Best Painting Classes Near Me: Find In-Person & Virtual Training

Learn More About Painting Courses

People have been painting since the dawn of stick figures and ash. Because this practice increases the visual appeal and overall “finished” look of objects and buildings, it’s unlikely that people will ever stop doing it. These days, construction and maintenance practically run around the clock, creating an ongoing need for professionals who can paint everything from houses and windowsills to parking spots and freeway guidelines.

Historic cities such as Chicago and New York generate particularly strong demand for painting due to their continuous renovation of aging buildings. Meanwhile, cities like Miami and Houston experience paint degradation due to hot climates, a characteristic that ultimately generates even more demand for paint upkeep.

Top U.S. Painting Careers and Responsibilities

When it comes to career paths, painting splits into two major branches. These include fine art careers and commercial and industrial painting. While the former doles out paint strokes purely for aesthetic purposes, the latter field tackles commercial applications for painting, making it far more popular as a career choice.

Commercial and Industrial Painting Careers

The path with the most marketable appeal, commercial and industrial painting, focuses on applying paint to building components, machinery, structures, or products. Professionals in this category often specialize in a particular niche. As a result, they may only paint building interiors, industrial machinery, outdoor structures, or vehicles. Depending on their specialty, these professionals may work indoors and outdoors (or just one of the two). They may apply paint (or other coatings, such as wood stain) using a variety of methods, including paint brushes, rollers, sponges, painting machines, and airbrushes.

Here is a brief overview of the most common roles in this sector.

Job Title	Main Responsibilities
Construction and Maintenance Painter	For various clients, these workers paint a range of surfaces, including buildings, structures, and machines.
Commercial Painter	These painters paint buildings and other surfaces for business clients (rather than residential customers).
Industrial Painter	Specializing in clean, durable finishes, these painters create and maintain paint jobs for industrial equipment, machines, structures, and buildings.
Lead Painter / Painting Supervisor	This management role entails supervising all painting processes for a construction or manufacturing project.

Each year, this sector is growing at a slow and steady rate, meaning plenty of new jobs for aspiring painters. Growth is most concentrated in the construction and maintenance niche, for which the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (the BLS) projects a growth of 4% each decade.

Fine Art Careers

A niche largely separate from the commercial and industrial painting scene, fine art painters create aesthetic images for people to enjoy. Paint is one of the most popular mediums that Fine Artists use to generate art. In addition to painting on small surfaces like canvas and paper, Fine Artists may produce large murals for indoor or outdoor spaces. These professionals often earn money by selling their paintings and gaining sponsorship from galleries. Perhaps even a little more optimistic than commercial statistics, job openings for Fine Artists and Illustrators are anticipated to increase by 4% in the coming decade (the BLS).

Painting Salaries Across the United States

Painting salaries vary depending on the specific role, region of operation, and the experience of the painter. Because companies are willing to pay more for highly-skilled labor, new workers should expect to earn a lower income (around $39,000 annually) at the start of their careers. After gathering experience and adding new skills to their toolsets, they can double this wage. Following this logic, senior roles such as Lead Painter typically earn notably higher sums. Likewise, roles like Industrial Painter, which require a specialized skill set like knowledge of how to operate a painting machine, also tend to earn higher incomes.

Because different locations have unique economies and clientele, salaries also fluctuate based on regional demand, union presence, and living costs. For example, Seattle and San Francisco make up for their high subsistence costs by paying unionized Painters 34% more than America’s average. Similarly, Painters working in expensive Los Angeles earn around 18% above average. In contrast, Houston Painters benefit from low living costs while also earning slightly (7%) less than average. In Denver, where a massive construction industry creates a greater demand for Painters, wages also rise to around 14% above average.

View a detailed map of salary variations across ten popular cities for Painters below.

