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
Create Calm: Tree Rings
Tuesday, July 30 ~ 2pm to 3:30pm
Enjoy a relaxing class creating a stunning tree ring image in this soothing Create Calm experience. Using simple practice exercises to get started, participants will be shown step-by-step how to make their project while learning about a variety of trees and how their rings can differ. We’ll even use black walnut ink made from trees on the 577 grounds to add some subtle color variation.
The second part of the class will be reserved for quiet time as we relax and immerse ourselves in drawing the repetitive organic rings. Completed projects will be approximately 6″x6″ and can be framed or gifted. No experience necessary and all supplies included.
The Create Calm series at 577 is taught by staff instructors and designed to allow students to experience simple projects in a soothing environment. Each class will focus on beginning methods in a variety of art mediums to help students of all levels tap into their innate ability to create a state of calm while working with their hands. Expect the first part of these classes to include instruction while the second part is reserved for gentle music and quiet work time to encourage the mind to rest, reflect, and relax in a quiet community.
577 Staff Instructor: Isabelle Tucker
Cardmaking: Stamp Camp
Friday, August 2 ~ 5:30pm to 8:30pm
Saturday, August 3 ~ 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, adding a variety of doodles and line art, cutting papers, and trying fun folds and new techniques. You’ll also have some options for personalizing the sentiments in your cards. Each participant will receive lots of support and step-by-step instructions to create five (5) cards. 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 August 2nd and 3rd will offer the same projects in each class. Students are welcome to sign up for both sessions if they want to create more cards using the same materials and techniques.
Please note: All supplies included, but we recommend you bring a fine-tip black Sharpie or journaling pen and a paper trimmer if you have one. Cards made in class may be different than those in the photo.
Community Instructor: Chris Smith
Fused Glass: Sunflower
Thursday, August 8 ~ 5:30pm to 7:30pm
Thursday, August 22 ~ 5:30pm to 7:30pm
Create a beautiful, fused glass sunflower that you can enjoy year-round. Participants will make this happy bloom by learning how to cut out the glass petals and put them together on the center. Choose to display your sunflowers with or without a garden stake.
No experience is necessary and all supplies are included. Completed sunflowers will be approximately 9” to 10” in diameter. Cost also includes an optional garden stake for displaying that will be attached by the instructor. 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
Creating an Illustrated Field Journal
Friday, August 9 ~ 11am to 12:30pm
Friday, September 6 ~ 11am to 12:30pm
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
Drawing Nature ~ Cosmos Flowers
Tuesday, August 13 ~ 3pm to 4:30pm
Learn to draw the delightful cosmos flower at the height of its blooming season and enjoy exploring the fundamentals of rendering nature’s beauty in colored pencils. No previous drawing experience necessary. Using nature as our guide, we will head outside to study this colorful plant and use it as reference for our drawings. Lots of support and all materials will be provided including 9 inch by 10 inch drawing paper.
Please note: This is an outdoor class so please dress accordingly and bring sunscreen or bug spray if necessary. In the event of rain or extreme heat, we’ll stay inside and draw from cut flowers and photo references.
577 Staff Instructor: Isabelle Tucker
Jewelry: Industrial Chic Earrings
Wednesday, August 14 ~ 6pm to 8pm
Wednesday, September 18 ~ 6pm to 8pm
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 pairs of earrings using copper, brass, or German silver metals.
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. *Important note: Please bring reading or safety glasses. All other supplies included.
Community Instructor: Snookie Viviano
Creative Card Making
Thursday, August 15 ~ 6pm to 8:30pm
Join us for an evening of creating together! Create five (5) all-occasion cards learning the best stamping techniques, how to apply card-based adhesives, and fun ways to use various card-making tools.
Completed cards are perfect for sending to friends and family. No experience is required, and all are welcome, and there will be new techniques to learn if you’ve taken previous card-making classes at 577. Please note: We recommend you dress in older clothes or wear an apron to protect from ink and glue.
Community Instructors: Pat Szymanowski & Patricia Piper
Watercolor in the Gardens: Flowers
Friday, August 16 ~ 1pm to 3:30pm
Each class of this enjoyable watercolor summer series will feature a different subject in nature. In August’s class, we’ll focus on painting a variety of flowers blooming in abundance on the 577 grounds.
Class will begin inside Virginia’s House in the Dining Room with guided watercolor exercises and learning tips and tricks for capturing flowers on paper. We’ll gather our supplies for the second half of class and head outdoors to paint flowers in the garden, weather permitting. In the event of bad weather, we’ll stay inside and paint from photo references and cut flowers.
All experience levels are welcome. All supplies are provided, but students are welcome to bring their own favorite brushes and materials if they have them.
577 Staff Instructor: Connie Stose
Create Calm: Watercolor Bubbles
Friday, August 16 ~ 6pm to 8:30pm
Enjoy a relaxing class painting a fun and colorful abstract watercolor image in this soothing Create Calm experience, a perfect way to learn or improve your watercolor skills.
