Holiday Workshops in The Studios@SAM!
Join us in The Studios@SAM this season for a variety of holiday workshops. Adults and children are welcome to spend quality time making memories – and unique gifts for family and friends.
Pottery Painting (Adults 16+)
Lauren Holton
1 session
Saturday, December 2
1 – 4pm
$30 Museum Members
$27 not-yet-members
Join us for an afternoon in the Linda & Dick Dickinson Ceramics Studio adding your personal flair to ceramics. Create two unique and colorful works of art by glazing premade pottery. Choose from a variety of forms including cups, bowls, mugs, vases, and holiday-themed pieces. Pick up your completed pieces the week following the workshop, just in time for the holidays!
Adult Classes
Join us at Sarasota Art Museum’s Studios@SAM to grow your skills or learn a new medium! Dive deep into figure drawing, anatomy, painting or ceramics. There’s something special for everyone!
Ceramics
Beginning Wheel Throwing
Lauren Hope Holton
Jan 8, 2025 – Jan 29, 2025
Wednesdays
5:30 – 8:30 pm
5:30 – 8:30 pm
March 5, 2025 – April 2, 2025
(No class 3/19)
Wednesdays
5:30 – 8:30 pm
Satisfy your curiosity, and experience a fun and thorough introduction to throwing on the potter’s wheel. Learn the skills necessary to throw cylinders, cups, bowls, and more in this exciting introduction to throwing fundamentals. Your instructor guides you through the process of throwing, shaping, and trimming pots on the wheel. Basic surface decoration and glazing techniques are also demonstrated. This class is designed for students with little or no experience with the potter’s wheel.
Note: All supplies are included.
Introduction to Handbuilding
Samantha Harthoorn
Jan 4, 2025 – Jan 25, 2025
Saturdays
9:30 am – 12:30 pm
Feb 1, 2025 – Feb 22, 2025
Saturdays
9:30 am – 12:30 pm
Mar 1, 2025 – Mar 29, 2025
Saturdays
9:30 am – 12:30 pm
Apr 5, 2025 – Apr 26, 2025
Saturdays
9:30 am – 12:30 pm
May 3, 2025 – May 24, 2025
Saturdays
9:30 am – 12:30 pm
Learn the basics of hand-building and surface decoration. You will make functional dishes, decorative tiles, and sculpture. Coil, slab and pinch construction is covered along with slip painting, sgraffito, image transfer and stenciling techniques. New demonstrations every week help guide the projects but students are free to develop their own projects too. Note: All supplies are included.
Intermediate Advanced Wheel Throwing
Lauren Hope Holton
Jan 7, 2025 – Jan 28, 2025
Tuesdays
5:30 – 8:30 pm
Feb 4, 2025 – Feb 25, 2025
Tuesdays
5:30 – 8:30 pm
March 4, 2025 – April 1, 2025
(No class 3/18)
Tuesdays
5:30 – 8:30 pm
This class is for those who can consistently throw a 6-inch cylinder or larger. Students will focus on higher-level forms and wheel techniques including vases, pitchers, teapots, plates, and casseroles. Completed pieces will be bisqued, glazed, and fired. Students should complete several wheel thrown pieces. Prerequisite: students should have taken at least 3-4 ceramics classes or have similar experience.
Ceramics Open Studio
S+DA Instructor
Linda & Dick Dickinson Ceramics Studio
Samantha Harthoorn
4 weeks
Linda & Dick Dickinson Ceramics Studio
$200 Not-Yet-Members
Jan 4, 2025 – Jan 25, 2025
Saturdays
1 – 4 pm
Feb 1, 2025 – Feb 22, 2025
Saturdays
1 – 4 pm
Mar 1, 2025 – Mar 29, 2025
Saturdays
1 – 4 pm
Apr 5, 2025 – Apr 26, 2025
Saturdays
1 – 4 pm
May 3, 2025 – May 24, 2025
Saturdays
1 – 4 pm
Mar 1, 2025 – Mar 29, 2025
Saturdays
1 – 4 pm
Students and practicing artists work independently in the studio. The studio is monitored for safety purposes. To participate, students must have previous experience in a ceramics class. Instruction is not available during Open Studio. Supplies include 1 bag of clay and glazes and firing. All skill levels are welcome.
Glaze Your Own Handmade Pottery
Lauren Hope Holton
Linda & Dick Dickinson Ceramics Studio
February 10, 2025
Monday
5:30–7:30 pm
Drawing
Introduction to Drawing
Russ Noto
Jan 6, 2025 – Feb 3, 2025
Mondays
5 – 8 pm
Feb 10, 2025 – March 3, 2025
Mondays
5 – 8 pm
March 10, 2025 – March 31, 2025
Mondays
5 – 8 pm
Calling all artists! Join us at SAM to learn drawing basics using pencils and charcoal. We explore line, shape, perspective, light and shading, scale and proportion. Students view drawings by different artists through history, learn the skill of careful observation, and practice drawing with a variety of mediums on paper.
Please Note: All supplies are included.
Anatomy for Artists
Russ Noto
Sarah F. Huisking Classroom
Oct 26
Saturday
9 – 12 pm
Dec 7
Saturday
9 – 12 pm
Dec 14
Saturday
9 – 12 pm
Dec 21
Saturday
9 – 12 pm
Dec 28
Saturday
9 – 12 pm
Designed specifically for artists, this addresses the architecture of human anatomy to supplement and strengthen figure drawing practice. We discuss the structures and functions of the skeletal and musculature systems, focusing on form and action. Students gain an essential understanding of anatomy and how it operates to better interpret and express the human figure and its existence in space.
Please Note: All supplies are included.