City	Construction and Maintenance Painter	Industrial Painter	Commercial Painter	Fine Artist
New York City	$72,000-99,000 indeed.com	$62,000-78,000 glassdoor.com	$42,000-62,000 ziprecruiter.com	$38,000-86,000 ziprecruiter.com
Los Angeles	$72,000-105,000 indeed.com	$39,000-57,000 ziprecruiter.com	$59,000-78,000 ziprecruiter.com	$82,000-112,000 glassdoor.com
Chicago	$68,000-100,000 indeed.com	$37,000-55,000 ziprecruiter.com	$39,000-58,000 ziprecruiter.com	$35,000-$81,000 ziprecruiter.com
Houston	$56,000-84,000 indeed.com	$35,000-51,000 ziprecruiter.com	$36,000-54,000 ziprecruiter.com	$34,000-76,000 ziprecruiter.com
Atlanta	$62,000-92,000 indeed.com	$39,000-47,000 indeed.com	$37,000-54,000 ziprecruiter.com	$35,000-78,000 ziprecruiter.com
Denver	$72,000-$98,000 indeed.com	$52,000-64,000 indeed.com	$39,000-59,000 ziprecruiter.com	$42,000-90,000 ziprecruiter.com
Miami	$64,000-91,000 indeed.com	$47,000-59,000 indeed.com	$36,000-54,000 ziprecruiter.com	$60,000-80,000 glassdoor.com
Seattle	$83,000-114,000 indeed.com	$41,000-61,000 ziprecruiter.com	$42,000-62,000 ziprecruiter.com	$79,000 ziprecruiter.com
Austin	$61,000-90,000 indeed.com	$35,000-52,000 ziprecruiter.com	$35,000-52,000 ziprecruiter.com	$40,000-86,000 ziprecruiter.com
San Francisco	$88,000-105,000 indeed.com	$61,000-68,000 salary.com	$35,000-66,000 ziprecruiter.com	$49,000-103,000 ziprecruiter.com

City

Construction and Maintenance Painter

Industrial Painter

Commercial Painter

Fine Artist

New York City

$72,000-99,000

indeed.com

$62,000-78,000

glassdoor.com

$42,000-62,000

ziprecruiter.com

$38,000-86,000

ziprecruiter.com

Los Angeles

$72,000-105,000

indeed.com

$39,000-57,000

ziprecruiter.com

$59,000-78,000 ziprecruiter.com

$82,000-112,000

glassdoor.com

Chicago

$68,000-100,000

indeed.com

$37,000-55,000

ziprecruiter.com

$39,000-58,000

ziprecruiter.com

$35,000-$81,000

ziprecruiter.com

Houston

$56,000-84,000

indeed.com

$35,000-51,000

ziprecruiter.com

$36,000-54,000

ziprecruiter.com

$34,000-76,000

ziprecruiter.com

Atlanta

$62,000-92,000

indeed.com

$39,000-47,000

indeed.com

$37,000-54,000 ziprecruiter.com

$35,000-78,000

ziprecruiter.com

Denver

$72,000-$98,000

indeed.com

$52,000-64,000

indeed.com

$39,000-59,000

ziprecruiter.com

$42,000-90,000

ziprecruiter.com

Miami

$64,000-91,000

indeed.com

$47,000-59,000

indeed.com

$36,000-54,000

ziprecruiter.com

$60,000-80,000

glassdoor.com

Seattle

$83,000-114,000

indeed.com

$41,000-61,000

ziprecruiter.com

$42,000-62,000

ziprecruiter.com

$79,000

ziprecruiter.com

Austin

$61,000-90,000

indeed.com

$35,000-52,000

ziprecruiter.com

$35,000-52,000

ziprecruiter.com

$40,000-86,000

ziprecruiter.com

San Francisco

$88,000-105,000

indeed.com

$61,000-68,000

salary.com

$35,000-66,000

ziprecruiter.com

$49,000-103,000

ziprecruiter.com

Industries and Companies Hiring Painters

Painters often work in different industries depending on whether they’ve chosen to specialize in commercial, industrial, or fine art painting.

Commercial and Industrial Employers

Though a small number of Painters operate as self-employed contractors, most work directly for local companies. Because the range of applications for paint is broad, the companies and industries hiring Painters are equally diverse. Common employers include:

Building finishing contractors that provide painting and drywall finishing services. A top niche for Painters, this industry employs more than 150,000 painters (the BLS).
Construction and facility maintenance firms frequently need Painters to add and upkeep the final touches on construction projects.
Remodelers often use a new coat of paint to change the energy in a room.
Property management companies that maintain apartments and other real estate.
Industrial firms that have machinery and infrastructure in need of painting.
Large organizations in need of facility maintenance or construction (these may include government agencies, school systems, and city housing authorities).

