Foundry Workshops
If you’re looking for the opportunity to explore your creative side, you’ve come to the right place! The Foundry Art Centre offers unique opportunities to try your hand at new techniques, explore different mediums, and create finished pieces that you can proudly display or share with friends and family. Join us for a fun evening of creation and exploration.
If you are looking for an opportunity for one-on-one instruction, please visit our Studio Artists to see if there is a medium or class you would like to explore!
ADULT WORKSHOPS
Join the Foundry Art Centre for an evening of grown-up fun! Bring a date, a friend, bring any adult you want. No art skills needed, but you can flex those social muscles as you pick up a new creative skill. 21+ only, please.
Evening Stitch ‘n B***h
Monthly on Third Thursdays: July 16, August 20, September 17, October 15, November 19, December 17 | 6:00 to 8:00 pm | FREE
Stitch ‘n Bitch with us during the Foundry’s new FREE fiber crafts club. All fiber crafts are welcome, from knitting, to embroidery, to crochet and beyond. Whether it’s your first time trying it, or you’re a pro. This is not a fibers class, but crafters are welcome to help each other out. Vibe with us as we craft, and… bitch. BYO snacks & supplies. If you need accommodations for this program, please contact the Foundry as soon as you are able.
Daytime Stitch ‘n B***h
Monthly on Thursdays: August 6, September 3, October 1, November 5, December 3 | 10 am to 12 pm | FREE
New to the Foundry this year, we will offer a Stitch ‘n Bitch session monthly during the day!
Stitch n’ Bitch with us during the Foundry Art Centre’s FREE fiber crafts club! All fiber crafts are welcome from knitting, to embroidery, to crochet, and beyond. This is not a class-but of course all skill levels are welcome and crafters are welcome to help each other out. Stitch n’ Bitch is an inclusive environment and everyone is welcome. Vibe out with us as we craft, and… bitch. BYO snacks & supplies. If you need accommodations for this program, please contact the Foundry as soon as you are able
Figure Drawing
Monthly on Wednesdays: September 9, October 7, November 18, December 9 | 6 - 8 pm | $15 per session
The Foundry Art Centre is offering an opportunity to draw from a live model without instruction. The Foundry will provide a model for 2 hours during which participants can practice their figure drawing at their own pace, work on incorporating a figure into an existing piece, or however they’d like to use their time. Foundry staff members – who are also practicing artists – will facilitate the session. Each session will include a series of short poses (1 – 5 min) as well as some longer poses (10 – 20min). This class is for adult students (ages 21+). Space is limited and registration is required. It is recommend that participants bring tools and surfaces of their choice to the session. If you need accommodations for this program, please contact the Foundry as soon as you are able.
A Six-Week Silversmithing Creative Journey with Shanika Hartrum
Wednesdays September 9 – October 14 | 5:30 to 8 pm | $425 | Ages 16+
Have you ever wanted to make your own silver jewelry? In this six-week course, artist Shanika Hartrum will teach you the art of silversmithing one skill at a time. She will help you build your confidence, create beautiful jewelry, and discover just how much you can create in six weeks! Each week introduces new skills while building on the techniques you've already learned, so you'll finish the course with beautiful jewelry, practical experience, and the confidence to continue creating on your own. You will experience a relaxed, supportive, and hands-on studio environment where there is plenty of individual instruction and bench time. You will work with professional jewelry-making tools and utilize traditional silversmithing techniques while creating items that you will be proud to wear.
By the end of the six weeks, you'll have created several beautiful sterling silver pieces of handmade jewelry, such as stacker rings, bracelets, a stone-set ring or pendant, and a statement piece. More importantly, you'll leave with a solid foundation in silversmithing and the confidence to continue creating your own jewelry long after class ends.
No experience is necessary. Whether you've never picked up a torch or you're looking to build your skills, this course is designed to meet you where you are. Come ready to learn, create, and have fun alongside fellow makers in a welcoming, no-fail studio environment. Tools and materials will be provided; you will have the option to purchase additional materials to accommodate larger pieces and/or added embellishments. This class is for all skill levels and is available for teen and adult students 16+. If you need accommodations for this program, please contact the Foundry as soon as you are able..
build: A Web Design Workshop with Sara Graham of EngagTaste
Wednesday, September 23 | 6 to 8 pm | $65 | Ages 14+
You make beautiful work. Now let's make sure the world can find it. build is a hands-on Squarespace workshop led by Sara Graham, founder of EngageTaste, a St. Louis web design studio, and a Squarespace Platinum Designer & Certified Expert Trainer. In two hours, participants build a real website from the ground up — no design background or tech experience required. Sara will guide you through everything from page structure and branding to layout, content, and publishing.
