Yellow Barn Studio

The Yellow Barn Studio & Gallery
7300 MacArthur Blvd
Glen Echo, Maryland 20812

Join us at The Yellow Barn Studio, a creative oasis in Glen Echo Park, where community and artistic guidance converge in our nationally-recognized artists’ programs. Founded by acclaimed artist Walter Bartman, The Yellow Barn Studio is a haven for budding artists and experienced painters alike. We offer classes in watercolor, oil, acrylic, drawing, and printmaking, with a special emphasis on plein air painting.

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Winter Classes by the Day of the Week

Click on a day to see the classes that begin on that day of the week; some meet on one day and some on multiple days. The months indicate the duration of a given class. Click on the class title to visit the Glen Echo website where you may register. The classes are sorted by time of day.

Have questions about your registration? Please call the registrar at (301)634-2255 or email registrar@glenechopark.org.

Workshops by the Day of the Week

Click below to see our workshops; some meet on one day and some on multiple days. Click on the class title to visit the Glen Echo website where you may register. The courses are ordered by start date.

History of the Yellow Barn Studio

The Yellow Barn Studio and Gallery, operating in cooperation with the National Park Service and The Glen Echo Partnership for Arts & Culture, is one of the anchor residences of Glen Echo Park, Maryland. The Yellow Barn was founded in 1994 by Walter Bartman, a nationally recognized teacher and artist whose aim was to establish a community of artists. Our mission at the Yellow Barn is to provide opportunities to artists of all ages and backgrounds to grow as artists, work in collaboration, and show and sell artwork.

We accomplish this mission by offering art classes and workshops throughout the year to students of all levels and abilities. The studio provides a friendly and encouraging atmosphere in which to learn, explore, and grow. Walter Bartman, resident artist and Director of the Yellow Barn, has assembled a team of dedicated, accomplished, and qualified instructors to complement the programs and classes offered at the Yellow Barn. Class and workshops listings can be found on this page.

We pride ourself on the diverse philosophy of our faculty. Each member brings years of experience successfully working with students. The instructors are chosen for their artistic and educational expertise, and teach a wide range of classes in oils, acrylics, watercolor, drawing, printmaking, art history, and mixed media.

The Yellow Barn has been a great success. Since 1994 thousands of students have taken classes and workshops through the Yellow Barn Studio and today, the Yellow Barn Studio ranks as one of the best places to study painting and drawing in the Washington, Northern Virginia, and Baltimore areas.

Are you looking to exhibit and sell your artwork? 

The Yellow Barn Gallery is booking for 2022

Since 1994, over two thousand emerging artists have had shows at the Yellow Barn Gallery. The Yellow Barn Gallery is a great place to sell your artwork. Not many galleries can say they have sold three hundred paintings a year. People come to buy paintings! Many prominent Washington D.C. artists have had their start here. The Yellow Barn Studio becomes a gallery every weekend. It is a great place to exhibit and sell your paintings. You will need at least thirty paintings to exhibit. All work must be framed to professional standards and be for sale. The Yellow Barn Gallery takes a 35% commission on work sold. Exhibitions are well attended. The Yellow Barn Gallery has 15,000 visitors per year. Make sure you get the dates you want. Sign up now.

Visit the Yellow Barn Gallery here

For more information or to schedule a show, contact Alex Bartman at alex.yellowbarn@gmail.com

Friends of the Yellow Barn

The Friends of the Yellow Barn was incorporated as a nonprofit organization in 1994. Its mission is to support The Yellow Barn Studio at Glen Echo Park. In its infancy, the Friends, with a band of committed volunteers, helped create a functioning art studio out of a dilapidated yellow car barn – the warmly and appropriately titled Yellow Barn Studio. The original Board of Directors were Walt Bartman, President; Dick Beers, Vice President; Jane Matz, Treasurer; Michael Shapiro; and Phyllis Lieberman. With their help, the Yellow Barn Studio became a reality.

In a few short years, the Yellow Barn Studio earned its reputation for a high quality of instruction and affordable art classes, for all ages and levels of experience, in a supportive atmosphere. The Yellow Barn is more than an art school – it is an inclusive art community.

As a not-for-profit organization, the Friends of the Yellow Barn’s mission is to raise money through donations and grants for renovation and programs associated with the Yellow Barn art studio. The Friends’ philosophy, consistent with the spirit of the late 19th Century Chautauqua movement upon which Glen Echo Park was founded, is that art is universal and thus, should be accessible to all. The Friends’ goal is to encourage all area residents, of all ages and all means, to experience the wonder of the visual arts through drawing and painting.

Today, over 600 members have joined the Yellow Barn Studio. As Friends, they have strongly supported the programs and classes at the Yellow Barn.

As times change, so has the Board of Directors. Our present Board is made up of Jim Kettler, President; Susan Galego, Secretary; Lee Ann Howdershell, Membership; Larry Schlaifer, Treasurer,  Michel Escalant, Website, and Walt Bartman, founding member.