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Workshops

CAM Workshops for Artists of All Levels

One and two day classes in creative writing, art appreciation, and all visual art media.

Workshop

Relief Sculpture

This class is perfect for beginners with an interest in sculpture, as well as more experienced artists looking to refine their bas relief techniques. Experience sculpting a detailed image in relief, focusing on depth, proportion, and texture. Recreate the iconic lion’s head found on the edge of a stone flower planter at the Butterfly House, from the 1st district of Vienna Austria. You will use a detailed reference image from the Scan the World Project.
Date/Time:
Saturday and Sunday, February 7 & 8, 10am-4pm
Skill Level:
Adult: All Levels
Admission:
CAM Member $172 / Not-yet Member $215
Instructor:
Rob Diseker
Supplies:
$35 payable to the instructor. Covers clay and specialized tools made by the instructor
Register
Adult

Street Photography/Portraits

Using your smart phone or digital camera, we will delve into the art of street photography. Whether you are looking to sharpen your skills crafting images of the streets and alleys of Wilmington or want to try your hand at producing portraits of strangers you will enjoy this workshop. By working with strangers to create a photograph in half a minute, this workshop will hone the photographer’s interpersonal and portrait skills.
Date/Time:
Saturday and Sunday, February 7 & 8, 10am-12pm and 12-2pm
Skill Level:
Adult: All Levels
Admission:
CAM Member $56 / Not-yet-member $70
Instructor:
Alan Cradick
Supplies:
Bring any digital device, smart phone, tablet or digital camera.
Register
Adult

Couples “Ghost” Valentines Clay Night

Recreate your favorite scene from 'Ghost' for Valentine's Day! Experience throwing pottery on the wheel, beginner-friendly. After watching a demonstration, you'll be guided through the process of centering the clay & creating a basic shape. Then, you'll independently make your own piece from start to finish! The instructor will always be present to help. Includes instruction, clay, tools, firing, and glazing service. Each person will get to choose 1 of their creations, which we will glaze fire. Enjoy a complimentary glass of wine and keepsake polaroid photo of you and your valentine!
Date/Time:
Thursday, February 12, 6-9pm
Skill Level:
Adult: All Levels
Admission:
CAM Member $75 / Not-yet-member $90
Instructor:
Shannon Gehen
Supplies:
All supplies and tools provided by the studio. Please wear comfortable clothes that can get dirty. Feel free to bring a towel or an apron
Register
Adult

Batik

Batik is an ancient art of dying silk with a hot wax resist which has not changed over centuries. Traditional tools, called tjantings, are used to apply soy wax. Begin by drawing your design on paper to use as a pattern. With the silk attached to a frame, we'll apply the hot wax, after which the dye is painted on with a brush. The final step is a quick ironing to remove the wax. You will leave this workshop with a one-of-a-kind gorgeous scarf!
Date/Time:
Friday – Sunday, February 13 – 15, 10am-2pm
Skill Level:
Adult: All Levels
Admission:
CAM Member $152 / Not-yet-member $190
Instructor:
Judith Chandler
Supplies:
$40 supply fee payable to the instructor. All supplies will be provided by the instructor.
Register
Adult

Growing and Throwing – full, please call for waitlist

Center yourself as you center your clay. Learn throwing techniques while creating an inner dialog of kindness and self-love. Combine a morning of meditation with experimental time on the wheel. Connect with others while you reconnect with your creativity! Your best vessel will be fired and finished with a food safe glaze after the morning session. Please allow at least three weeks for the completion of your work.
Date/Time:
Saturday, February 14, 10am-1pm
Skill Level:
Adult: All Levels
Admission:
CAM Member $60 / Not-yet member $75
Instructor:
Anne McCombie Abbate
Supplies:
All supplies provided by the studio.
Register
Adult

Boxes, Folios and Vessels

Protect your books, store your paper, stationary, and treasures in your own handmade box, folio and vessel. Learn to measure and create templates. Explore mixed media processes like Cyanotype, natural dyes and pigments as well as paints and prints while preparing cover papers and book cloth. Leave the workshop with at least three completed works along with the templates, knowledge and confidence to continue at home.
Date/Time:
Friday and Saturday, February 20 & 21, 10am-4pm
Skill Level:
Adult: All Levels
Admission:
CAM Member $172 / Not-yet-member $215
Instructor:
Catherine Cross Tsintzos
Supplies:
$20 supply fee payable to instructor; all supplies provided by the instructor.
Register
Adult

See the World in Black and White

Documentary photographer Robert Frank once said, “Black and white are the colors of photography.” This workshop will explore the use of the monochrome palette in photography. We will spend two hours downtown photographing light and shadow, removing the distraction of color that sometimes obscures the true subject of the image. On Saturday, we will meet at the corner of Market and Front streets downtown to take pictures. Sunday will be at the CAM to review and critique images taken the day before.
Date/Time:
Saturday and Sunday, February 21 & 22, 10am-12pm and 12-2pm
Skill Level:
Adult: All Levels
Admission:
CAM Member $56 / Not-yet-member $70
Instructor:
Alan Cradick
Supplies:
Bring any digital device, smart phone, tablet or digital camera.
Register
Workshop

Momigami—Vessels and Vouchers to Hold and to Heal

Using the Japanese method of momigami to strengthen kozo (mulberry) papers, you’ll sculpt vessels that are not only beautiful, but strong, useful and meditative. Will your vessel hold secrets? Healing words? Tokens and amulets? Additionally, you will create momigami papers/vouchers which are strong and versatile in use. These papers can be used in personal sacred documents or other artistic healing practices. Learn the true methods of momigami, in the ancient way.
Date/Time:
Saturday and Sunday, February 28 & March 1, 10am-4pm
Skill Level:
Adult: All Levels
Admission:
CAM Member $172 / Not-yet-member $215
Instructor:
Jan Wutkowski
Supplies:

$15 supply fee payable to instructor.
Apron, small found objects, buttons, beads, etc.

