Discover the vibrant world of alcohol ink in this fun and approachable beginner class! Guided by Nina, you'll explore the fluid, dynamic nature of this exciting medium through live demonstrations, hands-on practice, and personalized guidance. Learn a variety of techniques to harness the unpredictable beauty of alcohol ink and unlock your creative potential.

No experience? No problem! This class is perfect for anyone curious about experimenting with color and flow. You’ll create your own abstract masterpiece and a custom switch plate cover, watching your designs come to life with mesmerizing effects. At the end of the session, we’ll apply a finishing varnish so your pieces are ready to display and enjoy.

Bring your curiosity and leave with two unique creations — and plenty of inspiration to continue your artistic journey!

$30 materials fee payable to the instructor day of the workshop

• We believe art should be accessible to all. Scholarships are available for those who qualify.
• Membership is one of the easiest and most effective ways to support our mission! Learn more about it's benefits and discounts!

Master the SECRETS to mixing accurate colors and values that will take your paintings to the next level.

Presented in a power packed yet relaxed format, you will gain a new understanding of color logic and professional techniques rarely taught in traditional classes.  Experience the confidence shift as you transition from "guessing and checking" to mixing with intentional, effortless precision. Join us for a day of interactive demos and “light bulb moments" designed to break through your blocks and reignite your excitement for oil painting!

Click HERE for a materials list for this workshop!

• We believe art should be accessible to all. Scholarships are available for those who qualify.
• Membership is one of the easiest and most effective ways to support our mission! Learn more about it's benefits and discounts!

Morning and Afternoon Available. For all day sign up for both sessions.

Designed for young artists, Sky Explorers invites campers to look up and let their imaginations soar. Through fine art and ceramics projects inspired by the sky above us, campers will explore clouds, weather, birds, and planets. Hands-on activities encourage curiosity about the natural world beyond the ground, blending observation, creativity, and artistic expression.

Whether beginners or budding artists, children will enjoy a fun, supportive environment that fosters creativity, exploration, and skill-building. With a balance of individual projects and collaborative activities, every camper will leave with a collection of original artwork and lasting memories from their sky-high creative journey.

• We believe art should be accessible to all. Scholarships are available for those who qualify.
• Membership is one of the easiest and most effective ways to support the mission of HYS

Create your own sculptural wire bonsai tree in this engaging, hands-on workshop. Using a bundle of wire, participants will shape and form one of four styles: natural, weeping willow, windswept, or forest!

Choose your preferred finish and granite base, and leave with a completed piece ready to display. This process-focused workshop is approachable for all experience levels and offers a rewarding introduction to form, movement, and design through wire.

All materials and equipment are included in the price!

• We believe art should be accessible to all. Scholarships are available for those who qualify.
• Membership is one of the easiest and most effective ways to support our mission! Learn more about it's benefits and discounts!

Embrace your creative side in this Watercolor Free Spirit Workshop, a fun, afternoon designed for every skill level—from those who have never touched a brush to experienced painters seeking a relaxing refresh—this course begins with an interactive demonstration of techniques. You’ll learn how the brush handles, how pigment reacts with water, and the joy of choosing your own color palette. By focusing on essentials rather than complex, time-consuming advanced methods like painting wet on wet, or layering paint, you will enjoy immediate success and creative satisfaction.

Everyone will be able to create a finished project to take home that very day, choosing personalized note cards or a standalone painting. Using a seasonal themed subject or your own reference photo, you’ll dive straight into the painting process.

Beyond the brushwork, you’ll gain professional insight into the critical differences between student and professional-grade paints, papers, and brushes, as well as essential care tips. You’ll leave not only with a finished piece of art but also with the knowledge to continue painting note cards and more at home.

Click HERE for a materials list for this workshop!

• We believe art should be accessible to all. Scholarships are available for those who qualify.
• Membership is one of the easiest and most effective ways to support our mission! Learn more about it's benefits and discounts!

Slow down and experience art in a new way. This guided workshop introduces reflective looking practices that deepen your connection with artwork beyond first impressions. Through focused observation and simple exercises, participants will explore how patience, attention, and openness can reveal new layers of meaning.

In dialogue with Radical Compassion: Art as Social Action, this session invites you to consider how sustained looking can foster empathy, challenge assumptions, and strengthen awareness of our shared human experience. Participants will engage with selected works in the gallery, alternating between individual reflection and small group discussion.

Registration is encouraged to ensure an accurate headcount. This is a pay-what-you-can experience, with contributions collected at the door.

Rich Holck will oversee and guide you through the hands-on process of loading, firing, unloading, cleaning, and maintaining a wood kiln. Learn how to build the fire and operate the kiln at each stage, read the atmosphere of the kiln to time your stokes, and how to place wood across the width of the firebox to maintain even heat. Gain understanding of how kiln oxygen levels may fluctuate and ways of controlling oxygen levels by adjusting dampers and air openings. Consider factors like the quantity of wood per stoke, stoking frequency, and the size and type of wood to use. When introducing salt into the chamber, discuss its effects on the pottery, kiln, and kiln furniture. During unloading, observe the results of your collective efforts on the finished works, and how the process details come together to shape the end result. 12X24X30 inches per share

Bring a touch of handmade charm to your garden with a ceramic bird feeder crafted by you! In this beginner-friendly workshop, participants will learn slab-building techniques to construct a functional and decorative feeder that birds will love.

You’ll roll and shape clay into a teardrop form, add texture using stamps or natural materials, and attach end caps and hanging holes to complete your design. Along the way, you’ll explore surface decoration and handbuilding basics while creating a piece that’s both artistic and useful.

All tools and materials are provided. Finished bird feeders will be fired and ready for pickup at a later date.

• We believe art should be accessible to all. Scholarships are available for those who qualify.
• Membership is one of the easiest and most effective ways to support the mission of HYS.