Build Your Hands, Shape Your Ideas
Build Your Hands, Shape Your Ideas Friday, May 8, 2026 11AM – 1PM Puckett Pottery House Instructor: Ashley Hand building is a versatile and approachable way to work with clay – no wheel required! In this drop-in session, you’ll explore techniques such as pinch, coil, and slab building to create both functional and sculptural forms. This session is ideal for: -Beginners trying ceramics for the first time -Artists who enjoy a slower, more tactile process -Anyone interested in sculptural or decorative forms -Clay Included An instructor will be available to demonstrate techniques, offer guidance, and help bring your ideas to life. No prior experience required, just bring your curiosity! ***Cornelius Residents will use RESCODE for Cornelius resident price in the shopping cart.***
Build Your Hands, Shape Your Ideas
Build Your Hands, Shape Your Ideas Friday, May 8, 2026 1PM – 3PM Puckett Pottery House Instructor: Sarah Eller Hand building is a versatile and approachable way to work with clay – no wheel required! In this drop-in session, you’ll explore techniques such as pinch, coil, and slab building to create both functional and sculptural forms. This session is ideal for: -Beginners trying ceramics for the first time -Artists who enjoy a slower, more tactile process -Anyone interested in sculptural or decorative forms -Clay Included An instructor will be available to demonstrate techniques, offer guidance, and help bring your ideas to life. No prior experience required, just bring your curiosity! ***Cornelius Residents will use RESCODE for Cornelius resident price in the shopping cart.***
Spin, Center, Create
Spin, Center, Create Friday, May 8, 2026 11AM – 1PM Puckett Pottery House Instructor: Jon Lang Curious about the pottery wheel – or looking for more practice time? Our Drop-In Wheel Throwing session is designed for students who want hands-on experience with the wheel in a relaxed, supportive setting. This session is best for: -Students with some previous wheel experience -Those currently enrolled in a ceramics class -Potters looking for extra practice time An instructor will be on hand to assist with the practice for centering, forming and refining your pieces, helping you build confidence and consistency on the wheel. Please note: Wheel Throwing drop-ins work best for those familiar with basic wheel-throwing skills ***Cornelius Residents will use RESCODE for Cornelius resident price in the shopping cart.***
Learn Music Live
We’re excited to announce Learn Music Live at the Cain Center for the Arts on June 7th, 2026! Sixty students will take the stage to showcase what they’ve been working on in their lessons for friends and family. Twenty of the performing students are part of the Community Lesson Program, made possible by the Cain Center. We invite you to join us in cheering on these talented students. https://www.learnmusicnc.com
Charcoal Drawing: Beginners and Advanced
Charcoal Drawing: Beginners and Advanced (Ages 14 – Adults)Cain Center for the Arts: Classroom 115 May 11 – June 8 Price: $175.00 Mondays, 1:30pm – 3:30pm Instructor: Jenny Zito Description: Students will work directly from observation while learning how to see more accurately and translate what they see onto paper. We’ll focus on value, contrast, proportion, and creating depth using a variety of charcoal techniques. Through guided instruction and demonstrations, students will build confidence in observational drawing and complete a finished piece by the end of the workshop.
Bold & Bright
Bold & Bright (Ages 15 – Adults)Cain Center for the Arts: Classroom 115 May 13 – June 10 Price: $175.00 Wednesdays, 1:30pm – 3:30pm Instructor: Jenny Zito Description: Indulge your senses and explore the richness of color, texture, and form in this vibrant acrylic painting workshop. Luscious Fruit invited artists of all levels to create a bold, contemporary still life inspired by the natural beauty and fruit. Students will learn how to build layers of acrylic paint to achieve depth and luminosity, while focusing on color mixing, composition, and brushwork techniques. Through guided instruction, we’ll explore how to make fruit feel juicy, tactile, and alive–transforming everyday subject matter into expressive, contemporary artwork. This workshop encourages a balance of observation and personal style, allowing each artist to develop their own unique visual voice. Whether you lean toward realism or a more painterly approach, you’ll leave with a finished piece that feels fresh, dynamic, and full of life. Perfect for beginners and experienced painters alike.
Fluid Lines: Exploring the Beauty of India Ink
Fluid Lines: Exploring the Beauty of India Ink (Ages 14 – Adults)Cain Center for the Arts: Classroom 232 May 12 – June 9 Price: $175.00 Tuesdays, 1:30pm – 3:30pm Instructor: Jenny Zito Description: This workshop introduces students to the expressive and versatile medium of India Ink. Participants will explore observational drawing techniques using both still life and photographic references. Emphasis will be placed on-line quality, value, contrast, and mark-making to create dynamic, finished compositions. Students will learn how to translate what they see into bold ink drawings while developing confidence in working with permanent materials. Through guided instruction and demonstrations, participants will experiment with a variety of tools such as brushes, dip pens, and ink washes.
An Artist’s Hand in a Digital World: Intro to Procreate
An Artist’s Hand in a Digital World: Intro to Procreate (16+)Cain Center for the Arts: Classroom 115 Saturday, April 25th 10AM-1PM Price: $100 Instructor: Lisa Albinus Description: Discover how to bring your artistic vision to life on the iPad using Procreate, the powerful and intuitive digital drawing app loved by artists worldwide. This hands-on workshop introduces participants to the essential tools and techniques for creating digital artwork — from setting up your canvas and working with layers to exploring brushes, color palettes, and blending modes. Designed for artists of all levels, especially those transitioning from traditional to digital media, this session emphasizes creativity over complexity. Students will complete a simple digital illustration while gaining confidence navigating the Procreate workspace. No prior digital art experience is necessary — just bring your iPad, Apple Pencil, and curiosity to explore a new way to make art.
Drawing Whites: Advanced Shading Skills
Drawing Whites: Advanced Shading SkillsCain Center for the Arts: Classroom 115 April 16 – May 21 Price: $200.00 Thursdays, 10:30AM-12:00PM Instructor: Lisa Albinus Course Description: White objects and pale surfaces are deceptively difficult to draw. Push too hard and they turn gray. Hold back too much and they fall flat. This six-week graphite class focuses on learning how to work in that narrow, subtle space where light values come to life. Students will explore how to build form using restraint—layering graphite gently, controlling pressure, and learning how small value shifts can describe shape without overwhelming it. Working from simple, light-colored subjects, the class emphasizes developing a drawing after it has been established, strengthening it through nuance rather than contrast. This course is ideal for artists who already know how to construct a drawing and are ready to refine it. The skills developed here deepen control in graphite and translate naturally to other drawing and painting mediums. ***Cornelius Residents will use RESCODE for Cornelius resident price in the shopping cart.***
Pen & Ink Foundations
Pen & Ink FoundationsCain Center for the Arts: Classroom 115 April 16 – May 21 Price: $200.00 Thursdays, 4:30pm – 6:00pm Instructor: Lisa Albinus Course Description: This beginner pen and ink class introduces students to drawing with ink as a precise, line-based medium. Students will learn how to control line weight, build value through hatching and stippling, and use contour and cross-contour lines to describe form and texture. Class will focus on observational drawing, mark-making exercises, and guided projects designed to build confidence and control with ink. Emphasis is placed on slowing down, making intentional marks, and developing drawings through line rather than tone or color. This class is suitable for adults with little to no experience working in ink, as well as those looking to strengthen their drawing fundamentals through a structured, skill-focused approach. ***Cornelius Residents will use RESCODE for Cornelius resident price in the shopping cart.***