Register
Adult

The Basics of Drawing Birds

Whether it is a songbird, a raptor, an owl, a hummingbird or a shorebird, we will begin with the first line that creates the attitude (angle) of the body. Large and small ovals or circles start to create the shape of the bird. Working in colored pencil, this workshop will teach proportion, placement of eyes, bills, and feathers, and finish with creating a setting for your bird to live in forever.
Date/Time:
Saturday and Sunday, February 28 & March 1, 10am-2pm
Skill Level:
Adult: All Levels
Admission:
CAM Member $128 / Not-yet-member $160
Instructor:
Carolyn Faulkner
Supplies:
Strathmore sketch or drawing pad. No Bristol paper. HB drawing pencil, kneaded eraser and Prismacolor colored pencils if you wish.
Register
Adult

Pattern: A Principle of Design

Pattern is one of the seven Principles of Art, often overlooked in creating compositions that range from realism to non-objective. You can make any of your ideas into a pattern. Consider Klimt, Kusama, Warhol, and others, who incorporate pattern into their work. A good way to explore Pattern is to rework a painting by adding this unexpected element. We will analyze how artists have used patterns in their work and apply those ideas to our own compositions.
Date/Time:
Friday and Saturday, March 6 & 7, 10am-2pm
Skill Level:
Adult: All Levels
Admission:
CAM Member $128 / Not-yet-member $160
Instructor:
Judith Chandler
Supplies:
Your choice of water based paint, drawing media, mixed media paper, and a glue stick.
Register
Adult

The Art of Gouache

Discover the versatility of gouache! This unique medium is similar to watercolor but offers richer opacity, allowing you to layer and cover underlying colors with ease. Unlike transparent watercolors, gouache dries to a smooth, matte finish that’s ideal for both blending and bold effects. With the fluidity of watercolor and the opaque strength of acrylic, gouache truly offers the best of both worlds.
Date/Time:
Sunday, March 8, 10am-4pm
Skill Level:
Adult: All Levels
Admission:
CAM Member $100 / Not-yet-member $125
Instructor:
Evin Bryson
Supplies:
Gouache paints (include at least red, yellow, blue, black and white), brushes, palette (paper, glass or plastic), watercolor or mixed media sketchbook/paper, paper towels
Register
Adult

Slab Handbuilt Bird Feeders

The perfect spring workshop, handbuilding a ceramic eatery for your backyard avian friends. All instructions and demos are provided along with guided help. Perfect for beginner or experienced hand builders. Glaze and firing provided, pick up approximately 4 weeks later.
Date/Time:
Saturday, March 14, 10am-1pm
Skill Level:
Adult: All Levels
Admission:
CAM Member $64 / Not-yet-member $80
Instructor:
Shannon Gehen
Supplies:
All supplies and tools provided by the studio.
Register
Adult

Landscape Photography – Carolina Beach State Park

Landscape Photography is a wide-ranging topic. It can be as simple as documenting the flowers in your backyard or as grand as the million acres of a western National Park. While we don’t have any sweeping vistas to compare with the iconic west, we do have many beautiful natural areas in and around Wilmington. Together we will explore the coastal forest and riverfront at Carolina Beach State Park with wide and telephoto lenses. We will also create a panoramic image of this wonderful landscape.
Date/Time:
Saturday and Sunday, March 14 & 15, 10am-12pm and 12-2pm
Skill Level:
Adult: All Levels
Admission:
CAM Member $56 / Not-yet-member $70
Instructor:
Alan Cradick
Supplies:
Bring any digital device, smart phone, tablet or digital camera.
Register
Adult

Painting Skies

Learn how to paint clouds the easy way! Overlapping shapes creates depth, softening the edges of your clouds by using blending techniques keeps them from looking pasted on, and to add some excitement to your clouds, have a bird flying in front of them or a rainbow nearby. It can be soft or bold, your choice! You will learn all these techniques, and more in this two-day painting workshop!
Date/Time:
Saturday and Sunday, March 14 & 15, 10am-2pm
Skill Level:
Adult: All Levels
Admission:
CAM Member $128 / Not-yet-member $160
Instructor:
Carolyn Faulkner
Supplies:
Professional acrylic paints. Liquitex Heavy Body or Goldens. Brushes for acrylics, not stiff or soft. Brush tub for water, paper towels, small misting spray bottle. A #2 Artist’s Loft canvas. Size of your choice, 12x16 or larger.
Register
Adult

The Joy of Gel Printing: Beautiful Botanicals

Discover the magic of gel printing—a playful, painterly form of printmaking that uses a gel plate instead of a press. Learn to create luminous botanical prints using pressed leaves, flowers, layered paints, and textures. Explore positive and negative shapes, layering techniques, and mark-making, then transform your prints into greeting cards or mixed media art. Fun, freeing, and a little addictive—come ready to play!
Date/Time:
Sunday, March 22, 10am-2pm
Skill Level:
Adult: All Levels
Admission:
CAM Member $80 / Not-yet-member $100
Instructor:
Mary Martin
Supplies:
$15 supply fee payable to the instructor. All materials provided, including gel printing plates, brayers, acrylic paints, assorted papers, blank greeting cards, pressed leaves, flowers, and textural elements. Students may bring their own papers (such as book pages or old homework) and any favorite pressed botanicals to personalize their prints. All tools and shared studio supplies will be available for use during class.
Register
Adult

Elements of Art

This three-day workshop is great for all artists, but particularly those without formal training. It encompasses the seven Elements of Art: Line, Texture, Shape, Form, Color, Value, and Space. Each is presented with an opportunity for discussion and application of the element, with a great focus on color theory. You will then turn all your knowledge into a final gouache painting employing all seven elements!
Date/Time:
Friday – Sunday, March 27-29, 10am-2pm
Skill Level:
Adult: All Levels
Admission:
CAM Member $152 / Not-yet-member $190
Instructor:
Judith Chandler
Supplies:
$20 supply fee payable to instructor; all supplies will be provided by the instructor.
Register
Adult

