Beginners will build a strong foundation in wheel throwing through hands-on practice and personalized instruction. Students will learn essential skills including clay preparation, centering, and shaping basic forms such as cylinders and bowls. As confidence grows, the class will explore trimming techniques, handle attachment, surface decoration, and glazing. The final weeks will focus on finishing work and preparing pieces for firing. This class is ideal for those new to the pottery wheel and looking to create functional, finished pieces in a supportive studio environment.

This class is held in a ADA accessable studio space

• 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!

Develop your skills as you recreate an Old Master’s Painting!  Join this fun and informative way to learn or advance your oil painting skills.   You will learn the steps to oil painting and create your own copy (or interpretation) of a famous Old Master’s Painting of your choosing.  Individual attention will be given to each student’s level of skill.  Class will cover how to start a painting, color mixing, mediums, brush techniques, etc. for beginners, while experienced painters can get started on their Master Copy with expert guidance along the way. 

We will be working with paintings by Master Artists’ whose work is copyright free and therefore now “in the public domain.”  Master Copy paintings are created from any of the works of the Old Masters from over 70 years ago.  (i.e., Picasso’s work is NOT permitted as it is not in the public domain.)  If in question, simply Google, “Are (artist’s name) paintings copyright free?  You want the answer to be (Artist’s) paintings are in the public domain.  Suitable for beginners as well as advanced painters.

Bring a photo or print of your chosen Master Artist’s painting to the first class.  If undecided you may bring several possibilities to class which we can discuss. 

Average to proficient drawing skills are recommended.

• 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!

Through the Wheel is a hands-on ceramics class designed for teens looking to develop their skills on the potter’s wheel. Students will learn the fundamentals of throwing, shaping, and refining forms like bowls, mugs, and plates while exploring texture, surface design, and glazing techniques. With guidance from an experienced instructor, participants will gain confidence in their craftsmanship and creativity, transforming clay into functional and expressive pieces. Whether you're new to the wheel or looking to improve your technique, this class offers a fun and supportive environment to experiment and grow.

• 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!

In this engaging studio-style class, preteens will dive into a wide range of artistic materials and techniques while developing their personal creative voice. Projects are designed to promote problem-solving, critical thinking, and creative risk-taking—building both artistic skill and confidence. Students will be encouraged to explore, experiment, and refine their ideas as they create meaningful, expressive works in a supportive and inspiring environment.

• 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!

This class goes beyond basic throwing, teaching you how to transform simple forms into personalized works of art. Through demonstrations, you'll explore techniques for altering shapes, adding decorative elements, and enhancing functionality. Gain valuable studio tips and tricks that will help you refine your pottery skills. Perfect for potters of all levels who want to take their work to the next level.

This class is held in a ADA accessable studio space

• 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!

This two-day studio workshop will focus on painting “alla prima” (all at once) as well as developing greater skills of observation, simplification and painting “wet on wet” to create strong “painterly” paintings. The workshop will also discuss techniques to quickly transfer the elements of your reference to the canvas with the goal of creating an artistic painting that accurately relates the important forms of a composition rather than simply copying everything in a photograph.

The first morning of the workshop begins with a discussion of painting basics (from materials to paint handling) and will also address the fundamentals of color, value, edges, perspective and other “practical” elements that make a successful painting. Each day participants will work on a series of timed painting exercises incorporating the techniques discussed while developing their skills of observation, simplification, bold brushwork and painting in a “decisive” and “intentional” manner.  

Each morning of the workshop will include a short painting demo by Dan with an explanation of his process.  Dan will provide plenty of one-on-one individual instruction throughout each day of the workshop.

This workshop is designed for intermediate to advanced painters in both oil and acrylic mediums, however proficiency in basic drawing is required.  Participants will be able to choose from a wide variety of reference photos supplied by the instructor for their painting exercises. 

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!

Join kiln builder and ceramic artist Tyler Gulden for a rare hands-on opportunity to help construct a new soda kiln at Historic Yellow Springs. Participants will assist with the building process and will also have the opportunity to be included in the kiln’s inaugural firing.   The build will be physically demanding and on a tight schedule so while efforts will be made to instruct participants through hands on tasks, it may be necessary for participants to step back and observe certain aspects to ensure quality construction and completion within the given time frame.

Discussion will cover how soda kilns function, the introduction of soda ash into the kiln at high temperatures, and how vapor glazing interacts with clay surfaces to produce rich, atmospheric effects. This collaborative workshop offers valuable insight into both kiln construction, loading, and firing philosophy.

Includes build participation and one share in first firing.

Loading: Monday, August 24

Firing: Tuesday, August 25

Unloading: Friday, August 28

Discover the expressive potential of pastels in this 10-week studio course. Start with foundational techniques through still life studies, focusing on application methods, understanding light and shadow, and exploring color blending. Build your confidence in observing and interpreting form, surface, and atmosphere, while developing your own artistic voice with this versatile medium. Whether you're new to pastels or looking to refine your skills, this class offers a supportive space to experiment and grow.

Click HERE to see the materials list for this course

• 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