Blog

ONSITE: Secrets of Classical Drawing: The Still Life

February 07, 2023

Learn skills taught in ateliers and academies in centuries past and put them to use to create your own fresh artwork. You'll learn tricks of the trade and classical drawing techniques like proportion, value and form-building in two dimensions. These skills can be used to capture traditional subjects like figures and nature scenes, or they […]

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ONSITE: Silver Metal Clay Jewelry (A)

February 07, 2023

Learn to work with metal clay, a malleable, metal-bearing material that is perfectly suited for creating jewelry. Use your hands to shape it and a variety of tools to add detail and texture. You’ll fire the metal clay to transform it into a silver object. Add a new skill to your repertoire each week and […]

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ONSITE: Sculpture in Clay: Mystics + Makers

February 07, 2023

Let your inner mystic explore and experiment with hand-building techniques to create your own clay sculptures. We'll utilize coil building, slab building, and surface decoration to create our own sculptures. We'll explore contemporary artists’ and mystics’ work as a tool for reflection and inspiration. Finally, we will develop our understanding of glaze and surface decoration […]

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ONSITE: Throwing with Intention

February 07, 2023

Do you have a vision of what you would like to create with clay, but aren't sure how to get there? This class will help you throw on the wheel with intention while receiving clear guidance on planning, problem-solving, and process. Walk away with pieces that show growth in your ceramics practice. We'll review and […]

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ONSITE: Intermediate Wheel Throwing (A)

February 07, 2023

Expand your skills by learning additional throwing techniques and working on complex projects. We'll explore larger-scale pieces, throw platters, make sets, and add hand-built elements to our pieces. This class caters to individual interests, so we'll address specific techniques for your projects. Discussion on reduction firing in the gas kiln and glaze firing to cone […]

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ONSITE: Learn to Knit Soft Toys

February 07, 2023

Learn to create knit toys! This class is designed for students who know the basics of knitting. Toys incorporate many different knitting skills and are usually small and quick to knit. Try your hand at short rows, colorwork, and shaping. These skills can be used for garments and more toys!

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ONSITE: Introduction to Digital Photography (A)

February 07, 2023

Learn what all the buttons on your digital camera actually do. You’ll learn about things like white balance, resolution and megapixels. We’ll discuss how to capture an image, ensure proper exposure and create an effective composition. Weekly assignments coupled with in-class discussions will help you troubleshoot problems and develop a creative eye.

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ONSITE: Cloisonné Enameling (Only offered a few times a year!)

February 07, 2023

Learn cloisonné enameling, an ancient technique with contemporary applications. You’ll explore basic enameling and learn how to create cloisons (French for “compartments”) that separate different colors and shapes in a finished cloisonné design. Each student will finish this class having completed one small piece.

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ONSITE: Introduction to Oil Painting

February 07, 2023

Learn the fundamentals of oil painting through exercises including still life. We'll get acquainted with materials, learn how to use them, and get a brief introduction to color theory as it applies to oil paint.

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ONSITE: Drawing for the Absolute Beginner

February 07, 2023

Would you like to begin to draw? Learn the basics of drawing and composition including line, shape, space, and value. We will start at the beginning, welcoming first-time artists or those returning to drawing after a long time. Drawing can be a wonderful way to decompress and transition to a different headspace. In addition to […]

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ONSITE: Introduction to Flat Pattern Making

February 07, 2023

This course will cover the fundamental skills of flat pattern design. Flat pattern design is a process in apparel design that uses “blocks” or “slopers” as a foundation for garments. This course will cover a brief history of pattern making and the various methods of pattern design (draping, drafting, flat pattern and knockoff). This Course […]

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ONSITE: Intermediate Wheel Throwing (B)

February 07, 2023

Expand your skills by learning additional throwing techniques and working on complex projects. We'll explore larger-scale pieces, throw platters, make sets, and add hand-built elements to our pieces. This class caters to individual interests, so we'll address specific techniques for your projects. Discussion on reduction firing in the gas kiln and glaze firing to cone […]

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ONSITE: Wheel Throwing Refresher (A)

February 07, 2023

Brush up on the basics! We'll review wheel throwing techniques and skills. Create and complete work during class with enough time to fire and glaze. This class is open to students who have previously taken wheel throwing classes. We will review and refresh our knowledge of wedging, centering, throwing, trimming and glazing. We will take […]

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ONSITE: Introduction to Silversmithing

February 07, 2023

Jump right into working with sterling silver for jewelry. Basic jewelry fabrication techniques will be demonstrated or reviewed including sawing, drilling, sanding, polishing, and soldering. You can expect to leave class with one finished piece of jewelry. This class is accessible to the beginner but is also ideal for someone looking to polish their beginner […]

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ONSITE: Intermediate Drawing

February 07, 2023

If you've taken multiple beginner drawing classes or have experience with drawing in the recent past, this class may be a great opportunity for you to "get back in there!" This class will allow opportunities for you to experiment and recover your mark-making style and apply it to various subject areas with different dry media. […]

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ONSITE: Introduction to Metalworking

February 07, 2023

Learn basic small metalworking techniques to make small containers, jewelry boxes, or other hollow form sculptures. To create your piece, we'll learn sawing, filing, sanding, forming, texturing, annealing, multiple styles of soldering, and patination. We'll focus on laying out different sculptural shapes, high temperature soldering, and tension lid construction. While this is a beginner class […]

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ONSITE: Screenprinting Immersion (B)

February 07, 2023

Whether you are a novice or advanced, this class will immerse you in screen-printing methods and projects that are customized for your personal level of enjoyment and exploration. Each student will select a personal theme and work with the instructor to make use of appropriate inks, image-making techniques like drawing fluid and photo, and substrates […]

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ONSITE: Wheel Throwing Refresher (B)

February 07, 2023

Brush up on the basics! We'll review wheel throwing techniques and skills. Create and complete work during class with enough time to fire and glaze. This class is open to students who have previously taken wheel throwing classes. We will review and refresh our knowledge of wedging, centering, throwing, trimming and glazing. We will take […]

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ONSITE: Illustrating on iPads

February 07, 2023

There are a million ways to get your ideas from your brain and onto paper but how about from brain to screen? Procreate is an easy-to-use digital illustration program that gives you the freedom to dream up and create exactly what you want with no bounds! We’ll learn the different aspects of sketching and rendering […]

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ONSITE: Intermediate Stained Glass (A)

February 07, 2023

This class is for students who have previously taken a stained glass class at VisArts. Use this class to finish working on projects already started or begin a new project. This is a great opportunity to reinvigorate your creative practice with glass!

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ONSITE: Digital Worldbuilding + Character Design

February 07, 2023

Learn how to develop, refine and depict fully realized worlds. We will discuss the basics of character, prop, and environment design with a focus on graphic novels (as well as other media). At the end of class, you will have a fully rendered character, setting, and inventory in Adobe Photoshop. Hopefully the beginning of a […]

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ONSITE: Introduction to Metal Jewelry (C)

February 07, 2023

Learn how to transform metals into beautiful works of wearable art. We’ll cover techniques such as sawing, drilling, texturing, working with wire, filing, sanding and polishing. We’ll also cover riveting, soldering with a torch and basic stone setting. You’ll use these skills to make one finished piece of jewelry.

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ONSITE: Introduction to the Wheel (C)

February 07, 2023

Learn to throw clay on a potter’s wheel. We’ll cover the foundations of wheel work, including wedging and centering clay and forming cylinders, cups and bowls. Basic glazing information will help you finish your final forms.

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