Night and Low Light Photography

With long exposures and using available light, your photo making does not need to end with the daylight! Many great images are made with longer shutter speeds and the use of a tripod to steady your camera. Headlight streaks add to the night photography mix. We will meet downtown and spend the evening utilizing longer and longer exposures as the sun sets. There is no need for special equipment, just your camera and a tripod.
Date/Time:
Saturday and Sunday, March 28 & 29, 7-9pm and 12-2pm
Skill Level:
Adult: All Levels
Admission:
CAM Member $56 / Not-yet-member $70
Instructor:
Alan Cradick
Supplies:
Bring any digital device, smart phone, tablet or digital camera, and a tripod.
Register
Adult

Clay Jewelry

A one-day class exploring clay jewelry. Students will form pendants, beads, or charms and learn essential techniques for shaping, detailing, and finishing small pieces. The session includes guidance on textures, surface treatments, and ways to assemble items into wearable work. Suitable for makers of all levels who are interested in creating their own clay accessories!
Date/Time:
Saturday, March 28, 10am-1pm
Skill Level:
Adult: All Levels
Admission:
CAM Member $64 / Not-yet Member $80
Instructor:
Katelyn Guthrie
Supplies:
$25 supply fee (plus CAM service charge). All supplies and tools provided by the studio.
Register
Adult

Watercolor Landscapes

In this two-day workshop you will be washed with the beauty of watercolor landscapes!  Spend your days painting landscapes in watercolor, depicting distance with cool, light color in background with warmer, sharper images in the foreground. Great for beginners wanting to learn the basics of landscapes, or seasoned artists wanting to perfect their techniques!
Date/Time:
Saturday and Sunday, April 11 & 12, 10am-4pm
Skill Level:
Adult: All Levels
Admission:
CAM Member $172 / Not-yet-member $215
Instructor:
Janice Castiglione
Supplies:
Watercolor palette, tape (painter's tape), pencil, kneaded eraser, #140 Arches watercolor paper (Approx. 11"X14"), water container, Brushes (1" flat, Round-#12,#6 #2), Board to mount paintings on (Gator board or plexiglass), Paint- Cadmium yellow, Cadmium red, Cadmium orange, Alizarin Crimson, Burnt sienna, Raw sienna, phthalo green, Ultramarine blue, and cerulean blue.
Register
Adult

Sculpting from Life

Working from real-life observation, students will sculpt a small figure or portrait that captures the beauty of what's right in front of you. Bring a palm-sized reference object that inspires you — a beloved figurine, a fascinating shell, or token — and learn essential techniques to translate what you see into three-dimensional form.
With expert guidance, you'll shape, refine, and add those finishing details that bring personality to your piece. Perfect for artists who love the focused, meditative process of working from life.

Date/Time:
Saturday and Sunday, April 11-12, 10am-1pm
Skill Level:
Adult: All Levels
Admission:
CAM Member $116 / Not-yet-member $145
Instructor:
Katelyn Guthrie
Supplies:
$25 supply fee (plus CAM service charge). All supplies and tools provided by the studio.
Register
Adult

Principles of Art

Principles of Art is the next step in creating compositions that work. The seven Principles, Balance, Movement, Pattern, Rhythm, Unity/Variety, Contrast, and Emphasis are made with the Elements. This class will consider how artists use the Elements to create each of the Principles. Creating small compositions that emphasize chosen Principles will support the application of these principles to future work. This a great follow-up to the Elements of Art workshop, but not a pre-requirement.
Date/Time:
Saturday and Sunday, April 18 & 19, 10am-2pm
Skill Level:
Adult: All Levels
Admission:
CAM Member $128 / Not-yet-member $160
Instructor:
Judith Chandler
Supplies:
$15 supply fee payable to instructor; all supplies will be provided by the instructor.
Register
Adult

Figures at an Exhibition

With a nod to the symphony "Pictures At An Exhibition", and to the CAM itself, this workshop with focus on adding figures to interiors. Using photos of museum interiors and visitors, we will paint these "portraits" and try to convey the feeling one gets while losing themselves viewing a Master's painting. Visit the CAM (or any museum!) beforehand and take photos to bring to the studio if you wish.
Date/Time:
Saturday and Sunday, April 18 & 19, 10am-2pm
Skill Level:
Adult: All Levels
Admission:
CAM Member $128 / Not-yet-member $160
Instructor:
Jeri Greenberg
Supplies:
Bring supplies relevant to your preferred medium! The instructor will be using pastels and mixed media.
Register
Adult

Raku

Day-long raku firing on our Pancoe porch. Witness the transformation in a Raku kiln, where it is rapidly cooled in combustible materials to create unique crackle and metallic effects. Each student may bring up to 3 glazed pots, each no larger than 8" wide x 10" tall. No platters or large bowls.  Please note that the raku process creates work that is not food safe.

Pots should be bisqued and glazed prior to the workshop.

Please wear safety precautions like wearing natural fiber, long-sleeved clothing, and closed-toe shoes.

