Workshops
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Needle Felted Bunny (4/4)
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Ribbed Egg Basket (4/11)
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Encaustic for Beginners: Image Transfer (4/12) —FULL
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​Nature Journaling Using Botanical Illustration (5/7, 5/14, 5/21 & 5/28)
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Cold Wax for Beginners: Line & Tape Techniques (5/16 & 5/17)
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Playing with Color (6/3, 6/10, 6/17 & 6/24) —NEW!
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Mosaic Stepping Stone (6/7) —NEW!
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Mixed Media Collage: Landscape (6/14) —NEW!
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Watercolor: Beyond the Basics (6/25, 7/2, 7/9 & 7/16) —NEW!
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Notes: ​​​
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To give us enough time to try and fill cancelled seats, our cancellation policy will be updated beginning with our June 2025 workshops. When the new policy is in effect, you must cancel 14 or more days before your workshop to receive a full refund (less a $10 processing fee). If you cancel less than 14 days before your workshop, and we are able to fill your seat, we will refund 50% of your registration fee.
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When you successfully register for a workshop, a receipt for your purchase will be emailed to you. If you do not receive a receipt, your registration is NOT confirmed. Please contact us.
Needle Felted Bunny
Date: Friday, 4/4
Time: 10:00 AM-5:00 PM (includes an hour break for lunch)
Workshop Fee: $108 (Members), $120 (Non-Members)
Supplies Fee: $15 (To be collected day of workshop; cash or check only)
Instructor: Irene Heckel-Volpe
Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Supplies Provided by Instructor: Wool roving, felting needles, felting pad, embellishments
Supplies Students Should Bring: All materials provided.
Looking for something special for your spring décor—or a little one’s Easter basket? Hop on into Purple Crayon for another fun needle felting workshop with fiber artist Irene Heckel-Volpe. This time, we’ll be making a 6” (lying down) free-standing bunny that’s sure to steal your (or a lucky child’s) heart!
In this full-day workshop, you’ll learn the basics of needle felting, including what fibers are appropriate for creating a needle felted structure, how to build a three-dimensional piece, and how to embellish creations by adding details.
Whether this is your first time needle felting, or you’ve been doing it for years, you’re sure to have success and learn something new!
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Introduction to Gelli Printing
Date: Saturday, 4/5
Time: 1:00 PM-5:00 PM
Workshop Fee: $72 (Members), $80 (Non-Members)
Supplies Fee: $10 (To be collected day of workshop; cash or check only)
Instructor: Kristen Grady
Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Supplies Provided by Instructor: Paper, acrylic paint, brayer
Supplies Students Should Bring: 8"x10" gelli plate and an apron. All other materials will be provided; however, students are encouraged to bring a few of their favorite acrylic paints and a brayer, if they have one. (We can loan you a brayer for class, but it’s better to practice your technique using your own tool.)
Gelli printing is an easy, innovative way to create vibrant, one-of-a-kind monoprints. The results are striking, and all you need is a gelli plate, acrylic paint, and some kind of substrate (paper, fabric, etc.). In this fun, hands-on workshop, paper artist Kristen Grady will teach you everything you need to get started with this super versatile process.
Among other techniques, you’ll learn how to build multiple layers of design, create textures and an “old wall” look, and add stenciling and shimmer to your prints. Kristen will also teach you how to create two-sided prints, work with multiple prints at the same time, create a theme for your prints, use thick and thin paints in different ways, print on different weights of paper, and find your color palette.
There will be plenty of time to practice each technique, and you’ll complete at least four, two-sided prints. You’ll also leave with plenty of ideas on how to use your finished prints and how to care for and store your gelli plate.
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Ribbed Egg Basket
Date: Friday, 4/11
Time: 1:00 PM-5:00 PM
Workshop Fee: $72 (Members), $80 (Non-Members)
Supplies Fee: $60 (To be collected day of workshop; cash or check only)
Instructor: Carleigh Fairchild
Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Supplies Provided by Instructor: Round hoops, round reed, flat reed, hand pruners
Supplies Students Should Bring: All materials supplied; however, students are encouraged to bring their own hand pruners if they have them.
Have you always wanted to make your own woven basket? Or perhaps you’ve made some baskets, but want to learn a new style. In this fun, half-day workshop, wilderness expert and accomplished basket maker Carleigh Fairchild will show you how to make an 8"x8"x10" ribbed egg basket that’s both beautiful and practical.
