Instructor: Alison Purwinis
Saturdays, 8 weeks
January 16 - March 6
10am - 1pm
Members $375
Non-Members $400

In this introductory class, students will learn the fundamentals of throwing on the potter’s wheel. We’ll cover wedging (preparing clay), centering, pulling up the walls, shaping, trimming, and glazing. The instructor will also demonstrate specialized techniques such as attaching handles, forming spouts, and glaze application. Demonstrations will vary based on students’ skill levels and specific interests.

This class welcomes all experience levels, but is especially geared toward beginners who benefit from extra guidance. Regardless of your background, bring a willingness to experiment and an open mind!

Instructor: Sherry Italiano
Tuesdays, 8 weeks
January 12 - March 2
10am - 1pm
Members $375
Non-Members $400

This class is designed to expand upon the techniques taught in Pottery 1 and to help students develop confidence in their practice. Designed for beginners who have taken a handful of classes but do not feel prepared for Pottery 2/intermediate coursework, we will work on the foundations practiced in introductory pottery classes. Explore making multiples of an object with a focus on good practices and the integrity of the pot. We'll consider factors such as how the lip of a piece feels or if your handles are right for the mug, as well as the weight and function of each piece. We will also focus on developing decorative and glazing techniques. Although geared towards wheel work, hand builders are welcome. 

Instructor: Kris Greco
Tuesdays, 8 weeks
January 12 - March 2
2 - 5pm
Members $375
Non-Members $400

You can center, you can pull, you have done some glazing, and you can roll out a decent slab. Now it's time to go bigger, thinner, more refined, and more intentional in your ceramic work. In this class, the focus will be on building those skills and getting you to another level. 

Though this course is geared towards beginners, some pottery experience is required. One 25 lb. bag of clay is included ($60 value includes glazes and firings) as well as time to work in the studio outside of class.

Instructor: Lee Segal
Tuesdays | 8 weeks
January 12 - March 2
6 - 9pm
Members $375
Non-Members $400

Learn to build two and three-piece pots. Increase the height and volume of your pieces. Soft and firm construction, plus coil and throw techniques will be demonstrated and worked on.

Decorating these larger pieces as greenware with slips, carving, stamping, and sprigging will be demonstrated. After bisque firing, we will discuss and practice the use of glaze stains, glazes, wax, and tape resist. Come join us! 

Pottery 1 class or equivalent is required.

Instructor: Jon Baylor
Mondays, 8 weeks
January 11 - March 1
6 - 9pm
Members $375
Non-Members $400

In this course, students will learn the fundamental techniques to successfully create vessels using a variety of hand-building methods of construction. Students will work on different projects throughout the class to solidify the foundations of handbuilding and learn new techniques.

Students will explore decorative techniques such as stamping, slips, underglazes, and carving, along with simple glazing. Projects will cover slab construction, joining techniques, pattern making, molds, texture, and managing the drying process.

Instructor: Jason Fong
Wednesdays, 8 weeks
January 13 - March 3
10am - 1pm
Members $375
Non-Members $400

Open studio is a chance to focus on just what you want to focus on. Starting from where you are and moving forward to further develop your skills, hone your creative vision or find your voice in clay, this class will provide students with the encouragement to explore, create, take risks or engage in playful experimentation. Instruction and demonstrations are based on interest and requests from students.

Prior clay experience required.

Instructor: Kym Gardner
Mondays, 4 weeks
February 15 - March 8
10am - 1pm
Members $160
Non-Members $185

Create a piece of art to display & serve our favorite kitchen staple.

In this workshop, we will dive into the handbuilding processes of creating your own ceramic butter dishes. We will work with template building, slab and pinch techniques as well as various approaches to surface. Create playful handles, organic shapes, textures, carving, and decorative details. Go modern, whimsical, coastal, or completely your own—this is functional pottery with personality.

Clay is available for purchase. This workshop does not include time to work in the studio outside of class.

Instructor: Todd Kenney
Thursdays, 4 days
January 21, February 11, February 18, March 18
10am - 1pm
Members $160
Non-Members $185

In this hands-on workshop, explore how to create your own glaze colors using a clear base glaze and Mason stains. Experiment with different stains and amounts to see how they affect the finished color, creating test tiles to evaluate after firing.

Over four sessions, we'll mix, test, fire, evaluate, and refine your colors. This is a great opportunity to experiment, develop your own glaze palette, and better understand how glaze colors are created.

With: Susan Sward
All 2D Media

Sundays, 1 - 4pm
Sept 6 | Oct 4 | Nov 1 | Dec 6
Members $30 per session
Non-Members $55 per session

Join us for unstructured studio time designed for artists who want dedicated creative time in a shared workspace. Artists work independently on projects and bring their own materials. Whether you're painting, drawing, journaling, or exploring mixed media. Hosted by Susan Sward, who will be on hand to offer encouragement, and foster a comfortable, inspiring environment. All levels are welcome.

