In this five part workshop, participants will make hand-spun yarn from fleece to fiber. It’s a great fit for complete beginners or fiber lovers of any kind - whether they are a knitter, weaver or even farmer. In any craft, it's important to know the origins of the material you’re working with, and this workshop is the perfect opportunity to form a greater understand of the way wool and other fibers work. It’s hands-on, meditative, and a way to engage with local ecosystems and fiber suppliers. 

On the first day, we will prepare a raw fleece from a nearby farm. Through skirting, separating and scouring, we will end up with a clean fleece no longer covered in dirt and lanolin. Participants will learn about the characteristics of wool and other cellulose and protein fibers. 

On the second day, we will dye the fiber into vibrant colors using natural dyes. 

Then, the next day we process the clean fiber through carders and combs - transforming the fleece into top, roving, and rolags ready to be spun. 

On the fourth day, participants will transform their fiber into yarn by hand using a drop spindle, with a spinning wheel available if anyone feels ready for it. It’s a tricky craft that requires a lot of patience, but participants will leave with a great foundation and an excitement to continue spinning. Making your own yarn is so fulfilling and makes every knitted, woven, or crocheted textile even more personal. 

On the last day, participants will be introduced to different methods of making textiles with wool like wet felting, needle felting, and weaving. There will be free time to explore these techniques to create an artwork with our clean wool and yarn - a labor of love from start to finish.

Our class/workshop cancellation policy can be found here.

We believe art should be accessible to all. Financial assistance is available for those who qualify.

Take advantage of our fully equipped printmaking studio and work on our own projects on your own time! This pass gives you unlimited access to our print studio during open studio hours for one month.This is not a class and is for experienced printmakers only. Artists are responsible for their own ink and paper. Open Studio hours will be sent to all registrants.

We require anyone new to our print studio to set up a time to meet with a member of our staff so we can show you the studio and answer any questions in person. Please contact info@garrisonartcenter.org to make an appointment.

We believe art should be accessible to all. Financial assistance is available for those that qualify.

Unlock your creativity and explore the expressive world of abstract art! This class is perfect for anyone new to painting or those looking to expand their current practice. Under the guidance of teaching artist Melanie Delgado, students will experience a variety of warm-up exercises, multiple demonstrations, and hands-on techniques designed to build confidence and inspire experimentation. This class offers a supportive space for students of all skill levels to play, explore, and develop your unique creative voice. Basic materials are included, and students are encouraged to bring in additional supplies they want to experiment with or learn more about.

Our class/workshop cancellation policy can be found here.

We believe art should be accessible to all. Financial assistance is available for those who qualify.

Technical Foundations for Serious Practice

This course focuses on the essential techniques that govern watercolor behavior and control. Students work systematically with brush handling, water management, and paint application, including wet-on-wet, dry brush, lifting, glazing, masking, and layered washes. Emphasis is placed on understanding cause and effect in watercolor rather than working by guesswork.

Instruction progresses from broad, controlled washes to increasingly precise applications. Students apply techniques to structured studies and selected subjects such as landscapes and seascapes, with close attention to value, edge control, and color interaction.

Regular critiques and technical evaluations address accuracy, control, and refinement. The goal is not stylistic imitation, but the development of reliable technique upon which personal expression can later rest.This course is intended for students who already have a basic familiarity with color and value, as both are considered prerequisites for technical study. Materials are not included; here is a suggested supply list. 

This class is scheduled to be in our print studio, which is only accessible by stairs. 

Our class/workshop cancellation policy can be found here.

We believe art should be accessible to all. Financial assistance is available for those who qualify.

This workshop will cover mixing alternative materials into your clay to create unique clay bodies. Traditionally, clay has materials mixed into it to allow for porosity. In commercial clay, this is typically grog, but ancient people used to use materials such as sand, ground stone, ground ceramics, volcanic ash, diatomaceous earth, shells, charcoal, plant fibers, manure, and more! Inspired by this history, as well as the work of artists such as Don Ricardo and Masaomi Yasunga, we are going to play around and experiment with introducing organic materials to clay. This workshop is taught by teaching artist Lisa Knaus, who has been experimenting with clay additives and the unique effects they create in her own works for years. All materials are included.

Our class/workshop cancellation policy can be found here.

We believe art should be accessible to all. Financial assistance is available for those who qualify.

In this workshop, participants will learn how to spin wool into hand-made yarn with a drop spindle. It’s a wonderful and meditative craft perfect for fiber lovers of any kind. Participants will learn what makes wool such a special fiber, as well as the tools and techniques that turn a sheep’s fleece into spun yarn. All materials are included.

Our class/workshop cancellation policy can be found here.

We believe art should be accessible to all. Financial assistance is available for those who qualify.

On-going sessions for those who want to work on their own to develop and refine their techniques of drawing and painting from the live model. Short poses. Bring your own materials. This is a monitored event, not a class. Interested in paying for 8 sessions all at once and receiving a discount? Reach out to us at 845-424-3960 for more information.

Join Garrison Art Center for a two-hour figure drawing session with a live nude model. Work from a series of short poses and enjoy wine and seltzer as you settle in for an evening of focused creativity. This is an independent, open studio-style session—bring your own materials. A limited number of easels will be available.

This event is only for individuals 21 years of age and older.