Studio Arts

Creating an Illustrated Field Journal

Friday, April 18 ~ 11am to 1pm

Friday, May 16 ~ 11am to 1pm

The seasonal changes in the natural world can often be overlooked when we don’t take the time to look closely at what is around us. By keeping an illustrated field journal, we can record not only our thoughts, but sketch and draw what we see, creating meaningful pages through the use of word and image.

Using the beautiful 577 grounds for inspiration, new participants in this session will be introduced to the concept of keeping this type of journal and will create their first entry, hopefully inspired to carry on and fill the remaining pages over time. Experienced students are also welcome–learn new tips, gain fresh inspiration in the ever-changing seasons, and build upon past lessons. No writing or drawing experience is necessary, only the desire to have some fun while exploring the natural world around us.

Community Instructor: David Lymanstall

 Watercolor: Create a Travelling Studio

Friday, April 18 ~ 6pm to 8:30pm

Create a travelling art studio in a repurposed cigar box, complete with the skills and supplies needed to paint on-the-go. This convenient kit allows you to be flexible and incorporate creativity into your life just about anywhere–a small space at home, outside, or when travelling.

Participants will practice easy watercolor exercises to get started and learn how to best use and take care of their new supplies. We’ll also discuss how to find inspiration when you don’t know where to start. Participants have the option to personalize their box with a collage during the final part of class.

Kits will include: Repurposed cigar box; Water jar/container; One (1) round paintbrush; Six (6) different high-quality watercolor paints; Travel palette; Color mixing palette; Two (2) watercolor postcards; Watercolor pencil

577 Staff Instructor: Connie Stose

Acrylic Painting: Spring Meadow

Monday, April 21 ~ 10am to 2:30pm

Discover your inner artist and learn to create your own work of art in this fun and friendly class. Learn step-by-step how to paint a spring meadow with blossoming cherry trees and meadow flowers, all in an easy, impressionistic style. No experience is necessary, and all supplies are included for you to create an 11” x 14” painting in a relaxing atmosphere.

Class Note: Participants are welcome to bring snacks to enjoy throughout class and we encourage lunch to be brought for our midday break. (Refrigerator and microwave available).

Community Instructor: Mary Claire Roe

Sun Printing: Fun with Cyanotype

Friday, April 25 ~ 2pm to 3:30pm

Cyanotype is a fun and easy art form where art, science, photography, and printmaking overlap. Cyanotype paper is light-sensitive, and by laying objects on the surface and exposing it to the sun, ghostly white images are left on a distinctive deep blue background.

In this hands-on class, participants will enjoy a step-by-step guided experience of creating their own photosensitive cyanotype paper. Together, we will collect flowers and botanicals from the 577 grounds, and you will use this beautiful inspiration to design and develop a one-of-a-kind 8 ½” x 11” piece of stunning botanical art. No experience is necessary, all supplies are included.

577 Staff Instructor: Isabelle Tucker

Painted Dot Mandala: Springtime

Tuesday, April 29 ~ 6pm to 8pm

Learn the basic techniques of dot painting while creating a mesmerizing springtime mandala. Participants will receive step-by-step guidance on creating common mandala elements and techniques, including petals, teardrops, lollipops, and swoops.

All materials will be provided along with step-by-step patterns, allowing participants to work at their own pace with instructor support. Paintings will be completed on 6-inch canvas boards. This class is open to both beginners and intermediate dot painters. Beginners will use guidelines, while experienced dotters are encouraged to refine their symmetry and spacing skills by working freehand (if desired).

Class Note: To help us honor 577’s commitment to sustainability, please bring your tools if you are a returning student. New participants will receive a new set of tools to keep.

Community Instructor: Shalene Germani

Fused Glass: Butterfly Dish

Thursday, May 1 ~ 5:30pm to 7:30pm

Create a beautiful “butterfly” dish in this fun, evening class. Receive step-by-step guidance as you explore the art of creating fused glass. Projects will be created on an 8 inch by 8 inch glass square before they are “slumped” over a form in the kiln, resulting in a fluted shape for the completed bowl.

No experience is necessary and all supplies are included. Projects will be left with the instructor who will “fuse” the glass together by firing the projects in a home kiln before returning them to 577 for pick-up.

Community Instructor: Geneen Wise

Nature Collages: Butterflies & Moths

Thursday, May 1 ~ 6pm to 7:30pm

Let your creativity take flight as you transform paper scraps into vibrant collages inspired by butterflies and moths. Using recycled book pages, scrapbook paper, marbled paper, scrap art pages, and more, participants will cut and paste beautiful and one-of-a-kind collages of various butterflies and moths. Stabilo woody pencils and other drawing utensils such as oil pastels and crayons will also be available to add more color, detail, and fun mark-making to the paper scraps.

