Dive into the colorful world of artistic wonders with Lauren Marie Nitka! Join this lively class designed for creative minds where we'll embark on an exciting journey exploring the magic of watercolor, lifework and collage—mastering optical illusions, and delving into the secrets of graphic design—all to craft the most dazzling Artist Trading cards ever! You'll leave with at least 5 cards sized 2.5" x 3.5" all created by you!

We discuss the elements of art as building blocks to make our work, and the principles as extra special details!

Ages 8 to 14
$45, Includes supplies

Lauren, our fantastic guide, is not just an elementary art teacher in the Milwaukee area but also a dazzling professional artist. She's passionate about painting portraits and curating art shows with her fabulous artist pals. Lauren's art assistant is her 11 year old toy poodle, Emmett.

Follow her on Instagram or check out her Website to follow her journey.

Print a patch! We’ll have a few designs for you to choose from. Pick an image, ink your block and press onto a linen patch with fabric ink. Get ready to rock a patch to add to your spring swag!

Free activity for all ages!

We all need a little break! We wanted to do a little something to fill the time and we wanted to fill the shop with everyone’s happy faces. Come on in and we’ll make a tiny book to make for notes or as an art journal! See you then!

This activity is free for all ages!

Stop in and check out our booth at the JMKAC’s Youth Art Expo!

The Social STUDIO will be displaying artworks made by students from over twenty area schools and organizations. We are thrilled to have a table at this event to represent our shop! Stop by and say hi.

Unlock your artistic potential in our Expressive Portrait Painting class, where we demystify the notion that drawing expertise is a prerequisite. Embrace the art of tracing as a valid and accessible method to capture intricate details. Learn techniques to match your image size to the canvas, whether it's a provided image or one you bring. Dive into color theory and discover how to match colors while exploring the freedom to create your own palette. Master the application of paint, blending, and layering to achieve a polished finish, understanding the transformative impact of varying layers. Break free from traditional portraiture – paint anything you desire! Experiment with different techniques and understand the importance of patience. Delve into color gradients, contrasts, and the interplay of light and dark for compositions that tell your unique story.

Golden Heavy Body Acrylic Intro Set or similar color palette
10” x 10” Canvas
1/8” and 1/4” angle brushes
10” x 10” printed image if you have one, or one will be provided

Ages 18+
No prior drawing experience required. This class is about embracing your unique artistic style and enjoying the process of bringing images to life on canvas.

Tiffany Joyce, a self-taught artist predominantly, has been immersed in the world of art since her teenage years. While completing courses at the San Francisco Art Academy, including figure drawing, sculpture, and color theory – a daily source of inspiration, her artistic journey took an unforeseen turn about two years ago when she ventured into portrait painting. Astonishingly, Tiffany has created 26 portraits during this period, with 21 finding new homes through commissions. What started as a response to requests for painted photos has become an integral part of her artistic identity. Despite never envisioning herself as a portrait artist initially, Tiffany now can't imagine her life without it. She encourages others to embark on a similar journey, offering a technique for crafting impeccable portraits that she is eager to share. She firmly believes that the best artists are also excellent teachers, fostering a community where knowledge is generously shared, and collective learning is embraced. Let's paint stories together and weave a vibrant tapestry of shared artistic experiences!

Follow Tiffany on Facebook to follow her artwork or order commissions.

Be a kid again and enjoy playing with materials in a relaxed environment. Elementary art teacher Michelle Jorgensen will guide you through several of her favorite snowflake themed art projects. We will be making fold and cut snowflakes as well as drawing snowflakes using a variety of drawing mediums. Indulge your inner child in an atmosphere of playful exploration as Michelle guides you through the delightful process of crafting intricate fold-and-cut snowflakes. Unleash your artistic flair using an array of drawing mediums to bring unique snowflake visions to paper.

Unfortunately, little ones will have to sit this one out – this snowflake spectacle is exclusively for the grown-ups. Embrace the opportunity to channel your inner artist, guided by the expertise of Michelle Jorgensen, an educator with a passion for unleashing creativity. Don't miss your chance to make art, memories, and perhaps even some new friends along the way.

All supplies provided! All the tools of artistic expression are at your fingertips – and worry not, for we've taken care of all the supplies. Immerse yourself in a world of creativity without any logistical concerns.

Open to all abilities, this class is designed for those aged 21 and above who are ready to rediscover the joy of being a kid again.

Follow Michelle on Instagram to stay updated with her adventures!

Are you intrigued by the world of self-publishing and want to create your very own zine or minicomic? Join us for an immersive 3 hour workshop where you'll learn the art of crafting an 8-page zine or minicomic from start to finish. Whether you're an aspiring artist, a creative writer, or simply looking for a unique way to express yourself, this hands-on workshop will guide you through the process of creating a tangible piece of personal artwork that you can share with others.

