Class Types

In Exploratory Mixed Media, students will experiment with a variety of materials and techniques to create vibrant, meaningful pieces that showcase their unique perspective. With the guidance of our Teaching Artists, students will create pieces utilizing materials such as acrylic and watercolor paints, and found objects. Whether you are new to art or looking to expand your knowledge and skills, this class is all about experimentation, imagination, and self-exploration.

Prior Skills Needed: This is an entry level class. No prior skills are needed. 

Throughout this class, you will:

• Make creative choices

• Learn the foundational elements of art: line, shape, color and texture

• Use your imagination and problem solve

• Join a community of artists

• Dive into self-exploration and expression

• Learn how to use different tools and materials

• Build your fine motor skills

• Learn mixed media skills such as:

• Layering techniques

• Collage and adhesive techniques

• Mark making and texture techniques

• Introductory painting techniques

• Utilizing repetition and focal points

Our Exploratory Clay class is geared towards students who do not have prior clay experience or would like to refresh their foundational clay knowledge and basic skills. This class builds students’ resilience and creative confidence in working with clay by learning from mistakes and how to recover from them. This entry level class is focused on enjoying the tactical process of working with clay.

Prior Skills Needed: This is an entry level class. No prior skills are needed.

Throughout this classroom, you will:

• Make creative choices

• Use your imagination and problem solve

• Join a community of artists

• Dive into self-exploration and expression

• Learn the different stages of clay: wet clay, leather-hard, bone-dry, and bisque

• Build basic forms through different hand-building methods:

  • Pinch pots

  • Coil building

  • Slab building

  • Scoring and slipping

  • Surface decoration and texture

• Learn about underglaze and glaze techniques

• Learn how to use different tools and materials

• Build fine motor and hand-eye coordination skills by rolling, pounding, and squishing clay, smoothing seams, carving details, and attaching delicate parts

• Use spatial awareness by walking around the project to look at shapes, height, and depth from every angle

If you plan to work with clay, it is highly recommended that you take ArtMix’s Exploratory Clay class prior to inquiring about joining Open Studio. It is required that Open Studio artists working in clay have prior foundational clay knowledge and skills.

These skills include:

• Knowledge of the stages of clay: wet, leather-hard, bone-dry, and bisque

• Strong foundation in hand-building methods and techniques

  • Pinch pot

  • Coil building

  • Slab building

  • Scoring and slipping

  • Surface decoration

  • Glazing techniques and best practices

• It is required that the project(s) you would like to pursue in Open Studio uses an artform that you are relatively familiar and self-sufficient in. Teaching Artists are not able to provide extended individual instruction to teach introductory techniques. 

  • Ex: If you would like to sew, it is required that you can operate a sewing machine independently. 

• Students in Open Studio also need to exhibit self-determination, and arrive to each class with an idea of what they would like to make in the studio. While teachers may offer suggestions, it is not their role to formulate projects for students to make in this advanced level class. 

Throughout this class, you will:

• Further develop your personal creative style through self-exploration and expression

• Use your imagination and problem solve

• Join a community of artists

• Learn studio safety practices and how to maintain a shared studio space

Our Dedicated Clay class is designed to offer a supportive, advanced studio environment for students who already have a solid foundation of clay knowledge and techniques to refine and expand their skills further. This class focuses on building students’ creative confidence to continue evolving their work by deepening their process, challenging themselves, and sharpening their skills. Teaching Artists encourage problem-solving and experimentation and are available to offer guidance to support students’ conceptual and technical growth.

Prerequisite Skills Needed:

• It is highly recommended that all students take ArtMix’s Exploratory Clay class prior to inquiring about joining the Dedicated Clay class. Instruction in Dedicated Clay will build on existing skills learned in introductory Exploratory Clay class.

These skills include:

• Knowledge of the stages of clay: plastic, leather-hard, bone-dry, and bisque

• Strong foundation in hand-building methods and techniques

  • Pinching

  • Coil building

  • Slab building

  • Scoring and slipping

  • Surface decoration

  • Glazing techniques and best practices

Students in Dedicated Clay also need to exhibit self-determination, and arrive to each class with an idea of what they would like to make in the studio. While teachers may offer suggestions, it is not their role to formulate projects for students to make in this advanced level class. 

Throughout this class, you will:

• Further develop your personal creative style through self-exploration and expression

• Learn advanced hand building methods such as combining large-scale slabs and techniques for structural or sculptural art

• Learn advanced surface decoration methods

• Use your imagination and problem solve

• Join a community of ceramic artists

In Youth Exploratory Mixed Media, students ages 4-7 years olds will roll up their sleeves and experiment with a variety of materials and techniques in our studios! This class emphasizes discovery and play through experimentation, imagination, and self-exploration. Students will learn how to combine color, texture, and collage in their art-making process. With the guidance of our Teaching Artists, students will create pieces utilizing materials such as acrylic and watercolor paints, and found objects. 

Prerequisite Skills Needed: This is an entry level class. No prerequisite skills are needed.

Throughout this class, you will:

• Make creative choices

• Learn the foundational elements of art: line, shape, color and texture

• Use your imagination and problem solve

• Form new friendships

• Learn how to use different tools and materials

• Build fine motor skills

• Learn mixed media skills such as:

  • Layering techniques

  • Collage and adhesive techniques

  • Mark making and texture techniques

  • Utilizing competition and focal points

Our Youth Exploratory Clay class is tailored towards students 8-12 years old who want to learn foundational clay knowledge and basic skills. This class builds students’ resilience and creative confidence in working with clay by learning from mistakes and how to recover from them. This entry level class is focused on discovery, play, and enjoying the tactical process of working with clay.

Prerequisite Skills Need: This is an entry level class. No prerequisite skills are needed.

Throughout this classroom, you will:

• Build self-esteem and self-expression by sketching a design and bringing it to life

• Make creative choices

• Use your imagination and problem solve

• Form new friendships

• Practice patience and focus 

• Learn the different stages of clay: plastic, leather-hard, bone-dry, and bisque

• Build basic forms through different hand-building methods:

  • Pinch pots

  • Coil building

  • Slab building

  • Scoring and slipping

  • Surface decoration

• Learn about glaze techniques and testing

• Learn how to use different tools and materials

• Build fine motor and hand-eye coordination skills by rolling, pounding, and squishing clay, smoothing seam, carving details, and attaching delicate parts

• Use spatial awareness by walking around the project to look at shapes, height, and depth from every angle