Partner with us for school art programs, creative workshops, and long-term arts education initiatives that inspire students and support educators. / Our Programs / School Partnerships / School Partnerships Unlock Creativity with Art History, Mixed Media and the Outdoors Inquire Learn More "Diana Stelin's programming is fantastic. She brings an extensive artistic background and experiences as an art educator to her classes and we are lucky to have her return to campus this winter for Anime Art with our Lower Division students." – Caitlin Robinson Park School "I run the after school program at Lincoln School in Brookline where Diana teaches after school classes. Our students have loved being a part of her art classes and have made really creative pieces. Diana teaches the students about famous artists and explores different artistic techniques with them so they are learning about art as they create art. She is a joy to work with for both adults and kids. I highly recommend enrolling your child (or yourself) in one of her classes." Lena Berc Lincoln Public School in Brookline "My kids attended the summer camp and loved it. Diana created a wonderful art camp experience, learning about different art techniques in a variety of mediums and settings. I appreciated the dance classes and time outside as well as the fun art projects and visiting artists. 100% recommend!" Parent Local Guide Workshops Inspired by a powerful mix of art history, mixed media and the great outdoors! At the Diana Stelin Gallery, our Plein-Air Art Academy is rooted in the belief that art has the power to spark transformation. Through our school partnerships, we introduce students to art history, hands-on techniques, and creative ways of learning in an engaging and supportive environment. What we offer: Our six-week after-school program allows schools to choose one themed curriculum. Current theme options include Greek Mythology, Ancient Egypt, Studio Ghibli, and Chagall & Matisse. Each school receives a detailed program outline with weekly art activities and learning objectives. Because every class progresses differently, alternative projects may be offered to accommodate timing, materials, and class dynamics. What Students Learn Each class begins with a story connected to the chosen theme. Students select an element of the story to inspire their artwork, using materials specific to that week’s project. Over the six-week session, students explore a variety of media, including polymer clay sculpture, watercolor painting, oil pastel drawing, mosaic or collage, and printmaking. By the end of the program, students are able to articulate the core art history theme, recall multiple stories, and demonstrate newly developed artistic skills. This integrated approach supports growth in communication, memory, and creative thinking. Flexible Locations: We bring the creativity to you! Most workshops are hosted on your premises after school or during school hours, but we also welcome classes to our inspiring studio space.

View the latest schedule of gallery events, workshops, exhibitions, and creative gatherings happening throughout the year. Events & Workshops Calendar The bustle of Coolidge Corner lends to a recurring schedule of weekly and monthly events that are open to all. The Art & Color Of Wine @ The Diana Stelin Gallery Thu, Apr 23 Brookline More info Buy Tickets The Art of Emerging Sat, May 02 Brookline More info RSVP Aperitivo for Carnevale Sat, Feb 07 Brookline More info Details See what we have been creating and explore our past events! Aperitivo for Carnevale February 7th, 2026 from 6:00-8:00PM Catch a live band, indulge in Italian food and enjoy a retrospective by Diana Stelin that celebrates Venice! Italian Wine Through the Eyes of Italian Artists Thursday February 5th, 6:30-8:30pm, for a tour of Italy with wine and art. As you taste wines from northeast Italy side-by-side with the art and the artists of the region. Book Club Let's Talk Books, January 29th, from 6:30-8:30pm! We will be reading "Profit First" by Mike Michalowicz, a national best seller in the business world. The Art & Color Of Wine The Art & Color of Wine, Thursday, January 8th, 6:30-8:30pm! This will be a tasting in six hues along with a class on color theory through watercolor. End of Semester Showcase End of Semester Showcase, Sunday December 14th, 4-6pm! A showcase to celebrate the students hard work through this semester. First Light First Light celebration featuring, Evelyn Berde December 4th, 2025 Opening reception, live music, and food! Stop by the gallery to check it out!

