The Visual Arts Center of New Jersey’s Studio School, located in Summit, NJ, offers classes and workshops for artists of all ages and skill levels. Taught by experienced teaching artists, our programs span painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, photography, and more—providing a supportive environment for learning, exploration, and creative growth.

FALL SEMESTER 2026

Adult Workshops

8929 Encaustic for All
Instructor: Chase Cantwell
Explore encaustic, the art of painting with molten beeswax mixed with colored pigments and resin. This unusual medium provides results like no other with mysterious, deep, and translucent colors. Experiment with techniques such as layering, fusing, and incising. Safe handling of materials will also be covered. No experience necessary. Some materials provided. Please review additional materials to purchase for the workshop on our website.
8929 Saturday, 11/7, 10 AM – 4 PM
Tuition: $137
Materials fee: $65

8914 NEW! Pinhole Camera Photography
Instructor: James Provenzano
Pinhole photography is both ancient and immediate — a process that uses the simplest of tools to reveal the magic of light. With nothing more than a small plastic box and the tiniest of pinholes, photography is stripped down to its most essential elements: light, time, and perception. In this one-day workshop, students will be introduced to the history and enduring appeal of this historic photographic process. Students will look at examples of contemporary pinhole work and discuss how long exposure transforms ordinary scenes into luminous, dreamlike images. Students will be paired up and use instructor-provided cameras and materials to create their own photographs. Images will be developed directly inside the pinhole camera, allowing students to experience the full analog process from capture to finished print. By the end of the workshop, students will leave with one-of-a-kind handmade photographs — and a new way of seeing. This workshop will involve going outside (rain or shine) to make pinhole photographs and is limited to a class size of 8 students total.
Sunday, 11/8, 10 AM – 4 PM
Tuition: $137
Materials fee: $25

8940 Creating Realistic Flowers in Polymer Clay
Instructor: Pooja Dhawan
Learn the art of creating realistic flowers that will never wither! Students will form, cut, texture, and color air-dry polymer clay into individual, realistic flowers in this exciting one–day workshop. Some materials provided. Students will need to purchase materials and bring them on the day of the workshop. Please review the materials list online.
8940 Sunday, 11/22, 10 AM – 4 PM
Tuition: $137
Materials fee: $35

8930 NEW! Sip & Collage!
Instructor: Vanessa Lopez
Unwind, sip, and get creative in this fun and relaxed workshop! Create a stylish paper collage—perfect for adding a playful, artistic touch to your home. Students will be encouraged to design and create their own stencil for their collage, but there will be some stencils readily available to use if needed. The instructor will provide guidance to students on designing their piece using a wide variety of patterned papers to mix, match, and layer into an individually unique piece of artwork. Students are welcome to BYOB for this workshop. Enjoy a laid-back, social atmosphere while you craft! This workshop is designed for students who are 21 years old or older.
Saturday, 11/7, 2 – 4 PM
Tuition: $90
Materials fee: $28

8934 Bob Ross Painting
Instructor: Mark Saenger
Back by popular demand! This workshop by certified and Bob Ross–taught instructor, Mark Saenger, is perfect for someone who has never painted before or wants to paint using the wet-on-wet technique made popular by the famous TV series. Repeat students welcome. Come and make some “happy trees!” Students will be led step–by–step in creating their own beautiful seasonal landscape.
Sunday, 11/8, 10 AM – 4 PM
Tuition: $137
Materials fee: $48

8933 Drawing Pumpkins & Gourds
Instructor: Kat Block
Inspired by fall? Take this one-day workshop! Students will learn how to set-up a balanced still life composition using pumpkins and gourds. Using basic colored pencil techniques incorporating value, texture, shadows, blending, and color, students will create a 3D effect to their drawing.
Sunday, 11/8, 10 AM – 2 PM
Tuition: $110
Materials fee: $25

8932 The Dada Poem: Collage Text
Instructor: Manasi Keni
Step into the world of Dadaism—a revolutionary art movement that challenged traditional norms through absurdity, intuition, and playful chaos. In this hands–on workshop, students will explore the unique realm of Dada poetry using techniques like cut–up and sound poetry, all while creating their own poetic collages with text that are also visual works of art. No prior experience needed, just a willingness to let go of logic and embrace the unexpected! Please bring a notebook to the day of the workshop
Sunday, 11/8, 10 AM – 2 PM
Tuition: $110
Materials fee: $25

8931 NEW! First Spin: Beginner Wheel Throwing
Instructor: Denise Banaag
Are you ready to try out the magical machinery that transformed pottery making? Then this workshop is for you! This two-part workshop is designed for students who want to learn how to center, open, and pull to make simple vessels on the pottery wheel. During the second session, students will trim their pieces, add handles, and use basic decorating techniques such as underglaze and slip to finalize their piece. The materials fee covers clay, tools, firing and equipment usage. Students are welcome to finish their pieces they made in this workshop in their current registered class or, purchase Independent Practice in Ceramics sessions. Students will need to purchase clay on the day of the workshop at the front desk.
Sundays, 11/8 & 11/15, 10 AM – 4 PM
Tuition: $262
Materials fee: $36

