In this workshop, we will start with an introduction to essential watercolor techniques, including washes, layering, and brush control. Next, we’ll practice sketching birds from photo references, focusing on capturing their proportions, feather textures, and unique characteristics. Finally, we will bring everything together by creating a finished bird painting in watercolor, applying the skills learned throughout the session. Whether you're a beginner or looking to refine your technique, this workshop will help you build confidence in both drawing and painting birds with expressive color and detail.

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!

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.

In this workshop, we will explore how to create the illusion of light and depth using gouache paint. We’ll begin with a fundamental lesson on gouache techniques, including opacity control, blending, and layering. A discussion on light, shadow, and color theory will help deepen our understanding of how light interacts with different surfaces and atmospheric conditions. Using a carefully selected photo reference, we will apply these concepts to create a dynamic and luminous painting. This workshop is perfect for artists looking to enhance their ability to capture light realistically while gaining confidence in using gouache as a medium.

 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!

Explore the unique qualities of watercolor in this immersive workshop designed to enhance composition, expand visual language, and develop artistic voice. Learn to create dynamic shapes, strong value contrasts, and expressive edges while simplifying scenes with a limited palette. Discussions on perspective and color theory will deepen your understanding, and you may paint alongside the instructor or work from your own reference with individualized guidance.

• 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!

Join me for an immersive exploration into the world of mixed media, where creativity extends beyond paint and collage. We'll delve into composition, form, and color, discovering new techniques that can enhance your current artistic practice or inspire a fresh journey into abstraction and non-representational art. Whether you’re seeking to expand your skillset or embark on a new artistic path, this workshop offers endless opportunities for creative experimentation.

click HERE for a materials list for this workshop!

In this workshop, we will explore the art of outdoor painting and sketching using a combination of watercolor, gouache, and dry media such as pencils and chalks. We’ll discuss strategies for working in various lighting conditions and adapting to changing weather while capturing the beauty of our surroundings. Whether completing a painting on-site or creating quick sketches to serve as studies for studio work, participants will gain valuable techniques for translating the outdoor experience into expressive artwork.

 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!

Discover the fundamental techniques needed to create expressive and dynamic portrait paintings in this engaging workshop. Through a step-by-step approach, you will learn how to break down complex forms into manageable shapes, making the portrait painting process approachable and enjoyable. Working from a live model, we will cover key concepts such as basic facial anatomy, imprimatura (underpainting), color mixing, and the importance of value and light to achieve depth and realism. 

• 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!

Join us for an immersive workshop led by renowned ceramic artist Lindsay Oesteritter, where you'll dive into the art of wood firing as well as a hands-on workshop in the ceramics studio.  This intensive course will focus on firing the wood kiln with a reduction cooling.  Students will bring high-fire bisqueware to be slipped or glazed as we cover wadding, loading, firing, reduction cooling, unloading, and cleaning our wares post-firing.  (approx. 12x24x18 inches share of space in the kiln for each participant) 

For the hands-on, making portion of the workshop, demonstrations will include working on the wheel, incorporating hand-built elements, design details, and considerations of the pot.  Lindsay and students will discuss the concept of "intentionality" - consciously and carefully considering the myriad of choices we confront as makers and how those choices affect the outcome of that simple object. 

 Click HERE for Lindsey's bio