The Berkeley Arts Council will offer a series of free “Mini-lessons” about various painting media for those who have thought about taking art classes but did not know what was involved.

The free lessons will help participants prepare for the Berkeley Arts Council fall class schedule, which will include beginning watercolor, acrylic, pastels, oil painting and drawing.

Free lessons in July and August are Acrylic Painting Aug. 1, 1 p.m.; Drawing Aug. 15, 3 p.m.; Colored Pencil – July 11, 2 p.m.; Aug. 14, 1 p.m.; Oil Painting – July 14, 1 p.m.; Aug. 6, 6 p.m.; Realistic Rendering with Mixed Media – July 14, 6 p.m.; Aug. 6, 1 p.m.; Pastels – July 17, 1 p.m.; Aug. 8, 1 p.m.; Watercolor Painting – July 18, 1 p.m.; Aug. 8, 3 p.m.; Mixed Media on Watercolor or Acrylic Base – July 18, 3 p.m.; Aug. 15, 1 p.m.

Walk-ins welcome.

The full schedule of fall classes and “Mini-lessons” is on the Berkeley Arts Council web site at artworks.berkeleyartswv.org/instruction/.