Finished collages will be on 8.5″ x 11″ speckled or plain paper. All supplies are included, but feel free to bring any ephemera you would like to incorporate.

Class Note: Participants ages 12 to 15 may attend with a registered adult; both the youth and accompanying adult must register. Ages 16 to 17 may attend independently with their own registration.

577 Staff Instructor: Avery Bohman

Watercolor: Blooms & Botanicals

Friday, May 2 ~ 2pm to 4:30pm

Friday, May 2 ~ 6pm to 8:30pm

Let your imagination blossom in this joyful watercolor class celebrating the beauty of flowers and foliage. Begin with a series of guided exercises learning how to create a variety of simple flowers and leaves, all in a relaxed and supportive environment. Participants will use the second part of class to paint their customized floral painting using their choice of watercolor techniques in their favorite colors.

Perfect for beginners and experienced painters alike—come as you are and enjoy a relaxed, encouraging space to create. All supplies are provided.

577 Staff Instructor: Connie Stose

Creative Card Making

Tuesday, May 6 ~ 5pm to 8pm

Enjoy an evening creating and join us in sending a little love into the world. Create five (5) beautiful seasonal cards for friends and loved ones, including birthday and Mother’s Day designs. Learn the best stamping techniques, how to apply card-based adhesives, and fun ways to use various card-making tools.

Hand-making and sending greeting cards is a way of spreading love, appreciation, and connection to those people we care about. It’s a way to bring us together and let someone know we value them. No experience is required, and all are welcome.

Community Instructors: Pat Szymanowski & Patricia Piper

Alcohol Ink Abstract Florals

Wednesday, May 14 ~ 6pm to 8pm

Discover the beauty and fluidity of alcohol inks in this hands-on class. Learn how to create stunning abstract florals using simple yet effective techniques that allow the inks to flow and blend naturally. Each participant will receive three (3) ceramic tiles, each measuring 4 inches, to transform into vibrant, one-of-a-kind art pieces.

This class is ideal for those with basic knowledge of alcohol inks who want to explore new techniques and experiment with color. All supplies are included.

Class Note: Alcohol ink can be messy. Please wear old clothes or bring an apron.

Community Instructor: Melissa Thomas

Makers Circle: Exploring Art Through Trees

Saturday, May 10 ~ 9:30am to 12:30pm

Saturday, May 10 ~ 2pm to 5pm

Embark on a brand-new creative adventure with the new 577 Makers Circle Workshops! This choose-your-own art-making experience lets you explore your creativity in a way that’s uniquely yours. Each workshop will have a theme, but what you draw or paint is entirely up to you!

Participants can create using graphite, colored pencils, chalk pastels, watercolor paint, watercolor pencils, or a mix of these mediums. All necessary tools will be provided, along with a selection of student-grade drawing and watercolor papers to bring your ideas to life.

The theme for the May Makers Circle is trees! To kick off the workshop, staff artists will share creative ideas, techniques, and tips for drawing and painting trees using a variety of supplies. Plenty of tree references will be available, and participants are encouraged to explore the beautiful 577 grounds for inspiration.

Most of the class will be dedicated to hands-on creating, experimenting, gathering inspiration, and engaging with fellow art enthusiasts—all with plenty of instructor support. Plus, learn how to overcome the fear of the blank page and let your creativity bloom!

All supplies are provided, but participants are encouraged to bring a sketchbook or their preferred drawing or watercolor paper. You’re also welcome to bring a favorite tree photo for inspiration.

577 Staff Instructor: Connie Stose

Acrylic Pour Painting: Beach with Waves

Monday, May 12 ~ 6pm to 7:30pm

Unleash your creativity in this exciting, hands-on pour painting class! Learn how to mix vibrant acrylic paints, pour them onto canvas, and create a mesmerizing beach-themed painting without lifting a paintbrush. All supplies will be provided, including a 10-inch by 20-inch canvas.

Class Notes: Paintings must stay at 577 to dry for at least 3 days. You will receive an email with more information when the paintings are dry and available for pick up in 577’s Welcome Center.

Community Instructor: Thomas Craley

Fused Glass: Garden Caterpillar

Thursday, May 15 ~ 5:30pm to 7:30pm

Create a colorful caterpillar that will add a touch of whimsy to your garden. Receive step-by-step guidance as you explore the art of creating fused glass. Completed projects will be approximately 5 by 7 inches plus an attached garden stake.

No experience is necessary and all supplies are included. Projects will be left with the instructor who will “fuse” the glass together by firing the projects in a home kiln before returning them to 577 for pick-up.

