Instructor: Kara Ashley-Gilmore and Miranda Wildman Date: 12/5/2025 Time: 11 am - 1 pm
âï¸ Step into the magic of the season! âï¸
Join artists Miranda Wildman and Kara Ashley-Gilmore for a festive afternoon of Winter Festoonery!
Gather your friends and celebrate the holidays by creating joyful crafts from upcycled and recycled materials. We'll have a cozy afternoon of seasonal craft-making, turning forgotten items into beautiful treasures like:
All materials will be provided, but pre-registration is required so we can have enough for every creator. A $5 cash donation is suggested to help cover supply costs.
Don't miss out on the winter fun! We can't wait to see you there! âï¸
Artist's Bios:
Kara Ashley-Gilmore and Miranda Wildman are artists and creative facilitators dedicated to helping people connect with their inner world through art. Kara, a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and Board Certified Art Therapist, believes in using our innate creativity for wellness and healing. She is a seasoned professional who has developed programs that guide others through self-discovery and emotional processing.
Miranda, a mixed-media artist, draws inspiration from the natural world of Western North Carolina. She believes art-making and appreciation are for everyone, serving as a powerful tool to reconnect with each other and with nature. She challenges the idea that art is reserved for a select few, emphasizing that creative expression can break down barriers and foster a sense of community and belonging.
Together, Kara and Miranda bring a unique blend of clinical expertise and intuitive, community-focused artistry to their workshops, offering a non-judgmental and supportive space for creative exploration and personal growth. more info...
In this soulful weekend class, you’ll repurpose old license plates and vintage map atlases into a richly layered art journal—part sketchbook, part written reflection, part passport to future adventures. A combination of guided imagery, and writing, and art prompts are designed to help you tap into a deeper appreciation for where you’ve been and greater clarity about where you are headed next.
Intermediate
Supplies: Provided
Artist Bio:
Led by Evie Lennon, author and illustrator of the best-selling art journaling guide “Drawing Comfort for Chronic Conditions.” Mapping an internal emotional journey is your license to create a one-of-a-kind journal for yourself or someone you love.
Instructor: Lauren Brown Date: 12/7/2025 Time: 10 am - 12 pm Member: $70 Non-Member: $80
In this course, you will bring an image of something or someone meaningful to you. We will work to create a compelling outline of this image on watercolor paper, then fill it with an intuitive watercolor landscape or abstraction that reflects the feeling or emotion the item or person holds for you. Watercolor techniques will be taught and discussed.
Beginner
Supply List:
âAny size watercolor paper you prefer, 8X10 and larger works best for this project, but if you prefer smaller, that is fine. I prefer Arches 140lb cold-pressed rough texture, which can be purchased by the sheet or in a block. But any watercolor paper will work.
Watercolor paint, whatever colors you prefer, but at least the primary colors.
A couple of different-sized watercolor brushes.
I will provide masking fluid.
Artist Bio:
Lauren is an artist and registered nurse. She received her BFA from Georgian Court University and her MFA from the Art Institute of Boston. She has worked with a variety of media and within an eclectic range of environments. She co-founded a community art space in Philadelphia, which hosted over 20 city-wide exhibitions. She worked part-time for many years in the art therapy department of an inpatient clinic, and along with the art therapist, she co-founded a program that offered classes utilizing art to further self-exploration and expression. In her personal artwork, she works mainly in watercolor and printmaking. She lives in Hendersonville with her husband, two daughters, dog, and chickens.
Come get into the holiday spirit! Join us to create your own collaged holiday card! Everything is provided (magazines, scissors, glue, matte board), but you may want to bring some of your own holiday images.
All Supplies Provided!
Artist Bio:
Kate Stockman is a multi-media artist, creating assemblage jewelry, bookbinding, and mixed media art. She relishes seeing others blossom as they create art!
Get into the holiday spirit with a festive cross-stitch workshop! In this hands-on class, you’ll learn the basics of cross-stitch while creating your very own Christmas-themed ornament to hang on the tree or gift to someone special. Whether you’re brand new to stitching or have some experience, this class is designed to be fun, relaxed, and beginner-friendly.