Specifically, you’ll learn how to:
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Make and arrange hoops to create a frame for your basket using the “gods eye” lash to attach the hoops together
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Shape your basket by adding round reed “ribs” and then weaving in flat reed to form the basket
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Finish and trim your basket
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Use and care for your basket
This colorful, ribbed basket is great for gathering and holding eggs, herbs, garden greens, household accessories, etc.—pretty much any smallish item your imagination can think of!
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Encaustic for Beginners: Image Transfer (FULL)
Date: Saturday, 4/12
Time: 1:00 PM-5:00 PM
Workshop Fee: $72 (Members), $80 (Non-Members)
Supplies Fee: $40 (To be collected day of workshop; cash or check only)
Instructor: Denby Dale
Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Supplies Provided by Instructor: 4”x4” wood panels (3); 8”x10” wood panel, encaustic medium, tools, wax-based crayons, mini heat guns, printed images
Supplies Students Should Bring: An apron. All other materials supplied; however, students are highly encouraged to bring 8”x10” or smaller, color or black-and-white, toner-based photocopies of images. Pencil or charcoal drawings may also be used. (Inkjet or dye-based images will not transfer properly. Staples and other print outlets can make toner-based photocopies if students do not have access to a toner-based printer.)
Note: This workshop is full. Please contact us to be added to waitlist.
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Whether you’re already an image transfer fan or have never tried it before, the process of transferring imagery onto heated wax-coated panels is a satisfying and fun way to get started with encaustic—or take your knowledge of the medium a step further!
In this lively, half-day workshop, mixed media artist Denby Dale will introduce you to some of the basic properties of encaustic (a wax-based “paint”) without any intimidation or fussy studio set-up.
Through demos and experimentation, you’ll learn how to:
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Prep flat wood panels with clear encaustic medium
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Transfer images onto flat wood panels for experimentation
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Use a mini heat gun to seal imagery into encaustic wax
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Layer clear wax over images to create “floating” and textured effects
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Add additional color to encaustic artwork with wax-based crayons
In addition to three 4”x4” sample panels, students will leave the workshop with an original 8”x10” encaustic artwork that incorporates layered, transferred images.
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Nature Journaling Using Botanical Illustration
Date: Wednesdays, 5/7, 5/14, 5/21 & 5/28
Time: 10:00 AM–12:00 PM
Workshop Fee: $144 (Members), $160 (Non-Members)
Supplies Fee: $15 (To be collected day of workshop; cash or check only)
Instructor: Camille Daunno
Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Supplies Provided by Instructor: Sketch journal, pencils (H, HB, 2B, mechanical), marker, erasers (plastic, kneaded, pink), paper (heavy vellum, practice, Bristol drawing), charcoal (white, black, earth tones, reeds)
Supplies Students Should Bring: All materials provided.
Nature journaling calms your mind, increases your attention to detail, helps you appreciate beauty, improves your ability to recognize different flora and fauna, allows you to capture and remember a moment, and gives you inspiration for other creative projects. Natural objects also provide wonderful subjects to learn how to do botanical illustration!
While the term may sound intimidating, “botanical illustration” simply means drawing with botanical accuracy—and anyone can do it if they can draw basic shapes (circles, squares, and triangles) and lines.
In this fun, four-week class, botanical illustrator and painter, Camille Daunno, will teach you how to identify geometric shapes in natural objects and, then, turn those shapes into realistic forms by adding linework, shading, and blending. Initially, you’ll reference other botanical artists’ illustrations, but, eventually, you’ll try your hand at capturing your own interpretation of what you see.
To bring your journal pages to life, you’ll also learn how to embellish a written page and create unique layouts of the subjects you’re drawing.
Notes:
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Previous drawing experience helpful but not required.
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Fine motor skills required for detail work.
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Class size limited to 7 students.
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Cold Wax for Beginners: Line & Tape Techniques
Date: 5/16 & 5/17
Time: 1:00-5:00 PM both days
Workshop Fee: $144 (Members), $160 (Non-Members)
Supplies Fee: $35 (To be collected day of workshop; cash or check only)
Instructor: Denby Dale
Skill Level: Beginner
Supplies Provided by Instructor: Art papers, 8”x10” cradled panel, cold wax medium, oil paints, various width masking tapes, mark-making tools, stencils, applicators
Supplies Students Should Bring: An apron. All other supplies will be provided; however, students are encouraged to bring rigid “tools,” such as old credit cards, favorite plastic stencils, etc., if they have them.
Cold wax—which is related to, but also very different from, encaustic (heated wax paint)—is an incredibly versatile medium. In this exploratory, two-day workshop, mixed media artist Denby Dale will teach you how to build a line-driven, layered, cold wax composition that emphasizes pattern, color, and movement.