Unlock your inner storyteller and artist as you embark on the journey of crafting your very own 8-page zine or minicomic. Join us for this comprehensive workshop and leave with a tangible piece of self-expression that you can proudly share with friends, family, and the world! Whether you're a seasoned creator or new to the world of zine-making, this workshop has something exciting for everyone. Don't miss out on this opportunity to bring your creative vision to life!

Class Size: 5-8 people
3 hour class

Ages 14+

Supplies:
- purchased separately, 20% off in store for class attendees -
Drawing supplies (col-erase pencils, 2h or 6h, HB pencils, various erasers)
Inking supplies (Microns, nibs, brushes, ink, brush pens, gel pens, etc.)

About the artist:

Jo Schramer (A.K.A. Rats Jo) is a local comic artist and painter interested in sharing their professional sequential art techniques with the Sheboygan community. Their goal is to make industry skills more accessible while encouraging artists and writers to engage in creative storytelling.

Jo’s education includes a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Sequential Art from the Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, GA., along with a Storyboarding Minor (2016). Their talent for environment drawing and cinematic layout brought them to Atlanta, GA in 2018 to work in background painting and layout for multiple animated TV shows such as Emmy Award winning Archer, Marvel’s Hitmonkey, Birdgirl, and many more. Next, they want to self-publish their comics (Pizza Rat) and complete their very first graphic novel (Vermin Voyage), with the goal of writing and distributing many more comics and literature in the future.

You can view Jo’s portfolio at JoSchramer.com.

You can also follow Jo on instagram:

@RatsJo for updates about their project, The Rat Dimension
@Leaves_Alight for plein-aire painting with watercolor and gouache
@JingleSchram for everything else

Drawing Fundamentals with Artist Hector Acuna

This workshop will be centered on drawing with a focus on composing dynamic designs for landscape, figurative, and imaginative paintings. However, I believe the topics covered would apply to other fields of two dimensional art as well including graphic novels, illustration, printmaking, and digital art. We will discuss the variety of mark making applications which inform our own drawing styles and visual language. The design principles will be used to structure our goals for successful compositions that break away from centering focal points. The elements of art will be used to structure the tools and strategies available to us to make compelling images, in particular the elements of line, shape, and value. The goal by the end of the workshop is to supply new artists with information and methods to cultivate their new passion for drawing. For seasoned artists this workshop is intended to reinvigorate the way they see and understand drawing as a process based medium to improve their work. As a working artist and educator I know firsthand how important it is to revisit the fundamentals in art even after drawing consistently for the last 12 years.

In this workshop students will receive a lecture style presentation where I will introduce terminology, drawing methods, art examples, and process images. Following the presentation he will share a series of live drawing demonstrations and examples of my drawing practice. From there students will work to draw still life setups from life or direct observation using handmade paper viewfinders I will supply (I will also demonstrate how to make these). During and after the drawing process, students will be given guided feedback on their results. At the end of the day we can reserve time for a group critique and/or he can share drawing prompts and sketchbook assignments for students to continue developing the methods learned in the workshop.

Class Size: 6-8 people
4 hour class (w/ 30 minute break)

Ages 18+ are preferred, but young adults who are serious about and open to developing their drawing skills are welcome.

SUPPLIES:

9x12 Sketchbook
Sketching Pencils; One each of 2H / HB / B / 2B / 4B / 7B
Kneaded Eraser
(purchased separately, 20% off in store for class attendees)

About the artist:

My name is Hector Acuna and my preferred pronouns are he/him. I'm originally from the Kenosha area and currently live in Cedarburg, WI. In 2015 I graduated with my Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. It was during my undergraduate studies that I honed my skills in drawing and painting. In 2020 I completed my Master of Fine Arts degree from Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI. While in graduate school I taught foundation level university courses in drawing, color and design, and sculpture. Currently I teach a painting course remotely for the University of Minnesota Morris. When I'm not teaching I maintain a studio practice in my home studio, build frames, and participate in regional plein air painting events. My work has been exhibited in numerous juried exhibitions including the 2022 Wisconsin Biennial at the Museum of Wisconsin Art and has received awards such as Best of Show at the 2022 Door County Plein Air Festival.

Visit Hector’s website acunaarts.com
Follow his studio work on Instagram @hectoracuna.studio
Follow his Plein Air adventures @hectoracuna.pleinair

Learn professional inking techniques and materials for comics, manga, and illustration!

Line-weight, focal point, black & white balance, positive and negative space, perspective, foreground-midground-background, focal-point, movement, texture, sequence, form and shape, scale, contrast, value, comics drafting process and techniques.

Class Size: 6-10
Ages 12+

$35

SUPPLIES: (purchased separately at 20% off for class attendees)

Pen nibs and holders: Crow Quill holder w/ #102 & #107 nibs
Pointed round brushes: 1 or 2 & 7
Micron pens of varying sizes
Black India Ink

We will provide smooth bristol board sketches to ink over, allowing you to focus on the inking process and not on the drawing process.

About the artist:

Jo Schramer (A.K.A. Rats Jo) is a local comic artist and painter interested in sharing their professional sequential art techniques with the Sheboygan community. Their goal is to make industry skills more accessible while encouraging artists and writers to engage in creative storytelling.

