Explore a variety of classes for all experience levels in drawing and painting, as well as printmaking, paper crafts, fused glass, photography, metals and jewelry making, woodcrafts, and more. Classes are taught by dedicated 577 staff members and community members with a passion for their chosen art medium. Class topics vary each month and are taught in the Cottage, House, and outdoors around the beautiful gardens and grounds of 577.
Upcoming Classes
Acrylic Painting
Rocky Shore • Monday, June 5 ~ 10am to 2:30pm
After the Storm • Monday, July 31 ~ 10am to 2:30pm
Join us for an in-person Adult Acrylic Painting Workshop inside Virginia’s House. No experience is necessary and all supplies are included for you to create your own work of art on an 11” x 14” canvas. Bring a snack or two to enjoy throughout class or bring a lunch for our midday break.
ROCKY SHORE: Students will be guided step-by-step to paint a rocky shoreline with trees, splashing water, distant land and colorful sky using a variety of painting techniques.
AFTER THE STORM: Students will be guided step-by-step to learn how to paint palm trees on high cliffs, reflections in water below and clouds in the sky using a variety of painting techniques.
Community Instructor: Mary Claire Roe
Paper Marbling: Sumingashi
Monday, June 5 ~ 6pm to 8pm
Paper marbling as an art form exists all around the world, and this class will focus on the Japanese method of sumingashi. This ancient method results in soft patterns of subdued color. Students will work with appropriate paper best suited for suminagashi ink and explore using various tools and techniques. Everyone is welcome, and if you took Paper Marbling in March, this class will dive deeper into the suminagashi method, including its history and techniques. Each student will receive 15 sheets of paper (approximately 8.5″ by 11″ each.)
Please Note: Students ages 12 to 15 are welcome but must be accompanied by a parent. Students ages 16 to 17 may participate without a parent.
577 Staff Instructor: Avery Bohman, Program Intern
Creative Card Making
Thursday, June 8 ~ 6:30pm to 8:30pm
Create five beautiful greeting cards while learning the best stamping techniques, how to apply card-based adhesives, and fun ways to use various card-making tools.
Students will make seasonal cards for all occasions perfect for sending to friends and family. Please dress in older clothes or wear an apron to protect from ink and glue. No experience is required, and all are welcome — come and enjoy creating together!
Community Instructors: Pat Szymanowski & Patricia Piper
Watercolor: Landscapes
Friday, June 9 ~ 2pm to 4:30pm
Saturday, June 10 ~ 10am to 12:30pm
The skill of landscape painting has so many applications: it’s a meditative outdoor hobby, a creative way to record your travels, and even ideal training for creatives looking to design everything from video game backgrounds to theater sets. Whatever your goal, students aged 16 and up will learn the basics of watercolor, perspective, and color theory in a relaxed and supportive class.
Students will choose to paint from photos they or the instructor provide, and weather permitting, can venture out onto the 577 Riverwalk lawn to paint from life. Each person will complete at least two 5” x 7” landscapes or one 8 ½” x 11” painting.
All experience levels are welcome, and all supplies are provided by the instructor. *Please note: Students are encouraged to bring sketchbooks, favorite landscape photos, brushes, paints, and pencils if they have them.
577 Staff Instructor: Connie Stose, Program Manager & Professional Artist
Paper Marbling: Turkish Ebru
Tuesday, June 13 ~ 6pm to 8pm
Paper marbling as an art form exists all around the world, and this class will focus on the Turkish form of Ebru which results in fun designs and bright colors on the paper. Students will work with appropriate paper best suited for Turkish Ebru ink and will explore using various tools and techniques.
This class is open to everyone, and if you took Paper Marbling in March, this class dives even deeper into the Ebru form. Each student will receive 15 sheets of paper (approximately 8.5″ by 11″ each.) Finished projects will be left at 577 to dry overnight, and students may come back to pick them up during open Welcome Center hours or by appointment.
Please Note: Students ages 12 to 15 are welcome but must be accompanied by a parent. Students ages 16 to 17 may participate without a parent.
577 Staff Instructor: Avery Bohman, Program Intern
Creating an Illustrated Field Journal
Thursday, June 15 ~ 12pm to 1:30pm
Thursday, July 7 ~ 2pm to 3:30pm
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
Sun Art: Cyanotype Prints
Tuesday, June 20 ~ 12pm to 2pm
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.
Students will be treated to a step-by-step guided experience of creating their own photosensitive cyanotype paper. Then students will collect flowers and botanicals from the 577 grounds to use in designing and developing their one-of-a-kind 8 ½” x 11” piece of beautiful botanical art.
577 Staff Instructor: Isabelle Tucker, Program Assistant & Professional Artist
Fused Glass Classes
Flower Pot or Bowl • Thursday, June 1 ~ 5:30pm to 7:30pm
Flag Wreath • Thursday, June 22 ~ 5:30pm to 7:30pm
Flower Pocket Vase • Thursday, July 27 ~ 5:30pm to 7:30pm
FLOWER POT or BOWL: Create your own flower pot or bowl using designs on a flat, round piece of glass with lots of instructor support. Completed projects come with a round 4.5” by 5” clay flowerpot that can be placed inside the bowl.
