Studio Arts

Polymer Clay Mini Dinosaurs

Wednesday, January 7 ~ 5pm to 8pm

Create mini dinosaur figurines from polymer clay in this fun, beginner-friendly class. Participants will learn how to make three different clay dinosaurs and will leave with the skills to make many more. Once baked in the oven, these sweet little critters are durable and waterproof, making them a great decoration for pots and windowsills.

Participants will take home any leftover clay plus an additional block, sculpting tools, a mini liquid clay jar, a mini jar of eye beads, and three figurines measuring about 1-inch x 1-inch.

Class Notes: Polymer clay can stain clothes; please dress accordingly.

Community Instructor: Elena Bleyer

Paper Flowers: Romantic Roses

Wednesday, January 7 ~ 6:30pm to 8:30pm

Learn how to create three lifelike paper roses. Participants will choose between three rich colors and take home their charming bouquet in a glass vase. All materials are provided, and completed projects are approximately 7 inches tall by 4 inches wide.

Community Instructor: Mary Willets

Creative Card Making

Thursday, January 8 ~ 5pm to 8pm

Enjoy an evening creating and join us in sending a little love into the world. We’ll spend the first half hour learning a new technique and incorporating it into our cards, focusing on die-cutting and heat embossing. Participants will receive a packet full of paper, envelopes, ephemera, and more, and will learn how to make 5 (five) Winter and Valentine-themed cards, with access to all the tools and supplies they’ll need.

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.

Class 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 101

Friday, January 9 ~ 2:30pm to 5:30pm

Discover the joys of watercolor painting through a series of fun and easy exercises designed to explore a variety of basic techniques. You’ll also enjoy learning how to choose the right supplies for your needs, gain an understanding of common watercolor terms, and see examples of the wide possibilities of this amazing medium.

Participants will create a personalized 5″ x 7″ watercolor sketchbook filled with their practice exercises, notes, color samples, and charts. This sketchbook will serve as the perfect resource for beginners and a valuable reference tool for expanding and deepening existing skills. With individual attention provided in a supportive environment, you’ll gain the confidence to continue your artistic journey.

Class Note: This class is a prerequisite for advanced watercolor courses at 577.

577 Staff Instructor: Connie Stose

Family Painting: Watercolor Snow Families (Ages 7-17/Adult 18+)

Saturday, January 10 ~ 2pm to 4:30pm

Spend a cozy afternoon in the Green Door Studio and enjoy family time getting creative together! Each adult and child pair will explore fun and easy watercolor techniques in the first part of class. In the second part of class, participants will each paint their own personalized “Snow Family Portrait,” using their favorite colors and techniques.

Class Notes: Each registration is for one (1) youth between the ages of 7 to 17, with an accompanying adult 18 years old and older. Due to the small class size, only one adult may accompany the youth registered. If an adult would like to accompany multiple youth participants, please sign up each youth participant individually and list the adult’s name for each registration.

577 Staff Instructor: Connie Stose

Intro to Green Door Open Studio

Saturday, January 10 ~ 9am to 11:30am

Saturday, February 14 ~ 9am to 11:30am

Discover 577’s newest creative haven — the Green Door Studio! This fun and hands-on orientation class is your introduction to the studio and serves as the prerequisite for monthly Green Door Open Studio times and activities.

Learn how to use and enjoy the space while exploring a wide variety of art materials, tools, and techniques. Participants will gain an overview of the available supplies, watch art demonstrations, and enjoy plenty of hands-on practice in mediums such as watercolor and acrylic paints, chalk and oil pastels, colored pencils, watercolor pencils, pen and ink, and more. Along the way, you’ll learn tips and tricks to spark creativity, make the most of your open studio sessions, and move past the “fear of the blank page.”

The class also covers how to care for the studio and tools so everyone can enjoy this shared creative space. We’ll wrap up with a relaxing mini–open studio experience, giving you a chance to create freely, experiment, and begin your artistic journey at your own pace.

