Step out of the spectator’s seat and into the studio to transform your creative curiosity into a lifelong practice within a community that celebrates every stroke and sculpt.
Unlike one-time workshops that focus on a single finished project, these adult classes are ongoing, skill-building sessions designed for long-term growth. Led by professional resident artists, the curriculum spans a vast array of disciplines—including watercolor, oil painting, observational drawing, and advanced ceramics. Classes are typically held weekly, allowing students to develop their personal style at their own pace within a collaborative, working-studio environment.
Technical Proficiency: Master fundamental and advanced techniques in your chosen medium, from understanding the chemistry of glazes to the precision of perspective drawing.
Creative Discipline: Establish a consistent artistic routine that moves beyond “hobbyist” levels into serious creative practice.
Professional Mentorship: Gain direct access to established artists who provide personalized critiques and industry insights.
Portfolio Development: Build a cohesive body of work suitable for exhibition or personal collections.
Medium Specialization: Ability to specialize in niche areas like “The Natural Way to Draw” or “Hand-Building Techniques for Clay.”
Community Connection: Immerse yourself in the NSB Arts District, surrounded by a supportive network of like-minded creators and “Hub” artists.
Dual-Facility Access: Benefit from the combined resources of two distinct locations—the historic atmosphere of Canal Street and the specialized kiln and clay facilities at Jane’s.
Member Advantages: Participants who join as members receive discounted class rates, early access to special events, and opportunities to display work in the Annual Member’s Show.
Stress Reduction: Engage in “Soul Meets Body” style creative flow, using art as a therapeutic outlet for mindfulness and mental clarity.
Public Exposure: Students work in a “working studio” model, gaining experience in how to create while interacting with the public during the district’s famous Art Strolls.
Ignite your inspiration in a single day: dive deep into a new medium, learn a master’s secret technique, and walk away with a finished masterpiece.
Workshops are intensive, short-term experiences—ranging from a few hours to a full weekend—concentrated on a specific project or specialized skill. These sessions are perfect for those who want to “test drive” an art form like resin pouring, jewelry making, or Raku firing without a multi-week commitment. Guest instructors and resident artists lead these fast-paced sessions, providing all necessary materials so students can focus entirely on the “Aha!” moment of creation.
Project Completion: The satisfaction of starting and finishing a professional-quality piece of art in a single session.
Specialized Skill-Sprints: Rapid acquisition of “micro-skills,” such as learning a specific brushwork style, a unique wire-wrapping technique, or a specific glazing effect.
Material Fluency: Hands-on experience with professional tools and premium materials (often provided) that you might not have in a home studio.
Expert Shortcuts: Direct “pro-tips” and condensed workflows from visiting experts who specialize in the workshop’s specific niche.
Creative Confidence: A low-pressure environment to try something “outside your box” and overcome the fear of a blank canvas or raw clay.
Time Efficiency: Maximum creative output with a minimal time commitment—ideal for busy professionals or visitors to New Smyrna Beach.
Social Networking: A fun, high-energy atmosphere that is perfect for meeting new people or attending with a group of friends.
Curiosity Exploration: A cost-effective way to explore different mediums (from fiber arts to photography) before investing in long-term equipment or classes.
All-Inclusive Ease: Most workshops include all kits and supplies, removing the barrier of shopping for complex art lists.
Immediate Gratification: The unique thrill of taking home a tangible reminder of your New Smyrna Beach creative experience the very same day.
There is a unique, quiet magic in surrendering to the clay, where the form you seek is already waiting to be discovered under your fingertips.
Ceramic workshops are immersive, brief encounters—spanning from a fleeting afternoon to an entire weekend—centered on the elusive pull of clay and form. These sessions are ideal for those yearning to “test the waters” of the ceramic arts, whether you’re seeking the raw tactile experience of the wheel or the quiet patience of hand-building, all without the weight of a long-term commitment. Guided by visiting makers and seasoned resident artists, these fluid gatherings provide the essential elements, leaving you free to chase that singular, transformative feeling of watching something take shape under your own hands.
There is a hidden rhythm in your own movement that is just waiting for the music to bring it to the surface.
Dance workshops are fluid, energetic encounters centered on the language of the body. They are ideal for those who wish to step into motion without the pressure of a conservatory, providing a space where you can explore the interplay of strength, balance, and expression.
To learn a new way of speaking is to unlock a door to a version of yourself you haven’t yet met.
Language workshops are vibrant, brief encounters meant to broaden your horizons. They are perfect for those wanting to explore the melody of a new culture without the weight of long-term academic commitment.
A story is not just a collection of words; it is a mirror waiting for you to see yourself reflected in its depths.
Literature workshops are contemplative, deep-dive sessions designed for the curious reader. These gatherings are ideal for those who want to “test drive” a new way of seeing the world through the lens of those who have written it before.
Your story is already written in the quiet moments of your mind; you only need to provide the ink to set it free.
Writing workshops are reflective, brief immersions designed to help you tap into the stream of your own consciousness. These sessions offer a sanctuary for those looking to “test drive” their voice, providing the structure to get your internal narrative onto the page.
There is a resonance waiting to be found in the space between the notes, where your own spirit can finally make itself heard.
Music workshops are immersive, brief encounters centered on the resonance of sound. These sessions are perfect for those yearning to “test the waters” of an instrument or theory, all without the weight of a long-term commitment.
Instructor
Carly began working with clay in 1997, earning an art degree from Stetson University in 2003. She works with porcelain, making functional and sculptural ceramics that are inspired by the natural world. Carly has over 15 years of experience teaching ceramics.
Instructor
Julie was born in Ohio and moved to Florida in 2005. She has a BS in teaching and a PhD in School Psychology. She has always had a love for the arts and has taken many classes in painting, art instruction and ceramics. She has worked as a teacher, psychologist, adjunct professor, and art therapist. She teaches beginning pottery wheels, and also gives private lessons to children and adults.
Instructor
Matthew Shaffer is a figurative sculptor from Fort Wayne, Indiana. Formerly, he was a Professor of Ceramics
and Sculpture at Santa Fe College and has also taught at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg,
TN. He received his MFA from the University of Florida in ceramics and received his BFA from Indiana
University in Sculpture and Photography. His work is shown nationally and has been published in Clay Times
as well as 500 Figures by Lark Books, and Confrontational Ceramics by Dr. Judith Schwartz.