Whether you're launching something new or refreshing a site that never quite captured your personality, you’ll leave with a beautiful new website, empowered to manage it yourself.
Participants are asked to bring a laptop and will receive a short prep questionnaire in advance to help them arrive ready to build. If you need accommodations for this program, please contact the Foundry as soon as you are able.
Botanical Printing with Watercolors
Wednesday, October 15 | 5:30 to 7:30 pm | $60
Co-create with nature by using real leaves, stems and blooms to create beautiful, frame-able botanical art. If you like to dabble with watercolors but feel intimidated by drawing the intricate details of a botanical, then this workshop is for you! In this 2-hour workshop, botanical artist, Ramona Kristmann will guide you through her direct-print process that captures the shape, structure and texture of a botanical and finishes the impression with an overlay of watercolor washes. You'll have a chance to try some new water-soluble watercolor media in unique ways on watercolor paper. Ramona will also provide inspiration on ways to frame or use the botanical prints you create in this workshop. You will leave this workshop several “one-of-kind” pieces of botanically inspired art and a process guide containing a list of art supplies used in the workshop. All supplies are included. This workshop is appropriate for adult students 18+ of all skill levels (beginner through advanced). If you need accommodations for this program, please contact the Foundry as soon as you are able.
Introduction to Printmaking with Natashna Anderson
Saturday, October 17 | 1 to 2:30 pm | $45 | Ages 16+
Join designer and illustrator Natashna Anderson (known creatively as natashNa A.) for this 90-minute beginning printmaking workshop where you’ll design, carve, and print a design of your own creation. Natashna will guide participants through the whole process, from drafting an image to transferring the image to paper with ink. Learn a new skill (or brush up on an old one) and print something amazing! This class is for all skill levels and is available for teen and adult students 16+. If you need accommodations for this program, please contact the Foundry as soon as you are able.
natashNa A., born Natashna Anderson is a Black-American designer and illustrator, currently based in Saint Louis. From Brooklyn, to Chicago, she graduated at the height of Covid with a BFA from School of the Arts Institute of Chicago. Utilizing all her alma mater had to offer, she emerged with a large interdisciplinary background of printmaking, book arts, graphic design, illustration, and fine arts. Her work focuses on known and unknown narratives within blackness, typography and fairytales. Working as a designer and illustrator, her work spans both digital and traditional media. natashNa A. embraces the duality and loves the physicality of it. You can find her work on Target.com, painted on Chicago facades and entertaining the masses within printed publications.
Upcycled Pendant - Jewelry Workshop with Christy Brinkman
Wednesday, October 28 | 6 to 8 pm | 18+ | *$95 Bring Your Own Mask or *$115 We Provide Your Mask
Transform forgotten fragments into one-of-a-kind wearable art in this creative, hands-on jewelry workshop! Artist Christy Brinkman will guide students in turning reclaimed ceramic pieces—such as broken pottery, vintage china, or found ceramic treasures—into beautiful pendant jewelry using metal soldering techniques. You’ll explore the process of designing and creating a custom pendant while gaining practical experience with jewelry-making tools and materials. Learn how to safely solder metal around ceramic pieces to create beautiful settings that highlight the unique colors, patterns, and stories found within each fragment.
Whether you're new to jewelry making or looking to expand your creative skills, this class offers an exciting introduction to soldering, metalworking, and sustainable art practices. You'll leave with a finished pendant, newfound confidence in soldering techniques, and inspiration for transforming everyday discarded materials into meaningful works of art. No prior experience is necessary. All skill levels are welcome. Come ready to create, experiment, and give new life to beautiful pieces of the past.
*All supplies will be provided except a respirator mask. If you have one, please bring it. If you would like us to purchase one for you, please indicate that at checkout. If you need accommodations for this program, please contact the Foundry as soon as you are able.
