FEE: $45 Member, $50 Non-Member| $40 Member, $45 Non-Member by July 1
$20 materials fee for landscape kits payable to instructor at class

Needle Felting Landscapes

Instructor: MaryJo Wentz
Art of the Lakes Gallery
July 15, 1-4 PM

This beginner-friendly class teaches you how to create simple wool landscapes step by step. Whether you’re new to needle felting art or looking for a relaxing craft, artist MaryJo Wentz will guide you through the entire process to produce two 5"x7" landscapes. 

FEE: $10 Member, $15 Non-Member | $5 Member, $10 Non-Member by July 6
Supply fee of $25 payable to instructor at class

Wire Jewelry

Instructor: Sue Kalseim
Art of the Lakes Gallery
July 20, 6-8 PM

Want to learn how to make your own jewelry? Come join Sue Kalseim and learn how to bend wire to make a beautiful pendant.

FEE: $55 Member, $60 Non-Member | $50 Member, $55 Non-Member by July 10
$20 materials fee payable to instructor at class
​MN State Park pass required for entry

Creative Eco-Printing

Instructor: Kristi Kuder
Glendalough State Park Dining Hall
July 24, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Join Kristi Kuder for a relaxed and inspiring day of eco-printing surrounded by the beauty of Glendalough State Park. Eco-printing is a magical process that uses the natural tannins and dyes held within plants to create some spectacular marks and prints on papers and fabric. This workshop is designed to develop all the skills and techniques you need to produce stunning and unique eco-prints. It's suitable for beginners, as well as those with some experience, who are interested in achieving pleasing organic prints that could be used in many varied projects.

Enough fabric and paper will be provided for each participant to print a silk scarf and create a gorgeous handmade book. Registrants will receive a list of supplies and materials to bring including suggested botanicals for sharing. As part of the workshop we will also consider what equipment you need to start eco-printing at home, simple mordanting techniques, where to source fabrics, supplies and equipment. Kristi will also give you a wealth of ideas to make with your beautiful unique prints. This class is an excellent complement to the Slow Stitching class led by Kim Graff.

Coffee, tea, and biscuits provided. Please bring a packed lunch.

FEE: $50 Member, $60 Non-Member
$45 Member, $55 Non-Member by July 11

Plein Air Casein Painting Workshop with Greg Preslicka

Instructor: Greg Preslicka
Henning Landmark Center
July 25, 9:30am - 4:30pm

Greg is a lifelong artist working both in the commercial and fine art fields. For over 30 years he designed packaging and retail signage for many local and national companies. In an effort to get out from behind a computer he brought his design and problem solving skills to mural painting. Greg has painted over 100 murals throughout the midwest. He is one of the founding members, and past president of OPM (Outdoor Painters of Minnesota). Over the years, Greg has painted with many different mediums including oil, gouache, acrylic and casein. When plein air painting he tries to find the unseen beauty in things.

Casein Painting Workshop
Learn about an opaque medium that allows you to quickly paint and adjust without your painting getting muddy. Painting with quick drying casein allows you to work faster and get more accurate color without getting muddy. In this workshop Greg will demonstrate his paint and adjust the way of painting. When painting from life it is hard to get accurate color and drawing with every stroke you put down. With this method you paint and then adjust and refine.

Greg painted for many years with oils and had a tough time keeping colors from getting too muddy because he adjusted them too much. He is not a slow methodical painter. He puts down big shapes and refines them as he goes. Casein is opaque and dries quickly allowing you to adjust without getting muddy. Casein is an old painting medium used to paint religious icons hundreds of years ago. It is similar to gouache but dries permanent. It can be painted on paper or gessoed board.

The workshop will start with inside demonstration and then move outside to paint, where Greg will give individual instruction as you paint. You will learn:

• How to Paint and Adjust to get more accurate color and drawing.

• What you can and can’t do with Casein.

• To paint from big shapes to small detail.
  ​

FEE: $30 Member, $35 Non-Member | $25 Member, $30 Non-Member by July 14
​MN State Park pass required for entry

Slow Stitch Fiber Journals

Instructor: Kim Graff
Glendalough State Park Dining Hall
July 28, 1:00 - 4:00 PM

Come play with me as we explore creating small hand stitched fiber books using simple meditative stitches. They can be filled with found treasures or mementos. The books can be used as stitch samplers or turned into a needle book.

Students should bring scissors, needle, pins, looser weave fabrics such as linen or used clothing, embroidery threads or perle cotton.
Pen and paper or journal for notes or ideas
Sticks, stones, feathers or anything they may want to attach
Kim will bring some stuff to share as well.

FEE: $30 Member, $35 Non-Member
$25 Member, $30 Non-Member by July 29
​MN State Park pass required for entry

Exploring Glendalough With a Camera

Instructors: Jackie Henning, Greg Gerhart
Glendalough State Park
August 12, 9:00am - 11:30am

Join Jackie Henning, Greg Gerhart, and other photographers from the Evansville Arts Coalition as they take you through Glendalough State Park to their favorite photo spots. Jackie will have "point & shoot" cameras for your use or bring your own camera, cell phone, and equipment. Learn techniques & tips for taking great photographs from the local experts. All skill levels are welcome! Meet at the old lodge dining hall. Students under 16 need to be accompanied by a parent.

