Capture the beauty of the natural world in this hands-on workshop focused on drawing botanical subjects with colored pencil. Explore techniques such as layering, blending, and shading to render plants, flowers, and other organic forms with vivid color and realistic detail. Instruction will cover composition, color choices, and ways to build depth and texture, helping you develop both skill and confidence. Whether you're new to colored pencil or looking to refine your technique, this workshop offers a relaxing and rewarding creative experience inspired by nature.

• 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.

Dive into the world of relief printmaking! Perfect for beginners eager to explore a timeless art form, we'll earn the basics of designing, carving, and printing your own unique creations using linoleum blocks. With hands-on guidance and plenty of practice, you'll develop the skills to produce beautiful to share with friends and family.

Immerse yourself in the modern version of Japanese Raku pottery. Discover the unique techniques of decorating, glazing, and rapid firing that define this distinctive art form. With step-by-step instruction to guid you through the smoke and fire process, you'll create and finish your own stunning Raku piece. Students will chose from a selection of pre made forms to paint and fire. 

Experience the joy of creating pottery on the wheel! Learn the fundamental techniques of centering, pulling, and shaping clay under expert guidance. With plenty of muddy practice, you'll gain the skills and confidence to craft your own masterpiece.

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, Taylor will demonstrate how she layers surface decoration techniques at the leather soft, leather hard, and bone dry stages to create colorful, tactile porcelain pottery. Slip trailing, refining by carving, and underglaze painting with paper resists will be covered. Strategies for choosing color palettes, fixing or incorporating mistakes, and composing a compelling surface will be discussed. These techniques can also be applied to stoneware.

Taylor Sijan is a full-time studio artist from Catawba Island, Ohio. She earned a BFA in 3-D Arts from Bowling Green State University (2016), completed two years of post-baccalaureate study in ceramics at Wichita State University (2016-2018), and obtained an MFA with ceramics emphasis from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (2021). She has taught workshops at institutions including Pocosin Arts School of Fine Craft, Peters Valley School of Craft, Gasworks NYC, The Hudgens Center for Art and Learning, Touchstone Center for Crafts, Saratoga Clay Arts Center, Sugar Maples Center for Creative Arts, and Wooten Clayworks. 

Celebrate the holiday season with art, cocoa, and cookies! In this festive workshop, we’ll paint cozy still scenes from favorite Holiday movies such as A Christmas Story, It’s a Wonderful Life, Home Alone, and more. As we sip hot cocoa and enjoy a potluck of sweet treats, we’ll learn how to transform complex images into simple, approachable shapes using opaque watercolor. Step by step, we’ll add layers of detail to bring these classic holiday moments to life, creating cheerful, nostalgic works of art perfect for the season.

• 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!