The Café will be closed for remodel from Aug 12 through Sept 5, 2024. | Due to construction, Museum parking may be limited at the time of your visit. Look for additional parking in free or metered spaces along nearby streets.

Hand Painted Folk Hearts

Sunday, January 28 / 1 – 4 pm

Inspired by her Czechoslovakian heritage, instructor Iva Neveux will introduce students to basic painting techniques to create beautiful hand painted hearts. Each student will create two hand-painted hearts using combinations of dots, lines, dashes and curves. Make one for yourself and one to give to someone you love.

Students will enjoy a glass of champagne, a bite of chocolate while they work in this fun Sunday workshop. All materials included with registration.

Instructor: Iva Neveux
Ages: Adults (15+) / All levels

Hand Painted Ornaments

Sunday, December 10 / 1 – 4 pm

Inspired by her Czechoslovakian heritage, instructor Iva Neveux will introduce student to basic painting techniques to create beautiful holiday ornaments. Each student will create two hand-painted ornaments using combinations of dots, lines, dashes and curves.  All materials included with registration.

Instructor: Iva Neveux
Ages: Adults (15+) / All levels

Hand Painted Travel Pouch with Leather Strap

Sunday, November 12 / 1 – 3 pm

Join textile designer Casey Sibley for a fun and relaxed class creating a hand-painted travel pouch. Students will learn to work with a complimentary and bold color palette, mix inspired colors and play with dynamic patterns and lines. Final pieces are great as makeup bags, travel pouches or everyday wristlets and make excellent gifts! All materials, wine and small bites are provided with registration.

Instructor: Casey Sibley
Ages: 21+ / All levels (or under 21 with permission)

Experiments in Abstract Painting

Sunday, October 22 / 1 – 3:30 pm

Students are invited to tap back in to their creativity in a fun and relaxing environment. This is an inspirational class designed for beginners and painters of all levels who want to learn basic abstract techniques for creating beautiful and dynamic paintings. Students will learn to pick a complimentary and bold color palette, lay down a rich background for their painting, and use a variety of brush strokes and mixed media techniques to add forms in an appealing composition to their work. Students will work towards the completion of three 6 x 6” complimentary canvases.  All materials, wine and small bites are provided with registration.

Instructor: Casey Sibley
Ages: 21+ / All levels (or under 21 with permission)

European Marbling on Fabric and Binding in the Northern Italian Tradition

Wednesday and Thursday, December 6 and 7 / 10 am – 5 pm

This two-day workshop will take students through Western marbling techniques on fabric and then constructing a book wrapped in their own marbled cloth. Students will begin on the first day the introduction of marbling on fabric. With the instructors, they will work on new patterns with an eye for nuance. The primary focus will be on marbling fabric to create book cloth. Techniques for other textile uses will also be discussed. On day two, using the marbled fabric they created, students will create book cloth to use on the cover of the book they will bind. The instructor will teach his unique binding style based on methods used in contemporary Northern Italy. Each student will leave with a handbound book covered in fabric they patterned and marbled.

Instructors: Pietro and Vanessa Accardi
Ages: Adult (15+) / All levels

Supply list: Brush for glue, sharp scissors. All other materials provided with registration.

Introduction to Paper Marbling

Sunday, October 15 / 10 am – 5 pm

In this introductory class, student will gain a basic understanding of history, techniques, tools and styles of European marbling. Students will get hands on experience of all aspects of marbling from paper priming and preparatory mixing of water medium and paints, to the creation of classical patterns. Specific attention will be given to learning how to obtain particular designs using a diverse array of rakes and combs. Students will have ample time for experimentation with guidance from the instructors. All materials included with registration.

Instructor: Pietro and Vanessa Accardi
Ages: Adults (15+) / All levels

Girls’ Night Out: Mixed Media Madness

Thursday, September 21 / 6 – 8:30

Playful, simple mixed media techniques will be demonstrated and a wide range of supplies and tools will be available. Type on the typewriter, collage vintage papers, stitch the edges, and create beautiful mixed media artworks. Bring old friends, meet new ones and have a great night over a glass (or two!) of wine and a fun project designed for all skill levels.

Instructor: Jess Weems
Ages: Adult (21+) / All Levels

Supply List: Any mixed media supplies you already own and love (stamps, inks, paints, pens, etc). Any collage supplies you want to work with. (Optional; plenty will be supplied)

Summer Intensive: Plaster and Image Transfer

Monday – Friday, June 26 – 30 / 9 am – 12 pm

Ancient and earthy, plaster is a beautiful surface to hold mixed media painting of all types. Texture is easily achieved and organic forms are simply created with this unusual medium. Students will explore using both Plaster of Paris and plaster infused fabric to create multi-layered two-dimensional paintings and three-dimensional sculptures and structures. Once the structures and paintings are constructed in plaster, students will learn various mixed media techniques and multiple ways to transfer images onto the surfaces. Everyone will come away with unique projects and an understanding of how to use plaster to enhance mixed media work.

Instructor: Jess Weems
Ages: Adults (15+) / All levels

Supply List:

  • Images/Papers/Text/Maps to collage: This can be anything on medium-weight to tissue-weight paper, even napkins!
  • Photocopied Images/Text/Papers: To transfer these must be toner-based PHOTOCOPIES from a copy shop (Staples, Kinkos, etc.) of any images/text/maps/illustration. Laser prints should also work. Ink-based images WILL NOT TRANSFER! Must be toner! Transferring will FLIP/MIRROR the images so get them mirror-flipped when photocopying to fix this.
  • All other materials included with registration.

Mosaics 101: Introduction to Mosaics

Saturday, February 25 / 10 am – 2 pm
and Sunday, February 26 / 10 am – 12 pm

NOTE: This class is now sold out, but will be offered again Saturday and Sunday, May 6 and 7. Please click here to register for the May class.

In this two-day class, students will learn the basics of mosaics, including techniques, design and grouting. Using various materials, students will be guided through a 10” x 10” mosaic mirror project. All materials provided but students may bring other objects (stones, jewels, beads, etc.) to incorporate into their piece. This class is intended for those unfamiliar or new to mosaics but all skill levels are welcome.

Instructor: Katie Packham
Ages: Adults (15+) / All Levels

Plaster: Textured and Sculptural Mixed Media

Sundays, December 4 – 18 / 1 – 5 pm

Ancient and earthy, plaster is a beautiful surface to hold mixed media painting of all types. Texture is easily achieved and organic forms are simply created with this unusual medium. Students will explore using both Plaster of Paris and plaster infused fabric to create multi-layered two-dimensional paintings and three-dimensional sculptures and structures. Everyone will come away with unique projects and an understanding of how to use plaster to enhance mixed media work.

Instructor: Jessica Weems
Ages: Adult (15+) / All levels

Supply list: Any carving tools, inks, paints, or stamps you already own and want to use.