Date/Time:
Saturday, April 25, 9am-4pm
Skill Level:
Adult: All Levels
Admission:
CAM Member $55 / Not-yet-member $60
Instructor:
Shannon Gehen and Brian Evans
Supplies:
Bring your own pre-glazed pieces glazed with Raku-specific glaze. There will be bisque-fired pieces to glaze available for purchase through the instructor.
Register
Workshop

Capturing the Moment: Photography + Photo Editing

Learn to capture and enhance stunning photos in this two-day immersive photography workshop. Day one focuses on essential skills for shooting at the beautiful gardens of the NC Arboretum, where you’ll learn to master light, depth of field, and composition. Day two dives into refining and editing your photos using Adobe Lightroom. This course covers the full photography process, from the click of the shutter to the polished final image.
Date/Time:
Saturday and Sunday, April 25 & 26, 10am-12pm and 10am-1pm
Skill Level:
Adult: All Levels
Admission:
CAM Member $92 / Not-yet-member $115
Instructor:
Evin Bryson and Alan Cradick
Supplies:

Adobe Lightroom subscription ($11.99/month) or 14-day free trial
Any digital device - camera/smart phone/tablet
Laptop capable of supporting Adobe software
Mouse and mousepad

Register
Adult

Paint Like the Masters: Wayne Thiebaud

Let’s paint pie! And cakes! This one-day intensive explores America’s modern expressionist’s beautiful mastery of color, shape and line in still life painting. We’ll look at capturing light, color temperature contrasts, his use of “halation” to create Impressionist color vibrations. With demos, handouts and plenty of guided techniques, dessert never looked so good! You’re preferred painting medium, instructor will demo in acrylic and watercolor. Basic beginner painting foundation required.
Date/Time:
Sunday, April 26, 10am-4pm
Skill Level:
Adult: Intermediate
Admission:
CAM Member $112 / Not-yet-member $140
Instructor:
Kirah Van Sickle
Supplies:

Basic set of colors in preferred medium including the following: Titanium White, Cad Yellow Medium, Cadmium Red Medium, Quinacridone Magenta, Ultramarine Blue, Cerulean, Burnt Umber.
Variety of flat style (wash) brushes and filberts in 1/4, 1/2 and 1" widths- synthetic for acrylic or oil; if using watercolor, #8, #10 and #12 rounds with 1/4” and 3/4” flat wash brushes.
Preferred palette pad or mixing tray for watercolor
8-12 Canvas panels (8 x 8", 8 x 10," 12 x 12" or 11 x 14" are good options; or canvas pad that can be taped off.
*9 x 12" 140# cold press watercolor pad for watercolor or acrylic
Artist tape
Apron/smock
Sketchbook for notes and quick sketches
Sketch pen
Paper Towels
Water cup or odorless terpenoid for oil painters

Register
Adult

Breakfast with the Birds

South End at Wrightsville Beach has a wonderful rookery for Black Skimmers and Turns who return every year and put on quite a show! By getting there early, we will be able to watch and snap the birds bringing breakfast back to their nests. Participants will enjoy a great view of the feeding and interactions of these animals while keeping their distance and learning about ongoing conservation efforts. This workshop is for intermediate photographers, and the only special equipment needed is a medium telephoto lens.
Date/Time:
Saturday and Sunday, May 2 & 3, 10am-12pm, 12-2pm
Skill Level:
Adult: Intermediate
Admission:
CAM Member $56 / Not-yet-member $70
Instructor:
Alan Cradick
Supplies:
Bring any digital device, smart phone, tablet or digital camera, and medium telephoto lens.
Register
Workshop

Printing With Plants

The smallest and most delicate of plant life can take on a magnitude of impact when inked and printed! Experiment with cuttings from your garden and CAM grounds to both spotlight and combine to push scale and composition. Print on both fabric and papers with block inks and stamp pads.
Date/Time:
Saturday, May 2, 10am-4pm
Skill Level:
Adult: All Levels
Admission:
CAM Member $100 / Not-yet-member $125
Instructor:
Donna Moore
Supplies:
$20 supply fee (payable to the instructor) covers printmaking supplies and papers. Bring cuttings - blossoms, leaves, roots - to use as subject matter. Can bring articles of clothing or kitchen/bath towels to create textile design (natural fibers such as cotton, linen, bamboo, etc).
Register
Workshop

Paint Like Frida Kahlo

Step into the colorful world of Frida Kahlo! In this workshop we will explore her life, artistic process, and signature style: bold colors, rich symbolism, and deeply personal storytelling. Learn the techniques behind her expressive portraits and discover how she transformed self-portraiture into powerful narrative art. Then you’ll bring her approach to life by creating your own portrait inspired by her unique style of personal storytelling.
Date/Time:
Saturday, May 9th, 10am-4pm
Skill Level:
Adult: All Levels
Admission:
CAM Member $100 / Not-yet-member $125
Instructor:
Evin Bryson
Supplies:

Oil or acrylic paint (include at least red, yellow, blue, black and white), brushes, palette knife, palette (paper or glass), paper towels, sketchbook, one canvas (8x10 or larger)
If using oil paint: odorless mineral spirits, linseed or walnut oil (small bottle), jar/container with lid

Image: Frida Kahlo (Mexican, 1907–1954), Untitled [Self-portrait with thorn necklace and hummingbird], 1940. Oil on canvas mounted to board. Nickolas Muray Collection of Mexican Art, 66.6 © 2020 Banco de México Diego Rivera Frida Kahlo Museums Trust, Mexico, D.F. / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

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Workshop

Oil Painting for the Scaredy Cat

Don't be afraid, give oil painting a try! Learn the basics of oil painting and have fun doing it. This workshop will give you a foundation of confidence you can take into your future oil painting classes.
Date/Time:
Saturday, May 16, 10am-4pm
Skill Level:
Adult: Beginner
Admission:
CAM Member $100 / Not-yet-member $125
Instructor:
Amy Gibson
Supplies:
$5 supply fee payable to instructor; all supplies provided by the instructor.
Register
Workshop

Miniature Watercolor Workshop

Learn to paint small! We will be painting small 4" x 5" watercolor paintings, using whiskey to dip our brushes into instead of water. This is a relaxing atmosphere filled with creativity and inspiration, covering the basics of watercolor and color theory while experimenting with whiskey as our solvent.
Date/Time:
Sunday, May 17, 10am-4pm
Skill Level:
Adult: Beginner
Admission:
CAM Member $100 / Not-yet-member $125
Instructor:
Amy Gibson
Supplies:

Any small watercolor set. example Sennelier French Artists' Travel Watercolor Set, 8 Count, or Winsor & Newton Cotman Water Colour Sketchers' Pocket Box 1
Watercolor paper block any size - cold press 140lbs - Arches, or Stonehenge
Whiskey is provided by instructor