Everyone who completes this orientation class will qualify to register for future open studio times. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned artist, you’ll find inspiration, community, and space to create at the Green Door Studio. All supplies included.

577 Staff Instructor: Connie Stose

Acrylic Painting: Peaceful Winter Mountain

Monday, January 12 ~ 10am to 2:30pm

Discover your inner artist as you learn to paint a peaceful winter mountain scene in this fun and friendly hands-on class. We’ll use various colors, brushes, tools, and techniques as we learn the stages of building an acrylic painting from start to finish. 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 you to bring a lunch for our midday break. (Refrigerator and microwave available).

Community Instructor: Mary Claire Roe

Creating an Illustrated Field Journal

Friday, January 16 ~ 11am to 1pm

Friday, February 20 ~ 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

Green Door Open Studio Time

Friday, January 16 ~ 6pm to 8:30pm

Saturday, February 14 ~ 2pm to 4:30pm

Relax and explore your creativity during Green Door Open Studio time. Whatever your experience or artistic goals, this choose-your-own art adventure led by a staff art instructor is the perfect opportunity to expand skills, experiment with new materials, and find inspiration in a supportive, non-competitive arts environment.

Open Studio begins with a mini demonstration to get the creative juices flowing, but the rest is up to you. Continue working on the featured skill or theme, start something new, bring in a project you are working on for some help getting unstuck, get support to repeat techniques you learned in another class, practice your skills, try new techniques, and enjoy the company of fellow art enthusiasts.

Green Door Open Studio participants each receive one 9″ x 12″ piece of watercolor or drawing paper per class and have access to all of the studios art mediums, including paints (acrylic, watercolor, gouache), pencils (graphite, colored, water soluble), inks, pastels (chalk & oil), tools (brushes, easels, gelli plates, etc) and lots more. A variety of additional practice papers for sketching, planning, or collaging are also available. Participants are always encouraged to bring sketchbooks or junk journals.

Class Note: Participants must have taken the Intro to Green Door Open Studio class to register.

577 Staff Instructor: Connie Stose

Drawing Made Easy!

Saturday, January 17 ~ 10:30am to 12pm

Explore an easier approach to drawing in this fun and supportive class. Through interactive exercises, you’ll sharpen your ability to see color and form in new ways as you draw and create a vibrant finished piece. Everyone will benefit from personalized guidance while learning multiple techniques to build confidence in their own unique mark-making abilities.

Participants will take home complete or almost complete drawings and sketches, pencils, instructional handouts, and their improved drawing skills. Perfect for beginners and artists of any level looking to strengthen their abilities and fine-tune future artwork.

Community Instructor: Sammi Dougherty

Acrylic Pour Painting: Ribbon Pour

Monday, January 19 ~ 6pm to 7:30pm

Unleash your creativity in this exciting hands-on pour painting class! Learn the Ribbon Pour technique as you explore color and texture to create your own stunning painting. In this class, you’ll gain a solid understanding of the essential supplies, measurements, and techniques needed to continue your fluid art journey. By the end, you’ll take home a beautiful 10″ x 20″ painting showcasing your newfound skills.

Class Notes: Paintings 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

Jewelry: Industrial Chic Necklace & Earrings

Thursday, January 22 ~ 2pm to 4pm

Saturday, February 21 ~ 2pm to 4pm 

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

The Art of Alcohol Inks

Tuesday, January 20 ~ 6pm to 8pm

Tuesday, February 24 ~ 6pm to 8pm

Explore the beauty and unpredictability of alcohol inks while creating three (3) unique 4.25″ x 4.25″ 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

Upcycled Artsy Junk Journals

Wednesday, January 21 ~ 2pm to 4pm

Transform an old book destined for the landfill into a unique and artsy junk journal, filled with fun collage spreads made from found repurposed materials such as receipts, tags, maps, notes and letters, stickers, travel brochures, and more.