Community Instructor: Geneen Wise

Cyanotype & Watercolor: Ferns

Friday, May 16 ~ 2pm to 4:30pm

Join us in this special multi-media class and learn to capture the beauty of ferns in a cyanotype print and watercolor paint. Cyanotype paper is light-sensitive, and by laying objects on the surface and exposing it to the sun, ghostly white images are left on a distinctive deep blue background. Adding watercolor to the white areas of these prints takes the images to a whole new level.

Participants will be guided step-by-step through the process of making their own cyanotype paper, exposing their paper and selected fern, and painting the completed image to create a one-of-a-kind botanical print suitable for framing.

All supplies are included and all experience levels are welcome. Completed prints will be approximately 9″ x 6″.

577 Staff Instructors: Isabelle Tucker & Connie Stose

Cardmaking: Stamp Camp – Fun Folds

Friday, May 16 ~ 5:30pm to 8:30pm

Saturday, May 17 ~ 10am to 1pm

Explore “out of the box” ideas for your hand-stamped cards at Stamp Camp! Participants will have fun experimenting with project designs and elements, new techniques, and products as they make five (5) fun fold cards. These cards might look like a standard card, but many have hidden surprises inside. Everyone will have some options for personalizing the sentiments in your cards and receive lots of support and step-by-step instructions. Everyone will also take home extra papers and a PDF tutorial to practice their new skills.

Although having previous card class/card making or paper crafting experience is helpful, those new to the art of card making are welcome. This weekend’s Stamp Camp sessions on May 16 and 17 offer the same projects in each class. Participants are welcome to sign up for both sessions if they want to create more cards using the same materials and techniques.

All supplies are included in the class fee. Although card designs will be similar to those in the photo, the papers, stamps, ribbon, and inks may be different.

Community Instructor: Chris Smith

Acrylic Painting: High Mountain Trail

Monday, May 19 ~ 10am to 2:30pm

Discover your inner artist and learn to create your own work of art in this fun and friendly class. Learn step-by-step how to paint a wilderness trail leading toward a high mountain. We’ll use acrylic paint and a variety of painting tools and techniques as you explore color mixing, blending, and texture. No experience is necessary, and all supplies are included for you to create an 11” x 14” painting in a relaxing atmosphere.

Class Note: You are welcome to bring snacks to enjoy throughout class and we encourage you to bring a lunch for our midday break.

Community Instructor: Mary Claire Roe

Drawing is for Everyone!

Thursday, May 22 ~ 2pm to 4pm

Drawing IS for everyone! This class is perfect for anyone who’s ever felt unsure about where to start or doubted their drawing abilities. Join us to explore the exciting world of drawing through engaging, easy-to-follow exercises. You’ll experiment with a variety of materials—colored pencils, pastels, graphite, and charcoal—while receiving plenty of step-by-step guidance in a relaxed setting.

Discover how drawing can serve as a foundation for other art forms and enrich your daily life. Uncover your favorite techniques and styles, and leave with the confidence to continue your artistic journey on your own.

577 Staff Instructor: Isabelle Tucker

Drawing Nature: Herons

Friday, May 30 ~ 2pm to 3:30pm

Enjoy exploring the fundamentals of graphite drawing as we work to bring a beautiful image of a heron to life. Long admired as graceful river dwellers, herons make a fun and rewarding subject to recreate—and no drawing experience is needed!

Using a pre-drawn outline as your guide, you’ll learn how to add shading and texture to create a realistic effect. Plenty of support will be provided throughout, along with all necessary materials, including 9″ x 10″ drawing paper.

577 Staff Instructor: Isabelle Tucker

Watercolor II: Feathers

Friday, May 23 ~ 2pm to 4:30pm

Designed for those with some watercolor experience, this engaging class will help expand your painting skills through a series of fun and focused exercises. We’ll explore a variety of techniques for painting feathers—experimenting with color mixing, creating feather shapes using loose brushstrokes and different brush types, and adding finishing touches with colored watercolor pencils for extra detail and dimension. All supplies are provided. Just bring your curiosity and creativity!

Prerequisite: To register for this class, participants must have taken a watercolor class at 577. 

577 Staff Instructor: Connie Stose

Jewelry: Industrial Chic Earrings

More Dates Coming Soon

Learn how to turn scrap metal into unique wearable art with just a few tools! Each participant will receive lots of support and guidance to create, customize, and assemble two items using copper, brass, or German silver metals. The first pair will be copper on copper, and you will choose from various styles of earrings or necklaces for your second project.

All experience levels are welcome. Each participant will receive a polishing cloth and a gift box. The size of completed earrings will vary but will be approximately one to two inches.

Class Note: Please bring reading or safety glasses. All other supplies included.

Community Instructor: Snookie Viviano