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.

WINTER SEMESTER 2026

Adult Workshops

8336 Experimenting in Ceramics
Instructor: Shelley Rosen Howard
Have you ever wanted to create in clay or try something new? Then, this workshop is for you! This two–day workshop is designed for all students of all levels who want to let their imaginative ideas come to life. Please come with some creative ideas to the workshop. On the first day, students will make 1–3 hand–built pieces in clay. On the second day, students will have the choice to finish their bisque fired pieces with typical glazes provided in the studio OR use safe materials, like mason stains, colored clay bits, dried glaze, grog, and other materials to create imaginative pieces. The materials fee covers some materials, firing and use of studio equipment. Clay will need to be purchased on the first day of the workshop.
Saturdays, 1/17, 10 AM – 4 PM &
2/7, 10 AM–2 PM
Tuition: $242
Materials fee: $40

8337 Magnificent Marble Clay
Instructor: Jessica Garber
Make your own unique colored clay body in this one–day workshop! Marble clay is made up of two or more colors of clay that are layered or inlaid. To give the appearance of marbling, the clay can be thrown on the wheel or rolled out in a slab for hand building. White clay, speckled brown clay, and dark brown clay will be used. Students will also learn how to add mason stains to white clay to make their own custom colored clay body. The instructor will provide demonstrations on how to make vases, bowls, and mugs on the pottery wheel. Additionally, the instructor will show how to make a slab draped marble clay centerpiece. Finishing options will also be discussed. This workshop is designed for intermediate and advanced students who have experience working in clay. The materials fee covers the cost of clay, bisque firing, and studio usage. Also, students can finish their pieces during class time or there are ceramics open studios available during the semester if they wish to register and glaze their pieces once bisque–fired.
Sunday, 1/18, 10 AM–4 PM
Tuition: $137
Materials fee: $32

8338/8350 Jewelry Wax Carving
Instructor: Jeannette Mullarkey
This two–session workshop focuses on teaching the techniques of creating jewelry using wax carving and construction methods. Wax allows the artist to create very fluid, intricate, detailed, and sculpturally exciting work. Once the model is completed, it will be cast into brass, silver, or gold. Students may also mold it to create multiples. Depending on the design, students will be shown different finishing options such as soldering, stone setting, and polishing. The instructor will work individually with each student to discuss and plan the creation of their piece.
8338 Sundays, 1/18 & 2/1, 10 AM–4 PM
8350 Saturdays, 2/14 & 2/28, 10 AM–4 PM
Tuition: $262
Materials fee: $53

8340 Weekend Weaving with Ellen Hess
Instructor: Ellen Hess
Weave a scarf, table runner or wall piece in this special weekend workshop. Learn the basics of weaving on a tabletop four–harness loom with FIT Textile/Surface Design professor, Ellen Hess. Students will work on four–harness looms and weave the project of their choice.
Saturday & Sunday, 1/24 & 1/25, 10 AM–4 PM
Tuition: $262
Materials fee: $72

8342 Cozy Crochet Creations
Instructor: Aimee Armstrong
Embrace the cozy vibes with this beginner–friendly crochet workshop, perfect for anyone! In this one–day workshop, students will learn the crochet basics—like how to chain, single crochet, half and double crochet, and read simple patterns—while creating their very own wearable scarf. Take this workshop and stay warm this season with a scarf handmade by you! Please view materials to purchase and bring for this workshop online.
Sunday, 1/25–1/25, 10 AM–4 PM
Tuition: $137

8341 Save the Clay!
Instructors: Denise Banaag &
Emma Tabachnick
In this one–day workshop, students will explore a number of ways to make your ceramic practice more sustainable in some fun and exciting ways 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 be no bigger than 19 quarts and have a rubber sealing ring. If students wish to finish their work (ex. firing and/or glazing), they will need to purchase ceramics open studio time separately.
Sunday, 1/25, 10 AM–4 PM
Tuition: $25
Materials fee: $32

8376 NEW! Painting a Colorful Winter Landscape
Instructor: Mark de Mos
In this one–day workshop, students will explore different watercolor styles and palette choices. Prepare for success by testing color mixes, and creating a value or color sketch before doing a finished painting. Students will be given one–on–one instruction as they plan and paint and demonstrations will be provided by the instructor.
Sunday, 1/25, 10 AM–4 PM
Tuition: $137

