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.

If you are looking to learn or refresh basic skills in watercolors and gouache, this is the class for you! We will complete two cheat sheets to practice skills in each medium, and then learn how to use the materials to paint a glowing summer campfire scene.

Materials: Students should bring a basic set of watercolors (primary colors plus black, at least) and gouache. For economy, bring just watercolors plus a tube of white gouache. Note: bring gouache, not "acrylic gouache." Also please have a mixing palette, basic watercolor brushes, cold press watercolor paper, and any dry mixed media you'd like to use. Optional: a color wheel will be useful. My suggested supplies are listed here: Artist Resource List

• 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!

Discover the beauty and sparkle of Zentangle-inspired gemstone art in this relaxing and creative workshop. Using simple, mindful drawing techniques, students will learn how to create dazzling “zen gems” filled with shading, and dimension. Perfect for beginners and experienced tanglers alike, this class combines the meditative process of Zentangle with the elegance of faceted jewels. Leave class with a collection of shimmering gem-inspired artwork and a renewed sense of calm and creativity.

Please bring to workshop your basic Zentangle kit*, a Colorless Blender Pencil, white gel pen or white acrylic pen. Optional- set of colored pencils.  The teacher will provide colored pencils to share for the class.

* If you do not have a basic Zentangle kit, you can purchase one from the teacher for $13.00.

• 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!

Bring a touch of handmade charm to your home with a ceramic textured dish crafted by you! In this beginner-friendly workshop, participants will explore handbuilding techniques to create a functional and decorative dish featuring rich surface detail.

You’ll begin by shaping a slab of clay and experimenting with a variety of textures using stamps, tools, and natural materials to create a one-of-a-kind surface design. Then, using simple handbuilding methods, you’ll form and refine your dish, focusing on shape, form, and tactile surface quality.

All tools and materials are provided. Finished dishes 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 our mission! Learn more about it's benefits and discounts!

This demonstration workshop focuses using layered mark making to create surface design for altered wheel-thrown and hand-built pottery.  Workshop participants will learn a variety of methods including underglaze decorating, sgraffito, and other mark making techniques.  During the workshop we will discuss aesthetic issues (i.e. proportions, color theory, etc.), making strong functional pots at low fire temperatures, and creative problem solving in the studio. Additional discussions of marketing, social media and the changing landscape of contemporary craft will leave the workshop attendees recharged, rejuvenated and ready to grow in their own studio practice.

Learn more about this artist: CarterPottery.com

• 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!

Working from live medicinal plant specimens, participants will draw roots, stems, leaves, and flowers through careful observation. Unlike historic botanical illustrations, living plants offer the delightful challenge of movement, variation, and imperfection—the leaf that curls, the flower that leans, the stem that refuses the composition you planned.

Drawing from direct observation, artists will strengthen their skills in proportion, line, texture, and form while developing a deeper appreciation for the beauty and complexity of medicinal plants. Whether you are new to botanical art or an experienced artist, this workshop offers an opportunity to slow down, look closely, and connect with nature through drawing. Bring your curiosity and a willingness to really see.

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!

Use photos of your favorite summer memories (or any other photo of your choice) as inspiration for your newest sketch or painting. Learn how to incorporate your emotions and interpretations of the photo into your sketch rather than simply copy the photo.

Materials: Students may choose what sketch materials to bring. I suggest water-soluble materials like watercolors, gouache, water-soluble crayons, and/or dry sketch materials like pastels, pencils, pens, and so on. My suggested supplies are listed here: Artist Resource List