Begin class by creating your color scheme and learning a trick to quickly paint your “bubbles.” The second part of the class will be reserved for quiet time as we add dark lines with markers to define organic shapes while you relax and focus. Completed projects will be approximately 9″ by 11″. No experience necessary and all supplies included. If you took the previous bubble class, this class will offer similar results by using new tricks and techniques.
The Create Calm series at 577 is taught by staff instructors and designed to allow students to experience simple projects in a soothing environment. Each class will focus on beginning methods in a variety of art mediums to help students of all levels tap into their innate ability to create a state of calm while working with their hands. Expect the first part of these classes to include instruction while the second part is reserved for gentle music and quiet work time to encourage the mind to rest, reflect, and relax in a quiet community.
577 Staff Instructor: Connie Stose
Painted Dot Mandala: Carnival
Saturday, August 17 ~ 10am to 1pm
Learn the basic techniques of dot painting and celebrate the vibrant colors of Carnival while creating a mesmerizing mandala painting. Participants will be guided in creating common mandala elements and techniques such as petals, teardrops, lollipops, and walking-the-dots.
All materials and acrylic paints will be provided along with a step-by-step pattern, allowing participants to work at their own pace with instructor support. Paintings will be completed on a 6-inch canvas board.
Community Instructor: Shalene Germani
Acrylic Painting: Sunset Glow on Lake
Monday, August 19 ~ 10am to 2:30pm
Join us for an enjoyable afternoon in Virginia’s House painting with acrylics. Learn step-by-step how to paint a glowing sunset reflected on a lake and silhouetted pine trees and grass. We will use a variety of acrylic painting tools and techniques. No experience is necessary and all supplies are included for you to create your own work of art on an 11” x 14” canvas in a fun and relaxing atmosphere.
Please note: You are welcome to bring snacks to enjoy throughout class and we encourage you to bring a lunch for our midday break. (Refrigerator and microwave available.)
Community Instructor: Mary Claire Roe
Sustainable Art: Upcycled Mini Murals
Wednesday, August 21 ~ 6pm to 7:30pm
Give your random trinkets and costume jewelry a funky new life in this exciting upcycling session. Using beads, buttons, costume jewelry, ribbon, and more, each participant will choose a subject or scene to make with their found treasures, such as a tree, flower, animal, or even an abstract piece. Finished projects will be created on 8″ x 10″ canvas board, perfect for displaying in a house or office space, or as a thoughtful and unique gift.
All supplies are included, but students are welcome to personalize their piece with their own jewelry, objects, or trinkets. Check your junk drawers and craft closets for any hidden gems you may have!
Please Note: Students ages 12 to 15 are welcome but must be accompanied by a registered parent/guardian. Students ages 16 to 17 may participate without a parent.
577 Staff Instructor: Avery Bohman
The Art of Alcohol Inks
Thursday, August 22 ~ 6pm to 8pm
Thursday, September 17 ~ 6pm to 8pm
Explore the beauty and unpredictability of alcohol inks while creating three unique tiles. You’ll learn the basic techniques of this low-stress/ high-reward medium that allows you to “go with the flow”.
No experience is necessary. All supplies are included.
Community Instructor: Melissa Thomas
Watercolor: Sunflowers
Friday, August 30 ~ 2pm to 4:30pm
Friday, August 30 ~ 6pm to 8:30pm
Learn to capture the beauty of sunflowers with watercolor paint in a relaxed and supportive environment. We’ll use simple practice exercises to get familiar with using watercolor paints to create practice sunflower images before we work on your own small painting. Completed projects will be approximately 8 inches by 8 inches. All experience levels are welcome and all supplies are included.
577 Staff Instructor: Connie Stose
Fused Glass: Lighthouse
Thursday, September 5 ~ 5:30pm to 7:30pm
Create your own whimsical lighthouse to decorate your garden throughout the year. Participants will receive step-by-step guidance exploring the art of creating fused glass. No experience is necessary and all supplies are included.
Completed projects will be approximately 9 inches tall. 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
Creative Card Making
Thursday, September 5 ~ 6pm to 8:30pm
Join us for an evening of creating together! Create five (5) seasonal, all-occasion cards. Learn the best stamping techniques, how to apply card-based adhesives, and fun ways to use various card-making tools. Completed cards are perfect for sending to friends and family.
Participants will explore new techniques and receive plenty of support, making the class enjoyable for both experienced cardmakers and beginners, including those who have previously attended these classes. All supplies are included, and all are welcome.
Community Instructors: Pat Szymanowski & Patricia Piper
577 Collab Class: Flower Pounding
Saturday, September 7 ~ 1pm to 3:30pm
Explore the botanical eco-printing technique of flower pounding with 577’s Organic Landscape Horticulturist Bennett O. Dowling and Program Coordinator Avery Bohman. After a walk around the grounds to gather our flowers and foliage, you will work to create a beautiful and unique floral composition to pound into your fabric.
Using 100% cotton fabric, approximately 15″ x 24″, you will learn flower pounding basics including how to prepare your fabric and which supplies to use. We will experiment with different plants and petals to create a unique wall hanging, framed in a magnetic poster frame.
