(Jeanne Anne Baughman teaches ceramics at the Sonoran Arts League Studio in Cave Creek. Photo credit: Jules Gallatig, Middle Red Studio.)
Local art instructors lead diverse classes geared for all ages and levels of experience
The Sonoran Arts League Studio has announced their new 2025 class schedule, which is geared towards all ages and levels of experience. With dozens of classes to choose from, residents can tap into their creativity by attending a one-day workshop or a series of classes. The art classes begin January 7 and run through April, with a summer schedule announced in the spring.
Benjamin Kastelic, the League’s new art education manager, said classes are designed to be inclusive and accessible for all ages, fostering personal growth, cultural understanding, and community connection.
“Our instructors are all professional artists who are passionate about teaching,” Kastelic said. “In many ways, our classes are similar to what you would find at a university or a community college, but our classes are smaller and more personal.”
Kastelic knows firsthand how art education can enrich people’s lives.
“I grew up in Cave Creek and became involved with the Sonoran Arts League while attending Cactus Shadows High School. My former art teacher, Robin Ray, is a longtime member of the League and a talented ceramic artist. She and the League helped to fuel my creativity and build my confidence.”
After high school, Kastelic took classes at the Art Institute of Phoenix and worked as a graphic designer for a few years. Later, he attended Yavapai College, earning an Associate of Arts degree in Early Childhood Education. He worked in a Montessori school for several years while focusing on his art in his spare time. Most recently, he has channeled his creative energy into filming YouTube videos and creating social media content.
“The Sonoran Arts League sparked my interest in art when I was young, and it is rewarding to come full circle and be in a position where I can support emerging artists and our professional instructors,” he said.
The new classes range from life drawing, oil painting, acrylics, pastels, watercolors and mixed media collage to pottery on the wheel, ceramic garden totems, jewelry enameling, and many other creative subjects. This year’s roster of classes also includes an expanded list of free classes for children and teens, thanks to a generous sponsorship donation from the Kiwanis Club of Carefree.
Fees for classes start at $25 per hour of instruction. The League also provides free art classes for veterans every Thursday.
The Sonoran Arts League Studio is located at 7100 E. Cave Creek Rd., Suite 144, in Cave Creek’s Stagecoach Village. To register for classes, visit www.sonoranartsleague.org.