Register
Workshop

Relief Sculpture

This class is perfect for beginners with an interest in sculpture, as well as more experienced artists looking to refine their bas relief techniques. Experience sculpting a detailed image in relief, focusing on depth, proportion, and texture. Recreate the iconic lion’s head found on the edge of a stone flower planter at the Butterfly House, from the 1st district of Vienna Austria. You will use a detailed reference image from the Scan the World Project.
Date/Time:
Saturday and Sunday, February 7 & 8, 10am-4pm
Skill Level:
Adult: All Levels
Admission:
CAM Member $172 / Not-yet Member $215
Instructor:
Rob Diseker
Supplies:
$35 payable to the instructor. Covers clay and specialized tools made by the instructor
Register
Adult

Street Photography/Portraits

Using your smart phone or digital camera, we will delve into the art of street photography. Whether you are looking to sharpen your skills crafting images of the streets and alleys of Wilmington or want to try your hand at producing portraits of strangers you will enjoy this workshop. By working with strangers to create a photograph in half a minute, this workshop will hone the photographer’s interpersonal and portrait skills.
Date/Time:
Saturday and Sunday, February 7 & 8, 10am-12pm and 12-2pm
Skill Level:
Adult: All Levels
Admission:
CAM Member $56 / Not-yet-member $70
Instructor:
Alan Cradick
Supplies:
Bring any digital device, smart phone, tablet or digital camera.
Register
Adult

Couples “Ghost” Valentines Clay Night

Recreate your favorite scene from 'Ghost' for Valentine's Day! Experience throwing pottery on the wheel, beginner-friendly. After watching a demonstration, you'll be guided through the process of centering the clay & creating a basic shape. Then, you'll independently make your own piece from start to finish! The instructor will always be present to help. Includes instruction, clay, tools, firing, and glazing service. Each person will get to choose 1 of their creations, which we will glaze fire. Enjoy a complimentary glass of wine and keepsake polaroid photo of you and your valentine!
Date/Time:
Thursday, February 12, 6-9pm
Skill Level:
Adult: All Levels
Admission:
CAM Member $75 / Not-yet-member $90
Instructor:
Shannon Gehen
Supplies:
All supplies and tools provided by the studio. Please wear comfortable clothes that can get dirty. Feel free to bring a towel or an apron
Register
Adult

Batik

Batik is an ancient art of dying silk with a hot wax resist which has not changed over centuries. Traditional tools, called tjantings, are used to apply soy wax. Begin by drawing your design on paper to use as a pattern. With the silk attached to a frame, we'll apply the hot wax, after which the dye is painted on with a brush. The final step is a quick ironing to remove the wax. You will leave this workshop with a one-of-a-kind gorgeous scarf!
Date/Time:
Friday – Sunday, February 13 – 15, 10am-2pm
Skill Level:
Adult: All Levels
Admission:
CAM Member $152 / Not-yet-member $190
Instructor:
Judith Chandler
Supplies:
$40 supply fee payable to the instructor. All supplies will be provided by the instructor.
Register
Adult

Growing and Throwing – full, please call for waitlist

Center yourself as you center your clay. Learn throwing techniques while creating an inner dialog of kindness and self-love. Combine a morning of meditation with experimental time on the wheel. Connect with others while you reconnect with your creativity! Your best vessel will be fired and finished with a food safe glaze after the morning session. Please allow at least three weeks for the completion of your work.
Date/Time:
Saturday, February 14, 10am-1pm
Skill Level:
Adult: All Levels
Admission:
CAM Member $60 / Not-yet member $75
Instructor:
Anne McCombie Abbate
Supplies:
All supplies provided by the studio.
Register
Adult

Boxes, Folios and Vessels

Protect your books, store your paper, stationary, and treasures in your own handmade box, folio and vessel. Learn to measure and create templates. Explore mixed media processes like Cyanotype, natural dyes and pigments as well as paints and prints while preparing cover papers and book cloth. Leave the workshop with at least three completed works along with the templates, knowledge and confidence to continue at home.
Date/Time:
Friday and Saturday, February 20 & 21, 10am-4pm
Skill Level:
Adult: All Levels
Admission:
CAM Member $172 / Not-yet-member $215
Instructor:
Catherine Cross Tsintzos
Supplies:
$20 supply fee payable to instructor; all supplies provided by the instructor.
Register
Adult

See the World in Black and White

Documentary photographer Robert Frank once said, “Black and white are the colors of photography.” This workshop will explore the use of the monochrome palette in photography. We will spend two hours downtown photographing light and shadow, removing the distraction of color that sometimes obscures the true subject of the image. On Saturday, we will meet at the corner of Market and Front streets downtown to take pictures. Sunday will be at the CAM to review and critique images taken the day before.
Date/Time:
Saturday and Sunday, February 21 & 22, 10am-12pm and 12-2pm
Skill Level:
Adult: All Levels
Admission:
CAM Member $56 / Not-yet-member $70
Instructor:
Alan Cradick
Supplies:
Bring any digital device, smart phone, tablet or digital camera.
Register
Workshop

Momigami—Vessels and Vouchers to Hold and to Heal

Using the Japanese method of momigami to strengthen kozo (mulberry) papers, you’ll sculpt vessels that are not only beautiful, but strong, useful and meditative. Will your vessel hold secrets? Healing words? Tokens and amulets? Additionally, you will create momigami papers/vouchers which are strong and versatile in use. These papers can be used in personal sacred documents or other artistic healing practices. Learn the true methods of momigami, in the ancient way.
Date/Time:
Saturday and Sunday, February 28 & March 1, 10am-4pm
Skill Level:
Adult: All Levels
Admission:
CAM Member $172 / Not-yet-member $215
Instructor:
Jan Wutkowski
Supplies:

$15 supply fee payable to instructor.
Apron, small found objects, buttons, beads, etc.

