Workshops
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Yarn Coil Basket (9/21) —FULL
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Diptych Assemblage: Adding Dimension to Your Mixed Media Art (9/27)
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Chunky Blanket (10/5)
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Watercolor for Beginners and Beyond (10/7, 10/14, 10/21 & 10/28)
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Soft Pastels for Beginners and Beyond (10/9, 10/16, 10/23 & 10/30)
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Introduction to Handbuilding: Leaf Bowl (10/15 & 10/22)
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Tissue Paper Bowl and Luminaria (10/26) —FULL
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Mosaic Art Deco Table Lamp (11/15) —NEW!
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Introduction to Papermaking (11/16)
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Holiday Block Printing Party (12/7) —NEW!
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Note: 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.
Yarn Coil Basket (FULL)
Date: Saturday, 9/21
Time: 1:00-5:00 PM
Workshop Fee: $77 (Members), $85 (Non-Members)
Instructor: Pam Robbins
Skill Level: All
Materials & Tools Needed: 1-3 skeins of Bulky (5), Super Bulky (6), or Jumbo (7) yarn; all other materials supplied. (Additional information about purchasing yarn will be provided upon registration.)
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Note: This workshop is full. Please contact us to be added to the waitlist.
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There are lots of ways to make baskets—twining, plating, doing free-form work—but one of the most versatile, easy, and inexpensive approaches is yarn coiled basketry.
In this colorful, relaxing workshop, PC Owner Pam Robbins will teach you everything you need to make a beautiful, 8” yarn coil basket. First, Pam will show you how to start a basket. Then, you’ll learn how to build and shape your work, adding color and pattern to give it visual interest. Finally, Pam will teach you how to finish your new, one-of-a-kind vessel.
No previous basket weaving experience necessary, though students should have a moderate amount of hand strength and dexterity.
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Diptych Assemblage: Adding Dimension to Your Mixed Media Art
Date: Friday, 9/27
Time: 10:00 AM–5:00 PM (Includes 1 hour break for lunch)
Workshop Fee: $143 (Members), $155 (Non-Members)
Instructor: Denby Dale
Skill Level: All levels
Materials & Tools Needed: All materials and tools supplied, though students are encouraged to bring their own mixed media materials and tools as well (e.g., collage papers, ephemera, found objects, glues, scissors, exacto knives, cutting mat, etc.).
Whether you’re new to mixed media art, or you’ve been exploring it for a while, you’ll have a great time playing in this all-levels assemblage workshop! Join mixed media artist Denby Dale as she shows you how to build a cohesive diptych assemblage using various mixed media materials and two, custom-made, 4” x 6” metal blanks.
In this all-day, hands-on class, you’ll learn how to:
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Choose a theme for your assemblage (ideas and prompts will be provided)
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Select the right tools and adhesives for putting your assemblage together—and tricks to make sure your elements stay in place
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Create a plan for building your assemblage so elements are attached in the correct order
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Use basic principles of design (balance, repetition, proportion, etc.) so your assemblage is pleasing to the eye and so you can keep moving forward when you feel stuck
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Preserve and finish your piece so you can display it with pride!
Throughout the class, you’ll have plenty of time to work on your projects, as well as get troubleshooting advice from a seasoned pro!
Note: Tools to facilitate cutting and shaping of papers will be provided, but some fine motor skills may be required for “fussy cutting.”
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Chunky Blanket
Date: Saturday, 10/5
Time: 1:00–5:00 PM
Workshop Fee: $72 (Members), $80 (Non-Members)
Instructor: Pam Robbins
Skill Level: All levels
Materials & Tools Needed: 5-6 skeins of “chunky” yarn, such as Bernat Blanket Big yarn or Yarn Bee Eternal Bliss yarn. (Additional information about purchasing yarn will be provided upon registration.)
Looking for a great holiday gift? You’ve probably seen these super soft, super snuggly blankets in your favorite home goods store for $75-$100 or more. Now you can make your own for a lot less, once you learn the technique. No knitting experience necessary!
