Arts & Crafts

Welcome to Painting & Drawing Open Studio. Sign up day by day when it works for you to use our space, tools, and help from our instructor to start and/or finish a project. In this class, you'll play with:

Getting Started / Breaking the Blank Canvas – strategies for beginning a painting and building momentum, including “rehearsing” ideas in a sketchbook

Composition & Visual Flow – organizing elements, movement, and balance, using sketchbooks to plan and evaluate what’s working

Color & Mood – exploring limited palettes, contrast, and emotional tone

Mark-Making & Texture – experimenting with tools, layers, materials, and surface

Developing vs. Knowing When to Stop – pushing a piece further versus recognizing when it’s resolved

Articulating Intent – talking through what a piece is about and receiving feedback

Continue building your stained glass skills in a supportive, creative studio environment! This open studio class is designed for participants who have completed our First Timers Stained Glass or Beginner Stained Glass class and are ready to work more independently.

Participants will design and create their own stained glass projects while refining techniques such as pattern preparation, glass cutting, grinding, foiling, soldering, and finishing. An instructor will be on hand to provide guidance, troubleshoot challenges, and help you expand your skills, but students should be comfortable with basic stained glass tools and processes.

Materials Provided: All necessary tools and materials will be provided, including a variety of glass colors and textures. Participants are welcome to bring in their own glass and patterns if they wish.

Who Should Attend: This class is perfect for anyone interested in art and creativity, regardless of experience. Join a supportive community of fellow enthusiasts and discover the joy of working with stained glass!

Let your imagination shine through vibrant colors and intricate designs—register today and transform your artistic vision into reality!

Come on in to finish pieces you worked on in our other classes like Family Ceramics, Youth Ceramics, Beginners Ceramics, Beginners' Wheel, and Partner Ceramics

Continue building your stained glass skills in a supportive, creative studio environment! This open studio class is designed for participants who have completed our First Timers Stained Glass or Beginner Stained Glass class and are ready to work more independently.

Participants will design and create their own stained glass projects while refining techniques such as pattern preparation, glass cutting, grinding, foiling, soldering, and finishing. An instructor will be on hand to provide guidance, troubleshoot challenges, and help you expand your skills, but students should be comfortable with basic stained glass tools and processes.

Materials Provided: All necessary tools and materials will be provided, including a variety of glass colors and textures. Participants are welcome to bring in their own glass and patterns if they wish.

Who Should Attend: This class is perfect for anyone interested in art and creativity, regardless of experience. Join a supportive community of fellow enthusiasts and discover the joy of working with stained glass!

Let your imagination shine through vibrant colors and intricate designs—register today and transform your artistic vision into reality!

Continue building your stained glass skills in a supportive, creative studio environment! This open studio class is designed for participants who have completed our First Timers Stained Glass or Beginner Stained Glass class and are ready to work more independently.

Participants will design and create their own stained glass projects while refining techniques such as pattern preparation, glass cutting, grinding, foiling, soldering, and finishing. An instructor will be on hand to provide guidance, troubleshoot challenges, and help you expand your skills, but students should be comfortable with basic stained glass tools and processes.

Materials Provided: All necessary tools and materials will be provided, including a variety of glass colors and textures. Participants are welcome to bring in their own glass and patterns if they wish.

Who Should Attend: This class is perfect for anyone interested in art and creativity, regardless of experience. Join a supportive community of fellow enthusiasts and discover the joy of working with stained glass!

Let your imagination shine through vibrant colors and intricate designs—register today and transform your artistic vision into reality!

Discover the endless possibilities of mixed media in this creative art series! Each session explores a new theme based on the time of year and incorporates a variety of artistic materials and techniques, including acrylic paint, ink, collage, texture media, stamps, stencils, fabric, found objects, and more. Whether you're layering vibrant spring florals, capturing the colors of autumn, or creating winter-inspired works, every class offers fresh inspiration and opportunities to experiment.

All supplies are provided, so you can arrive ready to create. Participants are also welcome to bring their own favorite materials, unfinished projects, or specialty tools and use the class as an open studio to explore ideas, develop personal projects, and enjoy creating alongside fellow artists. This series is perfect for beginners and experienced artists looking to play, learn, and express themselves in a relaxed, supportive environment.