Day One will be all about hands-on learning! First, Denby will show you how to make colored wax by adding small amounts of oil paint to clear cold wax medium. Then, you’ll play with creating levels of transparency and opacity by applying clear and colored wax to different surfaces. Finally, you’ll experiment with using additive and subtractive techniques to add line and mark making to your pieces.
On Day Two, after your initial wax layers have had time to dry, you’ll leverage your learnings from Day One and continue to build and refine your compositions. You’ll use special masking tapes, stencils, and other tools to add hard lines and color shifts to your work and create several dynamic, geometric, abstract pieces.
You’ll leave the class with an assortment of small cold wax painting studies on various art papers and a finished 8”x10” cold wax painting on a 3/4" cradled panel.
If you've never worked with cold wax, this class will introduce you to one of the many ways the medium can be used. If you’ve had some experience with cold wax, this workshop is a great way to add to your knowledge base and explore new techniques.
Notes:
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No previous drawing or painting experience necessary.
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Class size limited to 10 students.
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Embroidered Clothing and Accessories
Date: Friday, 5/30
Time: 10:00 AM–4:00 PM (includes 1 hour break for lunch)
Workshop Fee: $90 (Members), $100 (Non-Members)
Supplies Fee: $15 (To be collected day of workshop; cash or check only)
Instructor: Jeannie Thomma
Skill Level: Beginner
Supplies Provided by Instructor: Embroidery hoop, embroidery floss, yarn, bobbins, cloth, embroidery needles, stencils, transfer paper, marking pens and pencils
Supplies Students Should Bring: Embroidery scissors and a thimble if you’d like to use one. If you want to embroider a piece of clothing or an accessory (e.g., purse, bag, pillowcase), you’ll also need to bring the item to the workshop. Light-weight denim, cotton, canvas, or linen items work best. Alternately, you may create an embroidered wall hanging using cloth provided by the instructor.
Embroidery is all the rage these days, and, after taking this fun, fiber-focused workshop, you’ll understand why. Not only is it an enjoyable hobby, it’s a great, economical way to zhuzh up ordinary or worn out clothes and accessories—or decorate your home!
In just a few hours, local artist, Jeannie Thomma, will teach you some basic embroidery stitches that you can use to embellish a favorite shirt, jacket, pair of jeans, purse, bag, pillow cover, or other light-weight denim, cotton, canvas, or linen item. You can also choose to make an embroidered wall hanging to add interest to your home instead.
You’ll begin by learning how to create a stencil for your design, or you can choose one of Jeannie’s pre-cut patterns. Then, you’ll select a palette of threads or yarns, and Jeannie will teach you a variety of stitches to practice. Finally, you’ll use your template and newly-acquired slow stitch skills to create a unique, hand-stitched work of art!
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Watercolor Snacks: Rustic Barn Landscape
Date: Saturday, 5/31
Time: 1:30-4:30 PM
Workshop Fee: $54 (Members); $60 (Non-Members)
Supplies Fee: $15 (To be collected day of workshop; Venmo, cash, or check only)
Instructor: Kelly Reese
Skill Level: Beginner
Supplies Provided by Instructor: Watercolor pan set, size 6 round watercolor brush, 140 lb cold press watercolor paper, masking fluid
Supplies Students Should Bring: An apron or clothes that can be stained. All other materials supplied.
Have you been wondering if watercolor is for you, but you don’t want to spend weeks trying to find out? Or perhaps it’s been a while since you pulled out your watercolor paints, and you need a little “taste” of the medium before jumping back in. Either way, this half-day workshop is for you!
Local artist Kelly Reese is passionate about demystifying watercolor supplies and techniques and helping students unlock the creative potential of this popular medium.
In this fun, introductory workshop, Kelly will teach you how to break down the process of painting a rustic barn in a field of dandelions. You’ll begin by learning how to sketch the composition and value of a reference photo. Then, you’ll practice some basic watercolor techniques, including how to use masking fluid to delineate white areas. Finally, you’ll use your new understanding of composition, value, and techniques to complete a beautiful, frame-worthy picture.
No previous drawing or painting experience necessary!
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Playing with Color
Date: Tuesdays, 6/3, 6/10, 6/17 & 6/24
Time: 1:30 PM-3:30 PM
Workshop Fee: $144 (Members), $160 (Non-Members)
Supplies Fee: $20 (To be collected day of workshop; cash or check only)
Instructor: Camille Daunno
Skill Level: Beginner
Supplies Provided by Instructor: Brushes, watercolor paper, practice paper, pencil, eraser, water container, gouache paint, color wheel, glue stick, small scissors, handouts
Supplies Students Should Bring: All materials supplied.
