Nature-Themed Workshops at Touchstone
Robert Little Scholarship 
100% Tuition Scholarship: To honor respected nature printer, Robert Little, a scholarship has been set up in his name. This scholarship is open to anyone taking an adult-level course that incorporates nature. Apply Now!
Touchstone’s 150-acre campus in the beautiful Laurel Highlands is the perfect natural setting to inspire creativity.
Choose from one of these Nature-themed Workshops:
Ceramics
AUG 19–23 | 5-Day
Altered Elegance
with Martha Grover
Register Now
Working with porcelain on and off the wheel, Martha demonstrates how to make her signature undulating functional forms. You will create an assortment of functional forms including cups, bowls, vases, pitchers, lidded forms, and baskets.
SEP 28–30 | 3-Day
Alternative Firing Techniques
with Bob Green
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Explore several different ceramic firing techniques: raku, burnishing with a terra sigillata slip, and naked raku– combining raku and burnishing. Participants must bring both bone-dry and bisque-fired pieces.
Glass & Basketry
JUL 8–12 | 5-Day
Intro to Stained Glass Copper Foil Technique
with Neile Cooper
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Learn the fundamentals of creating stained glass using the copper foil technique. You will learn how to incorporate non-glass, unconventional materials like crystals, shells, or pressed flowers into your pieces.
AUG 31–SEP 2 | 3-Day
Flameworking Glass Flora
with Erin Garmezy
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Create botanical works on the torch using borosilicate glass. You will discover basic techniques for constructing organic forms to create leaves, flowers, vines, and other organic forms.
AUG 19–23 | 5-Day
Willow Baskets to Grow and Weave
with Jo Campbell-Amsler
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Focusing on the basic techniques used in willow basketry, you will learn everything from making basic basket shapes, rims, and handles to finishing techniques. You will design and weave 3-4 of your own rib style willow baskets in 5 days.
Painting
JUN 8–9 | 2-Day
Plein Air Painting
with William Pfahl
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Find your own vision learn how to see colors in nature while mixing paint to match the colors you see. Bill will demonstrate what excites him – building the bones of a painting from a few color/value shapes that relate in a strong harmony.
AUG 31–SEP 2 | 3-Day
Back to Basics
with Ron Donoughe
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This workshop reinforces the basics of landscape painting including composition, value, color, seeing shapes, and edge treatment. The workshop will also touch on the use of digital photography as an aid. Ron will be giving numerous demonstrations and plenty of individual attention.
Drawing & Photography
JUL 29–AUG 2 | 5-Day
Drawing Nature
with Roger Hyndman
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This workshop focuses on the beauty of the Laurel Highlands and Touchstone’s 150-acre campus, with 2 days of special access to Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater. Learn to record the countryside, waterfalls, organic forms, wildlife, and the human figure in a natural environment.
SEP 7-8 | 2-Day
A Closer Look at Nature: Botanical Illustration
with Robin Menard
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Botanical illustration involves very close observation and scientifically accurate drawing to capture the habits, details, textures, and color of a plant. You will take a closer look at the common things all around us while immersed in the beauty of Touchstone’s 150-acre campus in the Laurel Highlands.
JUN 8–9 | 2-Day
Fundamentals of Digital Photography
with Rick Szymanski
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Get your camera off AUTO mode and take manual control for better photos! You will explore Touchstone’s 150-acre campus and nearby locations in the beautiful Laurel Highlands while learning various styles and techniques such as portraiture, landscape, documentary, and abstract art, as well as computer editing techniques.
2019 Sculpture-based Workshops – Thad Mosley Scholarship
The Thaddeus Mosley Scholarship 
100% Tuition Scholarship: This scholarship provides 100% tuition for any adult-level sculpture-based workshop at Touchstone Center for Crafts. Additional funds may be awarded to offset the cost of housing, meals, travel and materials fees on a case-by-case basis. This scholarship was established in honor of lifelong Touchstone instructor and friend, Thaddeus Mosley.
Interested in applying? Consider one of these 2019 sculpture-based workshops:
Blacksmithing
JUL 22–26
The Art of Welding with Glen Gardner
This hands-on class is focused on the various skills required to join metal parts through the application of heat. Whether your interest lies in creating sculpture, metal furniture or even someday building a bicycle, this workshop will inspire confidence for building those dreams.
AUG 19–23
Forging Sculptural Forms with Aaron DeShields
This week-long intensive will focus on creative methods and problem solving as it relates to the art of sculptural blacksmithing. Developing artists and seasoned smiths alike are encouraged to join!
Ceramics
JUL 22–26
The Narrative Figure with Kyle and Kelly Phelps
Kelly and Kyle share their process from start to finish and how the use of the figure can be the perfect vehicle to talk about topics like politics, environment, race, religion, class, sexuality, gender, poverty, war, and other issues of our time.
SEP 7-8
Making Faces with Travis Winters
Create dramatic faces that tell a story! Travis will guide you through his technique for sculpting faces on hollow forms for sculptural or functional work.
Glass
AUG 12–16
Knitting with Glass with Carol Milne
Learn to knit with glass using Carol’s signature technique! Working with strands of wax, you will knit small objects to transform into glass using the lost wax casting process. All levels are welcome, but beginners should be prepared to be challenged.
SEP 14–16
Introduction to Structural Flameworking with Kit Paulson
Learn the basics of borosilicate flameworking with an emphasis on strategies for building larger structures in glass. Bring grand ideas and expect to learn through lively demos, presentations, and hands-on practice.