All supplies are included: fabric, threads, needles, and festive patterns, so you can simply show up and enjoy. By the end of class, you’ll have a finished ornament (or one well on its way!) that adds a handmade, heartfelt touch to the season.
Come stitch, sip some cocoa, and leave with holiday cheer and a keepsake you’ll treasure for years to come!
Instructor: Jean Dubreuil Date: 12/11/2025 Time: 10 am - 12 pm Member: $80 Non-Member: $88
Turn your travels into lasting memories by learning how to sketch with watercolors as an alternative to snapping photos. This hands-on class will guide you through the essentials of travel sketching—helping you capture scenes quickly, creatively, and with your own personal touch.
You’ll explore:
Choosing your subject & composition – what makes a strong sketch
Drawing & perspective – using pencil or marker to set the foundation
Color palettes – selecting warm or cool tones to set the mood
Watercolor techniques – experimenting with dry-on-dry, wet-on-wet, or a mix of both
Resist methods – adding texture and preserving highlights
Working within a time limit – creating expressive sketches on the go
Whether you’re an artist looking to loosen up your technique or a traveler wanting to capture moments in a more meaningful way, this class offers a fun, approachable introduction to watercolor sketching. No prior experience is required—just curiosity and a sense of adventure!
Artist Bio:
Jean-Pierre Dubreuil was born in France in 1952. His artistic talent developed as early as lower school, where his caricatures earned him many detentions. After perfectly boring business and law studies, he joined the corporate world that led him to live in multiple places in Europe, the Middle and Far-East and eventually the USA, first in Boston 35 years and now in Asheville. Most of his trips have been documented in pencil or watercolor sketches for the last 50 years.
In Boston, he was an active member of the Cambridge Art Association and United South End Artists, where he also taught watercolors. He is now is a member of the Asheville Gallery of Arts. more info...
Life drawing is the activity of drawing the human body from a live model. The models are typically nude, but there may be sessions in which we have models in clothing. Life drawing is a great way to build your drawing skills. These sessions are not a class but facilitated sessions. The sessions are structured, and we have short as well as longer poses. The $10.00 fee is to provide payment to the model. The sessions will be held two times per month from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. The space in the classroom can be tight, so we are requesting that you sign up for the sessions to ensure that everyone has enough space. Easels, tables, and chairs are provided. more info...
Instructor: Kate Stockman Time: 1:30 pm- 4:00 pm Location: Art Place Studio Workshop Members: Free Non-Members: $5
Did you know that 40 minutes of creating art lowers the level of cortisol (the stress hormone) in the body? Art really does heal, and it's fun, too. Join us on the third Sunday of the month to take a short creative break at our Collage Playshop. No experience is necessary.
Creating art is just playing with materials. Most of us might already have our supplies ready and organized, but just don't have or take the time to play and create! This free Sunday session offers the time, space, and supplies to encourage playing and creating to anyone who is interested.
Kate will provide an embarrassment of collage supplies (including magazines, catalogs, glue sticks, foundation, etc.) to get folks started. Attendees can bring something they're already working on, their own images, magazines, etc. (be sure to bring your own scissors!) Prompts will be offered, but it's completely up to you what you want to collage! This is a casual gathering to bring the community together to create art and everyone is welcome to join! Bring a friend!
This event is free but requires registration. There is a $5.00 room use fee that will be collected and given to the Art League. more info...
Celebrate the joy of the Winter Solstice with a cheerful, creative gathering. We’ll craft glowing lamps and tabletop lanterns using upcycled, recycled, and vibrantly colorful materials, transforming the ordinary into extraordinary pieces of light and magic. Each lamp or lantern will shine as a symbol of renewal and new beginnings. No experience needed—just bring your spark and enjoy a playful, uplifting process while you connect and engage with new and old friends. All materials provided, along with sparkling wine and fizzy water, as we enjoy making art and the return of the light together.
Hint: these lamps and lanterns will make perfect holiday gifts!
Miranda believes that art is for everyone. Making art together in a space without judgment challenges pre-conceived notions and inspires dialogue, cultivating understanding and compassion.
