Enriching Lives Through Art: Adult/Teen Classes

We are offering art classes for all age groups at the arts center, which are made possible with funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, and through “Enriching Lives through Art,” a grant from The John Ben Snow Foundation & Memorial Trust. All classes are listed below.

Our Thursday night free drawing class is offered online and is made possible by generous donations from Drs. Patricia and Jay Chapman as well as many of our members and participants.

You can also check out our month-by-month calendar to help you plan your Fine Arts Center activities.

Classes

a photo of several pieces of pottery in white and red with green stripes and painted strawberries

Intermediate Pottery: Forms & Finishing Techniques
4-Week Pottery Series
Instructor: Antonia Cantu
Dates: Thursdays, June 4, 11, 18 and 25
Time: 5 -7 pm
Ages: Adult/Teen (13+)
Maximum enrollment: 5
Fee: $60 members / $75 non-members*
Location: 3-D Studio, Salmon River Fine Arts Center

Ready to take your pottery skills to the next level? This intermediate-level ceramics class is designed for potters who already have basic wheel-throwing experience and are looking to refine their craftsmanship and expand their creative techniques. Starting Thursday, June 4, students will meet weekly from 5:00–7:00 PM for a 4-week hands-on pottery experience focused on functional forms and finishing details. Throughout the series, students will explore:

Creating and fitting lidded jars
Using different styles and techniques for handles
Learning basic surface design and decoration
Using finishing techniques for polished, functional pottery
Refining forms and improving consistency on the wheel

This class encourages experimentation, craftsmanship and creative growth while helping students strengthen both technical skills and artistic voice. Perfect for intermediate potters looking to build confidence and elevate their ceramic work in a supportive studio environment.

Students enrolled in this class will also have the option to come in during a designated time on Tuesdays (6-8pm) or Friday (1-4pm) to practice and work on their pieces. (Although there will be a monitor, there is no instructor for the open studio.) Total class time is 12 hours with the option of an additional 20 hours of open studio time during the class session.

All tools and materials, such as clay and glaze, along with kiln firing are included. No outside clay or glazes are permitted in the Pottery Studio. Space is limited due to wheel availability, so early registration is encouraged!

This is an in-person class. Register in person or online at Salmon River Fine Arts Center Square Site. *Financial assistance is available for those who would like to attend and are unable to pay the full fee. Please email the art center with your request.

This class is made possible with funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, and a grant from The John Ben Snow Foundation & Memorial Trust.

a photo of a teenager working at the pottery wheel

Teen Pottery Wheel Class with Toni Cantu
Instructor: Antonia Cantu
Dates: Saturdays, June 6, 13, 20 & 27
Time: 10:00 am - 12:30 pm
Ages: Teen (13+)
Skill Level: Beginner / Introductory
Maximum enrollment: 5
Fee:
Full 4-week series
$52 members / $65 non-members*
Any 2 classes
$32 members / $40 non-members*
Location: 3-D Studio, Salmon River Fine Arts Center

Get your hands on the pottery wheel and learn the exciting process of wheel throwing with ceramic artist Toni Cantu! This 4-week teen pottery class is designed for ages 13+ and introduces students to the fundamentals of creating pottery on the wheel in a fun and encouraging studio environment.

Students will learn essential wheel throwing techniques, including centering clay, pulling walls, shaping forms, trimming, and glazing their finished work. Throughout the class, participants will create functional ceramic pieces, such as bowls, cups, and small vessels while building confidence and creativity through clay. Perfect for beginners or teens looking to continue developing their pottery skills!

a photo of the iinstructor for this class: Walter Sheehey

So You Got a Fancy Camera. Now What?
Photography Basics with Photographer Walter Sheehey
Instructor: Walter Sheehey
Dates: Two Saturdays, June 13 & 20
Time: 10:00 am - Noon
Ages: Adult / Teen
Maximum enrollment: 12
Skill Level: Beginner / Introductory
Fee: $32 members / $40 non-members*

Have a camera but not quite sure how to use it? Whether you’re shooting on an iPhone, DSLR, SLR, mirrorless camera, point-and-shoot, or really any camera you already own, this beginner-friendly photography class is designed to help you feel more confident behind the lens. Join photographer Walter Sheehey for a two-part hands-on photography workshop where you will learn the foundations of taking stronger, more meaningful photographs and understand how your camera actually works. This class is perfect for beginners looking to better understand photography in a welcoming and creative environment.