Instructor Christy Brinkman-Robertson is a jewelry maker that's passionate about reusing and repurposing items, specializing in transforming everyday materials into one-of-a-kind earrings and necklaces. She has been making jewelry since 2012 and has put her studio art degree to use in this work, starting Lovely Upcycled Things, a line of jewelry. You can view this work at lovelyupcycledthings.com, on Instagram @lovelyupcycledthings, and some work is currently being sold in the Foundry Art Centre gift shop. She is based out of Terre Haute, Indiana, where she also works as the art curator for Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology's art collection. She loves to be surrounded by arts and crafts in every aspect of life!
Silver Stacker Ring Workshop with Shanika Hartrum
Saturday, November 7 | 11 am to 2 pm | $100 | Ages 16+
Artist Shanika Hartrum from Moon.u.mental Jewlery will lead you in the creation of your very own stackable rings. No experience necessary! Whether you come alone or with a friend, this welcoming and beginner friendly class is perfect for all skill levels. In this class you will create 2 or 3 sterling silver stacker rings. Shanika will introduce you to techniques such as: ring sizing, forming, soldering (with a torch), finishing, patina, and polishing. This class is open to students ages 16+. All supplies provided, just bring yourself, a friend or two, and your creativity! If you need accommodations for this program, please contact the Foundry as soon as you are able.
Pet Portrait – Painting
Saturday, November 7 |12 to 2:30 pm | Ages 18+ | $60
Those big, sweet eyes. Those lovable, furry paws. You have the best pet in the world, don’t you? In this exciting painting class, artist Beena McMahan will guide you in painting a lasting memory of your favorite pet! When you register for this class, you will be sent instructions in a confirmation email on how to submit a clear photo of the pet’s face so our instructor can prepare supplies in advance of the class. Please note that we are only able to include one pet in the painting. This class is for adults 18+ of all skill levels. If you need accommodations for this program, please contact the Foundry as soon as you are able.
Breath of Fresh Ink: Upcycling Fabrics with Printmaking
Saturday, November 14 | 1 to 3 pm | Ages 16+ | $45
Creativity meets sustainability in this fascinating workshop where you will not only learn to carve your own printing block, but you will also breathe new life into one or more pieces of your clothing! Artist Natashna Anderson will guide participants through the whole process, from drafting an image, carving that image into a block, and then transferring the image to fabric. Attendees are encouraged to bring clothing from their closet that may be stained or flawed to upcycle. Participants will leave the workshop with an upcycled piece of clothing, a few experiment pieces, and a new skill set for future use. All printmaking materials will be provided, but please bring clothing or fabric to be printed on. This class is for all skill levels and is available for teen and adult students 16+. If you need accommodations for this program, please contact the Foundry as soon as you are able.
natashNa A., born Natashna Anderson is a Black-American designer and illustrator, currently based in Saint Louis. From Brooklyn, to Chicago, she graduated at the height of Covid with a BFA from School of the Arts Institute of Chicago. Utilizing all her alma mater had to offer, she emerged with a large interdisciplinary background of printmaking, book arts, graphic design, illustration, and fine arts. Her work focuses on known and unknown narratives within blackness, typography and fairytales. Working as a designer and illustrator, her work spans both digital and traditional media. natashNa A. embraces the duality and loves the physicality of it. You can find her work on Target.com, painted on Chicago facades and entertaining the masses within printed publications.
Boughs and Blooms: Holiday Floral Arranging at the Foundry
Wednesday, December 9 | 6 pm to 8 pm | $85
Join us at the Foundry Art Centre for a fun evening of floral arranging. Christine Laurentius from Blushing Bloom Designs will lead you step-by-step in designing a beautiful evergreen centerpiece (just in time for your holiday table!). You will walk away with floral arranging tips, some new friends, and a beautiful fresh arrangement designed by you! We will provide all of the flowers, the oasis foam and a vessel. Just bring yourself, a friend or two, and your creativity! If you need accommodations for this program, please contact the Foundry as soon as you are able.
REFUNDS & CANCELLATIONS
Limited seats available and advanced registration required so sign up today to secure your creative seat. The Foundry Art Centre does not make up or refund classes if a student misses a class. Accommodations can be made for cancellations 14 days prior to the date of the workshop. Please contact program coordinator Christine Tavares with any concerns.
For more information contact Christine Tavares, Program Coordinator, at ctavares@foundryartcentre.org
