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A woman working intently on a clay pot on a pottery wheel
A man doing finishing touches with a fine brush on an intricate ceramic
A woman sitting at a desk with different paints and pencils, working on a unseen drawing
A photographer crouching down in a vibrant garden and taking a closeup photo of some flowers

Winter '25 Classes

Studio School for Adults

Our roster of professional artists bring fun, skill-developing classes for adults to begin and advance within multiple art forms including drawing, painting, photography, ceramics, jewelry, mixed-media and more.

WINTER CLASSES WILL GO ON SALE NOV 25!

Register early and SAVE / Early-Bird Registration runs NOV 25 - DEC 16.
Save $10 on classes with 6-week or 12-week sessions OR save $5 on one-time or 3-week workshops!

On Sale NOV 25 @ NOON

Photography Classes

TUE / JAN 14 - FEB 18, 2025 / 6 - 8 PM
$170 / $155 (Museum Members)

This class will cover the foundational concepts of photography. Some of the topics we will explore are: correct exposure, aperture, shutter speed, depth of field, focus, lighting, and composition. Please come with a DSLR or mirrorless camera with adjustable aperture, film speed, and shutter speed, and a tripod for the first class. Homework assignments will be an ongoing part of this class, and students will need to print up to twelve photos a week to review in class.

Instructor Stephen Grewe / Intermediate

SAT / JAN 18 / 10 AM - 1 PM
$25 / $15 (Museum Members)

In this one-day workshop for beginners, students will learn about camera options available and explore the differences between them, while also discussing lenses, purchase options, and more. Please email the instructor at stephen.photosteph@gmail.com if you have questions prior to the workshop.

Instructor Stephen Grewe / Beginners

WED / JAN 22 - FEB 5, 2025 / 6 – 8 PM
$120 / $105 (Museum Members)

This class is for students who want to take their photography off “auto.” Students will learn how to get correctly exposed images and develop more creative control in their photography, resulting in higher quality images and less editing. Please email the instructor at stephen.photosteph@gmail.com if you have questions prior to the workshop.

Instructor Stephen Grewe / Beginners & Intermediate

SAT / FEB 1, 2025 / 10 AM - 1 PM
$50 / $40 (Museum Members)

In this one-day workshop for beginners, students will become acquainted with film and film cameras and learn the differences between digital and film images. We will also take a tour of our darkroom studio and participate in printing an image from film using dark room techniques. Please email the instructor at stephen.photosteph@gmail.com if you have questions prior to the workshop.

Instructor Stephen Grewe / Beginners

WED / FEB 26 - APR 9, 2025 / 6 – 8 PM
$210 / $195 (Museum Members)

This class will provide students with an introduction to black and white film photography. Students will learn to properly expose film, how to process their film, and how to print their own images. If students do not have a film camera, the Center has a limited number of cameras to loan for an aditional $20 service fee. Class price includes 2 rolls of 35mm film and 10 sheets of 8x10 printing paper. Please email the instructor at stephen.photosteph@gmail.com if you have questions prior to the class.

Instructor Stephen Grewe / Beginners & Intermediate

Ceramics Classes

While building our newly renovated studios at the Center, Ceramics Classes will be held at the Carriage House on 3200 Cook Rd.

SESSION 1: MON / JAN 13 - FEB 17, 2025 / 6 - 9 PM
SESSION 2: MON / FEB 24 - APR 7, 2025 / 6 - 9 PM
$175 / $160 Museum Members, per session

Are you new to the world of pottery? Are you a potter in love with hand building? Join Pam Hart and explore the three major hand building methods: pinch pot, coil, and slab using a project-based approach. Handbuilding helps students to understand the properties of clay and learn skills all potters need. Every session introduces NEW projects that will allow students to explore making both functional and artistic work. Experienced potters can build on their own work with instructor support. All students are expected to purchase clay from the Center Ticket Office for $40.

Location / Carriage House Hall
Instructor Pam Hart / Beginners & Intermediate

ENROLL NOW - Session 1
ENROLL NOW - Session 2

TUE / JAN 14 - APR 8, 2025 / 6 - 9 PM
$255/ $240 Museum Members

Now that you’ve developed your handbuilding ceramics skills, you may ask yourself, what’s next? Beginner Wheel is for you! Mike Zureich will leverage your hand building skills and break down the basic small steps to teach you how to throw on the potter’s wheel with control and confidence. You’ll be applying your new skills in sequence to make cylinders, bowls, and plates while being actively vulnerable, learning from mistakes, and having a lot of fun along this 12-week journey! All students are expected to purchase clay through the Center Ticket Office for $40.

