Explore a custom sculpture experience in clay with veteran ceramicist, Marguerita Hagan. Learn various hand-building processes with an emphasis on abstraction. Create work that is either wall-hanging or free-standing, focused on 3D qualities or surface treatments, or both. Whatever you imagine will be supported with experienced individualized attention and specific hand-building and painting techniques to manifest your intention. Gain exposure not only to hand-building directions but also to many surface treatment methods including airbrush, underglaze paints, pencils, masking, resist, glaze, overglaze lusters, and waterslide and rice paper transfer decals. Come with no experience or translate your existing practice into the transformative language of clay.
 
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Marguerita Hagan
Cost: $325
Sponsor: Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Website, email, 215-972-7632

Mixed media art and collage offer a myriad of possibilities to combine papers, photographs, and 3D elements to make a statement, convey something personal, or create something textural, colorful, and beautiful. Develop rich and complex imagery finding inspiration from memory, literature, films, and other sources, while working in a wide variety of traditional and non-traditional materials. Sessions will discuss the characteristics of adhesives, paper and fabric cut-outs, wood, and plastics. Students will receive one-on-one instruction and participate in open discussions about their ideas and work. Topics include construction, storage and presentation strategies. Open to all levels.
 
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Anthony Ciambella
Cost: $295
Sponsor: Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Website, email, 215-972-7632

In this fun and creative pottery workshop, you’ll piece together textured clay slabs to design a one-of-a-kind nameplate or house number plaque! Using hand-building techniques, you’ll cut and layer different clay pieces, just like assembling a quilt, to create a beautifully unique sign. Your letters, numbers, or symbols will be “appliquéd” on using thin slabs, giving your design depth and personality. Experiment with stamps, rollers, carving, and underglaze to make your textures pop! After firing and glazing, your durable, weatherproof ceramic plaque will be ready to add a touch of handmade charm to your home. Whether you go for bold and modern, rustic and cozy, or playful and whimsical, this workshop is the perfect way to stitch together creativity and clay!
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Karen Sacks
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553

Reboot your painting practice by incorporating unexpected materials that you wouldn't normally compose a painting with - grocery lists, diary pages, junk mail, things in the street such as a flattened pencil or chunk of sanding belt, or something that you don’t really know what it is but the shape or material interests you. Learn practical methods to incorporate these materials into a cohesive painted surface, as well as strategies for defeating artist's block so you can start and move a painting(s) forward. Question stereotypical notions of what paintings are and how to make them in order to realize your personal vision and practice.
 
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Philippa Beardsley
Cost: $95
Sponsor: Cerulean Arts Gallery and Studio
Website, email, 267-514-8647

Monotypes are an expressive and accessible entry into printmaking: draw or paint an image on a Plexiglas plate or other surface and then print it on paper or fabric to create a one-of-a-kind artwork. Instruction will cover both hand-printing and press techniques, as well as water- and oil-based colors. Tuition includes a $30 lab fee.
 
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Tony Rosati
Cost: $480
Sponsor: Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Website, email, 215-972-7632

Students will use a limited palette of their choosing to create contemporary abstracts based on an expressive or geometric approach. The works of notable abstract painters will be shared and discussed to aid in discovering your own aesthetic in this intuitive approach to painting. This is a free and supportive way to step away from a representational style to a completely abstract style where color and composition rule. See website for supplies.
 
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Instructor: Abby Ober
Sponsor: Wayne Art Center
Website, email, 610-688-3553