Creative Aging: "Artopia" - Drawing with Ivan Velez at Allerton Library

Explore your artistic potential with Creative Aging, a series of art workshops for adults 50 and older.

This program will be held in person at the Allerton Library.

Join us for Artopia! Teaching artist Ivan Velez teaches an 7 session drawing program.  

Please sign up for all sessions in the series at one time. Attendance at all sessions is strongly encouraged.

REGISTER HERE for October sessions.

REGISTER HERE for November sessions.

Program Description:

Using cultural touchstones, age-appropriate cultural references and easily mastered art materials and art projects, we focus on the good things of life ( music, joy, films, sweet memories, memorable places, loved ones and more) as we learn about new topics and art-forms and make new connections through our own beautiful creations.

Materials will be provided for this program. 

Attendance at all sessions is recommended. Space is limited | Supplies are available on a first come, first serve basis.  Registration is recommended.  Register above with your email address. Walkups will be permitted as space accommodates.

About the Artist

Born in the Civil Rights-era South Bronx, Ivan Velez became addicted to comic books at an early age, even though his face was never reflected in his heroes. After college, Velez used cartooning to help create social change. Tales of the Closet, a series of comic books first used as a popular educational tool, was one of the first interventions for LGBT youth. Velez later joined MILESTONE, a company that focused on multicultural superheroes. He designed characters and wrote numerous comic books for Marvel and DC Comics, and has shown his work in galleries in New York and Taipei. Velez is also a teaching artist for the New York Public Library and the Bronx Museum of the Arts. His work has been included in several award-winning comic anthologies.

About Creative Aging

Creative Aging is a series of free art classes for adults 50 and older. This year, in person programs are available from branches throughout the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island.  Come discover a new art medium or deepen your skills in a practice you’ve explored before! Visit nypl.org/creativeaging for a full list of programs.