With: Robert Pillsbury
Printmaking

Saturdays, 12:30 - 3:30pm
Sept 19 | Oct 31 | Nov 14 | Dec 12
Members $30 per session
Non-Members $55 per session

Work independently in the printshop with access to the press and support from an experienced monitor.

Instructor: Ann Bianchi
Drawing

Thursdays, 5 weeks
September 10 - October 8
1 - 3pm
Members $160
Non-Members $185

Join us for this relaxing five-week class exploring the expressive world of pen and ink drawing with optional watercolor accents. Through a variety of ink techniques, you'll build confidence while creating original artwork inspired by your own reference photos or still life subjects.

Discover the expressive qualities of ink through line, texture, contrast, and mark-making, with the option to add watercolor for extra depth and color. Ann will guide you through foundational drawing skills, value, texture, and watercolor techniques in a supportive, creative environment. All skill levels are welcome.

Instructor: Susan Sward
Painting

Mondays, 5 weeks
September 14 - October 12
10am - 1pm
Members $180
Non-Members $205

An exploration of flowers, leaves, seedpods, and seasonal treasures through the art of garden journaling.

Working in gouache, you'll learn to observe and record plants in a sketchbook while developing skills in drawing, color mixing, brushwork, and page design. Inspired by nature journaling and botanical illustration, each page will combine painted studies with handwritten notes, dates, plant names, and personal reflections to create a beautiful visual record of the season.

The class includes demonstrations and individual instruction in drawing mixing color, composition, and incorporating lettering and observations. No previous experience required. All skill levels are welcome.

Instructor: Jeneane Lunn
Painting

Saturdays, 4 weeks
September 19 - October 10
10am - 12:30pm
Members $150
Non-Members $175

Painting en plein air using the techniques of the Impressionist painters, we'll work to capture the changing light effects of nature. If the weather is poor, we'll work in the studio to finish paintings started outdoors or create new works from photos. Soft pastels are an ideal medium for both quick studies and finished pieces.

This class introduces an easy pastel technique that you can develop into your own style. We'll focus on strengthening your perception of color to create rich, layered paintings while enjoying the serenity of the outdoors. Demonstrations and individual critiques are included. Students of all abilities are welcome.

Instructor: Shaun Rock
Painting

Saturday, October 3
9am - 1pm
Members $75
Non-Members $100

Capture the beauty of early autumn in Rhode Island in this four-hour immersive en plein air painting workshop. Set against the scenic landscapes of the South Kingstown Land Trust, you'll learn to observe and translate the outdoors into expressive paintings in either watercolor or oil.

The workshop focuses on the essentials of outdoor painting, including composition, simplifying the landscape, managing changing light, and capturing a true sense of place. Individual guidance is provided for all experience levels, making this workshop ideal for both beginners and experienced painters.

Instructor: Burl Dawson
Painting

Monday, 5 weeks
October 19 - November 16
5:30 - 8pm
Members $170
Non-Members $195

Perfect for absolute beginners, this relaxed and supportive class introduces the fundamentals of watercolor in an easy, unintimidating way. You'll learn and practice eight essential watercolor techniques while creating both illustrative and painterly subjects, including birds and landscapes.

Through demonstrations, guided exercises, and examples from master watercolorists, you'll explore color harmony, composition, and the principles of design. There is no pressure to be perfect—everyone learns at their own pace in a judgment-free environment. By the end of the course, you'll have a solid foundation in watercolor techniques and the confidence to continue painting on your own.

Instructor: Burl Dawson
Painting

Tuesdays, 5 weeks
October 20 - November 17
5:30 - 8pm
Members $170
Non-Members $195

Perfect for absolute beginners, this relaxed and supportive class introduces the fundamentals of watercolor in an easy, unintimidating way. You'll learn and practice eight essential watercolor techniques while creating both illustrative and painterly subjects, including birds and landscapes.

Through demonstrations, guided exercises, and examples from master watercolorists, you'll explore color harmony, composition, and the principles of design. There is no pressure to be perfect—everyone learns at their own pace in a judgment-free environment. By the end of the course, you'll have a solid foundation in watercolor techniques and the confidence to continue painting on your own.

SOLD OUT

Instructor: D Derek
Painting

Wednesdays, 5 weeks
October 21 - November 18
 1 - 4pm
Members $180
Non-Members $205

This workshop explores the foundations of abstract painting while welcoming artists who are curious to experiment. Using acrylics, you'll develop your own approach through color theory, composition, design, surface treatments, and inspiration from distinguished abstract artists.

