May 21, 2012 3:00-6:00 pm Our glass studio is open for you to come and create. You must have taken either a glass fusing basic class or a fused glass plate workshop.  This open studio is for 7 and up only with a maximum of 15.  No online registration. Payment for projecrts done on-site.

Tuesday, May 22 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm It's Springtime and Time to Paint In Bright Colors! We provide the partially sketched 11 x 14 canvas, paint, brushes, easels, paints, apron and instructor. We also provide the cups, mixers and snacks and red and white wine. You won't walk out of here as a master, but you sure can have a very nice copy of one. It's a perfect chance to learn the basics of acrylic painting while enjoying the company of friends and other creative folks. Our instructors will help you whether you are a total beginner or looking to brush up your skills and paint in a social setting.   To register using a Groupon: Fill out all your information on the registration form. On the second page of the form, enter in the word "Groupon" in the "Visarts Code" box. Enter your 8 letter confirmation code in the "Deal Code" box.

Grades 6-12 May 23  3:30-6:00 pm Tuition: $20 per session Drop-in. During Open Studio Painting/Drawing our students get to explore a variety of drawing materials while sharpening their observational and technical skills. All levels welcome, including "beginner beginner" to young prodigy. For our drawers we will have a variety of materials, including charcoal, pencils and colored pencils as well as sketch paper.  Students interested in painting will enjoy learning first-hand, how to mix colors, apply paint using a variety of techniques, and create dynamic compositions in both representational (from observation) and non-objective (not from observation) types of artwork. Students will work in acrylic paint, which is supplied by VisArts, along with canvas boards. Students wishing to use stretched canvas can purchase an 11 x 14 canvas for $4.00 from VisArts.  This is a drop-in class,  but there is a 5 percent discount for buying 5 sessions at once, or 10 percent discount for buying 10 sessions at one time. To purchase discounts come to the administrative office or call 301-315-8200 x101.

Wednesday, May 23  7:00 - 9:00 pm Tuition: $80 Special newsletter price $40 Use mosaic50 in coupon box and pay only $40   This mosaic workshop ensures a relaxed, fun, no pressure atmosphere for students to explore and develop their own individual creativity. In just two hours of hands-on learning you will create your own one-of-a-kind mosaic mirror. Explore the wide range of mosaic materials in this class –stained glass, broken china, tiles and found objects. All materials are included and feel free to bring your own treasures such as jewelry pieces, broken plates and teacups, scrabble tiles….you name it. Students pick up their mirrors two weeks later after they have been grouted by the teacher.        

Pen Making: Design to Construction - May 24, 2012 6:30pm-9:30pm Instructor: Oscar Romero Skill Level: Beginner Class Size: 5 Description: Turning a pen is about as close to instant gratification as you can get in woodworking. You can easily spend dozens of hours on furniture or cabinetry, but a pen can be completed in about an hour. But be careful who you use your unique and stylish pen around; everyone will be asking for one! Prerequisite: None Tuition: $99.00

Thursday, May 24 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Tuition: $50 Create your own beautiful fused glass plate in one fun two-hour session. Students of all skill levels will cut and layer glass, use frit and stringers and produce a beautiful 6 x 6  plate or 4 x 8 dish. You design and create the work of art and leave it for us to let the kilns work their magic. Come back two weeks later and be prepared to be amazed.

Thursday, May 24  7:00 pm - 9:00 pm. Registration! $60 Learn handbuilding techniques and make a clay project that you decorate and glaze to create your own one-of-a-kind masterpiece! We fire your work and you return two weeks later to pick it up. We will be serving merlot, white wine and soda.

May 28, 2012 3:00-6:00 pm Our glass studio is open for you to come and create. You must have taken either a glass fusing basic class or a fused glass plate workshop.  This open studio is for 7 and up only with a maximum of 15.  No online registration. Payment for projecrts done on-site.

Wooden Lamp Making: Design to Construction - May 28, 2012 to June 1, 2012 Instructor: David Fersh Skill Level: Beginner Class Size: 4 Maybe you’ve already built or purchased all the furniture for your home. Well now it’s time to take a look at the lighting in your living space. In our 5 day lamp making course, David Fersh, covers everything from resawing on the bandsaw to advanced table saw and plunge router techniques This fast paced specialty class is sure to “turn you on” to the world of lamp designing and fabrication. Prerequisite: None Tuition: $250.00

Thursday, May 31 11:00 am - 2:00 pm Tuition: $75.00 This class is an introduction to fused glass and is a prerequisite for participating in our Open Studio time. It is the first step into the wonderful world of kiln formed glass. During the class you create a 7 x 7 dish and 3 jewelry pendants while you learn all about glass- how to cut, shape and lay up your glass ready to be fired; how to choose the kiln firing schedule to acheive the look you desire; and how the glass itself reacts to having fuse temperature heat applied to it. After this class you can participate in our Open Studio time or continue on to any of the other classses at VisArts Glass Studio.

Thursday, May 31 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Tuition: $50 Create your own beautiful fused glass plate in one fun two-hour session. Students of all skill levels will cut and layer glass, use frit and stringers and produce a beautiful 6 x 6  plate or 4 x 8 dish. You design and create the work of art and leave it for us to let the kilns work their magic. Come back two weeks later and be prepared to be amazed.

