Workshops
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Watercolor for Beginners & Beyond (2/5, 2/12, 2/19 & 2/26) —FULL
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Watercolor for Beginners & Beyond (2/7, 2/14, 2/21 & 2/28) —FULL
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Paste Paper Book (2/22 & 2/23) —FULL
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Mosaic Vintage Glass Window (3/1) —FULL
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Slow Stitch Fabric Memory Booklet (3/8) —FULL
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Introduction to Handbuilding: Leaf Bowl (3/11 & 3/18)
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Tissue Paper Luminarias (3/14)
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Cold Wax for Beginners: Getting Started (3/21 & 3/22) —FULL
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Mixed Media Collage: Fox (3/29) —FULL
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Needle Felted Bunny (4/4)
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Introduction to Gelli Printing (4/5) —NEW!
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Ribbed Egg Basket (4/11)
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Notes: ​​​
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Beginning February 2025, Supply Fees will NOT be included in Workshop Fees. Instead, they will be collected on the day of your workshop and paid directly to the workshop instructor, cash or check only.
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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.
Watercolor for Beginners & Beyond (FULL)
Date: Wednesdays, 2/5-2/26
Time: 10:00 AM-12:00 PM
Workshop Fee: $144 (Members); $160 (Non-Members)
Supply Fee: N/A
Instructor: Terrilynn Dubreuil
Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Supplies Provided by Instructor: None
Supplies Students Should Bring: Watercolor Painting Supplies and an apron or clothes that can be stained
Notes:
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This class is appropriate for beginners and women who have already taken a beginning watercolor classes. If you already have some experience with this medium, Terrilynn will help you build your skills to the next level.
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This workshop is full. Please contact us to be added to waitlist.
Whether you’ve never picked up a paintbrush, or are looking to refresh your watercolor skills, veteran artist and instructor Terrilynn Dubreuil will teach you everything you need to jump into, or expand your skills using, this relaxing medium!
In this explorative, four-week course, you’ll learn basic watercolor concepts, including paintbrush usage, color theory, color mixing, color application, composition, and other watercolor approaches and techniques. You’ll reference simple photos to practice your new skills and, over time, begin to develop or hone your unique painting style. The class will include informal critiques for greater learning and understanding.
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Watercolor for Beginners & Beyond (FULL)
Date: Fridays, 2/7-2/28
Time: 10:00 AM-12:00 PM
Workshop Fee: $144 (Members); $160 (Non-Members)
Supply Fee: N/A
Instructor: Terrilynn Dubreuil
Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Supplies Provided by Instructor: None
Supplies Students Should Bring: Watercolor Painting Supplies and an apron or clothes that can be stained
Notes:
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This class is appropriate for beginners and women who have already taken a beginning watercolor classes. If you already have some experience with this medium, Terrilynn will help you build your skills to the next level.
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This workshop is full. Please contact us to be added to waitlist.
Whether you’ve never picked up a paintbrush, or are looking to refresh your watercolor skills, veteran artist and instructor Terrilynn Dubreuil will teach you everything you need to jump into, or expand your skills using, this relaxing medium!
In this explorative, four-week course, you’ll learn basic watercolor concepts, including paintbrush usage, color theory, color mixing, color application, composition, and other watercolor approaches and techniques. You’ll reference simple photos to practice your new skills and, over time, begin to develop or hone your unique painting style. The class will include informal critiques for greater learning and understanding.
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Paste Paper Book (FULL)
Date: Sat, 2/22, & Sun, 2/23
Time: 1:00–5:00 PM both days
Workshop Fee: $144 (Members), $160 (Non-Members)
Supply Fee: $20 (To be collected day of workshop; cash or check only)
Instructor: Joyce Tromba
Skill Level: Beginner
Supplies Provided by Instructor: Paint, paste, brushes, paper for pages and covers, book board, linen thread, glue, and bookmaking kit with all equipment needed for bookbinding
Supplies Students Should Bring: One large sponge, an old kitchen towel, and an apron or clothes that can be stained
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Note: This workshop is full. Please contact us to be added to waitlist.
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Do you love the look of marbled paper but dislike how complicated and expensive it can be to make? If so, you'll love paste paper! This traditional surface design technique, which dates back to the 16th century, uses simple tools and materials to create endless, stunning patterns on paper.