FLAG WREATH: Create your own wreath-shaped fused glass flag. Students will make their designs with the help of a pattern and lots of instructor support. Completed projects are approximately 8” to 9” in diameter.
FLOWER POCKET VASE: Create a beautiful pocket vase that will hold your blooms all year long. Size of completed projects will be approximately 8 by 8 inches square. Students will choose type of hanger.
All projects are left with the instructor who will “fuse” the glass together by firing in a home kiln before returning them to 577 for pick-up. No experience is necessary, all supplies are included.
Community Instructor: Geneen Wise
Explore Foil Embossing
Tuesday, June 22 ~ 6pm to 8pm
Have fun exploring embossing by hand in this unique and versatile medium. Using this sunflower motif or a design of your own, students will learn about this process while working to create a one-of-a-kind piece of foil art.
Foil’s mirror-like qualities can pick up colors that are near it, adding another dimension of interest to the finished piece. All projects will be completed with an 8” by 10” matt which is included in the class cost.
Students must bring the following supplies to class: hot glue gun; 10 glue sticks; a solid 12′ ruler; a black sharpie marker. All other supplies included
Community Instructor: Mary Soneson
Folk Art: Ukrainian-Inspired Eggs
Friday, June 30 ~ 2:30pm to 4:30pm
Learn how to create charming, dyed eggs in this ancient Eastern and Central European art form. Students will use the traditional “kistka” tool to decorate their eggs with a melted wax resist. Rich permanent dyes are then added to finish their “pysanky.”
Participants will learn the history of this art form and will be guided to make a traditional Ukrainian-style pattern on one side and their choice of decoration on the other.
Perfect for displaying year-round, this delicate egg can be used as a centerpiece suitable for any occasion. All materials will be provided, including a 9” x 4” display stand.
*Please wear old clothing or an apron because the permanent dyes will stain.
Community Instructor: Mary Soneson
Acrylic Painting: Quilt Square
Monday, July 17 ~ 4pm to 7pm
Have you ever wondered about those painted quilt squares you see on barns or homes while driving on country roads? Learn a bit about their origin while painting a Quilt Square of your own. Students will receive a template and step-by-step guidance to create a red, white, and blue painted quilt square on a 12″ x 12″ 3D canvas.
Showcase this delightful artwork (that can be freestanding by itself or hung on a wall or interior door) anywhere you’d like a cheerful, colorful, bright spot to reflect on this timeless, noteworthy skill.
*Please note: Students should wear an apron or paint shirt. All other supplies included.
Community Instructor: Mary Soneson
Drawing in Pastel: Monarch Butterfly
Tuesday, July 25 ~ 1pm to 3pm
The monarchs are coming! Let’s celebrate by learning how to draw these beautiful butterflies as their migration leads them back to our area. Students can choose to draw their butterflies by hand or use a tracing template before adding color with chalk pastel on black paper for this stunning project.
Class will take place on the 577 Outdoor Stage so students can observe the butterflies in nature and in the 577 Flutter Hut. In the event of rain, we’ll stay dry by meeting and creating inside Virginia’s Home. Students will work to complete an 8 ½” x 11” drawing with lots of support from demonstrations and plenty of one-on-one instruction. All experience levels are welcome, and all supplies are included.
577 Staff Instructor: Isabelle Tucker, Program Assistant & Professional Artist
Creative Card Making
Tuesday, July 27 ~ 6:30pm to 8:30pm
Join us to create five beautiful greeting cards while learning the best stamping techniques, how to apply card-based adhesives, and fun ways to use various card-making tools.
Students will make seasonal cards for all occasions perfect for sending to friends and family. Please dress in older clothes or wear an apron to protect from ink and glue. No experience is required, and all are welcome — come and enjoy creating together!
Community Instructors: Pat Szymanowski & Patricia Piper
Watercolor: Mandalas as Meditation
Friday, July 28 ~ 2pm to 4pm
Join us for a relaxing afternoon of watercolor painting, where we will work to create a 12″ x 12″ personalized mandala in the color scheme of your choice. Students will choose their own mandala template from several designs– no drawing skills necessary.
Students will also learn basic watercolor painting skills, and everyone will be guided step by step through the project with as little or as much support as needed. During the last half of class, we’ll play soft music, get lost in our colors, and allow the natural process of focusing on this watery medium help to clear the mind and reduce stress.
*All supplies included and all experience levels welcome.
577 Staff Instructor: Connie Stose, Program Manager & Professional Artist
Class Locations & Parking Map
Signed up for a class and need help finding your classroom location and parking? Each class description lists its location. Click the button below to view a full map of the grounds and buildings with two lots available for easy and convenient parking.
Cancellation & Refund Policy
Because space is limited, we rely on you to register for classes thoughtfully. Please help us continue to offer these wonderful classes as affordably as possible by adhering to the following registration, cancellation, and refund policies.
Photo & Video Release
Photos and videos may be taken during 577 classes and events for use on our website and other relevant media outlets and your attendance constitutes consent. View the full policy below including how you can opt-out of this release.