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
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
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
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
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
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
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
$180 Museum Members
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
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)
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
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
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
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.