Continue building your stained glass skills in a supportive, creative studio environment! This open studio class is designed for participants who have completed our First Timers Stained Glass or Beginner Stained Glass class and are ready to work more independently.

Participants will design and create their own stained glass projects while refining techniques such as pattern preparation, glass cutting, grinding, foiling, soldering, and finishing. An instructor will be on hand to provide guidance, troubleshoot challenges, and help you expand your skills, but students should be comfortable with basic stained glass tools and processes.

Materials Provided: All necessary tools and materials will be provided, including a variety of glass colors and textures. Participants are welcome to bring in their own glass and patterns if they wish.

Who Should Attend: This class is perfect for anyone interested in art and creativity, regardless of experience. Join a supportive community of fellow enthusiasts and discover the joy of working with stained glass!

Let your imagination shine through vibrant colors and intricate designs—register today and transform your artistic vision into reality!

Continue building your stained glass skills in a supportive, creative studio environment! This open studio class is designed for participants who have completed our First Timers Stained Glass or Beginner Stained Glass class and are ready to work more independently.

Participants will design and create their own stained glass projects while refining techniques such as pattern preparation, glass cutting, grinding, foiling, soldering, and finishing. An instructor will be on hand to provide guidance, troubleshoot challenges, and help you expand your skills, but students should be comfortable with basic stained glass tools and processes.

Materials Provided: All necessary tools and materials will be provided, including a variety of glass colors and textures. Participants are welcome to bring in their own glass and patterns if they wish.

Who Should Attend: This class is perfect for anyone interested in art and creativity, regardless of experience. Join a supportive community of fellow enthusiasts and discover the joy of working with stained glass!

Let your imagination shine through vibrant colors and intricate designs—register today and transform your artistic vision into reality!

Continue building your stained glass skills in a supportive, creative studio environment! This open studio class is designed for participants who have completed our First Timers Stained Glass or Beginner Stained Glass class and are ready to work more independently.

Participants will design and create their own stained glass projects while refining techniques such as pattern preparation, glass cutting, grinding, foiling, soldering, and finishing. An instructor will be on hand to provide guidance, troubleshoot challenges, and help you expand your skills, but students should be comfortable with basic stained glass tools and processes.

Materials Provided: All necessary tools and materials will be provided, including a variety of glass colors and textures. Participants are welcome to bring in their own glass and patterns if they wish.

Who Should Attend: This class is perfect for anyone interested in art and creativity, regardless of experience. Join a supportive community of fellow enthusiasts and discover the joy of working with stained glass!

Let your imagination shine through vibrant colors and intricate designs—register today and transform your artistic vision into reality!

Come on in to finish pieces you worked on in our other classes like Family Ceramics, Youth Ceramics, Beginners Ceramics, Beginners' Wheel, and Partner Ceramics

In this hands-on class, you’ll learn the fundamentals of working with clay on a pottery wheel. Throughout the class, our experienced instructors will guide you through the essential techniques, from centering the clay to shaping and trimming your creations. No prior experience is needed—just bring your enthusiasm!

Whether you're a beginner or have some experience, this workshop covers essential techniques, from preparing metals to applying powdered glass enamel and firing. Explore different techniques – such as cloisonné, sgraffito, and stenciling – and create your unique pieces. Guided by an experienced instructor, you’ll gain hands-on practice, learn about color layering, and create wearable art. All materials are included, so just bring your creativity!

September 5: Learn how to harvest, process, and prepare cattails for weaving. Participants will create cordage using two traditional techniques: plaiting and the two-strand twist. The cordage made in this class will be used during the second session.
September 19: Using the cordage created in Part 1, participants will weave a small basket with a spiral stitch technique using raffia.
Class Description: Discover how to transform one of Illinois' most common wetland plants into a functional basket. Cattails grow in every county of Illinois and have been used for generations to make rope, mats, baskets, and more. In this two-part workshop, participants will learn when and how to harvest cattails, prepare the fibers, create strong cordage, and weave it into a finished basket using traditional techniques. No prior weaving experience is necessary and all cattails have been collected in Illinois and processed by the instructor.

Come on in to finish pieces you worked on in our other classes like Family Ceramics, Youth Ceramics, Beginners Ceramics, Beginners' Wheel, and Partner Ceramics

Come on in to finish pieces you worked on in our other classes like Family Ceramics, Youth Ceramics, Beginners Ceramics, Beginners' Wheel, and Partner Ceramics