The Katherine Martin Widmer School of Painting

Every week I look forward to painting class at Katherine’s. I’ve been taking classes here for just over a year, and her school has brought a lot of joy into my life. I’ve found the classes to be a great way for me to destress and explore my creative side. Katherine has a way of bringing out the best in people. With her guidance I’ve improved as a painter over the past year, but the best part has been meeting so many interesting people of different ages and backgrounds in the class. Her classes are far more affordable than any other options I know of in the Somerville and Boston areas, and suitable for all skill levels.

I’ve been a student at the School of Painting for almost three years now. I originally found out about the school from a flyer at the Davis Square Starbucks and then decided to sign up based on the Unilocal reviews, and I have absolutely no regrets. I had never painted before in my life, and Katherine was patient in helping me understand perspective and color. I quickly began to love painting, and am now participating (with a group from the School of Painting) in my second Somerville Open Studios. Beyond learning to paint, I’ve been embraced by the community that surrounds the school, and have befriended so many warm, creative people with whom I would never have crossed paths without the school.

I just started my 2^nd term at the school and plan on coming back for as long as I am in the Boston area. The classes are great because not only do you get an experienced artist as a teacher, you also get all of the supplies included. I love that I can come to class and not have to worry about buying my own paints, brushes, canvases etc.
I also think that Katherine does a good job of teaching while allowing students to have time for self exploration. I feel that this balance has allowed me to have more confidence in my own artistic abilities.
Overall, I think the atmosphere is very relaxing, as people are very welcoming of new students and Katherine is very encouraging and helpful.

I just completed my second term and Katherine was amazing, once again! This term, summer, is condensed into 6 weeks, but because I am moving out of the state, Katherine did all she could to help me start and finish my painting in 3 weeks. The painting was a gift to my sister and not only did the recipient love her gift from me, I loved the gift that Katherine gave me. She helped me to understand that time is precious and if it is spent wisely, any goal could be accomplished.
If you are even considering taking a painting class, I would give this school a chance. It will change your view on your own creativity and your view on what it means to teach. Katherine is a gem! She, and her school, cannot be replicated or duplicated. I am sad that I will probably not be able to find anything like them where I am moving.
Oh, and the ice cream breaks in the summer aren’t so bad either.

I attended 3 or 4 terms at the K.M.W school of painting around 2001ish. I discovered this hidden treasure because I was lucky enough to live only a few feet from the school, and i am so glad i did! I love art but always lacked concentration hand coordination to ever get past art in elementary school, Katherine helped me change that. She gave me the confidence i needed and helped me with issues that had nothing to do with painting through her kind advice, never ending patience, dedication to her students and stress free environment. I became a better person, i learned to appreciate classical music, my GRADES IN SCHOOL GOT BETTER, and my relationship with my mother was great. The K.M.W school of painting is not only a place where you go to learn/​perfect your ability to paint on canvas, it is also a place where you can come together to meet people of all ages and to also discover yourself! i don’t know if this still happens, but in the summer terms, there where breaks in each class where she handed out mini ice cream sandwiches and we all gathered on her porch and just took a minute to chat, get to know each other better and appreciate nature and our time, HOW COOL IS THAT? After i moved and started to work, i was unable to continue attending and have longed to return ever since, and i plan on doing this in the next 6 months! I MISS YOU KATHERINE!
P. S. one of my paintings came out so well that i still keep it up and NO ONE believes i did it! ;-)

I just started my 7^th term at the school, and my 6^th painting, and I have no intention of ever quitting. Between the terms, I spend weeks trying to think up the perfect subject for my next painting, and I am always excited to meet all of the new students, and seeing friends from previous terms.
This is the perfect place for challenging yourself and trying things you never thought you’d be able to do. Anything you want to try, Katherine will always be there to help you get to the result you wanted, helping you just as much as you want.
Seriously, I don’t know why there isn’t a waiting list to get into this school, especially considering the extremely low cost for what you get; but there is always room for more students.

Let me start with a full disclosure – when I started looking for a painting class… or some substitute creative outlet for this over-​worked young professional… I had a vision of what I wanted. I ended up getting exactly what I needed. Bear with me while I explain…
The class is situated on the top floor of a charming three family – it’s tight space sometimes because the classes are always full, but it’s cozy. In the summer session it’s worth noting that there are ice cream breaks during which everyone piles outside and drapes themselves on various chairs and stairs of the outdoor staircase that leads up to the studio.
There are students of all ages and levels of painting proficiency in the classes which makes for a very laid back atmosphere. Katherine sets the tone of patience and appreciation for everyone’s backgrounds and points of view… both artistically and philosophically.
The ‘painting school’ is absolutely about making art – Katherine’s studied eye and suggestions about everything from color mixing to brush choices are indeed very helpful – but the underlying emphasis is something completely different… something that didn’t click for me until my third term there. Painting is a metaphor for life.
You can take the class on the literal level – mapping out your drawing of what you’re going to paint. Planning ahead what colors you’ll use. Spending the time prepping the canvas. Remembering to take breaks and step back to look at the complete picture as you’re working on details. And remembering to share with others the triumphs and trials you face along the way. So you see you can take the class on a more spiritual level too.
Maybe I’m being overly sentimental, but I walked into this space that Katherine has created at a time in my life that what I needed was a sense of community, more than anything. This School of Painting made me feel simultaneously a part of something great and very special in my own right. Katherine – and my fellow students – have spent an incredible amount of time sharing and listening… it’s the type of human interaction that really feeds my soul.
I’m sure many of the other students would agree that Katherine is the type of ‘master-​teacher’ who’s lessons in self-​expression go far beyond Quincy Street… and all for an unbeatable price tag!

