Adult FAQs

We welcome you to try our one-day introductory workshops which include Fundamentals of Drawing, Fundamentals of Painting, and a variety of Fused Glass workshops. You are also invited to enroll in any of our eight-week classes without first attending a workshop. No matter if you are a complete beginner or an experienced artist, our instructors will provide you with appropriate support for your skill level.

Many beginners feel this way and after arriving for their first class at Davis Studio are relieved that our Instructors are highly skilled in teaching beginner students. Many adult students in our classes and workshops are also beginners! Our teachers create a warm and encouraging environment where you can relax and enjoy the process of learning. Taking a few hours every week to attend a creative class can add joy to your life in many ways.

Our adult program consists of three departments : drawing, painting, and fused glass.  There are six 8-week courses in each department that rotate every 8 weeks throughout the academic year.  We offer programming during the week days from 9 a.m.–11 a.m., from 12–2p.m., and our evening week day courses are from 6:30–8:30 p.m.  We also offer weekend workshops that are 12:30–2:30 p.m. or 12:30–3:30 p.m.

If your class or workshop is cancelled due to inclement weather, your Instructor will offer the group a make up class or alternative workshop date.

We do not offer make-up classes due to a student’s absence.  However, if you need to miss multiple classes, we are happy to connect individually to discuss your situation. Please reach out directly to your Instructor or to Kat Lawlis our Adult Program Director ()

Congratulations!  Completing your Thriving Artist Certificate is a great goal and one that will help you build confidence in art making, refine your authentic voice & style, as well as create deep connections with others in our creative community.

Let your Instructor know that you would like to receive your certificate and trust that our Adult Program Director Kat Lawlis is tracking your progress

Once you complete all 6 courses in one department, your instructor will perform a short acknowledgement at the conclusion of your last course in order to award you Davis Studio’s drawing, painting, or fused glass certificate and to celebrate your accomplishment.

Taking two or more 8-week courses at once is an immersive experience!  Multiple weekly art classes will fill your life with art making and also with a rich creative community.  We recommend this option for those who have the availability in their schedules and who are focused on improving their skills and developing their artistic voice.

Our 8-week drawing and painting courses are open to all levels of experience, so they are all available to you!  We would suggest choosing a course that is focused in an area that you are interested in. Are you a portrait painter looking to improve your portrait skills?  We would suggest either ‘Learn To Draw Faces’ or ‘Paint Compelling Portraits’.  Our Instructors design their curriculum with multiple pathways through each project, so that you can dictate the level of challenge.

Sometimes a class is not a perfect fit and we encourage you to reach out directly to your instructor to discuss your experience.  If you have connected with your Instructor and still feel strongly that it is not a great fit, please reach out to our Adult Program Director Kat Lawlis . Kat will be able to support you and offer options.

The Instructors in our painting program focus their technique lessons and projects using acrylics as well as water mixable oil paints – which are just like traditional oil paints, except without the fumes or messy clean up!

We do not offer watercolor painting classes at this time, but a watercolor workshop may be available soon!

Family friendly fused glass workshops are for ages 8 and up!  However, children 8-12 must be accompanied by an adult enrolled in the workshop. Our family friendly glass workshops include : ‘Holiday Ornaments’, ‘Have A Heart’, ‘Windchimes’, and ‘Mother’s Day Gifts’.

We offer specialized workshops designed with our current students in mind to build onto their existing art education experience at Davis Studio. We hope that these specialized workshops excite and challenge our students in new and interesting ways! These workshops include: ‘Color Theory Part 1 & 2’ and ‘Linocut Printmaking’.

We also offer workshops that are open to everyone. These workshops are a great way to become familiar with Davis Studio before committing to an 8 week course. ‘Fundamentals of Drawing’ and ‘Fundamentals of Painting’ are workshops designed for students who are new to Davis Studio, are beginners, or who are looking for a refresher on the fundamentals. Our Instructors will coach you through technique exercises and projects that are engaging in a warm studio environment.

We do not offer Adult Art scholarships at this time.