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Adult

The Basics of Drawing Birds

Whether it is a songbird, a raptor, an owl, a hummingbird or a shorebird, we will begin with the first line that creates the attitude (angle) of the body. Large and small ovals or circles start to create the shape of the bird. Working in colored pencil, this workshop will teach proportion, placement of eyes, bills, and feathers, and finish with creating a setting for your bird to live in forever.
Date/Time:
Saturday and Sunday, February 28 & March 1, 10am-2pm
Skill Level:
Adult: All Levels
Admission:
CAM Member $128 / Not-yet-member $160
Instructor:
Carolyn Faulkner
Supplies:
Strathmore sketch or drawing pad. No Bristol paper. HB drawing pencil, kneaded eraser and Prismacolor colored pencils if you wish.
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Adult

Pattern: A Principle of Design

Pattern is one of the seven Principles of Art, often overlooked in creating compositions that range from realism to non-objective. You can make any of your ideas into a pattern. Consider Klimt, Kusama, Warhol, and others, who incorporate pattern into their work. A good way to explore Pattern is to rework a painting by adding this unexpected element. We will analyze how artists have used patterns in their work and apply those ideas to our own compositions.
Date/Time:
Friday and Saturday, March 6 & 7, 10am-2pm
Skill Level:
Adult: All Levels
Admission:
CAM Member $128 / Not-yet-member $160
Instructor:
Judith Chandler
Supplies:
Your choice of water based paint, drawing media, mixed media paper, and a glue stick.
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Adult

The Art of Gouache

Discover the versatility of gouache! This unique medium is similar to watercolor but offers richer opacity, allowing you to layer and cover underlying colors with ease. Unlike transparent watercolors, gouache dries to a smooth, matte finish that’s ideal for both blending and bold effects. With the fluidity of watercolor and the opaque strength of acrylic, gouache truly offers the best of both worlds.
Date/Time:
Sunday, March 8, 10am-4pm
Skill Level:
Adult: All Levels
Admission:
CAM Member $100 / Not-yet-member $125
Instructor:
Evin Bryson
Supplies:
Gouache paints (include at least red, yellow, blue, black and white), brushes, palette (paper, glass or plastic), watercolor or mixed media sketchbook/paper, paper towels
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Adult

Slab Handbuilt Bird Feeders

The perfect spring workshop, handbuilding a ceramic eatery for your backyard avian friends. All instructions and demos are provided along with guided help. Perfect for beginner or experienced hand builders. Glaze and firing provided, pick up approximately 4 weeks later.
Date/Time:
Saturday, March 14, 10am-1pm
Skill Level:
Adult: All Levels
Admission:
CAM Member $64 / Not-yet-member $80
Instructor:
Shannon Gehen
Supplies:
All supplies and tools provided by the studio.
Register
Adult

Landscape Photography – Carolina Beach State Park

Landscape Photography is a wide-ranging topic. It can be as simple as documenting the flowers in your backyard or as grand as the million acres of a western National Park. While we don’t have any sweeping vistas to compare with the iconic west, we do have many beautiful natural areas in and around Wilmington. Together we will explore the coastal forest and riverfront at Carolina Beach State Park with wide and telephoto lenses. We will also create a panoramic image of this wonderful landscape.
Date/Time:
Saturday and Sunday, March 14 & 15, 10am-12pm and 12-2pm
Skill Level:
Adult: All Levels
Admission:
CAM Member $56 / Not-yet-member $70
Instructor:
Alan Cradick
Supplies:
Bring any digital device, smart phone, tablet or digital camera.
Register
Adult

Painting Skies

Learn how to paint clouds the easy way! Overlapping shapes creates depth, softening the edges of your clouds by using blending techniques keeps them from looking pasted on, and to add some excitement to your clouds, have a bird flying in front of them or a rainbow nearby. It can be soft or bold, your choice! You will learn all these techniques, and more in this two-day painting workshop!
Date/Time:
Saturday and Sunday, March 14 & 15, 10am-2pm
Skill Level:
Adult: All Levels
Admission:
CAM Member $128 / Not-yet-member $160
Instructor:
Carolyn Faulkner
Supplies:
Professional acrylic paints. Liquitex Heavy Body or Goldens. Brushes for acrylics, not stiff or soft. Brush tub for water, paper towels, small misting spray bottle. A #2 Artist’s Loft canvas. Size of your choice, 12x16 or larger.
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Adult

The Joy of Gel Printing: Beautiful Botanicals

Discover the magic of gel printing—a playful, painterly form of printmaking that uses a gel plate instead of a press. Learn to create luminous botanical prints using pressed leaves, flowers, layered paints, and textures. Explore positive and negative shapes, layering techniques, and mark-making, then transform your prints into greeting cards or mixed media art. Fun, freeing, and a little addictive—come ready to play!
Date/Time:
Sunday, March 22, 10am-2pm
Skill Level:
Adult: All Levels
Admission:
CAM Member $80 / Not-yet-member $100
Instructor:
Mary Martin
Supplies:
$15 supply fee payable to the instructor. All materials provided, including gel printing plates, brayers, acrylic paints, assorted papers, blank greeting cards, pressed leaves, flowers, and textural elements. Students may bring their own papers (such as book pages or old homework) and any favorite pressed botanicals to personalize their prints. All tools and shared studio supplies will be available for use during class.
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Adult

Elements of Art

This three-day workshop is great for all artists, but particularly those without formal training. It encompasses the seven Elements of Art: Line, Texture, Shape, Form, Color, Value, and Space. Each is presented with an opportunity for discussion and application of the element, with a great focus on color theory. You will then turn all your knowledge into a final gouache painting employing all seven elements!
Date/Time:
Friday – Sunday, March 27-29, 10am-2pm
Skill Level:
Adult: All Levels
Admission:
CAM Member $152 / Not-yet-member $190
Instructor:
Judith Chandler
Supplies:
$20 supply fee payable to instructor; all supplies will be provided by the instructor.
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Adult