Fine Art Employers

In contrast to commercial and industrial workers, Fine Artists are split down the middle when it comes to traditional versus self-employment (with 55% self-employed according to the BLS). However, they remain relatively similar to their commercial and industrial brethren in terms of job outlook.

Fine Artists often get their income from multiple sources, getting as creative in how they sell their art as they do in how they create it. Popular employment options for Fine Artists include:

Selling completed paintings and prints at live events, ecommerce venues, and galleries.
Creating custom paintings for clients (which can include wealthy collectors, publishing companies, and businesses of any type).
Loaning paintings to galleries and media organizations in exchange for sponsorship.
Selling the copyrights for their paintings.
Teaching students how to paint.

Painting Courses by School

Here are some of the top schools offering Painting training, including 92nd Street Y (25 courses), One River School (16 courses), and New York School of the Arts (15 courses).

92nd Street Y

NYC location: 1395 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York

92Y is a world-class cultural and community center in New York City. Founded in 1874, it is located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and offers a wide range of classes and programs in the arts, entertainment, and conversation. With over 4,000 classes and programs each year taught by some of the most talented professionals in the world, 92Y is a great place to learn new skills, meet new people, and explore your interests. It is a non-profit organization committed to enriching the lives of people of all ages and backgrounds.
- Getting Started with Watercolor
  - 10 Hours, 2 hr/wk
  - $215
- Getting Started with Oil Painting
  - 4 Weeks, 2 hr/wk
  - $195
- Oil Painting (Beginner/Intermediate)
  - 6 Weeks, 2 hr/wk
  - $335
- Oil Painting (Intermediate/Advanced)
  - 11 Weeks, 2 hr/wk
  - $495
art retreat nyc

NYC location: 41 W 71st St, New York, New York

Art Retreat NYC is a unique school that champions the belief that everyone has the potential to create, emphasizing art as a therapeutic and deeply personal journey. They encourage students of all backgrounds to embrace the transformative power of art through their engaging classes.
- Watercolor for Relaxation - Tuesday Nights (Single Session)
  - 2 Hours
  - $51.25
Dirty Hands Studio

NYC location: 13 Waverly Ave, Brooklyn, New York

Dirty Hands Studio, founded by the accomplished artist Gosha Levochkin, is a sanctuary for creative expression, offering a supportive environment for artistic growth. This studio is dedicated to providing enthusiasts with the opportunity to harness their creativity in a realistic studio setting equipped with top-quality materials.
- Watercolor Drop-in
  - 1 Hour
  - $55
Creatively Wild Art Studio Dumbo

NYC location: 98 Water St, Brooklyn, New York

Creatively Wild Art Studio Dumbo is a locally owned art studio in DUMBO, Brooklyn that offers a variety of classes and workshops for all ages. Their classes are taught by experienced artists who create a fun and supportive environment where students can explore their creativity and develop their creative skills. Creatively Wild Art Studio Dumbo is a great way to learn about art and express your creativity in unique and exciting ways.
- Beginner Watercolor Painting: With Natural + Urban Subject Matter
  - 2 Hours
  - $80
- Oil Painting I: Beginner Steps for Adults
  - 2 Hours
  - $299
- Adult: Beginner Oil Painting
  - 2 Hours
  - $80
- Beginner Oil Painting for Adults
  - 2 Hours
  - $80
Pastimes for a Lifetime

Los Angeles location: 13615 Burbank Blvd, Van Nuys, California

Pastimes for a Lifetime is a San Francisco-based art school that offers a variety of online and in-person classes and workshops for all ages and skill levels. They are passionate about helping people discover their inner artists and to create beautiful works of art.
- Watercolor 201 - Beginner (In-Studio)
  - 4 Hours
  - $180
- Watercolor 202 - Intermediate (In-Studio)
  - 4 Hours
  - $180
- Oil Pastel 101 (Safe In-Studio)
  - 4 Hours
  - $160
- Painting with Acrylics 301 (Safe In-Studio)
  - 4 Hours
  - $160
The Paintbrush