Location / Carriage House Hall
Instructor Mike Zureich / Intermediate

ENROLL NOW

SESSION 1: THU / JAN 16 - FEB 20, 2025 / 6 - 9 PM
SESSION 2: THU / FEB 27 - APR 10, 2025 / 6 - 9 PM
$175 / $160 Museum Members

This semester we will focus on how to improve your wheel skills by throwing matching sets of two! Just for fun, each session will begin with a mini challenge! So far, we have learned how to throw cylinders, mugs, bowls, plates, and vases. Now, let’s set our pointer’s and begin to make equally sized pieces finishing them out with glaze and surface design. Individual goals, sketchbook, and glaze journals will be discussed. Demonstrations and one-on-one assistance will be offered throughout the course. All projects and “just for fun” class challenges are optional. All students are expected to purchase clay through the Center Ticket Office for $40.

Location / Carriage House Hall
Instructor Becca Waltz / Intermediate & Advanced

ENROLL NOW - SESSION 1
ENROLL NOW - SESSION 2

SESSION 1: THU / JAN 16 - FEB 20, 2025 / 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
SESSION 2: THU / FEB 27 - APR 10, 2025 / 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
$175 / $160 Museum Members

Now that you have learned the basic forms and techniques, let’s have fun with them! In this class we are going DEEP—by exploring advanced forms, surface techniques, and a bit of sculpture. In addition, we will stretch our minds to think more broadly in the realm of aesthetics and how to create a cohesive body of work around a single theme. Come join us for an adventure as we dive deeper into the vast world of ceramic possibilities. All students are expected to purchase clay through the Center Ticket Office for $40.

Location / Carriage House Hall
Instructor Beth Nova / Advanced

ENROLL NOW - SESSION 1
ENROLL NOW - SESSION 2

FRI / FEB 14, 2025 / 6 - 9 PM (One-Time Workshop)
$75 / $60 Museum Members, per session

Looking for something fun and unique to do with your Valentine this year? Come reenact Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore in our pottery studio! We are opening up our studio for this special date night event to anyone interested—no previous clay experience needed. You and your significant other will get a crash course in throwing pottery, as well as some excellent photo ops, while you enjoy chocolate covered strawberries and a glass of champagne.

ENROLL NOW

Jewelry Classes

While building our newly renovated studios at the Center, Jewelry Classes will be held at the Carriage House on 3200 Cook Rd.
TUE / JAN 14 - FEB 18, 2025 / 6 - 9 PM
$175 / $160 (Museum Members)

This hand-fabricated jewelry class offers a wonderful opportunity to explore the versatility and endless possibilities of manipulating precious metals and gemstones into objects of adornment. Students will learn fundamental jewelry manufacturing techniques while working in gold and silver, as well as essential geological information about gemstones and how they should be cared for during the manufacturing process. Students must purchase all raw materials.

Location / Carriage House Hall
Instructor Roger Schmidt / All Skill Levels

ENROLL NOW
SESSION 1: WED / JAN 15 - FEB 19, 2025 / 6 - 9 PM
SESSION 2: WED / FEB 26 - APR 9, 2025 / 6 - 9 PM
$175 / $160 (Museum Members)

Take your designs on paper through the process of lost wax casting to create finished jewelry. Beginning students will execute a guided project; intermediate and advanced students will work on their own designs. Wax working, casting, and finishing techniques will be demonstrated. At the start of the class, a group order will be placed for metal and supplies.

Location / Carriage House Hall (directions to be emailed closer to class start date)
Instructor Sharon Berkan-Dent / All Skill Levels

ENROLL NOW - SESSION 1
ENROLL NOW - SESSION 2

Drawing & Multimedia Classes

MON / JAN 13 - FEB 27, 2025 / 6 - 8 PM
$170 / $155 (Museum Members)

Create beautiful illustrations in ink, exploring both realism as well as more whimsical, stylized applications. Learn basic drawing skills with both pen and pencil, and then add a burst of color using watercolor markers. This technique is relaxing and experimental and works with a variety of drawing styles.

