begin and what they can achieve. The excitement from each student who ran into the gallery to see their works and proudly point them out to their families was inspiring to all attendees! 

Thank you to our students who participated: Iris, Ruby, Cynthia, Maddie, Josie, Aidan, Will, Heather Jackson, Jean Overholt, Amelie, Lauren, Megan, Anna, Piper, Saule, Tessa, & Denise.