Learn more about Diana Stelin, an award-winning artist and educator specializing in contemporary abstract landscapes and experiential art workshops / Gallery / Artists / Diana Stelin / Diana Stelin Diana Stelin is an award-winning landscape artist and educator, author and fashion designer. Her lush, layered, shimmering gold leaf, oil and wax pieces are featured in dozens of private and corporate collections. Her interviews can be found in Boston Globe, HyperAllergic, Huffington Post, Mother Nature Network among others. Learn about Commissions "I admire the expression Diana achieves through her energized marks. They animate each painting and really bring them to life. They are very well painted and capture not just an interesting cross between the actual and the abstracted, but really provide a sense of place with quite positive energy.” – Elizabeth Erdreich President at Erdreich White Fine Art, Inc. "Her sense of color and tone rivals that of the Modern Masters. Her compositions flirt with fantasy yet somehow keep two feet planted firmly on the ground." Caroline Cox Fine Art Consultant, Salem, MA "So grounding! All the while the wind is blowing in so many directions and there is such fervor in every day these days - but the center is there holding it all together! Art can give strength. This is proof." Petra Brookline, MA Get to know Diana Bio Founder of the Flow Method, and recipient of Best of Boston award, Diana Stelin is on a mission to reduce Burnout through Creativity - the topic of the Ted talk she presented in March'22. Her pieces are in private and corporate collections nationwide. Diana's life of creative exploration began when she was 13. Her family relocated from Moldova to Bloomfield, New Jersey and she enrolled in an art class. Through her difficult teenage years, she found solace in expressing herself through creating art. Her BFA degree at Cornell University was followed by a MS at Boston University, where she continued to develop a unique free-flowing painting style. After graduation, she managed the world-renowned DTR Modern Galleries. She subsequently founded The Plein-Air Art Academy, and received a Best of Boston Award for kids' art classes. Diana published a highly acclaimed novel about the importance of art for our psyche, and in recent years has presented a TedX talk on using creativity to fight burnout, appeared as a guest on multiple podcasts, wrote a children’s book, founded a clothing line based on her art, and exhibited her work at the 2022 Venice Biennale. She lives in the Boston area but her pieces are in corporate and private collections worldwide, and she uses her expertise in her proprietary flow processes as a consultant in creative corporate workshops and talks. Technique Stelin paints multilayered palette knife landscapes in oil and cold wax, which she partially melts with a heating lamp to dissolve different objects on canvas into one another. The drips are her signature element: the dark ones are emotional strokes that create grids within a painting. The lighter ones are semitransparent, and partially show the layers of paint beneath them. Stelin's technique is a dance between realistic and abstract landscapes, between watercolor and oil techniques. She begins with a watercolor in plein-air. Stelin subsequently translates the drawing to canvas in the same expressive manner adopted for the initial watercolor painting, employing an impasto technique of oils mixed with cold wax. The last and most rewarding part of the process is the melting of wax. It comes as a 4th or 5th layer of the painting. It requires patience, has an element of surprise, yet can be controlled, and it connects various sections of the unique oil on canvas. Because it's a textured layer on top of other layers, it breaks down lines between subjects, and literally melts one state into another. It also creates mini compositions within a painting, so that your eye always wanders around the canvas and catches new nuances hidden within the layers. At the same time Stelin adds in authentic gold leaf to the now abstract landscape, as well as 3-D sculptural elements. Artist Statement "We're but a small speck in this universe" Diana Stelin's artwork is an exploration of humanity's interaction with the natural world - the attitude of overarching control and distancing, the physical space around us and our perception of it. To what extent can we dissolve into our surroundings and co-exist with the natural world? Stelin's artworks appeal to an audience from varied angles. Their initial reaction to the full compositions brings back expressive Van Gogh and Gauguin landscape explorations. Past the initial impression, there's a deeper understanding: a more in-depth look into the interaction of man-made and natural forms. The abstract, Richter-influenced patterns emerge. Stand close enough and you see how Stelin expertly catches that moment when a viewer allows herself/himself to truly melt into the surroundings, and when borders break between the sky and the trees, when the architecture blends beautifully into the natural world.

Then each week students get introduced to a new material, be it clay, watercolor, tempera paints or collage. Our rolling admission model allows you to try any class for a month and decide if you'd like to continue on a monthly basis. Over time, we've learned that children typically need about four sessions to fully acclimate to the group dynamic, get to know the teachers, and explore the variety of media we offer. Each week features something new, one session might focus on painting, the next one on clay, and another on printmaking. While your child may take a little to feel completely at ease, a month gives you a clear sense of whether the class is the right fit for them!

Then each week students get introduced to a new material, be it clay, watercolor, tempera paints or collage. Our rolling admission model allows you to try any class for a month and decide if you'd like to continue on a monthly basis. Over time, we've learned that children typically need about four sessions to fully acclimate to the group dynamic, get to know the teachers, and explore the variety of media we offer. Each week features something new, one session might focus on painting, the next one on clay, and another on printmaking. While your child may take a little to feel completely at ease, a month gives you a clear sense of whether the class is the right fit for them!