8937 NEW! Zines: Small Books, Big Messages
Instructor: Jeremy Ackman
Explore the various ways to compile and share your photos to tell your own unique story by making a zine! In this one-day workshop, students will create their zines on their laptops and/or phones by selecting, editing, and sequencing their photographs digitally before moving into printing and assembly. Students will identify themes within their everyday photographs and think about how personal images (ex. artwork, family, home, daily routines, or neighborhood), can come together to form a cohesive body of work. The instructor will provide a variety of photography zines and photobooks for inspiration, and use them as examples to talk through sequencing, pacing, and different approaches to visual storytelling. Students will need to bring at 20–50 photos with a theme downloaded on their personal device, a laptop with Word or Google Drive access or a smartphone (iPhone or Android) with access to this website: https://shrimpzine.net
Sunday, 11/15, 10 AM – 2 PM
Tuition: $110
Materials fee: $25

8936 Introduction to Tapestry Weaving
Instructor: Madeleine Johnson
In this two-part workshop, students will immerse themselves in the ancient art of tapestry weaving by learning how to set-up a frame loom to create colorful wall-hangings of their very own! Guided by the instructor, students will explore weaving techniques, knot-tying, pattern-making, and more to fulfill their creative visions! Students are invited to bring in any fiber materials they wish to include in their tapestry project.
Sundays, 11/15 & 11/22, 10 AM – 4 PM
Tuition: $262
Materials fee: $43

8939 The Art of Collagraph Printmaking
Instructor: Andrea Epstein
Collagraph is a unique process of collaging with a variety of textures and materials to create a plate from which a one-of-a kind print is pulled. In this two-day workshop, students will explore different techniques and skills to create their own collagraph prints. The instructor will provide demonstrations on dried and coated collagraph that can be printed with both intaglio and relief techniques to makes striking graphic images. On the first day, students will create their collagraph utilizing a variety of materials, textures, and glues. On the second day, students will experiment with various inking and printing methods. Some materials provided.
Saturday & Sunday, 11/21 & 11/22, 10 AM – 4 PM
Tuition: $262
Materials fee: $42

8941 Save the Clay!
Instructors: Denise Banaag and Emma Tabachnick
In this one–day workshop, students will explore a number of fun and exiciting ways from our two ceramics instructors, to make their ceramic practice more sustainable by repurposing and recycling scrap clay. When you recycle your clay, you buy clay less often and save money. Recycling clay also helps the environment by reducing the waste that ends up in landfills and helps conserve our earth’s natural resources. During the reclaiming process, you can add in exciting things like stains for color or colored grog for texture. Students will make a damp box to take home along with a reclaiming slab and two small containers of spiced–up recycled clay. Students need to bring their own plastic container on the day of the workshop to make their own damp box. The container should not be bigger than 19 quarts and have a rubber sealing ring. If students need to finish their work, they can use class time if currently enrolled in the semester or register for Independent Practice in Ceramics sessions.
Sunday, 11/22, 10 AM – 4 PM
Tuition: $180
Materials fee: $32

8943 NEW! Greetings in Watercolor: Homemade Cards
Instructor: Traci Zaretzka
Create your own custom hand-painted greeting cards using watercolor and/or watercolor pencils. In this one-day workshop, the instructor willl begin with demonstrations of certain watercolor and watercolor pencil techniques. Then, students will have ample time to create multiple cards. The instructor will demonstrate a variety of designs for cards. Students are welcome to bring their own ideas for card designs to create and the instructor can provide individual instruction for those designs.
Sunday, 12/6, 10 AM – 4 PM
Tuition: $137
Materials fee: $28

8944 NEW! Tetra-Pak Etching
Instructor: Kristian Battell
Tetra-Pak is a type of recyclable packaging, often used for shelf-stable liquids and dairy products. Once cleaned and cut open, the coated inside makes for a great (and free!) drypoint etching plate. In this one-day workshop, students will learn the entire etching and printing process, plus explore printing with both the etching press and a pasta roller! Students are encouraged to bring their own tetra-pak recyclables to use, but the Art Center will also provide some to use on the day of the workshop.
Sunday, 12/6, 10 AM – 2 PM
Tuition: $110
Materials fee: $32

8945 NEW! Fear Free Drawing
Instructor: Dawn Noonan
Experience no fear when drawing in this one-day workshop! This workshop is designed to give students the opportunity to experiment with a wide variety of drawing tools including graphite pencils, charcoal, pastels, and markers. Students will be encouraged to work on as many small scale drawings as they wish, with the support of the instructor.
Sunday, 12/6, 10 AM – 4 PM
Tuition: $137
Materials fee: $30

8946 Lampworked Glass Beads
Instructor: Stephanie Maddalena
Visit Venice without leaving the studio with this popular workshop! Learn to make beautiful Venetian glass beads using glass rods and a mounted torch.
Saturday & Sunday, 12/19 & 12/20, 10 AM – 4 PM
Tuition: $262
Materials fee: $80