Through guided exercises, you'll move from depicting what is seen to expressing what is felt, using line, shape, color, value, and texture to create personal, expressive work. The class emphasizes experimentation, play, and self-discovery, with demonstrations, individual feedback, and personalized instruction. Artists of all levels are welcome.

SOLD OUT

Instructor: Sasha Azbel
Mixed Media / Wellness

Tuesday & Friday | 2 days
September 22 & 25
11am - 3pm
Members $120
Non-Members $145

This class will introduce eco-printing with seaweed alongside select land-based plants. Participants work with a variety of seaweed species collected along Rhode Island’s coastline and harvest leaves and flowers from the art center’s garden to develop a unique visual language on cloth. We will then experiment with tie-resist and block resist techniques using dye baths made from our collected and processed plants, building depth and narrative within each piece, resulting in richly detailed textile panels that can be used as an accessory or home décor.

Instructor: Lynne Moulton
Mixed Media

Saturday, November 7
 1 - 5pm
Members $75
Non-Members $100

Come learn the basic techniques of paper quilling and go home with a snowflake. In this 4 hour session, we will discuss the history of paper quilling and look at a variety of applications of the art form, both historic and modern. Then you will learn how to make some basic shapes fundamental to paper quilling and then use those shapes to create your snowflake.

Instructor: Sarah Z Short
Mixed Media

Monday, November 9
9am - 3pm
Members $100
Non-Members $125

What makes a collage feel balanced? What creates movement, or gives every piece a sense of belonging? This one-day workshop explores the essential principles of strong collage composition.

Using vintage papers, book pages, maps, stamps, and other ephemera, you'll create small abstract collages while exploring movement, balance, emphasis, and harmony. Along the way, you'll connect your work to the history of collage and abstract art. Students should bring vintage papers and ephemera; additional materials will be available for purchase. Please bring a bag lunch. as there will be time for a lunch break.

Instructor: Robert Pillsbury
Printmaking

Saturdays, 5 weeks
September 26 - October 24
12:30 - 3:30pm
Members $180
Non-Members $205

Etching classes continue! This class will focus on the flexibility of this technique. Traditionally, soft ground was developed to transfer the soft lines made with a pencil to a metal plate with tremendous detail. Many options abound as we further explore this technique. If you are new to printmaking, no experience is required, just a passion to make art. If you attended previous classes, we will refresh everyone’s memories. In this class we will focus on processes and can take full advantage of the time we will have in this 5-week session.

Instructor: Renee Syed
Printmaking

Sunday, October 25
10am - 12:30pm
Members $40
Non-Members $65

Come explore the ancient art of block printing. In this workshop we will design a pattern to transfer onto rubber blocks. We will then carve the design so it’s ready to print. Next we mix colors and print our pattern onto a tote bag and heat set it so the bag will be ready to use. You'll leave the class with a beautiful, unique tote bag and the skills to continue block printing on your own.

Stencils and additional stamps are available in the class, or use your imagination.

SOLD OUT

Instructor: Christina Ascani
Photography

Saturdays, 3 weeks
September 19, 1 - 3pm
September 26 & October 3, 8 - 10am
Members $90
Non-Members $115

Light is the photographer's most essential tool—yet often the most misunderstood. In this three-week workshop, you'll move beyond proper exposure to learn how to observe and shape light to create mood, reveal texture, and tell compelling visual stories. Whether you photograph portraits, street scenes, or still lifes, you'll develop the skills to find extraordinary images in everyday settings.

Through technical instruction, analysis of iconic photographs, and hands-on shooting exercises, you'll learn to recognize hard and soft light, understand how light direction shapes a subject, and use color temperature to influence the mood of an image. By the end of the course, you'll learn to truly see light before pressing the shutter.

Instructor: Shane Guttierez
Photography

Thursday, October 29
 6 - 8:30pm
Members $35
Non-Members $50

This presentation, taken from a short class by Shane, invites students to re-imagine and blur the lines of landscape and still life. Working with reflective surfaces, reflections create an intentional interruption between the real and the reflected. This presentation will show you a new way of seeing, making two photographs in one; the image reflected and its surrounding image.

Speaker: Nessa Richman

Thursday, November 5
 6 - 7pm
Free, or suggested $10 donation

Take a visual journey to two of Japan’s ancient kiln towns, Shigaraki and Bizen! This photo essay from a March 2026 trip, explores artisan studios, climbing kilns, and a hands-on workshop to make traditional sake cups and matcha bowls. There will also be a display of hand-selected pieces brought back from four talented artisans.

What to Expect: a look at custom tours and artist shops, a journey through centuries of history at historic sites and working climbing kilns, a peek at the impressive new Bizen City Museum of Art, which celebrates Bizen ware and contemporary Japanese ceramics.

About the Speaker: Nessa Richman is a South Kingstown resident and amateur ceramicist.