Instead of writing a review about how great of a teacher Katherine is, or what a wonderful atmosphere the School of Painting has, I’m just copying a segmant of an email I wrote to Katherine right before I moved out of the Boston area:
«I think you know this already, but I don’t know what I would’ve done this past year without the painting school. It’s been an incredible experience that I will never ever forget. You are truly unique and so is the painting school, and I don’t think I’ll ever encounter a painting experience quite as magical as this one has been. Anyways, thank you. for everything. It’s been great.»
Looking beyond the boring sentence structures, I think you can see what I was getting at. SIGN UP FOR A CLASS!

I am a graduate student who was looking for a painting studio and a creative outlet, somewhere close to me that would be inspiring and allow me to do what I love– painting. I have been in other painting classes, and they can be stifling to creativity. Kartherin’s painting school exceeded all my expectations and has been a truly wonderful community to be a part of.
The studio is located on the third floor of her endearing home, stairs circling the house as they lead you to a spacious but cozy room full of half-​finished paintings and complete works, easels, paint lubes, paint jars, drying brushes, pictures of students/​artists on the wall. Katherine allows and encourages students to explore their own style of painting, but gives practical and helpful guidance along the way. You don’t have to have any painting experience to feel comfortable exploring the artist in your at Katherine’s school, and the wonderful people at the school makes the experience that much more special.
I have been to both children and adult classes. The children’s class was great. Katherine clearly loves working with children. She’s patient with instructions and takes interest in all of them individually. Children are encouraged to paint what inspires them, and are gently encouraged to complete their paintings. I would highly recommend it for parents who are looking for a safe, warm, and loving space for their children to develop their sense of wonder and creatively.
I highly recommend Katherine’s painting school! Painting there has become a weekly treat that I look forward to, and it always leaves me feeling inspired, refreshed, and connected. Katherine is a truly amazing woman who has a huge heart, and the studio is undoubtedly one of a kind!

Every term at the Painting School is a mix of new students and students who have been coming for years. Each term consists of 10 classes that meet weekly for two hours. The classes are very reasonably priced and the only thing you need to bring is your willingness to learn. Paints, brushes, and canvases are included in the cost.
With Katherine’s method of painting it does not matter if your talents goes as far as stick figures. She will work with you and help you through the process. My tip, paint something you love.
Katherine exudes a wonderful energy, while in class you leave all your cares behind, live in the moment and paint.
Coming to the Katherine Martin Widmer School of Painting, I had no idea what to expect. I knew I wanted to learn how to paint and I loved the idea of a painting school within walking distance from my apartment. Walking into the class for the first time I was greeted by Katherine and then introduced to everyone else in the class. There would be a quiz at the end of class. :) The school is really a loving community of regular people who all share the desire to paint.
I am very thankful that I found the painting school and I hope that you will try it out for yourself.

The School of Painting just celebrated it’s 30 year anniversary.

The Painting School owned and operated by Katherine Widmer is exemplary, inspirational and communal.
I recently moved to Somerville, and saw the school on a walk. I called her and she invited me to come to an exhibit being held. She immediately enticed me to take the class notwithstanding my reservations as a complete novice. She assured me that there was no right or wrong — that the effort and enjoyment of the process is what truly mattered.
The school has allowed me to better know and appreciate the neighborhood and community by getting to know folks interested in art and discovery.
Katherine’s approach to teaching is to remind everyone that we all have talent and she’s there to help with technique. I finished my first painting this week and could not be more pleased.
My recommendation — get to the School before Katherine retires. You won’t regret it.

The Katherine Martin Widmer School of Painting is just an example of the many wonderful things that are right before you waiting to be discovered. I have lived in the Somerville area for years now and in that time thought about how nice it would be to have a creative space. I dabbled in the fine arts in school, but without the physical space and guidance, lost the motivation to explore further. This school has allowed me the opportunity to do so.
The instructor, Katherine, is a wonderful teacher, providing just the right amount of instruction and is one of many reasons why the school has such an encouraging environment. The studio itself is lovely. It’s on the third floor with lots of windows and a sky light. Usually the soft voices of Billy Holiday or Nina Simone waft through the air. In addition, the students (many of whom have been attending for years) are from all different backgrounds/​ages and are a pleasure to get to know.

Having enrolled in continuing education classes at Rhode Island School of Design and the School of Museum of Fine Arts, I thought it would be nice to take classes that I wouldn’t have to commute to, ie, I could walk to. So I decided to check out the Katherine Martin Widmer School of Painting. The classes were inexpensive, something like $ 150 for like 10 classes and a small registration fee.
After having gone to two classes, I realized that even for $ 15/​class it wasn’t worth it. Though Katherine et. al. was endearing. And I was encouraged to do whatever I wanted (I decided to do a painting of a photograph of my grandmother.) But when I asked Katherine for help, at first she avoided me and made her rounds around the room. When she finally made it around to my workspace, she looked at my drawing unable to correct it and suggested that I grid the photograph and then re-​draw it. Then she continued about the room. To be frank, I would have been better off spending the money on books from Utrecht’s.
After the two classes I stopped going, I thought about demanding a refund, but didn’t want to get into it. Katherine did call me once to see what happened, but I didn’t want to tell her she was a bad teacher. I do want to give her credit for starting her own school, but if you really want to learn how to paint, I suggest spending the extra money and taking a class at the Museum School or MASSart.
NOTE: I am not one to write a negative review, but I’m writing about this experience because I wish someone had reviewed it, so that I wouldn’t have gone there in the first place. Its not that Katherine was a horrible person or the school was a bad place, but I wanted to learn how to paint and eventually apply to a post-​bac or MFA program, so I probably had different goals than most of her other students. I might have been a bit naïve to think that I could have learned to paint there, but I wanted to try it. I do think that it would be a great place for an elementary school student. Also note that all painting is in acrylic.