Your beautiful designs can be used to decorate books (as we’ll be doing in this workshop), make collages, add interest to objects, or just displayed on their own.
On Day One of this two-part class, local book artist Joyce Tromba will take you through the paste paper making process. You’ll learn how to make paste, pigment it, and apply it to paper. Then, you’ll spend the rest of the afternoon creating patterns and textures with your paste using a variety of tools, such as combs, plastic forks, and even your fingers!
On Day Two, Joyce will show you how to make a multi-signature book which opens flat and has exposed “Coptic stitches” on the spine. You’ll also discuss other ways to use your one-of-a-kind papers.
You’ll leave the workshop with a sweet, Coptic bound book suitable for journaling or displaying, as well as multiple pieces of paste paper for future projects.
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Mosaic Vintage Glass Window (FULL)
Date: Saturday, 3/1
Time: 1:30-4:30 PM
Workshop Fee: $54 (Members), $60 (Non-Members)
Supplies Fee: $40 (To be collected day of workshop; cash, check, or Venmo only)
Instructor: Michelle Bettencourt
Skill Level: All
Supplies Provided by Instructor: 28” x 19” vintage glass window, a variety of vintage glass items (e.g., crystalware, ashtrays), glass beads and other mosaic materials, adhesive, chains, and hooks
Supplies Students Should Bring: All materials will be provided; however, students are encouraged to bring additional small vintage glass items (e.g., crystalware, ashtrays), glass beads, and other mosaic materials that they’d like to incorporate into their window, if they have them. Students should also bring an apron or wear clothes that can be stained.
Note: This workshop is full. Please contact us to be added to waitlist.
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Add a touch of vintage charm to your outdoor space with this mosaic glass window! In just a few hours, mosaic artist Michelle Bettencourt will show you how to create a one-of-a-kind artwork using a vintage, wooden-framed glass window.
After explaining how to source and prep vintage materials, Michelle will offer tips for designing a mosaic and attaching items to a glass window. Then, you’ll spend the rest of the afternoon creating your piece. You’ll have access to an array of vintage glassware, from grandma’s crystalware to 1970s ashtrays, as well as mixed glass beads, scrabble letters, and other interesting trinkets.
You’ll leave the workshop with an incredible, ready-to-hang (chains and hooks included), 28” x 19” glass window that’s sure to enhance the beauty of your home.
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Slow Stitch Fabric Memory Booklet (FULL)
Date: Saturday, 3/8
Time: 1:00-5:00 PM
Workshop Fee: $72 (Members), $80 (Non-Members)
Supplies Fee: $10 (To be collected day of workshop; cash or check only)
Instructor: Christy Ammerman
Skill Level: All
Supplies Provided by Instructor: Fabric scraps, trim, embellishments, thread, and needles
Supplies Students Should Bring: Small, sharp scissors suitable for fussy cutting. All other materials will be provided, though students are welcome to bring additional fabric scraps, trim, and embellishments for their booklet.
Notes:
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Students are encouraged to email a digital photo of a special person, pet, place, or experience at least one week prior to the workshop. This will be used as their booklet’s focal piece. More specific instructions will be provided after registration.
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This workshop is full. Please contact us to be added to waitlist.
Are you looking for a unique way to capture a special person, pet, place, or experience? Have you wanted to try your hand at slow-stitching but aren’t sure where to begin? In this relaxing, half-day workshop, textile artist Christy Ammerman will show you how to turn bits of discarded material, trim, and thread into a sweet fabric memory booklet that you’re sure to cherish!
Your creative adventure will begin before the workshop, when you’ll select (using criteria that we’ll send after registration) and send us a favorite photo as your booklet’s focal piece. We’ll transfer it onto special paper and bring it with us to class.
Then, during the workshop, Christy will explain how the transfers were created and teach you how to weave a story around them by carefully selecting, cutting, positioning, and layering fabric scraps, trim, and other embellishments.
After you create your design, Christy will give you options for assembling your piece and teach basic slow-stitching techniques. Finally, you’ll learn how to finish your one-of-a-kind memento.
This workshop includes lots of time to experiment, play, and build your creation—and, of course, get suggestions from Christy and your classmates if desired.