Class fee includes all materials, including your project and the magnetic wall frame. Participants are encouraged to bring a hammer or mallet if they have one. *Please note: Flower pounding requires heavy forearm movement and pressure in a repetitive motion.
577 Staff Instructors: Avery Bohman & Bennett O. Dowling
Drawing is for Everyone!
Tuesday, September 10 ~ 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
Create a Fall Shadowbox
Thursday, September 12 ~ 6pm to 8:30pm
Create a fall-themed shadowbox with whimsical images in seasonal shades of burnt orange, metallic copper, and teal. Participants will learn how to stamp, color with alcohol, heat emboss, compose their image, and use various tools & adhesives. The cost includes a 9″x9″ shadowbox and all other supplies. No experience is necessary, and all are welcome.
Community Instructor: Pat Szymanowski
577 Collab Class: Pottery & Watercolor ~ Handmade Palette & Paint
Two Part Class: Fridays, September 13, 27 ~ 5:30pm to 7:30pm
Unleash your creativity in this engaging, open-to-all, two-part workshop where you’ll craft your own paint and palette from scratch!
PART ONE: Sculpt Your Paint Palette in the Pottery Studio ~ Join us on Friday, September 13 for a hands-on session creating a custom paint palette that holds up to 12 colors best for water-soluble paints. You will also create two small cups perfect for rinsing brushes. Or why not have a little fun? Keep one for your favorite beverage and use the other for cleaning ~ double the creativity, double the utility! Choose between a classic white or a speckled off-white glaze. Your class instructor, Emily Horst, ceramic artist and 577 pottery coordinator, will be there to guide you through the process, then will fire and glaze your pieces in time for part two of the workshop.
PART TWO: Create and Paint with Custom Watercolors in Virginia’s House ~ In the second session on Friday, September 27, we will gather at Virginia’s House to put your new palettes to work. Watercolor artist and 577’s Program Manager Connie Stose will guide you through the process of adding five different watercolor paints, including one you’ll create from scratch. Engage in fun exercises, delve into captivating color history, and explore the basics of color theory. Conclude the session by painting your own color wheel for future reference.
This class is open to all adults over 18, no prerequisite or experience is required. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn new skills in a supportive and inspiring environment!
Fused Glass: Colorful Dish
Thursday, September 19 ~ 5:30pm to 7:30pm
Create your own sweet and colorful dish, perfect for trinkets, to give as a gift, or as a fun spot to display your fall apples. Receive step-by-step guidance as you explore the art of creating fused glass. No experience is necessary and all supplies are included.
Completed dishes will be approximately 8″ by 8″ in size. 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
Sun Printing: Cyanotype Napkins
Tuesday, September 24 ~ 2pm to 4pm
Bring a touch of artistry to your everyday table and special occasions with a set of custom dinner napkins crafted using the fascinating cyanotype process. In this class, you’ll learn how to design and print a stunning botanical composition on four (4) cotton napkins, provided by 577.
Your instructor will guide you through each step of the cyanotype printing method. By the end of the class, you’ll leave with four (4) freshly printed 15″ x 15″ cotton napkins. Your family and friends will be impressed by the unique touch and personal flair these napkins bring to your meals and gatherings.
577 Staff Instructor: Isabelle Tucker
Botanical Printmaking: Cyanotype Cards & Print
Tuesday, September 24 ~ 6pm to 8pm
Join us for a fun and creative class where you’ll make a beautiful set of greeting cards using the exciting cyanotype process. Learn to design and print stunning botanical compositions on four (4) blank greeting cards that will be perfect for any occasion.
Enjoy guided step-by-step instructions through the cyanotype printing techniques. By the end of the class, you’ll take home four (4) unique greeting cards and a 9″ x 12″ print, perfect for gifting or displaying.
577 Staff Instructor: Isabelle Tucker
Watercolor & More: Funky Flower Vase Collage
Wednesday, September 25 ~ 6pm to 8pm
Unleash your inner childlike creativity by crafting a whimsical flower vase and abstract floral “dots” using collage paper made from oil pastels, watercolors, and black walnut ink. Play with color, textures, shapes, linework, and more in this unique session designed to inspire creativity and individuality.
Projects will be completed on 9″ x 12″ watercolor paper. No experience is necessary, and all supplies are included.
577 Staff Instructor: Avery Bohman
Painted Dot Mandala: Copper Reflections
Saturday, September 28 ~ 10am to 12:30pm
Learn the basic techniques of dot painting while creating a mesmerizing mandala painting using metallic paints. Participants will be guided in creating common mandala elements and techniques such as petals, teardrops, lollipops, and walking-the-dots, with an emphasis on learning swoops.
All materials and acrylic paints will be provided along with a step-by-step pattern, allowing participants to work at their own pace with instructor support. Paintings will be completed on a 6-inch canvas board.
Please note: New students will receive a set of tools to keep. To support 577’s commitment to sustainability, returning participants are encouraged to bring the tools they received in their first class.
Community Instructor: Shalene Germani
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.