8343 Put a Lid On It! Exploring Lidded Forms in Clay
Instructor: Emma Tabachnick
In this two–day workshop, we will be focusing on wheel–thrown lidded jars. We will explore multiple techniques to create lidded forms in a variety of shapes and styles, from sugar jars to cookie jars, the possibilities are endless. Lidded forms are a great way to build technical skills where students will utilize precision to create a functional and beautiful piece of art. This workshop is designed for intermediate and advanced students. Clay will need to be purchased on the first day of the workshop. The materials fee covers the cost of using the equipment in the studio and the firing for two sessions.
Sunday, 2/1 & 2/8, 10 AM–4 PM
Tuition: $262
Materials fee: $42

8345 Painting with Wool: Needle Felting a Winter Landscape
Instructor: Martha McDonald
Create a beautiful and unique winter wonderland scene entirely made of wool! Through demonstrations and step–by–step instruction, students will learn about the versatility of this medium by transforming colorful wool roving into amazing textured art. Students will be encouraged to use their own ideas and leave with a completed felted canvas.
Sunday, 2/1, 10 AM–4 PM
Tuition: $137
Materials fee: $34

8346 Drawing in Perspective
Instructor: Drew Maillard
Want to add depth and realism to your drawing and painting? Learn step–by–step to draw one–, two–, and three–point perspective; measure in perspective; and how to achieve uniform proportions throughout a drawing. Follow along with the instructor through various exercises for hands–on learning.
Sunday, 2/8, 10 AM–4 PM
Tuition: $137

8348 NEW! Techniques in Water–Mixable Oil Paint
Instructor: Traci Zaretzka
Have you wanted to try painting with oils but don’t want to work with solvent? Water–mixable oil paints are traditional oil paint with an additive that allows them to mix with water and can be cleaned up with soap and water. In this two–day workshop, students will explore the beauty of oil painting through learning the traditional oil painting techniques of painting wet–on–wet, glazing over a grisaille (gray–scale) painting, and painting in impasto using a palette knife. You will learn how to mix colors and when to thin paint with water vs. oil.
Sunday, 2/8 & 2/15, 10 AM–4 PM
Tuition: $262

8349 NEW! Cupid’s Creations: Bejeweled Valentine’s Day Canvas (age 21+)
Instructor: Vanessa Lopez
Celebrate love and creativity with a sparkling twist! Join us for an evening of fun and friendship as you paint a Valentine’s inspired subject matter on canvas, then adorn it with gems, jewels, beads, and more to make your masterpiece truly shine. This workshop is designed for students who are 21 years old and older. Wine will be provided for students to share and sip. Students are welcome to bring a snack of their choice to have during the workshop.
Thursday, 2/12, 7–9:30 PM
Tuition: $100
Materials fee: $34

8352 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.
Sunday, 2/15, 10 AM–4 PM
Tuition: $137

8351 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, 2/15, 10 AM–2 PM
Tuition: $110
Materials fee: $23

8355 Gel Plate Monotype Printmaking
Instructor: Alicia Cotter
Gel plates have a soft, gelatin–like feel, but are durable, reusable, and simple to work with. Learn the process of monotype printmaking using acrylic paints with this versatile and economical printmaking tool. Explore mark–making and layering techniques to create prints that can stand alone as artwork or be used as a foundation for other mediums.
Sunday, 2/22, 10 AM–4 PM
Tuition: $137
Materials fee: $34

8357 Impasto Painting
Instructor: Katherine Ivanova
Impasto painting has the ability to open wonderful new possibilities for visual expression. Paint is applied thickly to raise the brush strokes and palette knife’s markings from the canvas. In this one–day workshop, students will create a small landscape and learn a variety of impasto painting techniques such as texture, color mixing, and 3D composition.
Sunday, 2/22, 10 AM–2 PM
Tuition: $110
Materials fee: $28

8358 NEW! Snow’s True Colors in Pastels
Instructor: Andrea Gianchiglia
Learn to see beyond “white” as we explore the rich blues, purples, pinks, and golds hidden in snowy landscapes. In this all–levels pastel workshop, you’ll discover techniques to layer, blend, and bring winter scenes to life with depth and vibrancy!
Sunday, 2/22, 10 AM–2 PM
Tuition: $110

8356 NEW! Alternative Surface Decoration & Glazing
Instructor: Shelley Rosen Howard
This workshop is for the curious & experimental clay students, who look for alternative ways to experiment with surface design! Students will use safe materials, like mason stains, colored clay bits, dried glaze, grog, and other materials to create unique pieces. Some of these alternative decorating techniques can be applied on greenware pieces on the first day. Clay will need to be purchased on the day of the workshop. The materials fee covers some materials, firing and use of studio equipment.
Sundays, 2/22 & 3/1, 10 AM–2 PM
Tuition: $220
Materials fee: $38

8359/8370 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.
8359 Saturday, 2/28, 10 AM–4 PM
8370 Saturday, 3/14, 10 AM–4 PM
Tuition: $137
Materials fee: $50