Summer Theme: Art Eras Week Theme: Modern & Contemporary Experience Creativity, Fun, and Adventure All Week Long! Join us for an exciting blend of art, games, outdoor fun, treasure hunts, quests, board games, and dance! Each week is packed with unforgettable moments and hands-on creativity as we dive deep into art history, exploring different styles and techniques using a variety of materials every day. Daily Schedule: 9:00 AM – 9:30 AM: Welcome & card games 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM: Outdoor fun at the park or playground 10:45 AM – 11:00 AM: Snack break 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Art class for younger kids 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM: Lunch 12:30 PM – 1:45 PM: Art class for older kids 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Collaborative activity (dance, puppet-making, yoga, or martial arts) 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Free drawing time Throughout the week, guest teachers will join us, and we’ll partner with local businesses to offer unique programs. Enjoy free ice cream on Thursdays and Pizza Fridays to wrap up the fun! We end each week with a professional art exhibit and critique, where participants showcase their creations in a gallery-style setting, celebrating their hard work and creativity. Ready for a creative adventure your child will never forget? Sign up today and secure your spot!

There’s a moment, close to the completion of a piece, where everything tightens. You want it to be good, finished, impressive. You start to feel the weight of being seen—by others, but mostly by yourself. That inner critic gets louder: pointing out every imperfection before it even has a chance to settle. This is the moment that matters most. Not the beginning. Not the idea, but the moment when you’re tempted to force an ending. In my recent adult classes at the Diana Stelin Gallery, we practiced something very simple and very hard—releasing the outcome: allowing ourselves to go into the nooks and crannies of the work without gripping for closure, without chasing perfection. And inevitably, something shifts. You drop back into flow, and the piece resolves in a way that feels far more honest than anything you could have controlled. I see this all the time in my painting classes here in Boston—especially with adults who haven’t painted before. The breakthrough isn’t technical. It’s internal. It’s the moment they stop trying to get it right. We even started experimenting with measuring these shifts using headphones that track transitions between brain states. While we’re still exploring the data, it’s already clear that something powerful happens when people move from control into presence. -- I experienced something almost identical in a breathwork session this week. An hour of holotropic circular breathing—gradually intensifying, letting in more and more oxygen. At first, I was searching for meaning, waiting for insight, trying to “get somewhere.” And nothing really landed. It was only when I released that need—of arriving, of understanding, of having a takeaway—that my body took over: a full-body surge of energy, a deep release, and then, complete calm. That same state we access in painting—when we’re no longer directing, just responding. This is why I believe so deeply in creative practice—not just as a skill, but as a way back into the body. Lately, I’ve been reminding myself of something very simple as I finish a piece: “I’m just cleaning it up, not making it perfect. Just giving it my best shot at presence before it’s over.” And truly—that’s all it takes. At the Diana Stelin Gallery, this is the foundation of how we teach. Whether you’re joining an adult class, looking for something creative for your child, or simply searching for art classes in the Boston area, the goal is the same: to help you move past perfection and into presence. Our outdoor plein-air sessions are one of the most natural ways to access this state. Painting outside shifts your attention immediately—you start noticing light, movement, subtle color changes. You’re no longer overthinking. We also offer full-day retreats designed for deeper resets, combining artmaking with guided breathwork and mindful experiences like chocolate tasting. These are spaces where you can truly slow down and reconnect. For families, our full-year programs give kids and teens the consistency to build not just skills, but confidence, focus, and resilience over time. If you’ve been wanting to reconnect creatively, or explore painting in a more meaningful way, this is your invitation. Not to get it right.But to stay with it long enough for something real to emerge.