Each participant will leave with the start of an artistic, personalized junk journal ~ the perfect spot to get lost in scrapbooking, scribbling, sketching, coloring, and writing. Materials are provided, but we welcome you to bring in your own special ephemera and found paper media as well, such as tickets, letters and notes, wrappers, stickers, receipts, photos, postcards, scrapbook papers, magazine pages, and more. Notebook sizes will vary, but are approximately 5.5″ to 6″ x 8″.

Staff Instructor: Avery Bohman

Watercolor: Imaginary Maps

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

Enjoy a relaxing afternoon getting lost in the luminous colors of watercolor paints in this Create Calm class. Participants will be guided step-by-step to create beautiful imaginary “maps” in the color scheme of your choice. Everyone will receive a 9″ by 12″ piece of paper with the option to paint one large piece or divide their paper to create two to four smaller paintings. Paintings are lovely framed or make fun cards. No experience necessary – if you can doodle, you can create a piece of art and benefit from this mindful technique. All supplies are included.

Create Calm classes are taught by staff instructors and designed to allow participants 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 our own innate ability to create a state of calm while working with our 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

Watercolor II: Keeping a Watercolor Sketchbook

Friday, January 30 ~ 6pm to 8:30pm

Explore how keeping a sketchbook can be a fun and relaxing way to expand your budding watercolor painting skills. Each participant will receive a 5.5″ x 8″ sketchbook suitable for watercolors. Class time will be spent breaking in our new books as we practice a variety of simple painting exercises and discover a variety of approachable ways to use and fill our sketchbook pages.

No matter where you are in your artistic journey, a sketchbook is the perfect place to practice, experiment, record inspiration, and just have creative fun without any pressure to make a finished project. They also double as a visual record of your life and artistic progress.

Everyone will also receive watercolor paint samples and inspirational resources to continue the creative fun at home.

Class Note: This class is designed for those with prior experience. Participants must have taken Watercolor 101.

577 Staff Instructor: Connie Stose

Paper Flowers: Garden Lavender

Wednesday, February 4 ~ 6:30pm to 8pm

Learn how to create a vase full of whimsical garden lavender stems. Participants will enjoy making these multi-colored purple blooms that are sure to have everyone dreaming of this favorite summer flower. Everyone will also receive an instructional video via a YouTube link to help you continue making more lavender after class.

Each completed lavender stem is approximately 10 inches tall by 3 inches wide.

Community Instructor: Mary Willets

Soft Pastels: Winter Sunset

Tuesday, February 10 ~ 1pm to 3:30pm

Learn how to paint a beautiful winter sunset using soft pastel. You’ll explore color, expressive mark-making, perspective, and the basics of pastels. No experience with drawing or pastels is necessary and beginners are welcome. All supplies are included, and everyone will receive an instructional handout. Projects will be completed on 9″ x 12″ paper.

Community Instructor: Molly Carroll

Winter Charm: Cork Snowmen & Snowflakes

Wednesday, February 11 ~ 2pm to 4pm

Create an adorable handmade upcycled wintry snowman and/or snowflake using wine corks and hot glue. Choose to keep your creations simple or dress them up with extra wintry flair, including snowy scrapbook prints, buttons, paint, fabric scraps, ribbon, twigs, and more.

Each participant will make at least one (1) large snowman and/or one (1) snowflake, along with a few mini snowmen.

577 Staff Instructor: Avery Bohman

Junk Journaling 101

Wednesday, February 11 ~ 5:30pm to 8pm

Junk Journaling is a relaxed, creative way to collect life’s sweet but fleeting moments without the pressure to be perfect. In this class, participants will create two pages, including an introduction page, while learning how to get started and how to find materials that match their personal style and memory-collecting goals.

Participants will receive extra materials and a junk journal pack with paper and stickers to take home and continue the junk journaling fun.

Community Instructor: Jessica Rheinholz

Watercolor II: Vintage-Inspired Botanicals

Two-Part Class:

Friday, February 13 ~ 2pm to 4:30pm

Friday, February 20 ~ 2pm to 4:30pm

In this two-part class, watercolor enthusiasts will learn how to paint a detailed botanical image reminiscent of vintage floral illustrations.