Color theory. All artists and crafters know it’s important, but it sounds soooo boring! At Purple Crayon, we don’t think it has to be—and we’re determined to change your mind, too!
For starters, we’ve got veteran artist Camille Daunno on the case, and, if there’s anyone who can make color theory fun, it’s her! She’s a notorious rule-breaker, so, instead of telling you about value, temperature, saturation, and other color fundamentals, she’s going to help you discover them for yourself. There won’t be any boring lectures in this class!
During your exciting four-week adventure, you’ll learn how to select colors that play well together and colors that don’t; avoid making “mud” when mixing colors; tone down colors that are too vibrant and intensify colors that aren’t vibrant enough; use color to create a particular mood; and so much more!
By the end of the course, in addition to creating several small projects, you’ll walk away with some tools that you can use for future reference, including a color wheel, a gray scale, and sets of monochromatic, analogous, and neutral colors. Most importantly, though, you’ll start noticing a big improvement in your art, no matter your medium!
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Mosaic Stepping Stone
Date: Saturday, 6/7
Time: 1:00 PM–5:00 PM
Workshop Fee: $72 (Members), $80 (Non-Members)
Supplies Fee: $40 (To be collected day of workshop; cash or check only)
Instructor: Linda Pannullo
Skill Level: All
Supplies Provided by Instructor: 11" reusable form, concrete, sand, mesh for reinforcement, instruction sheet, pebbles, stone, special glass, foam board, gloves
Supplies Students Should Bring: An apron or clothes that can be stained, a face mask, and closed-toed shoes. All other materials supplied.
Zhuzh up your garden this summer by adding a beautiful, 11” mosaic stepping stone! Mosaic artist Linda Pannullo will teach you the basics for creating a one-of-a-kind piece.
First, Linda will explain the “direct” method of making a stepping stone. Then, you’ll select from a buffet of materials to create a design on a paper substrate. Finally, Linda will show you how to transfer your pattern to concrete and solidify your vision. Linda will also provide tips for working with concrete and cure times.
In addition to your new lawn sculpture, you’ll take home a reusable form, an instruction sheet, and the confidence to make more stepping stones on your own!
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Mixed Media Collage: Landscape
Date: Saturday, 6/14
Time: 1:00 PM-5:00 PM
Workshop Fee: $72 (Members), $80 (Non-Members)
Supplies Fee: $15 (To be collected day of workshop; cash or check only)
Instructor: Kim Smith
Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Supplies Provided by Instructor: Paper, patterns, adhesive, 8”x10” canvas, mark-making tools
Supplies Students Should Bring: Small, sharp scissors and an apron
Summer has arrived in Western North Carolina! Capture the beauty of its vibrant blue skies, majestic mountains, and carpet of blooms in this fun, half-day workshop taught by veteran artist and instructor Kim Smith.
In just a few hours, Kim will teach you how to select, layer, and properly adhere multiple mediums (fabric, paint, pictures, music notes, messages, book pages, and more) to create a colorful mixed media “painting” that reflects the natural beauty of the season. You’ll also learn how to apply the principles of design and color theory to finish a complete, frameable piece following Kim’s step-by-step instruction.
This workshop will introduce beginners to basic mixed media collaging concepts and provide intermediate creators with some new techniques and best practices.
No previous drawing, painting, or collaging experience necessary!
Note: Fine motor skills required for “fussy cutting.”
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Watercolor: Beyond the Basics
Date: Wednesdays, 6/25, 7/2, 7/9 & 7/16
Time: 10:00 AM-1:00 PM
Workshop Fee: $216 (Members), $240 (Non-Members)
Supplies Fee: None
Instructor: Terrilynn Dubreuil
Skill Level: Intermediate
Supplies Provided by Instructor: None
Supplies Students Should Bring: Watercolor Supplies (.pdf) and an apron or clothes that can be stained.
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If you have some basic watercolor skills but would like to take them to the next level, this course is for you! Veteran artist and instructor Terrilynn Dubreuil will teach you everything you need to hone your skills.
In this intensive, four-week course, you’ll:
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Learn expanded approaches to color theory and mixing paint
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Learn additional application techniques and brushstrokes
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Play with layering colors and combining techniques to create more professional-looking paintings
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Find solutions to problems that may arise when you paint
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Continue developing your unique painting style
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Create multiple finished paintings of group and individual images
The course will include plenty of time for practice, as well as informal critiques for greater learning and understanding.
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Class size limited to 10 students.
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