Purple Crayon Owner (and non-knitter) Pam Robbins will step you through the process. First, she’ll show you how to “cast on” to start your project. Then, you’ll learn how to “knit” your blanket until it’s approximately 45”x 60”. Finally, Pam will show you how to “bind off” your piece to give it a professional look. And you’ll do all of this using just your hands; no needles required!
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Watercolor for Beginners and Beyond
Date: Mondays, 10/7, 10/14, 10/21 & 10/28
Time: 10:00 AM-12:00 PM
Workshop Fee: $144 (Members), $160 (Non-Members)
Instructor: Terrilynn Dubreuil
Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Materials & Tools Needed: Watercolor Painting Supplies and an apron or clothes that can be stained.
Note: 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.
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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Soft Pastels for Beginners and Beyond
Date: Wednesdays, 10/9, 10/16, 10/23 & 10/30
Time: 10:00 AM-12:00 PM
Workshop Fee: $149 (Members), $165 (Non-Members)
Instructor: Terrilynn Dubreuil
Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Materials & Tools Needed: Soft Pastels Materials and an apron or clothes that can be stained. All other materials supplied.
Note: This class is appropriate for beginners and women who have already taken a beginning pastels class. If you already have some experience with this medium, Terrilynn will help you build your skills to the next level.
Soft pastels are the purist form of paint because they use the least amount of binder possible. This allows them to showcase the vivid color of raw pigments and gives them a wonderful vibrancy. In this highly hands-on pastel class, Pastel Society of America Signature member and International Association of Pastel Societies Master Circle member Terrilynn Dubreuil will teach you the basic properties of soft pastels and introduce you to, or refresh your memory of, the materials, tools, and techniques needed to work with this exciting medium.
You’ll begin your pastel adventure by working from a still life, exploring layering, blending, and juxtaposing colors, as well as basic art concepts, like composition and balance. Once you become familiar with the tools and techniques of the medium, you’ll refine your approach to, and understanding of, soft pastels by working on individual projects. You’ll learn best practices for how to approach varied subject matter using photos as resources.
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Introduction to Handbuilding: Leaf Bowl
Date/Time: Tue, 10/15, 1:00-4:00 PM & Tue, 10/22, 2:00-4:00 PM
Workshop Fee: $105 (Members), $115 (Non-Members)
Instructor: Maria Granatosky
Skill Level: All
Materials & Tools Needed: All materials supplied, though students are welcome to bring their own leaves to use as templates.
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 Bowl and Luminaria (FULL)
Date: Saturday, 10/26
Time: 1:00 PM–5:00 PM
Workshop Fee: $82 (Members), $90 (Non-Members)
Instructor: Cheri Epstein
Skill Level: All
Materials & Tools Needed: All materials supplied.
Note: This workshop is full. Please contact us to be added to the waitlist.
Did you know that tissue paper can be formed into three dimensional vessels? In this colorful, relaxing, half-day workshop, you’ll learn how to turn this surprisingly versatile material into a festive bowl and luminaria—just in time for the holidays!
Local art therapist, artist, and teacher Cheri Epstein will give you a rainbow of tissue paper colors and patterns to play with, plus 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 bowl can be filled with candy, jewelry, or other small items, and the luminaria can light a dark walkway, dinner table, or meditative space. Both accessories will make a lovely addition to your home or a delightful gift.
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Needle Felt Painting: Sleeping Kitty
Date: Saturday, 11/2
Time: 1:00 PM-5:00 PM
Workshop Fee: $87 (Members), $95 (Non-Members)
Instructor: Irene Heckel-Volpe
Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Materials & Tools Needed: All materials supplied.
Shhh! This adorable “painted” kitty looks—and feels!—so real you may be afraid you’ll wake it. There’s no need to worry, though, as it’s actually made from fiber! Join fiber artist Irene Heckel-Volpe as she shows you how to create your own two-dimensional needle felted sleeping kitty in this fun half-day workshop!