Artist Bio:
Who is Miranda? I grew up in a cozy Vermont town, basking in nature's changing beauty. Creating art with my mom and friends sparked my imagination and led me to the Maine College of Art, where I continued to appreciate New England’s lush landscapes. My journey then took me to Western North Carolina, a vibrant place that fuels my creativity, drawing inspiration from its biodiversity and community connections. Through my artistic endeavors, I have come to understand that our ties with one another and with nature are essential. In a world where capitalism often encourages us to see ourselves as isolated individuals, I believe in breaking down those barriers. Art-making and appreciation belong to everyone, transcending titles and credentials. Engaging with art is a way for us to reconnect—not only with each other but with the earth itself. more info...
Life drawing is the activity of drawing the human body from a live model. The models are typically nude, but there may be sessions in which we have models in clothing. Life drawing is a great way to build your drawing skills. These sessions are not a class but facilitated sessions. The sessions are structured, and we have short as well as longer poses. The $10.00 fee is to provide payment to the model. The sessions will be held two times per month from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm. The space in the classroom can be tight, so we are requesting that you sign up for the sessions to ensure that everyone has enough space. Easels, tables, and chairs are provided. more info...
Instructor: Mary Alice Braukman Dates: 1/5, 1/12, 1/19, 1/26 Time: 10 am - 4 pm (1-hour Lunch Break) Member: $540 Non-Member: $595
This workshop is designed to encourage you to take your art in new directions. The class will be working with a wide variety of mediums, colors, collage, and experimenting on different surfaces with various transfer techniques. Each student will be encouraged to find his or her unique personal direction, whether working abstractly or representational. Individual guidance and critiques will be offered daily, as well as a class critique on the final day.
This class is open to anyone who would like to explore mixed media techniques, layering, collage, transfers, and how to apply these into your paintings. If you feel you are stuck, let's hope this will open up new ideas. Ask yourself “what if” and begin exploring those ideas.
Creativity is bigger than you.
Curiosity is the basis of creativity.
If you have passion for art that’s you.
If you’ve lost it you can get it back with curiosity,
EVERYONE CAN BE CREATIVE … YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE CREATIVE
-Elizabeth Gilbert, Big Magic
Supply List: Brushes:
I like using flat brushes: 1`”, 2”, 3”- or larger.
âFoam brushes or inexpensive ones for glue etc.
Colors:
Prefer Golden fluid acrylics and their heavy body ones, but I do use some Liquitex. Golden’s colors are best.
Nichol Azo Gold or Quinacridone Orange or both
Quinacridone Magenta, or Red, Phthalo Turquoise
Black (gesso or paint)White (gesso or paint)
Note: (These are three transparent colors that I will show how you can make all your colors and never have mud. BUT - Bring any you like using. - how you can tell if the color is transparent: If you paint a color over a black line the opaques will cover it but if transparent you will see black line.)
Painting material:
1 (Two) Birchwood cradles 16” x 16” or Panels 16” x 16” Can use canvas if you prefer. I’m rough on them and I like the wooden panels or cradles. If you cannot find the16” ones - Then any square but not smaller then 10” x 10” or larger than 20” x 20”
If you have an old painting you would like to re-work - bring them along. I love painting over old paintings and giving them new life. We will be doing collage in this class!
Freezer Paper (grocery store) or palette paper - prefer you not use paper or plastic plates
Scissors or X-acto or single edge razor blade
Colored pencils/crayons - I prefer Stabilo pencils and crayons also like oil pastels (Many of these supplies i will have and you are welcome to try.)
Gloss Fluid and Matt Fluid Mediums
On loan: Gator Boards for support of your collage substrates
Collage materials but the student may bring their own pieces.
Black India ink (small container)
Newspapers
A magazine (Architectural Digest, Better Homes and Gardens, etc.)
Rags to use for buffing and cleaning your brush
Paper towels
Scrapers (old credit cards, room keys, or and thing you use to scrape paint even shapers.)
Sketch book one with paper that will take paint. I like the spiral ones - they will lay flat.
Sand Paper (fine and medium)
If you have a brayer, bring it.
Masking tape - the blue 1 or 2”
Shipping tape - transparent 2” wide or 3”
Geli plate if you have one. I have 5 and we can share do not buy one.
Many of these items can be found at Walmart, The Dollar Store, Michaels, and Lowe's. Starving Artists carries all of these as well as Jerry’s Art Online.
