Experience Level: Beginner, no prior experience needed

Tuesdays March 10-April 14, 6-8:00pm (6 sessions)

Ages 18+ (Please contact us at dsegerstrom@paramountarts.org if you have a younger student interested in participating)

Learn fundamental lapidary equipment, tools, & processes from expert and author Jim Magnuson. Learn to safely use basic lapidary equipment and operations to shape, polish, and set to jewelry.

It is recommended, but not required, that participants acquire and review Gemstone Tumbling, Cutting, Drilling & Cabochon Making. This book can be purchased online at Amazon or Barnes & Noble websites, and they may be available at your local bookseller.

What to Bring For Lapidary Workshop:

Working type clothes – i.e. jeans & work-shirt, ball-cap or other lightweight hat, (you will get a light amount of oil or water spray from some of the machines – but it washes out easily)

Agates or other gemstones at home you want to polish or make jewelry with.

Masks and Protective Eyewear, the instructor will have some K-95 masks and protective eye goggles/ glasses available.

Instructor Provided Gemstones

· Lake Superior Agates

· African Botswana Agates

· Teepee Canyon Agates

· Crazy Lace Agate Slabs

· Plume Agate Slabs

· Miscellaneous other Rocks & Slabs

Prohibited Gemstones:

Toxicity:Malachite, …

·Value and Hardness/ Softness: Turquoise, …

Places for Students to Acquire Gemstones

· Minnesota Lapidary Supply – Store in Princeton, Minnesota

· Kingsley North – online

· The Gem Shop - online

Jim Magnuson Biography
For author Jim Magnuson—rock hounding is a serious and rewarding avocation that helps him connect with nature. He has been an avid hunter and student of various gems, minerals and fossils since his childhood. In addition, Jim enjoys sharing his passion through showing and gifting some of his finds, and through writing, another lifelong interest. And, Jim enjoys making and selling jewelry, and both rough and polished stones.

Throughout Jim’s career as a computer professional, he developed technical writing skills while creating new processes that reduce complexity and improve efficiency. These skills proved to be invaluable when writing guidebooks for beginning agate hunters, and beginner-to intermediate lapidary hobbyists. Jim is a member of several rock and mineral clubs that help him to further his knowledge about agates, gemstones and geology.

To date Jim has authored the following publications: The Storied Agate; The Fairburn Agate of the Black Hills; Agate Hunting Made Easy; Lake Superior Agates – Identify Agates & Imposters (Laminated Field Guide); Emma’s First Agate; Gemstone Tumbling, Cutting, Drilling, & Cabochon Making, Rockhounding & Prospecting – Upper Midwest

Experience Level: Beginner, no prior experience needed

Wednesdays March 11-April 8, 10am-12:30pm(No class April 1, 4 sessions total)

Ages 18+ (Please contact us at dsegerstrom@paramountarts.org if you have a younger student interested in participating)

Experience the exciting world of pottery in this introductory course, perfect for those new to clay and people looking for a refresher!

This class will focus specifically on throwing basic cylinders, the foundation for a variety of ceramic projects!

Class will include a focus on wedging, centering, pulling walls, creating basic cylinders, and an introduction to decorating with cone 6 electric glazes.

Materials list for Paramount Ceramics Classes

1.) Basic Pottery Tool Kit, including:

-Needle Tool

-Wire Tool (for cutting & removing pots from the wheel)

-Wooden Kidney Tool

-Trim Tool

*Tool kits may be purchased at the Paramount or local art supply stores

2.) Item(s) for creating texture

3.) Lock for your locker

4.) Clay: Your first bag of clay is included in the cost of tuition, but depending on the size and number of pieces you create you may need to purchase more. We have a variety to choose from, ranging in price from $15-$35 for a 25 pound bag.

Experience Level: Some prior experience preferred, must be able center and throw a basic cylinder)

Saturday March 14-April 11, 10am-12:30 (No Class April 4, 4 sessions)

Ages 18+ (Please contact us at dsegerstrom@paramountarts.org if you have a younger student interested in participating) 

Continue your pottery journey, as your instructor, Ken, takes you to the next level of throwing!

Using your cylinder throwing skills, we will explore throwing larger forms, lids, handles, and more!

Week 1: A quick review of basic throwing- making cylinders of varying heights

Week 2: Creating a sectional piece by combing multiple cylinders, lidded casserole forms, and taller vase/ jug forms

Week 3: Continue to Create sectional pieces by combing multiple cylinders, lidded casserole forms, and taller vase/ jug forms

Week 4: Glazing

Materials list for Paramount Ceramics Classes

1.) Basic Pottery Tool Kit, including:

-Needle Tool

-Wire Tool (for cutting & removing pots from the wheel)

-Wooden Kidney Tool

-Trim Tool

*Tool kits may be purchased at the Paramount or local art supply stores

2.) Item(s) for creating texture

3.) Lock for your locker

4.) Clay: Your first bag of clay is included in the cost of tuition, but depending on the size and number of pieces you create you may need to purchase more. We have a variety to choose from, ranging in price from $15-$35 for a 25 pound bag.

Experience Level: Beginner, no prior experience needed

Saturday March 14, 10am-3:30pm (1 session)

Ages 18+ (Please contact us at dsegerstrom@paramountarts.org if you have a younger student interested in participating) 

Explore the fundamentals of Roman script and Chancery Cursive with easy to follow demonstrations and discussions on proper form & spacing.  Bring a favorite quote or text from which to work!