Night and Low Light Photography

With long exposures and using available light, your photo making does not need to end with the daylight! Many great images are made with longer shutter speeds and the use of a tripod to steady your camera. Headlight streaks add to the night photography mix. We will meet downtown and spend the evening utilizing longer and longer exposures as the sun sets. There is no need for special equipment, just your camera and a tripod.
Date/Time:
Saturday and Sunday, March 28 & 29, 7-9pm and 12-2pm
Skill Level:
Adult: All Levels
Admission:
CAM Member $56 / Not-yet-member $70
Instructor:
Alan Cradick
Supplies:
Bring any digital device, smart phone, tablet or digital camera, and a tripod.
Register
Adult

Clay Jewelry

A one-day class exploring clay jewelry. Students will form pendants, beads, or charms and learn essential techniques for shaping, detailing, and finishing small pieces. The session includes guidance on textures, surface treatments, and ways to assemble items into wearable work. Suitable for makers of all levels who are interested in creating their own clay accessories!
Date/Time:
Saturday, March 28, 10am-1pm
Skill Level:
Adult: All Levels
Admission:
CAM Member $64 / Not-yet Member $80
Instructor:
Katelyn Guthrie
Supplies:
$25 supply fee (plus CAM service charge). All supplies and tools provided by the studio.
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Adult

Watercolor Landscapes

In this two-day workshop you will be washed with the beauty of watercolor landscapes!  Spend your days painting landscapes in watercolor, depicting distance with cool, light color in background with warmer, sharper images in the foreground. Great for beginners wanting to learn the basics of landscapes, or seasoned artists wanting to perfect their techniques!
Date/Time:
Saturday and Sunday, April 11 & 12, 10am-4pm
Skill Level:
Adult: All Levels
Admission:
CAM Member $172 / Not-yet-member $215
Instructor:
Janice Castiglione
Supplies:
Watercolor palette, tape (painter's tape), pencil, kneaded eraser, #140 Arches watercolor paper (Approx. 11"X14"), water container, Brushes (1" flat, Round-#12,#6 #2), Board to mount paintings on (Gator board or plexiglass), Paint- Cadmium yellow, Cadmium red, Cadmium orange, Alizarin Crimson, Burnt sienna, Raw sienna, phthalo green, Ultramarine blue, and cerulean blue.
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Adult

Sculpting from Life

Working from real-life observation, students will sculpt a small figure or portrait that captures the beauty of what's right in front of you. Bring a palm-sized reference object that inspires you — a beloved figurine, a fascinating shell, or token — and learn essential techniques to translate what you see into three-dimensional form.
With expert guidance, you'll shape, refine, and add those finishing details that bring personality to your piece. Perfect for artists who love the focused, meditative process of working from life.

Date/Time:
Saturday and Sunday, April 11-12, 10am-1pm
Skill Level:
Adult: All Levels
Admission:
CAM Member $116 / Not-yet-member $145
Instructor:
Katelyn Guthrie
Supplies:
$25 supply fee (plus CAM service charge). All supplies and tools provided by the studio.
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Adult

Principles of Art

Principles of Art is the next step in creating compositions that work. The seven Principles, Balance, Movement, Pattern, Rhythm, Unity/Variety, Contrast, and Emphasis are made with the Elements. This class will consider how artists use the Elements to create each of the Principles. Creating small compositions that emphasize chosen Principles will support the application of these principles to future work. This a great follow-up to the Elements of Art workshop, but not a pre-requirement.
Date/Time:
Saturday and Sunday, April 18 & 19, 10am-2pm
Skill Level:
Adult: All Levels
Admission:
CAM Member $128 / Not-yet-member $160
Instructor:
Judith Chandler
Supplies:
$15 supply fee payable to instructor; all supplies will be provided by the instructor.
Register
Adult

Figures at an Exhibition

With a nod to the symphony "Pictures At An Exhibition", and to the CAM itself, this workshop with focus on adding figures to interiors. Using photos of museum interiors and visitors, we will paint these "portraits" and try to convey the feeling one gets while losing themselves viewing a Master's painting. Visit the CAM (or any museum!) beforehand and take photos to bring to the studio if you wish.
Date/Time:
Saturday and Sunday, April 18 & 19, 10am-2pm
Skill Level:
Adult: All Levels
Admission:
CAM Member $128 / Not-yet-member $160
Instructor:
Jeri Greenberg
Supplies:
Bring supplies relevant to your preferred medium! The instructor will be using pastels and mixed media.
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Adult

Raku

Day-long raku firing on our Pancoe porch. Witness the transformation in a Raku kiln, where it is rapidly cooled in combustible materials to create unique crackle and metallic effects. Each student may bring up to 3 glazed pots, each no larger than 8" wide x 10" tall. No platters or large bowls.  Please note that the raku process creates work that is not food safe.

Pots should be bisqued and glazed prior to the workshop.

Please wear safety precautions like wearing natural fiber, long-sleeved clothing, and closed-toe shoes.

Date/Time:
Saturday, April 25, 9am-4pm
Skill Level:
Adult: All Levels
Admission:
CAM Member $55 / Not-yet-member $60
Instructor:
Shannon Gehen and Brian Evans
Supplies:
Bring your own pre-glazed pieces glazed with Raku-specific glaze. There will be bisque-fired pieces to glaze available for purchase through the instructor.
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Workshop

Capturing the Moment: Photography + Photo Editing

Learn to capture and enhance stunning photos in this two-day immersive photography workshop. Day one focuses on essential skills for shooting at the beautiful gardens of the NC Arboretum, where you’ll learn to master light, depth of field, and composition. Day two dives into refining and editing your photos using Adobe Lightroom. This course covers the full photography process, from the click of the shutter to the polished final image.
Date/Time:
Saturday and Sunday, April 25 & 26, 10am-12pm and 10am-1pm
Skill Level:
Adult: All Levels
Admission:
CAM Member $92 / Not-yet-member $115
Instructor:
Evin Bryson and Alan Cradick
Supplies:

