Studio Arts: Other Media Classes

Learn about the tradition of pysanky, the colorful Ukrainian Easter eggs, as you master the egg-waxing and dyeing processes used to create them.

The elegant script commonly known as Copperplate is unmatched in its usefulness for social stationery. Beginning with basic tools and mechanics, students discover how to develop their skills and to recognize the small details that make this style of writing so appealing.

The timeless and popular technique of picassiette offers a wonderful opportunity to resurrect a chipped or damaged family heirloom by giving it a new life as the material for a mosaic portrait.

Students of all skill levels find inspiration in both the ancient art of mosaics and the form’s international movement as they are guided through the process of creating a mixed-media abstract mosaic.

Woodblock printing and linocut printing are ideal for creating bold images made up of patterns and textures. This course is an introduction to the relief print, from techniques of design and transfer through cutting and printing the block. Students design and produce their own editions, using nontoxic materials and employing both one-color and two-color techniques.

The elegance of hand-lettered calligraphy is unmatched by machine. This class gives students a chance to learn the basics of this graceful and stylish art in a relaxed and supportive setting.

The elegance and aesthetic harmony of ikebana—Japanese flower arranging—have inspired poets and artists since its founding. In this course for beginning and continuing students, participants learn basic styles of ikebana as taught by the Sogetsu School of Ikebana in Japan.

Join an orchid-care expert for a fun, informative afternoon about the native orchids that grow in the northeastern United States, where to find them in nature, and how to grow hardy orchids in your backyard.

Create two pairs of earrings by hammering thick wires into a look reminiscent of sheet metal. Leave with one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces.

In this workshop, create one-of-a-kind necklaces and earring sets using wire. Students explore different designs and methods for headpins, clasps, ear wires, hoops, and charms.

Create a beautiful and unique floral gift for Mom while learning the fundamentals of floral design from Smithsonian Gardens horticulturists Sarah Tietbohl and Sarah Dickert.

The beautiful decorations of religious and secular manuscripts are centuries-old Islamic traditions. Guided by a graduate of the Turquoise Mountain Institute, explore the elements of gold-leaf manuscript illumination in the Afghan tradition.

Examine Eastern traditions as you discover calligraphy’s connection to language, literary arts, and religion.

Get an introduction to stylized lettering, including altered block letters, botanical borders, and illuminated initials with vines and flourishes.

In this three-night workshop, learn to create your own hand-crafted jewelry. This experience is perfect for the student new to jewelry making, or those with experience who want to refresh their skills.

In this one-day workshop, learn to create your own hand-crafted jewelry. This experience is perfect for the student new to jewelry making, or those with experience who want to refresh their skills.