8360 Linoleum Block Printing
Instructor: Drew Maillard
Learn relief printing from start to finish. Through instructor demonstration and hands–on experience, students design, cut, and print a linoleum block print. We cover troubleshooting and fixing common printmaking problems, as well as creating finished proofs and editions.
Sunday, 3/1, 10 AM–4 PM
Tuition: $137
Materials fee: $32

8362 NEW! Neon Nights: Glow in the Dark Painting
Instructor: Vanessa Lopez
Looking for a unique and unforgettable night out? Join us for a glow–in–the–dark painting experience designed exclusively for adults! Create your own vibrant canvas masterpiece under black lights using glow–in–the–dark paint. Whether you’re planning a fun date night or a creative evening with friends, this one–of–a–kind event is perfect for anyone looking to try something new. Students are welcomed to bring a snack of their choice to have during the workshop
Thursday, 3/5, 7–9:30 PM
Tuition: $100
Materials fee: $34

8363 NEW! Knotting Your Own Freshwater Pearl Necklace
Instructor: Y’vonne Page–Magnus
Discover the art of hand knotting with silk thread and baroque freshwater pearls! Students will learn how to thread and knot pearls using a single hand knot technique. They will make a classic 16–18–inch baroque freshwater pearl necklace with knots in between and a gold color Tibetan clasp. Students will also finish off their necklace with French wire for a professional fine jewelry store look.
Saturday, 3/7, 11 AM–2 PM
Tuition: $100
Materials fee: $30

8367 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 so 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, 3/8, 10 AM–4 PM
Tuition: $137
Materials fee: $48

8365 NEW! Metalsmithed Flowers
Instructor: Sue Sachs
You don’t need to have a green thumb to make metal flowers in this one–day jewelry workshop! Using copper, brass, bronze, or silver, students will learn how to form flowers to create an ever-blooming garden. Add a stem or leaves to make a pin, pendant, bracelet, tiara, or sculpture. The instructor will provide a demonstration on how to make a variety of flowers, and techniques on soldering, repousse, and hammering will be shown. This workshop is made for students who have some experience in jewelry making, and advanced students are welcome. The Art Center will supply brass and copper metal. Students who wish to work in silver need to purchase this themselves and bring it with them on the day of the workshop (24–gauge sheet, minimum 3”x3”, 6” 14–gauge wire).
Sunday, 3/8, 10 AM–4 PM
Tuition: $137
Materials fee: $38

8364 Spring into Ceramics
Instructor: Jessica Garber
Prepare for your garden as we look forward to spring. Learn to make plant pots for your home, inside and out! During this workshop, students will learn to make planters, saucers, how to easily add drainage to your pots, throw two in one planter, and how to make a unique watering bell. Decoration and texturing techniques using slip and tools will also be demonstrated as well as how to make your own custom garden stakes. Students can finish their pieces during class time or there are ceramics open studios available during the semester if they wish to register and glaze their pieces once bisque–fired. The materials fee covers the bisque firing and studio usage. Clay will need to be purchased on the day of the workshop.
Sunday, 3/8, 10 AM–4 PM
Tuition: $137
Materials fee: $28

8366 NEW! Watercolor Painting: Birds of Paradise
Instructor: Kat Block
Brighten up your winter by painting a watercolor flower still–life of birds of paradise! Students will learn how to produce a brilliant and dynamic painting by creating colors that flow together for a vivid appearance and breaking up space with opposing angles. Students will walk away with a piece of contemporary art that is exciting, colorful, and uplifting.
Sunday, 3/8, 10 AM–2 PM
Tuition: $110
Materials fee: $27

8368 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, 3/14 & 3/15, 10 AM–4 PM
Tuition: $262
Materials fee: $78

8371 Pen & Ink Drawing
Instructor: Drew Maillard
Explore pen & ink as a drawing medium. Start with value and texture exercises and continue to simple drawings. Experiment with different pen & ink drawing tools brought by the instructor, such as dip–quill pens and brush pens.
Sunday, 3/15, 10 AM–4 PM
Tuition: $137
Materials fee: $16

8372 The Wonders of Fluid Painting: Acrylic Pouring
Instructor: Katherine Ivanova
Have you ever wanted to try a non-traditional art process of painting? In this one–day workshop, students will learn to create dazzling abstract art using the acrylic pouring process. Students will explore the fluidity of the paints that allows movement, variation of patterns, and evolution of colors. The process is unique, fun, creative, and meditative.
Sunday, 3/15, 11 AM–3 PM
Tuition: $110
Materials fee: $42