Figure Drawing
Russ Noto
Sarah F. Huisking Classroom
Jan 10, 2025 – Jan 31, 2025
Fridays
5 – 8 pm
Feb 14, 2025 – March 7, 2025
Fridays
5 – 8 pm
March 14, 2025 – Apr 4, 2025
Fridays
5 – 8 pm
In this class, students learn to observe and draw the human figure. With our Museum Educator, Russ Noto, students learn to look carefully at and draw from a live, draped model each week. Line and light, shading and shadow, are discussed along with other topics. All skills levels are welcome.
Please note: All supplies are included.
Painting
Introduction to Painting
Russ Noto
Jan 8, 2025 – Feb 29, 2025
Wednesdays
5 – 8 pm
Feb 12, 2025 – March 5, 2025
Wednesdays
5 – 8 pm
March 12, 2025 – Apr 2, 2025
Wednesdays
5 – 8 pm
Join us to learn about different paint mediums and discuss fundamental painting vocabulary, skills, and techniques. Focusing primarily on acrylic, we explore color theory, color/paint mixing, and the painting process. Students create multiple works on paper and canvas.
Note: All supplies are included.
Colorful Beach Scenes
Victoria Mayol
Jan 7, 2025 – Jan 28, 2025
Tuesdays
9:30 am – 12:30 pm
Learn the fundamentals of painting with acrylics and gain the tools to be able to paint what you love. We discuss scale value, color combinations, brushstrokes and composition. Through original exercises and simple demonstrations, the instructor will guide you through the process of painting beach scenes, while learning to paint palms, umbrellas, and sunsets. Both beginners and intermediate are welcome. Please note: All supplies are included.
Abstract Figurative Painting
Victoria Mayol
Feb 4, 2025 – Feb 25, 2025
Tuesdays
9:30 am – 12:30 pm
In this class, we’ll dive into the exciting space between figurative and abstract painting. We’ll learn about artists from both the past and present who’ve explored this balance. You’ll get hands-on experience with color theory, scale, value, and techniques like blocky painting and glazing layers. There are no mistakes here, just happy accidents! With plenty of guidance and the freedom to explore your creativity, you might be surprised by what you can create. Both beginners and intermediate are welcome. Please note: all supplies are included
Painting Loose and Bold
Victoria Mayol
Mar 4, 2025 – Mar 25, 2025
Tuesdays
9:30 am – 12:30 pm
This class is all about tapping into your creative energy and painting with confidence. We’ll explore color theory, brush strokes, scale value, and the essential techniques that will help you create bold, vibrant paintings. It’s a fun and relaxed class where you’ll approach painting in a fresh original way. We’ll focus on painting birds and nature, using an exciting style, learning to paint with palette knife and exploring blocky brush strokes. Both beginners and intermediates are welcome. Note: All art supplies are included!
Paint a Handmade Planter
Lauren Hope Holton
Monday, February 3, 2025
5:30-7:30 pm
You will be able to take your planter home at the end of the workshop.
(Children 6+ ; all minors must be accompanied by an adult)
Open Studio
Independent Study
Russ Noto
4 weeks
Jan 11, 2025 – Feb 1, 2025
Saturdays
9 am – 12 pm
Feb 15, 2025 – March 8, 2025
Saturdays
9 am – 12 pm
March 15, 2025 – Apr 5, 2025
Saturdays
9 am – 12 pm
The independent study offers local artists and students the opportunity to bolster their own projects under the guidance of our professional working artists and educators. Participants in this open-studio class can learn more in-depths techniques, the art historical and cultural context of their work, or just be in an environment with other artists and makers. Participants will also learn how to look at their work through a critical lens to strengthen their art practice and vision. Come join us while we converse and create together!
Acrylic Painting (Beginning to Intermediate)
4 weeks
Sarah F. Huisking Classroom
$180 Museum Members
$200 not-yet-members
Learn the fundamentals of painting with acrylics and gain the tools to be able to paint what you love. We discuss scale value and color combinations while experimenting with opaque and translucent paint. Through original exercises and simple demonstrations, the instructor will guide you through the process of painting birds, flowers or still life subjects while studying color palette and brushstroke techniques. Both beginners and intermediate are welcome.
Please note: All supplies are included.
Painting/Drawing Open Studio
4 weeks
Sarah F. Huisking Classroom
$180 Museum Members
$200 not-yet-members
Learn the fundamentals of painting with acrylics and gain the tools to be able to paint what you love. We discuss scale value and color combinations while experimenting with opaque and translucent paint. Through original exercises and simple demonstrations, the instructor will guide you through the process of painting birds, flowers or still life subjects while studying color palette and brushstroke techniques. Both beginners and intermediate are welcome.
Please note: All supplies are included.
Photography
Nature Photography: Birds of Florida
Peter Gedeon
4 weeks
Shari & John Hicks Classroom
$180 Museum Members
$200 Not-Yet-Members
Join us in the studios and beyond to learn digital photography. Fundamental photography principles are introduced as students learn to use many camera functions beyond point and click. We discuss the aesthetics of digital photography and master the terminology associated with the medium.
Developing Your Artistic Vision of Sarasota Through Photography
Walking Tour
In this lively and supportive class, we explore the elements of photography—including composition, light, focus, texture, and color—to see the world anew through your camera lens. Meeting on location weekly, we explore and photograph Sarasota’s neighborhoods, the growing downtown, parks, preserves, and the photography exhibition at Ringling College of Art and Design. We share prints, celebrate successes, and discuss the challenges of the process. Students select an inspiring photographer who made a contribution to the field to share in class discussions. Finally, we consider how to mat and frame our final prints for presentation. Any experience level, any type of camera or iPhone are welcome. Bring your camera and manual to the first class. Previous students are encouraged to join us and continue developing their vision.