Chicago location: 2446 N Clark Street, Chicago, Illinios

The Paintbrush is a creative space in Chicago that offers a variety of art classes and workshops for all ages including painting, drawing, sculpture, and more. Their classes are taught by experienced artists who create a fun and supportive environment where students can learn new skills and explore their creativity. The Paintbrush is a great way to discover your inner artist and create beautiful works of art.
- Adult WaterColors
  - 8 Weeks, 1 hr/wk
  - $307
The Art Studio

Los Angeles location: 6450 Westminster Blvd, Westminster, California

The Art Studio is a professional art education institution located in Los Angeles, CA, that provides certification and diploma courses in various styles of art-making. Students can explore classes such as sculpture, drawing, abstract painting, and printmaking, all taught by experienced and certified art instructors. As an added benefit, the school also offers portfolio building and critiques to help guide students along their artistic journey.
- Weekly Oil Painting/Drawing
  - 4 Weeks, 3 hr/wk
  - $63
Art School of SF Bay
Locations:
- San Jose
- San Francisco
Art School of SF Bay is a children's art school in San Francisco that offers a variety of classes and workshops for kids of all ages. Their classes are taught by experienced artists who create a fun and supportive environment where students can learn new skills and explore their creativity. Art School of SF Bay is a great way for kids to discover their inner artists and to create beautiful works of art.
- Oil & Acrylic Painting
  - 30 Hours
  - $560
Aartwerk Studio

Chicago location: 1141 W Granville Ave, Chicago, Illinois

Aartwerk Studio is a Chicago-based art school offering a wide range of creative classes to adults, teenagers, and even children. From painting and drawing to digital illustration, sculpture, and ceramics, they have courses to fit every level of interest and skill. You can even commission Aartwerk Studio for custom services, such as public artwork, virtual art classes, and special events.
- Painting I: Acrylics & Oils
  - 8 Weeks, 2 hr/wk
  - $280
Los Angeles City College

Los Angeles location: 855 N Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles City College (LACC) is a community college in Los Angeles that offers a variety of life skills and creativity classes, including cooking, writing, and dance. They are passionate about providing affordable life-skills education and experiences to the community.
- Painting with Watercolors
  - 5 Weeks, 2 hr/wk
  - $85

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Learn Painting

Learn More About Painting Courses

Top U.S. Painting Careers and Responsibilities

Commercial and Industrial Painting Careers

Fine Art Careers

Painting Salaries Across the United States

Industries and Companies Hiring Painters

Commercial and Industrial Employers

Fine Art Employers

Painting Courses by School

92nd Street Y

Getting Started with Watercolor

Getting Started with Oil Painting

Oil Painting (Beginner/Intermediate)

Oil Painting (Intermediate/Advanced)

art retreat nyc

Watercolor for Relaxation - Tuesday Nights (Single Session)

Dirty Hands Studio

Watercolor Drop-in

Creatively Wild Art Studio Dumbo

Beginner Watercolor Painting: With Natural + Urban Subject Matter

Oil Painting I: Beginner Steps for Adults

Adult: Beginner Oil Painting

Beginner Oil Painting for Adults

Pastimes for a Lifetime

Watercolor 201 - Beginner (In-Studio)

Watercolor 202 - Intermediate (In-Studio)

Oil Pastel 101 (Safe In-Studio)

Painting with Acrylics 301 (Safe In-Studio)

The Paintbrush

Adult WaterColors

The Art Studio

Weekly Oil Painting/Drawing

Art School of SF Bay

Oil & Acrylic Painting

Aartwerk Studio

Painting I: Acrylics & Oils

Los Angeles City College

Painting with Watercolors

Painting Corporate & Onsite Training Noble Desktop

Painting Training Map & Top Locations

25 Courses Available in NYC

Painting Topics

Watercolor

Oil Painting

Acrylic Painting

Abstract Painting

Watercolor Painting

Abstract Painting

Paint & Sip

BYOB Painting

Painting
Corporate & Onsite Training