Special Topics
June 26-28
Bronze Casting with Rivers of Steel Arts
Join Rivers of Steel Arts at Touchstone for a one-of-a-kind workshop in bronze casting. You will work with leading foundry artist, Ed Parrish, to build and transform your unique creations into solid bronze.
AUG 12–16
The Art and Craft of Metal Mesh Sculpture and ‘Flame Painting’ with Lanny Bergner
Create sculptural constructions and basketry forms out of metal in this fun mesh-working workshop. Then, explore the fascinating world of ‘flame painting’ by using a propane torch to draw/paint on stainless steel mesh.
Scholarship Applications are due Mar 15
Educators’ Retreat
NEW IN 2019! – EDUCATORS’ RETREAT
AUG 5–9 | 5-Days (MON-FRI)
The Educators’ Retreat provides a week for professional development that will enhance an educator’s own creativity while offering rich content that can translate to the classroom. Choose from a variety of studios and delve into the processes as you explore these techniques and share your findings with other educators/artists. At the end of the week, you will have a treasure trove of unique resources as well as a new toolbox of ideas to share with your students!
Not Just For Art Teachers!
Open to anyone but designed for K-12 educators and those studying to be educators (any subject or grade). Act 48 Credits are available for PA educators, sponsored by PAEA (Pennsylvania Art Education Association). (Touchstone is happy to work with education associations from other states to make any special requirements attainable).
Educator Retreat Scholarships – NEW!
50% – 100% Tuition Scholarships: The purpose of this scholarship is to help K-12 Educators participate in this week of programming. Various scholarships are available and open to any K-12 Educator from any district or state. PLEASE NOTE: Thanks to the generosity of the Community Foundation of Fayette County, there are ten, 100% tuition scholarships available for K-12 educators teaching in Fayette County. Touchstone has applied for financial support from several other geographic-specific foundations and we are waiting to hear how much funding of scholarships will be awarded. In the meantime, we encourage ALL EDUCATORS to apply through our general EDUCATOR RETREAT SCHOLARSHIP application process, choosing Educator Retreat workshops as your preference. Download Scholarship Application
All applications must be RECEIVED by March 15.
Please check our scholarship page for a full list of available scholarships.
EDUCATORS’ RETREAT WORKSHOPS – Choose from:
Glass
Light the Fire with Lampworking Techniques
with Joy Knepp
Light the torch of possibilities and see the magic of chemistry as we experiment with reduction glass and color combinations.
Metals & Jewelry
Precious Metal Clay: From Bead to Box
with Lora Hart
Experiment with Metal Clay, a relatively new technology that transforms powder metallurgy from an industrial use to a creative art form.
Drawing & Painting
Creative Journaling
with Roger Hyndman
Take a creative journey into journaling while you explore a variety of materials and discover the many benefits of keeping an artistic journal.
Ceramics
Murals in Clay
with Chuck Purviance
Learn the ins-and-outs of creating murals in clay as a group project in the classroom or the surrounding community.
Blacksmithing
Forged Fashion
with Ellen Durkan
Step outside your comfort zone and try something new – forge something wearable!
For more information visit: Educators’ Retreat
Kick-Off Weekend: June 8-9
Our First Weekend of 2019 Workshops will be Jun 8-9 and includes:
Level: Beginner
$295 Member | $325 Non-Member Plus Materials and Studio Fees
Blacksmithing
JUN 8–9 (SAT-SUN)
Beginning Blacksmithing with Andy Upright
The perfect opportunity to try your hand at forging in a fun and inclusive environment… walk away with finished pieces showcasing your new skills!
Ceramics
JUN 8–9 (SAT-SUN)
Studio Tricks of the Trade with Dan Kuhn
Create a variety of functional and decorative objects using coiling, pinching, slab work, and wheel-throwing techniques.
Metals & Jewelry
JUN 8–9 (SAT-SUN)
Form, Fire, Color with Felicia Szorad
Design a variety of textured shapes and experiment with torch firing enamel onto your creations to enhance the forms with vibrant color.
Drawing & Painting
JUN 8–9 (SAT-SUN)
Plein Air Painting with William Pfahl
Find your vision and experience the enjoyment of painting our amazing world from life!
This workshop is already filling up so…
Special Topics
JUN 8–9 (SAT-SUN)
Fundamentals of Digital Photography with Rick Szymanski
Get your camera off AUTO mode and take manual control of your digital photos!
New Scholarship Opportunity!
Architecture and the Integrity of Craft Scholarship – NEW IN 2019!
100% Tuition, Room, & Board for any Touchstone Workshop: The purpose of this scholarship is to introduce architectural students or recent architectural graduates to the important role craft plays in the built environment. Eligible candidates include any student who has completed at least two years in an NCARB accredited architectural program or is a recent graduate of an NCARB accredited program who is 30 years old or younger. Download Scholarship Application
Eligibility
- Eligible candidates include any student who has completed at least 2 years in an NCARB accredited architectural program, or a recent graduate of an NCARB accredited program who is 30 years old or younger.
- To fully participate in the Touchstone experience, the scholarship recipient is required to stay on campus and participate in the full-service meal plan.
Purpose
The purpose of the scholarship is to introduce architectural students or recent architectural graduates to the important role craft plays in the built environment. By participating in a class of their choice at Touchstone, they will be further exposed to one aspect of the craft tradition and can develop a further understanding of the craft. In the process, they will gain a better understanding of the relationship of craft to the architectural design and building practice. While at Touchstone, they will also witness a number of other crafts being explored and will be introduced informally to how those crafts may relate to the same.
Check out the complete list of Touchstone Scholarship Opportunities at touchstonecrafts.org/scholarships
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