When we’re starting out, it’s so easy to attach—and so hard to let go. We want to latch onto an idea quickly, almost protectively, regardless of the price we might pay later. And yet the real act of bravery is deciding to pivot, to release it, to start again. When I begin a painting, I constantly calm my own mind by repeating the same phrase: this is just the first layer . This isn’t the version I need to judge yet. Like a small child in the middle of a tantrum, my mind has to be soothed, gently guided to loosen its grip on what already exists. And I often wonder—what if we treated our lives the same way? What if we were gentler with ourselves, the way we would be with our vulnerable inner child? What if we stopped punishing ourselves when things feel off? What if we reminded ourselves that this is our first time living this particular life—that we’re not meant to have all the answers right away? How many battles would we win if we simply allowed ourselves to begin again? No shame. No judgment. It’s also okay to start big, to generalize. The more you look, the more you begin to see—but that clarity doesn’t have to arrive immediately. Sometimes you step away. Sometimes you return later with fresh eyes. You re-measure. You realign. And yes, sometimes you start over. You can pace yourself. You don’t have to solve everything all at once. After all, it might just be the first layer. Just the first layer. Creativity as a First Layer in Life This is something I witness every single week at Diana Stelin Gallery. Whether it’s children walking into their very first art classes in Boston, or adults joining one of our painting classes, the beginning always looks the same. A little excitement. A little hesitation. A quiet voice asking, Can I really do this? And then the magic happens. People allow themselves to begin. That’s why creativity can be such a powerful regulator. It teaches us something deeper than technique—it teaches us that starting imperfectly is not only allowed, it’s necessary. For many students searching for 'art classes near me', what they’re actually looking for is permission to explore again. To reconnect with curiosity. To give themselves space to start fresh, to return to their true selves. A Few First Layers You Can Begin With Us If you’re looking for a place to start your own creative first layer, we have several beautiful entry points coming up at Diana Stelin Gallery . Summer Art Camps (Almost Full) Our summer art camps  are already filling up—especially the last two weeks of August. For many kids, this becomes their first real encounter with the power of creativity. Through hands-on projects and thoughtful guidance, we see children regulate emotions, build confidence, and discover their creative voice. For families searching for art classes or creative summer programs, this is often where that journey begins. Adult Plein-Air Painting Cohorts For adults, our new plein-air painting cohorts   are just around the corner. These outdoor painting classes in Boston invite you to slow down, observe your surroundings, and reconnect with the act of seeing. There’s something deeply grounding about stepping outside with a sketchbook and simply noticing light, color, and movement again. Outdoor Spring Art Semester Our outdoor spring semester  for kids and teens begins in less than two weeks. The Creative Reset Retreat (After Mother’s Day) And I’ve decided to bring back something many of you have asked about: our full-day Creative Reset Retreat , scheduled right after Mother’s Day. If you experience the kind of mother’s guilt that so many of us carry, consider this your gentle nudge to gift yourself a day. A day to pause, breathe, and reinvent the creative toolbox you carry through life. Because sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is give ourselves permission to begin again. At Diana Stelin Gallery , creativity isn’t about perfection. It’s about layers. It’s about curiosity. It’s about remembering that every masterpiece—every idea, every life shift—starts the same way. With a first layer.

As I’m preparing for my second TEDx talk, I’ve been diving into neuroscience research about brain wave states — specifically the transition from alpha, to theta, to gamma. And something clicked immediately. Because this is exactly what I witness every single week inside Diana Stelin Gallery. Whether it’s kids, teens, or adults walking into my art classes in Boston, the pattern is the same. They arrive eager — but slightly anxious. There’s excitement about creating… and also that quiet internal voice asking, “Am I good enough?” That’s alpha. Alpha brain waves are present when we’re alert but not yet fully immersed. It’s the state of anticipation. Of standing at the edge of something new. I see it every time someone walks into one of our painting classes in Boston — shoulders slightly tight, energy buzzing, not quite settled. Then the brush touches paper. The charcoal makes its first imperfect mark.And discomfort appears. This is where many people think something is going wrong — but it’s actually where transformation begins. As students work through uncertainty, experiment, erase, layer, and try again, they begin to shift into theta. Theta is the deep learning state. The intuitive state. The place where time softens and the inner critic quiets. If you’ve ever searched “art classes near me” hoping for something more than just technique — this is what you’re actually looking for. You’re looking for access to theta. You’re looking for permission to drop beneath performance and into process. And then, at the end of a session — especially during our group critiques — I see something remarkable. A glow. A grounded sense of satisfaction. Students aren’t just showing a finished piece. They’re reflecting differently. Speaking differently. Holding themselves differently. That’s gamma. Gamma brain waves are associated with integration, insight, and higher-order awareness. It’s the state of flow — when effort and intuition merge. This is why I often say art can be easier than meditation. You don’t have to sit still and fight your thoughts. You move through something. You create through something.You reorganize yourself through something. And when we begin our sessions with simple heart-rate variability breathwork — regulating the nervous system before the first mark is made — the shift becomes even more profound. Breath stabilizes the body. Art reorganizes the mind. At Diana Stelin Gallery, our art classes in Boston aren’t just about learning how to paint. They’re about learning how to move through discomfort. How to tolerate uncertainty. How to reach flow. When you understand how to transition from alpha to theta to gamma on paper, you begin to recognize the same pattern in your life. The anxiety before a hard conversation.The discomfort inside growth.The integration that comes after. This is why I believe creativity is not a luxury. It’s neurological training for change. And it’s available to all of us — whether you’re 7 or 70. If you’ve been curious about painting classes in Boston, or have been typing “art classes near me” late at night wondering if it’s finally time — maybe this is your sign. Not to become an artist. But to change your brain. —Diana Stelin: Artist, Educator, Founder of Diana Stelin Gallery