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Introduction to Handbuilding: Leaf Bowl
Date/Time: Tue, 3/11, 1:00-4:00 PM & Tue, 3/18, 2:00-4:00 PM
Workshop Fee: $90 (Members), $100 (Non-Members)
Supplies Fee: $15 (To be collected day of workshop; cash or check only)
Instructor: Maria Granatosky
Skill Level: All
Supplies Provided by Instructor: Clay, rolling pins, X-ACTO knives, cookie cutters, leaf templates, texturizing tools, glaze
Supplies Students Should Bring: All materials supplied, though students are welcome to bring their own leaves to use as templates. Students should also bring an apron or wear clothes that can be stained.
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Handbuilding is the foundation of working with clay. In this messy—but fun!—two-day introductory class, you’ll learn the basics using “slabs,” pieces of clay rolled or slammed out flat, to make a beautiful leaf bowl.
On Day 1, potter Maria Granatosky will teach you how to wedge, form, and shape clay. Then, you’ll roll out your clay and cut leaves out of your slab using either cookie cutters or leaf templates. Finally, you’ll add texture to your leaves and assemble them to create a bowl. Maria will collect your projects at the end of class and take them home to fire.
On Day 2, you’ll glaze and finish your pieces, and Maria will take them home one more time to fire and set the glaze.
You’ll return to Purple Crayon a few days later to pick up your work.
Whether you’re primarily interested in handbuilding itself, or you’re considering doing wheel throwing in the future, this class is a great place to start!
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Tissue Paper Luminarias
Date: Friday, 3/14
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: Cheri Epstein
Skill Level: All
Supplies Provided by Instructor: Plastic form, oil, plastic wrap, brushes, tissue paper, glue, embellishments, lights
Supplies Students Should Bring: All materials supplied. Students should also bring an apron or wear clothes that can be stained.
Did you know that tissue paper can be formed into three dimensional vessels? In this messy, but fun, full-day workshop, you’ll learn how to turn this surprisingly versatile material into two beautiful luminarias!
Local art therapist, artist, and teacher Cheri Epstein will give you a 6” plastic form (which is yours to keep!), a rainbow of tissue paper colors and patterns to play with, and a variety of embellishments, like gold leaf and colored gems, to make your pieces sparkle. Then, she’ll take you through the process.
Although the technique is relatively simple, you’ll be amazed at the results. Each of your pieces will reflect your unique color preferences and personality. The luminarias can light a dark walkway, dinner table, or meditative space and will make lovely additions to your home or delightful gifts.
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Cold Wax for Beginners: Getting Started (FULL)
Date: Friday, 3/21 & Saturday, 3/22
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, media mix-ins, mark-making tools, applicators
Supplies Students Should Bring: An apron. All other supplies will be provided; however, students may bring any of the following additional collage elements to incorporate into and layer under the wax medium: papers, light textiles/fabric, graphite or ink drawings, photos.
Note: This workshop is full. Please contact us to be added to waitlist.
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Cold wax—which is related to, but also very different from, encaustic (heated wax paint)—is all the rage these days, and it does produce some pretty amazing effects! In this fun, two-day workshop, you’ll learn cold wax basics while exploring the versatility of this popular medium.
On Day One, mixed media artist Denby Dale will introduce you to some of the many ways to work with and leverage cold wax’s malleable properties. You’ll learn how to tint the medium with small amounts of oil paint and other media and play with levels of transparency and opacity on different surfaces. You’ll also experiment with traditional and non-traditional tools for applying cold wax and explore its compatibility with other media. Finally, you’ll try using additive and subtractive techniques to create both smooth finishes and textured surfaces.
On Day 2, after consecutive layers of your work have had time to dry, you’ll build on the compositions you started on Day One, learning and practicing additional layering techniques.
You’ll leave the class with an assortment of small cold wax painting studies on various art papers and an 8”x10” original work on a 3/4" cradled panel.
Whether you’re a dabbler, drawer, photographer, painter, or mixed media artist, you’ll have a great time experimenting with this exciting medium!
No previous drawing or painting experience necessary.
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Mixed Media Collage: Fox (FULL)
Date: Saturday, 3/29
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
Note: This workshop is full. Please contact us to be added to waitlist.
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Did you know that fox kits are usually born in March and April? Now you can create your own fox friend 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 these magnificent creatures. 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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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
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.)
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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