The Studios At SAM

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

Ceramics 101: Handbuilding

Samantha Harthoorn

1 session
Saturday, October 14
9:30am – 12:30pm
Linda & Dick Dickinson Ceramics Studio

$63 Museum members
$70 not-yet-members

This introductory session is the perfect way to get your hands dirty, relax, and have fun! Learn the basics of ceramics through handbuilding. If you successfully create a piece, staff will glaze and fire it after the class is completed. 
Note: Class fee includes everything needed for the class (including clay, glaze, and firing services).

Beginning Handbuilding

Samantha Harthoorn

4 weeks
Saturdays, 9:30am – 12:30pm
November 4, 11, 18, and December 2
Linda & Dick Dickinson Ceramics Studio
 
$180 Museum Members
$200 not-yet-members

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.

Beginning Wheel

Lauren Holton

4 weeks
Wednesdays 5:30 – 8:30pm
October 4, 11, 18, and 25
Linda & Dick Dickinson Ceramics Studio
 
$180 Museum Members
$200 not-yet-members
Beginning Wheel Throwing

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.

Intermediate Advanced Wheel Throwing

Lauren Holton

4 weeks
Tuesdays 5:30 – 8:30pm
October 3, 10, 17, and 24
Linda & Dick Dickinson Ceramics Studio
 
$180 Museum Members
$200 not-yet-members

This class is for those who are comfortable with the wheel. Students focus on higher-level forms and wheel techniques including vases, pitchers, teapots, and plates. Completed pieces will be bisqued, glazed, and fired. Students complete several wheel thrown pieces.

Inspired Hand building

Elle Leonard

4 weeks
Linda & Dick Dickinson Ceramics Studio

$180 Museum Members
$200 not-yet-members
Tuesdays 1 – 4pm
October 3, 17, 24, and 31
Tuesdays 1 – 4pm
November 7, 14, 21, and 28

In this advanced class for seasoned ceramicists, students pursue independent projects in hand building. Advanced techniques in building and glazing, textures and patterns are used to create unique ceramic works.

Ceramics Open Studio

Lauren Hope Holton

4 weeks
Saturdays, 1 – 4pm
October 7, 13, 21, and 28
Linda & Dick Dickinson Ceramics Studio
 
$180 Museum Members
$200 not-yet-members
Hand building

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.

Drawing

Anatomy for Artists

Russ Noto 

1 session
Saturday, 9:30am – 12:30pm
October 7
Sarah F Huisking Classroom
 
$63 Museum members
$70 not-yet-members

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

4 weeks

Sarah F Huisking Classroom


$180 Museum Members
$200 not-yet-members

Saturdays,
9:30am – 12:30pm

October 14, 21, 28, and November 4

Tuesdays,
5:30 – 8:30pm

October 3, 10, 17, and 24

Figure Drawing

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 

4 weeks
Wednesdays, 5:30 – 8:30pm
October 4, 11, 18, and 25
Sarah F Huisking Classroom
 
$180 Museum Members
$200 not-yet-members

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. 
Please Note:All supplies are included.

Acrylic Painting (Beginning to Intermediate)

Victoria Mayol
 4 weeks
Tuesdays, 9:30am – 12:30pm
October 17, 24, 31, and November 7
Sarah F Huisking Classroom
 
$180 Museum Members
$200 not-yet-members

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. 
Please Note:All supplies are included.

Watercolor 101

Ania Mohrbacher
 1 session
Friday, 9:30am – 12:30pm
October 20
Sarah F Huisking Classroom
 
$63 Museum members
$70 not-yet-members

In this one-day workshop, you will explore the tools and techniques of watercolor painting. We learn to how to mix and apply the paints, how to use just the right amount of water, and how to layer colors for depth. With basic and easy-to-follow exercises, you will create multiple pieces as you discover the magic of painting with watercolor.

Photography

Introduction to Photography

Peter Gedeon

4 weeks
Fridays, 9:30am – 12:30pm
October 6, 13, 20, and 27
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

Leslie Lacktman
6 weeks
Mondays 10am – 12:30pm
October 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, and November 6
Walking Tour
 
$225 Museum Members
$250 not-yet-members

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.