For the 2023-2024 academic year, kits may be purchased as a complete set or separately by item.  Please contact our Adult Program Director Kat Lawlis for more information ()

*Professional Drawing Supply Kits are meant to last several years with care of materials. The following supplies are included in the Drawing Supply Kit:

• HB, 2B, 4B, and 6B Graphite Pencils
• Pink Pearl Erasers
• Metal Sharpener
• White Gel Pen
• Vine Charcoal
• Compressed Charcoal
• Compressed & White Charcoal Pencils
• Jumbo Kneaded Eraser
• Tortillons/Blending Sticks
• Conte Crayons
• Oil Pastel Set
• Chalk Pastel Set
• Watercolor Pencil Set & Paint Brush
• 005, 03, and 08 Sakura Pigma Micron Fine Liner Pens
• 18” x 24” Newsprint Pad (50 sheets)
• 9” x 12” Mixed Media Sketchbook (60 sheets)
• 23” x 26” Drawing Board w/clips
• Art Bin Essentials Storage Container
• Soft Portfolio w/strap 23 x 31 (for transporting supplies & drawings)

For the 2023-2024 academic year, kits may be purchased as a complete set or separately by item.  Please contact our Adult Program Director Kat Lawlis for more information ()

*Professional Painting Supply Kits are meant to last several years with care of materials

The following supplies are included in the Painting Supply Kit:

• Set of 12 lightweight, synthetic, all-media paint brushes
• Set of 3 palette knives
• Folding brush/palette knife storage case w/zipper
• HB Graphite Pencil
• Pink Pearl Eraser
• Metal Sharpener
• Watercolor Paper Pad, 30 sheets, 12” x 18”
• Small Interactive Color Wheel
• One Wet Palette w/ Lid
• 30 Palette Paper Sheets for Wet Palette
• One Sponge Insert for Wet Palette
• Soft Portfolio w/strap 23 x 31 (for transporting supplies & paintings)

Typically, the first 30 minutes of a two-hour class is spent on instruction. The remaining time is spent working on a project with plenty of 1:1 time with the Instructor. The last class of an 8-week session is usually a group critique and does not include instruction or very much studio work time. Fused Glass courses do use the majority of the last class for studio work time and will include a final firing.

Fused glass, or kiln fused glass, is the joining of pieces of glass together in the heat of a kiln. Artists start with sheet glass (we work in Bullseye COE 90 ONLY) and then cut, sand, and shape these sheets with the help of “cold working” tools (like the flat lapidary grinder, wet tile saw and sandblaster).

All our beginner glass classes will give artists a chance to learn each tool in our glass studio, as well as offer projects ideas to help give hands-on practice for popular techniques. Projects are tailored to each student’s skill level, with advanced versions offered to those with fused glass experience.

‘Color and Composition’ covers the basics while looking at fused glass through the lens of color theory. Artists are introduced to color mixing, dilutions/saturations, and color harmony which can be helpful when choosing a project’s design specifications.

‘Decorative Arts’ offers a fundamental approach to fused glass and shows artists the variety of firing schedules and molds to create small pieces of dishware and home decor (sun catchers, candle holders, vases, soap dishes, etc.). Besides sheet glass, students will be introduced to a wide array of accessory glass materials and how to use them in a design.

Beginner classes are project based and give students an opportunity for in-class studio time to complete works of art from start to finish. New students will be introduced to the studio, to best practices, as well as how to use each tool in our cold-working room. More experienced students are welcomed to join, and will be offered advanced projects to challenge their existing skills.

Intermediate classes are technique based. Each class focuses on how to create unique components (ie., pattern bars and powder wafers) and a chance to experiment with speciality materials (like fiber paper and enamels). Many projects include special firing schedules and kiln loading instructions. Students will leave this class with a collection of components to use in future fused glass artwork as well as directions/experience and firing schedules for each technique.

Fused Glass Independent Study is a great chance for students who have taken an 8-week beginner class to continue practicing their skills at their own pace.  Advanced students can make use of the cold-working room and kilns to create their own works of art.

Independent Study sessions are self guided with an instructor present to answer questions and offer advice. When there is interest, and with advanced notice, kiln space will be held open for powder firings. Students who attend Independent Study can anticipate being offered ½ a shelf of kiln space for their work each class.