Friday, June 1  7:00 pm - 10:00 pm It's Springtime and Time to Paint In Bright Colors! We provide the partially sketched 11 x 14 canvas, paint, brushes, easels, paints, apron and instructor. We also provide the cups, mixers and snacks and red and white wine. You won't walk out of here as a master, but you sure can have a very nice copy of one. It's a perfect chance to learn the basics of watercolor painting while enjoying the company of friends and other creative folks. Our professional watercolor artists will help you whether you are a total beginner or looking to brush up your skills and paint in a social setting.   To register using a Groupon: Fill out all your information on the registration form. On the second page of the form, enter in the word "Groupon" in the "Visarts Code" box. Enter your 8 letter confirmation code in the "Deal Code" box.

5 Saturdays June 2 - June 30 9:30 am - 10:30 am Tuition $60 It’s true, with the rise of online children’s educational programming; more and more kids never experience the thrill of drawing by hand. Not only have they missed the joy of creativity, they are also missing out on the techniques learned by doodling and drawing. This class combines fun with technique as kids use charcoal, pastels, ink, markers and pencils while learning real drawing concepts at an age appropriate level. We don’t promise your child will leave as a budding Picasso, but we know that your child will have a great time and will learn techniques that will stay with them always.

Saturday, June 2 1:00 - 4:00 pm Tuition: $85 Join fiber artsist Bev Thoms for a 3 hour nuno felt scarf class on June 2nd, 1-4 pm. Nuno is a Japanese word for fabric. Nuno felt is a fabric made by felting together wool and light weight fabrics, such as silk or cotton. During the felting process, the wool fibers migrate through the weave of the cloth. When the wool fibers shrink the other fabrics are gathered into a wonderfully textured fabric. The possibilities for combining transparency, wonderful texture and layering of luxury fibers creates fabric that is only limited by your imagination. In class you will learn the art of making a beautiful ethereal scarf using wet felting techniques. You will learn how to layer wool, silk, mohair, glitz and yarn onto a silk scarf, and then transform them into your own unique creation. This is a very 'physical' class. Be sure to wear loose comfy clothes and shoes!

Sunday, June 3 11:00 am - 1:00 pm  Tuition: $75.00 This class will enhance your understanding of the basic concepts of glass fusing and continue your journey into the wonderful world of kiln formed glass. During the class you will create a 9" round bowl and 3 small sample tiles using various techniques. This class is for you if you have completed Glass Fusing Basics 1 and wish to continue learning, or if you are self-taught or have pursued glass fusing on your own. In this class you will review the basic principles of combining glass and heat, gain a better understanding of how Bullseye glass is made, tested and priced.

Sunday, June 3 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm Tuition: $50 Create your own beautiful fused glass plate in one fun two-hour session. Students of all skill levels will cut and layer glass, use frit and stringers and produce a beautiful 6 x 6  plate or 4 x 8 dish. You design and create the work of art and leave it for us to let the kilns work their magic. Come back two weeks later and be prepared to be amazed.

Sunday 6/3, 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm Paint any of our cocktails and canvas paintings from 2012 Tuition: $40 We provide the partially sketched 11 x 14 canvas, paint, brushes, easels, apron and instructor.  And to keep your creative energies up, we provide red wine, white wine, sodas and snacks. It's a perfect chance to learn the basics of acrylic painting while enjoying the company of friends and other creative folks. Each session we will be working on a different painting, please be sure to pick the painting you want, as registrations are not transferable between nights (because of space restrictions.)

Monday June 4,  2012 3:00-6:00 pm Our glass studio is open for you to come and create. You must have taken either a glass fusing basic class or a fused glass plate workshop.  This open studio is for 7 and up only with a maximum of 15.  No online registration. Payment for projecrts done on-site.

Japanese Woodworking & Design - June 4, 2012 - June 5, 2012 6:30pm-9:30pm Instructor: Adrian Summers Skill Level: Beginner Class Size: 5 Allow Adrian to introduce you to the basic tools and techniques of Japanese Woodworking. To start the class you will focus on creating a handmade layout square for marking and measuring as well as handmade sanding blocks to fit the contour of your hand. Discover how to correctly use a marking knife as well as how to cut a straight line with the pull saw. In the later part of the class you will design and construct Saw Ponies. If you have ever needed a large work table, but don’t have enough room to make a permanent solution, simply lay any flat surface onto your new handmade saw ponies to create a quick space to work. You will learn how to hand chop a lap joint and carve the shoulders of the ponies with a mallet & chisels. Other techniques include how to trim joints with a slick and how to use handmade sanding blocks to get a perfect fit. Cost: $210

Tuesday, June 5  7:00 pm - 10:00 pm It's Springtime and Time to Paint In Bright Colors! We provide the partially sketched 11 x 14 canvas, paint, brushes, easels, paints, apron and instructor. We also provide the cups, mixers and snacks and red and white wine. You won't walk out of here as a master, but you sure can have a very nice copy of one. It's a perfect chance to learn the basics of acrylic painting while enjoying the company of friends and other creative folks. Our instructors will help you whether you are a total beginner or looking to brush up your skills and paint in a social setting.   To register using a Groupon: Fill out all your information on the registration form. On the second page of the form, enter in the word "Groupon" in the "Visarts Code" box. Enter your 8 letter confirmation code in the "Deal Code" box.