Adobe Lightroom subscription ($11.99/month) or 14-day free trial
Any digital device - camera/smart phone/tablet
Laptop capable of supporting Adobe software
Mouse and mousepad

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Adult

Paint Like the Masters: Wayne Thiebaud

Let’s paint pie! And cakes! This one-day intensive explores America’s modern expressionist’s beautiful mastery of color, shape and line in still life painting. We’ll look at capturing light, color temperature contrasts, his use of “halation” to create Impressionist color vibrations. With demos, handouts and plenty of guided techniques, dessert never looked so good! You’re preferred painting medium, instructor will demo in acrylic and watercolor. Basic beginner painting foundation required.
Date/Time:
Sunday, April 26, 10am-4pm
Skill Level:
Adult: Intermediate
Admission:
CAM Member $112 / Not-yet-member $140
Instructor:
Kirah Van Sickle
Supplies:

Basic set of colors in preferred medium including the following: Titanium White, Cad Yellow Medium, Cadmium Red Medium, Quinacridone Magenta, Ultramarine Blue, Cerulean, Burnt Umber.
Variety of flat style (wash) brushes and filberts in 1/4, 1/2 and 1" widths- synthetic for acrylic or oil; if using watercolor, #8, #10 and #12 rounds with 1/4” and 3/4” flat wash brushes.
Preferred palette pad or mixing tray for watercolor
8-12 Canvas panels (8 x 8", 8 x 10," 12 x 12" or 11 x 14" are good options; or canvas pad that can be taped off.
*9 x 12" 140# cold press watercolor pad for watercolor or acrylic
Artist tape
Apron/smock
Sketchbook for notes and quick sketches
Sketch pen
Paper Towels
Water cup or odorless terpenoid for oil painters

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Adult

Breakfast with the Birds

South End at Wrightsville Beach has a wonderful rookery for Black Skimmers and Turns who return every year and put on quite a show! By getting there early, we will be able to watch and snap the birds bringing breakfast back to their nests. Participants will enjoy a great view of the feeding and interactions of these animals while keeping their distance and learning about ongoing conservation efforts. This workshop is for intermediate photographers, and the only special equipment needed is a medium telephoto lens.
Date/Time:
Saturday and Sunday, May 2 & 3, 10am-12pm, 12-2pm
Skill Level:
Adult: Intermediate
Admission:
CAM Member $56 / Not-yet-member $70
Instructor:
Alan Cradick
Supplies:
Bring any digital device, smart phone, tablet or digital camera, and medium telephoto lens.
Register
Workshop

Printing With Plants

The smallest and most delicate of plant life can take on a magnitude of impact when inked and printed! Experiment with cuttings from your garden and CAM grounds to both spotlight and combine to push scale and composition. Print on both fabric and papers with block inks and stamp pads.
Date/Time:
Saturday, May 2, 10am-4pm
Skill Level:
Adult: All Levels
Admission:
CAM Member $100 / Not-yet-member $125
Instructor:
Donna Moore
Supplies:
$20 supply fee (payable to the instructor) covers printmaking supplies and papers. Bring cuttings - blossoms, leaves, roots - to use as subject matter. Can bring articles of clothing or kitchen/bath towels to create textile design (natural fibers such as cotton, linen, bamboo, etc).
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Workshop

Paint Like Frida Kahlo

Step into the colorful world of Frida Kahlo! In this workshop we will explore her life, artistic process, and signature style: bold colors, rich symbolism, and deeply personal storytelling. Learn the techniques behind her expressive portraits and discover how she transformed self-portraiture into powerful narrative art. Then you’ll bring her approach to life by creating your own portrait inspired by her unique style of personal storytelling.
Date/Time:
Saturday, May 9th, 10am-4pm
Skill Level:
Adult: All Levels
Admission:
CAM Member $100 / Not-yet-member $125
Instructor:
Evin Bryson
Supplies:

Oil or acrylic paint (include at least red, yellow, blue, black and white), brushes, palette knife, palette (paper or glass), paper towels, sketchbook, one canvas (8x10 or larger)
If using oil paint: odorless mineral spirits, linseed or walnut oil (small bottle), jar/container with lid

Image: Frida Kahlo (Mexican, 1907–1954), Untitled [Self-portrait with thorn necklace and hummingbird], 1940. Oil on canvas mounted to board. Nickolas Muray Collection of Mexican Art, 66.6 © 2020 Banco de México Diego Rivera Frida Kahlo Museums Trust, Mexico, D.F. / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

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Workshop

Oil Painting for the Scaredy Cat

Don't be afraid, give oil painting a try! Learn the basics of oil painting and have fun doing it. This workshop will give you a foundation of confidence you can take into your future oil painting classes.
Date/Time:
Saturday, May 16, 10am-4pm
Skill Level:
Adult: Beginner
Admission:
CAM Member $100 / Not-yet-member $125
Instructor:
Amy Gibson
Supplies:
$5 supply fee payable to instructor; all supplies provided by the instructor.
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Workshop

Miniature Watercolor Workshop

Learn to paint small! We will be painting small 4" x 5" watercolor paintings, using whiskey to dip our brushes into instead of water. This is a relaxing atmosphere filled with creativity and inspiration, covering the basics of watercolor and color theory while experimenting with whiskey as our solvent.
Date/Time:
Sunday, May 17, 10am-4pm
Skill Level:
Adult: Beginner
Admission:
CAM Member $100 / Not-yet-member $125
Instructor:
Amy Gibson
Supplies:

Any small watercolor set. example Sennelier French Artists' Travel Watercolor Set, 8 Count, or Winsor & Newton Cotman Water Colour Sketchers' Pocket Box 1
Watercolor paper block any size - cold press 140lbs - Arches, or Stonehenge
Whiskey is provided by instructor

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