You’ll begin with a sheet of partially felted wool and a simple photo of a peaceful, sleeping cat. Then, you’ll attempt to recreate the picture by “painting it” in fiber—using your creative license, of course! In the process, you’ll learn how to blend fibers to create shading and depth to bring your kitty portrait to life.
You’ll leave the class with a beautiful 8”x10” painting suitable for framing. You can keep your piece for yourself or give it to a friend or loved one. It makes the PURRfect holiday gift for the cat lover on your list!
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Mosaic Art Deco Table Lamp
Date: Friday, 11/15
Time: 10:00 AM–5:00 PM (includes 1 hour break for lunch)
Workshop Fee: $158 (Members), $170 (Non-Members)
Instructor: Linda Pannullo
Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate
Materials & Tools Needed: All materials supplied.
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If you like doing puzzles, you'll love doing mosaics! In this fun and very colorful workshop, you’ll experiment with the unique effects that transparency, light, and color create with mosaic on glass.
In just a few hours, mosaic artist Linda Pannullo will teach you how to turn a 7” glass block into a beautiful, art deco-style table lamp. In the process, you’ll learn how to design a simple, geometric mosaic, how to cut glass, and how to adhere glass to a substrate.
At the end of the class, Linda will also demonstrate how to grout your mosaic and give you a grouting kit and instruction sheet so you can finish your piece at home.
Your finished lamp will convey the same beauty and qualities of stained glass but will be assembled using a much easier and quicker process. If you’re looking for a unique holiday gift, this is it!
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Introduction to Papermaking
Date: Saturday, 11/16
Time: 1:00 PM-5:00 PM
Workshop Fee: $87 (Members), $95 (Non-Members)
Instructor: Jessika Raisor
Skill Level: All
Materials & Tools Needed: An apron or clothes that can be stained. All other materials supplied, though students are encouraged to bring botanicals and other small elements that they want to try incorporating into their paper, such as dried flowers, twine, patterned paper, etc.
Handmade paper is lovely, but pricey. Learn how to make your own for a fraction of the cost!
Although paper was invented almost 2000 years ago, the process of making paper has barely changed since then. In this fun, hands-on workshop, papermaker and artist Jessika Raisor will show you what tools are used in papermaking, how to prep raw fibers for the papermaking process, how to incorporate botanicals and other small elements into paper, and, eventually, how to “pull” sheets.
You’ll practice making paper using different materials—everything from recycled paper to cotton rags—and there will be plenty of time to experiment with different techniques!
You’ll leave the class with multiple pages of one-of-a-kind paper that you can turn into journals, cards, bookmarks, and other functional and decorative pieces—or share with a friend. Handmade paper makes a wonderful holiday gift! Either way, you (or they) will have as much fun creating with this beautiful material as you did making it!
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Holiday Block Printing Party
Date: Saturday, 12/7
Time: 1:00-5:00 PM
Workshop Fee: $92 (Members), $100 (Non-Members)
Instructor: Kelly Reese
Skill Level: All
Materials & Tools Needed: Carving tool with multiple V and U nibs, such as this one from Michaels or this one from Amazon. All other materials supplied, including carving block, ink, roll of craft paper, 4 cards, gift tags, two handmade truffles and a glass of red or white wine.
A nice roll of wrapping paper can easily cost $5-$10, and a decent card can be even more than that. This holiday season, skip the Hallmark store and make your own block-printed wrapping paper, gift tags, and cards instead! In this delightful—and delicious—workshop, you’ll learn basic block printing techniques while enjoying scrumptious handmade truffles and a glass of red or white wine.
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While you indulge your tastebuds, artist and printmaker, Kelly Reese, will demonstrate how to design and carve a basic relief block print. After practicing these techniques, you’ll print a roll of holiday wrapping paper and a set of matching gift tags and greeting cards. You’ll go home with lots of gift-wrapping supplies, as well as the skills to make additional block prints on your own.
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No drawing skills required. All you need is a desire to try something new—and have a great time!
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