Instructor Allise Noble / All Skill Levels

MON / FEB 24 - APR 7, 2025 / 6 - 8 PM
$170 / $155 (Museum Members)

Create beautiful illustrations in ink, exploring both realism as well as more whimsical, stylized applications. Learn basic drawing skills with both pen and pencil, and then add a burst of color using watercolor markers. This technique is relaxing and experimental and works with a variety of drawing styles.

Instructor Allise Noble / All Skill Levels

Painting & Mixed Media Classes

MON / FEB 24 - APR 7, 2025 / 10 AM - 1 PM
$170 / $155 (Museum Members)

Take your drawing and painting skills and apply them to portraiture. Classes will focus on proportion, scale, and perspective as they relate to the human face. We will work on color mixing, using a limited color palette to achieve different skin tones, and study images from Art History. For the most part painting will be from photo references with a focus on how best to take photos for that purpose.

Instructor Jill Tatroe / Intermediate & Advanced

ENROLL NOW

THU / JAN 23 OR MAR 13, 2024 / 6 - 9 PM
$60 / $50 (Museum Members)

Bring in a jacket or bag that needs some new life and learn a variety of upcycling techniques from multimedia artist Allise Noble. Techniques that utilize sewing will use two basic hand stitches, so no sewing experience is needed. There will also be plenty of no-sew options. Materials to paint, fabric collage, create pattern and texture, and embellishment will be provided for additional $5 materials fee to be collected by instructor, but you are welcome to bring your own items from home as well.

Instructor Allise Noble / Beginners & Intermediate

ENROLL NOW - JAN 23
ENROLL NOW - MAR 13

WED / FEB 25 - MAR 11, 2025 / 10 AM - 1 PM
$125 / $110 (Museum Members)

An evocative 3-week workshop focusing on combining the power of words and art together. We will explore writing poems using inspiration such as word blocks, paragraphs, quotations, and other prompts generated by the instructor. We will illustrate mood and content with our art work using watercolors and pastels.

Instructor Nancy Philo / Beginners & Intermediate

ENROLL NOW

MON / JAN 13 - FEB 17, 2025 / 10 AM - 1 PM
$170 / $155 (Museum Members)

Learn the basics of painting or hone your current skills as you learn to manipulate brushes, mix color and apply paint. Use traditional and contemporary processes to develop an individual painting style. Students will study old Master’s techniques such as grisaille and painting alla prima, while painting from life and photo references.

Instructor Jill Tatroe / Beginners & Intermediate

ENROLL NOW

SESSION 1: WED/ JAN 15 - FEB 19, 2025 / 10 AM - 1 PM
SESSION 2: WED / FEB 26 - APR 9, 2025 / 10 AM - 1 PM
$170 / $155 (Museum Members)

Watercolor is an elusive, portable, and beautiful medium! Learn and practice all the watercolor techniques with Nancy Philo, a professional award-winning artist with fifty years of classical and experimental watercolor expertise. Still-life, florals, and landscape will be part of this class. This class features an inclusive and welcoming approach with individualized instruction and positive class critiques. Come join us and begin or find your next level with watercolor.

Instructor Nancy Philo / All Skill Levels

ENROLL NOW - SESSION 1
ENROLL NOW - SESSION 2

Get Your Kids in the Studio

Youth Art Workshops

 

Elements of Art: 2D Youth Arts Weekly Workshop

SAT, JAN 18 - MAR 8, 2025 / 10 AM
7-Week Workshop Course For Students in Grades 3 - 5

Join Midland Center for the Arts as we get creative and learn about the elements of art in this new, multi-week workshop. Each week we will focus on a new element of art and build upon what we learn, all while exploring a variety of 2-dimensional mediums. Students can expect to work in graphic, acrylic, and more as they bring their creativity to life with the assistance of a fine arts educator.

Not eligible with the Studio School Early Bird Discount

Class & Workshop Info

  • There is a $3 processing fee per class.
  • Refunds/exchanges must be requested at least 1 week before the class or workshop start date. All refunds are subject to a 15% processing fee except for those classes canceled by the Center.
  • Class supply lists are given out on the first day of class unless listed in the description. For most classes, students are responsible for the purchase of supplies.
  • If you are unable to attend class due to illness, please contact us at education@midlandcenter.org to receive a partial voucher to be used for future classes.