This year, Ed Higgins’ plein air painting class is not media dependent. You may choose to work in oil, acrylics, watercolor, or pastel. Getting outside and painting from nature is our mission, choice of media is up to you and what you feel like working with on a particular day. We will meet at various scenic locations in and around the midcoast. The instructor will send the group an email with the meet up location prior to each class. In case of bad weather, we will meet at an indoor location. There is no set materials list. If you have any questions, contact the instructor directly at ed_higgins@icloud.com.

Have clothes that need mending? Come learn sashiko, the Japanese art of visible mending where we will patch our garments with a purposefully visible stitch to strengthen and beautify them all at once. Students will each receive needles, thread, a patch, and a take-home guide. Please bring a ruler, scissors, sewing pins, and your garment of choice (denim preferred). A $25 materials fee, payable to the instructor, must be paid the first night of class.

Learn to create your own set of three sterling silver stacking rings in this fun, hands-on workshop! You will start with a selection of different shaped sterling silver wires. Then you'll be guided through the basics of soldering, shaping, texturing, and polishing your rings to make a custom stack that’s uniquely yours. No experience needed—just come ready to create!

The plein air sketching class this summer is not media dependent. Working in your field journal or sketchbook, you may use pencil, ink, watercolor, colored pencils, watercolor pencils, or all of the above. We will meet at various scenic locations and parks in and around the Midcoast. The instructor will send the group an email with the meet up location prior to each class. In case of bad weather, we will meet at an indoor location. There is no set materials list. If you have any questions, contact the instructor directly at ed_higgins@icloud.com.

Come spend a relaxing Saturday morning making beautiful beeswax candles. We will be hand-dipping taper candles of your chosen shape and color design. Join us for this slow yet oh-so rewarding traditional craft! A $10 materials fee, payable to the instructor, must be paid the night of class.

Part Two: The Sketchbook Habit. Art the old school way means habituating to working in your sketchbook. There is no better repository for inspiration, nor quicker way to mastering the basics of drawing. Sadly, in the modern age, the simple joy of recording your visual ideas on paper in a bound sketchbook is becoming a lost art. With the focus nowadays on influencers, results, clicks and likes, it appears as though individual artistic development and process is taking a back seat to group consensus. Instructor Ed Higgins will help you prepare for your artistic journey by helping you discover and record your experiences through practice and persistence with real media in your sketchbook. *No Class: 7/28.

In the summer of 2026, the abstract atelier will be exploring collage and frottage. Collage is a process of applying cut or torn paper, text, or imagery to a surface; and frottage is a technique of rubbing media on top of paper which has been placed over an uneven surface. There is no set materials list. If you have any questions, contact the instructor directly at ed_higgins@icloud.com. *No Class: 7/31.

Ever wanted to take some time for yourself and play with clay? Learn the basics of hand building and wheel throwing in this 6 week class. This class is geared toward the beginner. The first 10 people to sign up have priority on the wheel. Please let admins know if you prefer to hand build or wheel throw so we can keep an accurate account. Glazing will also be covered so that you can leave with finished pieces. $65 materials fee is due to the instructor on the first night of class. *Purchasing additional clay: The fee is an additional $65 to cover the firing, glazes and other consumables used during class. Please note: If you miss a class, you cannot make-up the class at another time. The ceramics schedule is very tight and these classes are usually full. Thank you for your understanding! *No Class: 4/21.

Every story needs a world to live in. This course explores the art of world-building, imagining other realms. Students will create maps, develop histories, and imagine cultures that make fictional universes feel alive. Hands-on projects will blend storytelling, design, illustration, and digital media, giving you tools to construct immersive environments for narratives, animation, illustration, interactive media, role-playing, or your own joy of playing with imagination.

Curious about creating eye-catching graphics, presentations, and digital designs — without needing fancy software? Join Catherine for this free, one-night lecture introducing you to the basics of Canva, the easy-to-use online design platform loved by beginners and pros alike! You’ll get an overview of Canva’s most useful tools and features, learn how to navigate the workspace, explore templates, and discover simple tricks to make your projects stand out. Whether you’re designing for social media, small business, or personal projects, this session will give you the confidence to start creating right away. Perfect for anyone curious about digital design or looking to dip their toes into Canva for the first time.