Materials provided for use during class, as part of your tuition fee!

Experience Level: Beginner, no prior experience needed

Tuesdays March 17-April 14, 6-8:30pm (No class April 7, 4 sessions total)

Ages 18+ (Please contact us at dsegerstrom@paramountarts.org if you have a younger student interested in participating) 

Experience the exciting world of pottery in this introductory course, perfect for those new to clay and people looking for a refresher!

This class will focus specifically on throwing basic cylinders, the foundation for a variety of ceramic projects!

Class will include a focus on wedging, centering, pulling walls, creating basic cylinders, and an introduction to decorating with cone 6 electric glazes.

Materials list for Paramount Ceramics Classes

 1.) Basic Pottery Tool Kit, including:

-Needle Tool

-Wire Tool (for cutting & removing pots from the wheel)

-Wooden Kidney Tool

-Trim Tool

*Tool kits may be purchased at the Paramount or local art supply stores 

2.) Item you would like to create texture with

3.) Lock for your locker

4.) Clay: Your first bag of clay is included in the cost of tuition, but depending on the size and number of pieces you create you may need to purchase more. We have a variety to choose from, ranging in price from $12-$36 for a 25 pound bag.

Experience Level: Beginner, no prior experience needed

Saturday March 21, 9am-3:30pm (1 session)

Ages 18+ (Please contact us at dsegerstrom@paramountarts.org if you have a younger student interested in participating)

Flowers in Soft Pastel! Explore the lush qualities and endless possibilities of soft pastel in this one-day floral workshop. Suzann will walk you through a step-by-step process starting with a sketch and building up to a luminous finish. You will explore light effect, color temperature and development, value and edges, as well as learn pastel best practices. Suzann will also demonstrate how to use an alcohol wash to add yet another amazing technique to your pastel work. The first segment features a short lecture and demonstration with hands-on student work from photo reference for the remainder of the workshop

Please bring the following materials to class:

Notebook and pen/pencil for taking notes.

A sheet of tinted, fine-grit sanded pastel paper in light or medium gray or other muted color (400 to 800 grit), brands I recommend are Sennelier La Carte, Claire fontaine Pastelmat, Art Spectrum Colourfix Coated Pastel Paper, Pastelbord or other pastel paper you’re comfortable with. 11 x 14 or 12 x16 is a good size to give you plenty of margins for your work.

Some pastel papers come mounted to a rigid backing that give your piece better support for framing.

If you’d like to experiment with the alcohol wash, UArt 800 grit sanded paper in white is a great paper to work with.

Masking tape or clips to secure your paper.

A small drawing board and table top easel. A dust tray made of stiff paper or split paper towel cores to put under drawing board and paper towels.

A Pastel Pencil in a wine or magenta color.

An assortment of soft, semi-soft pastels in the NuPastels brand—the dry “chalk” kind (oil pastels are not appropriate for this technique). For this class I prefer square semi-soft pastels. Square pastels have nice edges for more precise work. A 30- or 36-piece half-stick set would be a good starter set. Look for pastel sets that have a good assortment of lights and darks in each color. Also look for pastels that have nuanced subtle colors as well as intense.

A small tray to hold pastels that are in use.

Feel free to bring your own floral photo reference to work from. The instructor will also provide photos to work from. The following are optional, but nice to have:

If you would like to use gloves to protect your hands from pastel dust, I recommend gardening gloves with breathable mesh backs and a rubber coating on the bottom of the fingers and palm (avoid the nitrile! they’re too stiff!).

Pastel pencils can be helpful for sharp detail. Pan pastels, if you have them, can be convenient for block-ins. A very soft brush if you’d like to soften edges.

Alcohol and a brush if you’d like to experiment with pastel washes.

A piece of glassine or wax paper to protect your drawing on the way home.

Tuesday, March 24, 6-8pm

Tuition: Free *Though this is a free program, registration is required.

Please call our Box Office at (320) 259-5463 or visit
913 West St. Germain Street
St Cloud, MN 56301
Monday through Saturday 10am-2pm

Ages 18+,  **Please note this is not a supervised activity, Artist’s Care/Support Team are welcome and should remain onsite to assist artist attendees as needed. Attendee artists will need to arrange transportation to and from the Paramount.

The Paramount Center for the Arts and The ARC Minnesota are not responsible for accidents.

This activity is presented in partnership with The Arc Minnesota 

Art Club is a free creative and social activity, helping artists with disabilities and all abilities find success in artistic exploration. Artists will self-select, bring supplies, and work through their own projects, at their own pace, while benefiting from the collective creativity of others in the space. Meet other people who are interested and excited about art!

Feel free to paint, draw, sculpt, fiber arts such as sewing, knitting, crocheting, coloring, jewelry making and more! Please make sure your materials do not require additional ventilation. Artwork created onsite should be family friendly.

Our building is accessible, with door switches and elevators. Parking is available on the North side of the building in the city ramp. CLICK HERE for directions and parking information. 

Please contact us at info@paramountarts.org or call 320.259.5963 for additional information or to request accessibility needs for your visit.

Experience Level: Beginner, no prior experience needed

Tuesday March 24, 6-9pm (1 session)

Ages 18+ (Please contact us at dsegerstrom@paramountarts.org if you have a younger student interested in participating) 

Experience wood-turning as you learn to safely experiment with a variety of wood chisels to create simple cuts and beginner level bowl turning techniques! Create a beautiful bowl with the step-by-step guidance of an experience turner!

All materials to create one bowl are included in the cost of tuition