FEE: $50 Member, $60 Non-Member
$45 Member, $55 Non-Member by July 26

Plein Air Soft Pastels Painting with Lisa Stauffer

Instructor: Lisa Stauffer
Prairie Wetlands Learning Center, Fergus Falls
August 13, 9:30am - 4:30pm

Lisa Stauffer received her Master’s in Design (University Of Minnesota, Minneapolis) and studied Illustration at Parson’s School of Design (NYC). She continues her education by taking workshops from nationally recognized painters whose work inspires her. She has worked and taught in a wide variety of media, now primarily painting in soft pastel with a special focus on painting en plein air to indulge her fascination with light and color in Minnesota’s beautiful north shore landscape.

​Lisa was just awarded Eminent Pastelist by the International Association Of Pastel Societies, she earned Master Circle status in 2009. She was awarded the H.K. Holbein Award at the Pastel Society Of America Show at the National Arts Club in New York City, September 2010 and the Pastel Painters Of Cape Cod Award in 2012. Each of these years her painting was one of those chosen by the Director of the Butler Institute Of American Art, Youngstown, Ohio, to travel to the exhibit American Pastels in the museum. Lisa was juried into the Pastel Society Of America and awarded Signature status in 2012, she was awarded Master status in 2025. Her work has been featured in articles in PleinAir Magazine, Pastel Journal, Stephen Doherty's book, The Art Of Plein Air Painting, and in two PBS specials on painting.

Artist’s Statement:
I am fascinated by the interplay of light and color that I see in the beauty surrounding me and I work to capture the mood of those special moments in my paintings. I choose to paint with soft pastel for the incredible richness and intensity of the color possibilities and textures I can create with them. I am primarily an outdoor painter and pastel’s direct application allows for the immediacy demanded in plein air work. I often use a watercolor underpainting as a setup for the pastel layers in my work, which adds the interplay of transparent and opaque mediums to the visual quality of the final piece. I can be found painting all around town and far beyond.

FEE: $50 Member, $55 Non-Member
$45 Member, $50 Non-Member by August 7
$5 for materials payable to instructor at class

Chip Wood Carving

Instructor: Joe Hauger
Art of the Lakes Gallery
August 21, 10:00am - 4:30pm

This will be an introductory class into the fun art of chip carving. Chip carving involves taking small chips out of a flat piece of wood to make a geometric design, and is one of the easiest forms of woodcarving for beginners to try. It can also be used to embellish things like wooden spoons.

In this class, students will learn basics such as laying out a design and keeping the knife sharp, then will work on a practice board to learn basic chip carving cuts. Students will have the opportunity to finish a small project such as a coaster or Christmas ornament to take home. No prior woodcarving experience needed, but as with other types of carving some degree of hand grip strength is necessary. Experienced carvers are welcome as well. Tools are available to use during this class.

FEE: $15 Member, $20 Non-Member |$10 Member, $15 Non-Member by August 13
Supply fee of $15 payable to instructor at class

3D Pumpkin Needle Felting

Instructor: Jill Beithon
Art of the Lakes Gallery
August 27, 1-4 PM

Join Jill as she takes you through the process of creating 3D pumpkins to use in your fall decor. Participants will create up to 3 small felted pumpkins. Beginners and participants of all skill levels are welcome!

FEE: $50 Member, $60 Non-Member
$45 Member, $55 Non-Member by August 29

Plein Air at Maplewood with Stephen Henning

Instructor: Stephen Henning
Maplewood State Park
September 12, 9:30am -4:30pm

"A connection to nature is essential for our well-being. My contemporary Impressionist landscape paintings are designed to evoke a sense of serenity and closeness to the natural world.

"Focused on the healing and spiritual power of Nature, these images transform interior spaces. Your environment becomes more inviting and calming, whether in a home or business setting. My artwork uplifts the mood and soothes the senses.

"Enhance your space with art that resonates with nature’s tranquility.”
--Stephen Henning

Join Stephen Henning at Maplewood State Park for a day of plein air painting. Students can use any media to explore the beauty of this state park while Stephen comes around to each artist offering tips & techniques. Bring all of the supplies that you will need and a lunch.

FEE: $10 Member, $15 Non-Member | $5 Member, $10 Non-Member by September 21
Supply fee of $35 payable to instructor at class

Winter Scene on Light-Up Ornament Using Alcohol Ink

Instructor: Sue Kalseim
Art of the Lakes Gallery
October 5, 6-8 PM

Impress your friends by making this light-up alcohol ink ornament. Join Sue Kalseim and make this beautiful ornament that you'll be proud to hang on your tree or give as a gift.

FEE: $50 Member, $55 Non-Member
$45 Member, $50 Non-Member by Oct. 24
$5 materials fee payable to instructor at class

Snowman Woodcarving and Paint

Instructor: Joe Hauger
Art of the Lakes Gallery
November 7, 9:30am - 4:00pm

It's that time of the year for winter fun! What better way to start the season than with a woodcarving lesson of a snowman. Joe Hauger will introduce the best and safest knife stroke techniques as well as give you a chance to try different carving knives. We'll briefly touch on topics including carving "with the grain", how to keep the knife sharp, and painting techniques. Knives & gloves provided by the instructor, but feel free to bring your own carving tools. ("Flat plane" style carving knives will work best.) Students will get to take home a completed snowman about the size of a pop can.

This class is open to all adults, and minors 12 & older if accompanied by an adult. (The adult wouldn't need to pay if he/she does not carve.)