In the first class, you will explore how to better understand and use your camera and how to take a strong photograph. During the second session you will share and critique photographs taken during the week apart, learn ways to enhance photos, and discuss computer editing programs. Please bring your camera to both classes, and for the second class, please bring your laptop or computer if you would like to explore photo editing software.

a collection of photographs by the instructor for this course, Walter Sheehey

Photos by Walter Sheehey

Gelli Plate: Image Transfer
Instructor: Beth Sotherden
Date: Sunday, June 21
Time 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Ages: Adult
Maximum enrollment: 8
Fee: $24 members / $30 non-members*

Explore the creative possibilities of Gelli Plate printing and image transfer in this hands-on mixed media workshop. Students will learn how to use a Gelli Plate to create layered prints and transfer toner-based images from a color laser printer onto a variety of surfaces. From there, students will build on their transferred and printed images using painting, layering, texture, and finishing techniques to create expressive mixed media artwork.

This process works best with toner-based pictures from a color laser printer. Images can be printed ahead of time, or copies may be made at a copy center. Some magazine images may also work, and students will have the opportunity to experiment and discover which types of images transfer most successfully. Bring some photos that you may want to experiment with.

Students will leave with a better understanding of both Gelli Plate printing and image transfer processes, along with several unique mixed media pieces that combine imagery, texture, layering, and personal expression. This class is perfect for artists, makers, and creative beginners who enjoy experimenting with printmaking, images, layers, paint, and process. All tools and materials are provided. No experience necessary.

This class is made possible with funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, and through “Enriching Lives through Art,” a grant from The John Ben Snow Foundation & Memorial Trust.

a photo of a Raku vase in brown and turquoise

Raku Pottery Workshop Summer 2026
Instructor: Ann Buchau
Dates & Times:
Tuesday, July 28, 3-6 pm, at the Arts Center
Tuesday, August 4, 3-6 pm at the Arts Center
Saturday, August 8, 9 am - 3 pm, Raku firing off site
Ages: 14 and up
Maximum enrollment: 8
Class fee: $65 members / $80 non-members*
Locations:
Monday & Tuesday, Salmon River Fine Arts Center, Pottery Studio
Saturday, Firing Day, off site in Port Ontario

Raku is a thrilling, quick-fire ceramics technique originating from 16th-century Japan. Pots are pulled from a glowing red hot kiln (about 1850 F) and plunged into enclosed metal cans filled with organic matter to starve them of oxygen. The resulting smoke, flame, and rapid cooling create unpredictable, stunning surface effects and often metallic colors.

In this 3-day class you will be guided through the entire creative and firing process of raku pottery. Emphasis will be on creating pieces using a variety of handbuilding techniques, but experienced potters may choose to use the wheel. All tools and materials are provided. No experience necessary.

Class Schedule.

Day 1 (Monday, July 28, 3-6 pm). Ceramic forming techniques and brief history of raku pottery. You will hand-build or throw 3 to 4 pieces.
Day 2 (Tuesday, August 4, 3-6 pm). Continued surface decoration, refining shapes, and decorative techniques in preparation for a bisque firing.
Day 3 (Saturday, August 8, 9 am – 3:00 pm). Glazing and Firing Day.
- Learn how to apply specialized raku glazes to your bisqued pieces as well as the unique horsehair decoration technique.
- Participate in loading the kiln, closely monitoring the heat, and setting up the combustible reduction cans.
- Enjoy a picnic-style lunch while you wait for the firing to get to temperature.

Free Weekly Drawing Class

FREE Weekly Drawing Class
Thursday 6 - 8 pm
Instructor: Ann Buchau
All ages welcome

Enjoy this online step-by-step drawing class in the comfort and safety of your own home via Zoom. Each week your instructor will focus on a different topic, technique or subject with the ultimate goal of improving and developing your own unique style. This class is open to our members and to anyone in the local community with a desire to draw — any age, any level. To attend, simply email us at info@srfac.org to get your name on the list. After you register for this free class you will be emailed a link with instructions.

This class is made possible by generous donations from Drs. Patricia and Jay Chapman as well as many of our members and participants.