Jo’s education includes a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Sequential Art from the Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, GA., along with a Storyboarding Minor (2016). Their talent for environment drawing and cinematic layout brought them to Atlanta, GA in 2018 to work in background painting and layout for multiple animated TV shows such as Emmy Award winning Archer, Marvel’s Hitmonkey, Birdgirl, and many more. Next, they want to self-publish their comics (Pizza Rat) and complete their very first graphic novel (Vermin Voyage), with the goal of writing and distributing many more comics and literature in the future.

You can view Jo’s portfolio at JoSchramer.com.

You can also follow Jo on instagram:

@RatsJo for updates about their project, The Rat Dimension
@Leaves_Alight for plein-aire painting with watercolor and gouache
@JingleSchram for everything else

Join us for a hands-on printmaking workshop where you will learn the basics of reductive and multi-color printmaking using soft linoleum blocks. In this two-and-a-half-hour session, participants will have the opportunity to create an edition of prints and greeting cards. With the guidance of our experienced instructor, you'll learn how to carve your design into a soft linoleum block, ink it up with multiple colors, and print it onto paper. Mixed media materials will also be available to continue embellishing the final artworks.

No prior experience is necessary, and some materials will be provided. This is a great opportunity to explore a new medium and unleash your creativity in a fun and supportive environment. Additional supplies needed for the class will qualify for a 20% discount in the shop!

Supplies to purchase:

Soft carve block - one 4x6 blocks per participant
Lino carving tool with a variety of cutters
Assorted mixed media materials (oil pastels, pens, colored pencils, metallic inks or markers, assorted collage, glue sticks) the shop will provide some supplies but if you have a favorite medium to try bring it along to incorporate into your works!

About the Artist:

Xoe Fiss (she/her) is an artist and museum educator. She received her BFA focusing in painting, printmaking and mixed-media and k-12 teaching certification from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and a Masters in Art Education in museum and community education from the University of Arizona.

Learn professional inking techniques and materials for comics, manga, and illustration!

Line-weight, focal point, black & white balance, positive and negative space, perspective, foreground-midground-background, focal-point, movement, texture, sequence, form and shape, scale, contrast, value, comics drafting process and techniques.

Class Size: 6-10
Ages 12+

$35

SUPPLIES: (purchased separately at 20% off for class attendees)

Pen nibs and holders: Crow Quill holder w/ #102 & #107 nibs
Pointed round brushes: 1 or 2 & 7
Micron pens of varying sizes
Black India Ink

We will provide smooth bristol board sketches to ink over, allowing you to focus on the inking process and not on the drawing process.

About the artist:

Jo Schramer (A.K.A. Rats Jo) is a local comic artist and painter interested in sharing their professional sequential art techniques with the Sheboygan community. Their goal is to make industry skills more accessible while encouraging artists and writers to engage in creative storytelling.

Jo’s education includes a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Sequential Art from the Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, GA., along with a Storyboarding Minor (2016). Their talent for environment drawing and cinematic layout brought them to Atlanta, GA in 2018 to work in background painting and layout for multiple animated TV shows such as Emmy Award winning Archer, Marvel’s Hitmonkey, Birdgirl, and many more. Next, they want to self-publish their comics (Pizza Rat) and complete their very first graphic novel (Vermin Voyage), with the goal of writing and distributing many more comics and literature in the future.

You can view Jo’s portfolio at JoSchramer.com.

You can also follow Jo on instagram:

@RatsJo for updates about their project, The Rat Dimension
@Leaves_Alight for plein-aire painting with watercolor and gouache
@JingleSchram for everything else

Come to the shop and pull a VOTE print!

We will be pulling prints for anyone who comes in and has voted or will be voting by April 4th. This is a very important election and we are hoping to see lots of people showing up! We’ll be pulling prints until we fall over or until the supplies run out.

We’re kicking off the first of our Secret Sundays with 3D Printing!

Join us with all your printing questions, suggestions, or show & tells! We want to meet with the community to discuss what printers you like and don’t like. What slicer is your favorite and why? What do you use to create your 3D models? What is your favorite finishing technique for your prints?

Or ask us! We might know, and if not we’ll do our best to find the right answer for you.

FREE (Coffee & snacks provided; donations accepted)
All ages and skill levels! Diversity encouraged (kids grab grandma & grandpa! invite your neighbor… the more the merrier!)

What’s Secret Sunday?

Our shop would like to build community and share ideas, how is that accomplished? By having conversations! We were having a chat with a big group of friends on a lazy Sunday afternoon a few months back and one of our customers came in and asked, “What is this? Secret Sunday?!” I knew right then we’d have to start facilitating more of these Sundays. Not every Sunday event will be the same category, maybe one Sunday we’ll talk about 3D printing, another we might talk about color or brushes, and another we might pick a community activity or need and brainstorm!

It’s really whatever we need it to be. Together.