In the first session on Friday, February 13, participants will choose from a limited selection of botanical images and spend time transferring the image onto our watercolor paper, either with a template or drawing by hand. After guided practice exercises, the remaining class time will be spent painting the first light layers of color in preparation for more detailed work in the second session.

In the second session on Friday, February 20, we’ll gather again in the Green Door Studio to add deeper colors and finer details, bringing dimension and depth to our flowers and leaves.

Prerequisite: This class is designed for those with prior watercolor experience. Participants must have taken at least one watercolor class at 577.

577 Staff Instructor: Connie Stose

Painted Dot Mandala: Mug

Saturday, February 14 ~ 10am to 1pm

Learn the basic techniques of dot painting as you create a beautiful mandala design on the outside of a porcelain mug. In the first part of class, participants will receive step-by-step guidance while practicing common mandala elements on ceramic tiles. In the second part of class, participants will work independently to paint the first layer of dots on their mugs, with instructor support available as needed. Mugs will be taken home to allow the paint to fully dry before finishing the top dots and baking them in a home oven to seal the design.

All materials are provided, including one mug per participant. Mugs are approximately 4.5″ tall and 4.5″ in diameter. Participants are also welcome to bring their own oven-safe mug with a smooth surface of a similar size. This class is open to both beginners and intermediate dot painters.

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

Community Instructor: Shalene Germani

Acrylic Painting: Snowy Ridge

Monday, February 16 ~ 10am to 2:30pm

Discover your inner artist as you learn to paint a snowy ridge in this fun and friendly hands-on class. We’ll use various colors, brushes, tools, and techniques as we learn the stages of building an acrylic painting from start to finish. 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. (Refrigerator and microwave available).

Community Instructor: Mary Claire Roe

Acrylic Pour Painting: Silhouette Swipe

Monday, February 16 ~ 6:30pm to 8pm

Unleash your creativity in this exciting, hands-on pour painting class. Learn the Silhouette Swipe technique as you explore color and texture to create your own stunning painting. In this class, you’ll gain a solid understanding of the essential supplies, measurements, and techniques needed to continue your fluid art journey. By the end of class, you’ll leave your 11″ × 14″ painting to dry and return later to pick up a piece that showcases your newly learned skills.

Class Notes: You will receive an email with more information when the paintings are dry and available for pick up in 577’s Welcome Center. Once paintings are available, if you are unable to pick up your projects within 30 days, please contact us as soon as possible. Any projects either not picked up or no contact with 577 has been made 30 days after paintings are available for pickup, will become the property of 577. Please contact us with any questions.

Community Instructor: Thomas Craley

Creative Card Making

Thursday, February 19 ~ 5pm to 8pm

Enjoy an evening creating as we send a little love into the world. We’ll spend the first half hour learning a new cardmaking technique—focusing on dry embossing and blending pens—and then incorporate it into our designs. Participants will receive a packet filled with paper, envelopes, ephemera, and more, and will create five (5) assorted greeting cards using a wide variety of tools and supplies provided.

Handmaking and sending greeting cards is a meaningful way to share love, appreciation, and connection with the people we care about. It brings us together and lets someone know they are valued. No experience is required, and all are welcome.

Class Note: We recommend wearing older clothes or an apron to protect from ink and glue.

Community Instructors: Pat Szymanowski & Patricia Piper

Watercolor: Misty Winter Woods

Friday, February 27 ~ 6pm to 8:30pm

Paint a misty woodland with just one color of watercolor paint. Perfect for beginners or watercolor enthusiasts looking to stretch their skills, we’ll start by learning or reviewing how to paint with watercolors, and practice simple techniques for painting trees in a landscape.

In the second part of class, participants will choose a favorite color and use their new skills to paint their own winter woods. Everyone will receive a 9″ by 12″ sheet of watercolor paper to create one painting, or choose to divide the paper and create two or more smaller paintings or cards.

577 Staff Instructor: Connie Stose