Most important material:
COME WITH AN OPEN MIND. READY TO EXPLORE AND OPEN NEW DIRECTIONS IN YOUR WORK..WHAT IF?
GO WITH IT!
Any questions, feel free to call or text or email me.
Mary Alice Braukman - 727/418-3041 braukman@me.com
Artist Bio:
Braukman, a native Floridian, now makes her home in Pisgah Forest, NC.
She is a member of the Florida Watercolor Society and holds signature status in the National Watercolor Society. Mary Alice has a Bachelor of Science degree in Art Education and Fine Arts from Florida State University. She continued graduate studies at the University of Colorado and Eckerd College in the Tampa Bay area. She is a past president of the Florida Watercolor Society and was director of the Kanuga Water-media Workshops for 15 years. Mary Alice was invited to be guest editor of the American Artist Magazine’s Special Issue: Experimental Approaches to Water-media and Watercolor in 2001. In 2022 she was one of three selected jurors of the National Watercolor Society International Open Exhibition and served in selecting those receiving their NWS signature status. As a painter Mary Alice’s primary focus is on texture and color. Her life experiences and everyday visions get filtered through her artistic eye and transformed into an abstract body of work. Her experiences come forth in a myriad of techniques - a pour of transparent colors or by layers of collage and brush strokes which she unearths the colors beneath bringing color and texture into her paintings. She believes a painter must paint the way he or she feels - they must paint in spite of themselves not the way you think you should paint. There is no one method that will guarantee success or acceptance in a show - it is not that simple. The painter paints because it is who they are - it is their journey. more info...
Instructor: Charles Michael Date: 1/6/2025 Time: 1 pm - 4 pm Member: $20 Non-Member: $25
Animation is a powerful artistic medium, and in this course, students will learn both the craft and the creative thinking behind it. We’ll explore storytelling, character development, sound, movement, and visual style, all while working toward an original animated short film or cartoon series of each student’s own creation.
By the end of the program, a student who has stayed engaged from start to finish will have the skills and confidence to produce a complete animated project, and the ability to recognize and appreciate animation as an expressive art form, not just a technique.
Software & Tools:
All software used in this class is 100% free:
Audacity, sound recording and editing
OpenToonz, animation
Shotcut, video editing
Trelby, script writing
The only required purchase (if not already owned) is a drawing tablet, such as a Wacom Intuos, which the instructor personally uses and recommends.
Students must bring:
A laptop
A drawing tablet with a stylus
Headphones and a sketchbook for planning(Optional)
We’ll combine instructional lectures with plenty of hands-on creative time. Students will be encouraged to experiment, practice new techniques, and build their projects step-by-step. Collaboration and idea sharing are welcome!
With a focus on both the technical skills and the creative mindset of a skilled animator, this course is designed to be exciting, supportive, and accessible for beginners and growing artists alike.
The instructor will teach every technique used in the production of their award-submitted short film, Disabled World (students are welcome to watch it in advance if they’d like: Disabled World)
Artist Bio:
I am Charles Michael (they/them). I'm a 23-year-old artist with autism. I'm a musician, and I'm also working on a comprehensive biography about They Might Be Giants -- but I especially love animation. I released one short film last year called Disabled World, which I made entirely on my own aside from the voice-over work, and I've interviewed dozens of artists, animators, and executives who have worked in various capacities with Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, PBS, Disney, etc.
A contemporary introduction to Oshibana, a centuries old Japanese technique of creating art with pressed plant material; learn all process techniques for pressing, unpressing, storing, creating collage art using petals like strokes of paint, and sealing with multiple sealing methods. This workshop is both a demonstration of techniques and experiencing each step for themselves, resulting in take home projects, both laminate (matted and sleeved) and gel sealed (on wood and cardboard) and resources to continue this art form on one's own. A comprehensive take home package is included, with a complete resource sheet.
Artist Bio:
Susan McChesney is a pressed flower artist living, making art, and teaching her techniques in western NC. A longtime educator, she worked for 24 years at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Using pressed petals like strokes of paint, she creates landscape images reminiscent of WNC. Producing originals, prints, note cards, and jigsaw puzzles, her work is available in a variety of WNC galleries and shops in addition to her website Shop. She also presses Special Occasion Bouquets on commission.
