Curious about encaustic painting? Discover this unique, all-natural medium made from melted, pigmented beeswax—an ancient technique enjoying a vibrant revival today.

This beginner-friendly workshop introduces the fundamentals of encaustic painting, including a brief history, essential tools, workspace setup, color mixing, safety considerations, and ways to incorporate mixed media. Participants will learn techniques such as collage, image transfer, and combining oil paint with wax. Hands-on time will allow each participant to create up to two original encaustic works.

No prior experience is necessary. Feel free to bring personal items you'd like to incorporate—such as photographs, pressed plants, or other flat ephemera. Materials fee of $75 paid to instructor day of 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!

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.

Create a unique slab-constructed mug and personalize it with a custom relief print in this hands-on ceramics workshop. Learn slab-building techniques, surface decoration, and how to transfer a relief design onto clay. No prior experience needed!

• 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 friend and tap into your playful side! In this out-of-the-box printmaking night, we’re using LEGOs and other building toys to stamp and layer bold, geometric prints. It’s tactile, experimental, and unexpectedly fun—a great way to unwind, get creative, and leave with one-of-a-kind artwork.

Part of our Creative Pairings series, this workshop pairs creativity with wine, snacks, and laughter in a welcoming studio environment.

Ages 21+ | Complementary wine, beer, and refreshments. Tuition is per person; all adults attending must register individually. No experience needed—just come ready to press and play. *Please let us know about any dietary needs at least a week before the event. We may not be able to accommodate requests shared after that time.

• 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.

A great project for those new to needle felting! In this fun and approachable workshop, you'll use natural wool fibers to create an adorable and one-of-a-kind gnome—a whimsical holiday staple rooted in Nordic tradition. We’ll guide you step-by-step through the process, allowing plenty of space for personal creativity and for everyone to work at their own pace. All fibers are sourced from Locust Hollow Sheep Farm in Coatesville. Materials fee of $15

• 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, 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!