Life drawing is the activity of drawing the human body from a live model. The models are typically nude, but there may be sessions in which we have models in clothing. Life drawing is a great way to build your drawing skills. These sessions are not a class but facilitated sessions. The sessions are structured, and we have short as well as longer poses. The $10.00 fee is to provide payment to the model. The sessions will be held two times per month from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. The space in the classroom can be tight, so we are requesting that you sign up for the sessions to ensure that everyone has enough space. Easels, tables, and chairs are provided. more info...
Instructor: Kate Stockman Time: 1:30 pm- 4:00 pm Location: Art Place Studio Workshop Members: Free Non-Members: $5
Did you know that 40 minutes of creating art lowers the level of cortisol (the stress hormone) in the body? Art really does heal, and it's fun, too. Join us on the third Sunday of the month to take a short creative break at our Collage Playshop. No experience is necessary.
Creating art is just playing with materials. Most of us might already have our supplies ready and organized, but just don't have or take the time to play and create! This free Sunday session offers the time, space, and supplies to encourage playing and creating to anyone who is interested.
Kate will provide an embarrassment of collage supplies (including magazines, catalogs, glue sticks, foundation, etc.) to get folks started. Attendees can bring something they're already working on, their own images, magazines, etc. (be sure to bring your own scissors!) Prompts will be offered, but it's completely up to you what you want to collage! This is a casual gathering to bring the community together to create art and everyone is welcome to join! Bring a friend!
This event is free but requires registration. There is a $5.00 room use fee that will be collected and given to the Art League. more info...
SEEN: The Expressive Arts Journey is a 10-week guided space for creative self-exploration and inner connection. Through imagery, writing, education, and group dialogue, participants explore emotional truths, patterns of self-understanding, and the inner landscapes that shape how they move through life.
While rooted in Kiona’s training in art therapy and psychotherapy, this group is designed as a non-clinical expressive arts experience. It invites curiosity, reflection, and creative exploration—not diagnosis or treatment. Each week centers around a thematic prompt from the SEEN journal, creating a gentle progression toward deeper self-understanding and embodied acceptance.
Participant Experience:
Participants often describe:
Feeling more connected to their authentic self
Accessing emotion and intuition through creative flow
Gaining clarity around inner patterns and needs
Learning to witness their experience with compassion
Rediscovering creative expression as a healing, grounding ritual
A copy of the SEEN journal is included in the price of the group container.
Medium choice will vary with each class but will include: oil pastel, marker, watercolor pencils and watercolor, collage, colored pencil
The class flow will roughly be as follows: Group Flow (75 Minutes)
Opening (10 min): Arrival and grounding or mindful centering
Art Process (30–35 min): Creative response to the weekly prompt using suggested materials
Written Reflection (10 min): Guided journaling using SEEN reflection questions
Group Dialogue (15–20 min): Optional sharing, resonance, and discussion
Closing (5 min): Quiet integration and mindful transition
Artist Bio:
Kiona Edwards, LCAT, ATR-BC, is a licensed art therapist and artist who guides creative spaces for deep self-exploration and emotional renewal. With a grounded, compassionate approach rooted in art therapy, Internal Family Systems, and mindfulness, Kiona helps participants reconnect with the parts of themselves they’ve silenced or outgrown—and learn to meet them with care. Her groups are not therapy, but they are deeply therapeutic in spirit: safe, creative containers for reflection, release, and reconnection. Each session invites you to create, witness, and emerge a little closer to your truth.
Kiona guides with warmth and clarity, creating a reflective space that honors each participant’s pace. The facilitation balances light structure with deep personal inquiry, emphasizing safety, openness, and authentic expression. The focus is not on artistic skill but on what the creative process reveals about one’s inner experience.
Life drawing is the activity of drawing the human body from a live model. The models are typically nude, but there may be sessions in which we have models in clothing. Life drawing is a great way to build your drawing skills. These sessions are not a class but facilitated sessions. The sessions are structured, and we have short as well as longer poses. The $10.00 fee is to provide payment to the model. The sessions will be held two times per month from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm. The space in the classroom can be tight, so we are requesting that you sign up for the sessions to ensure that everyone has enough space. Easels, tables, and chairs are provided. more info...
