Experience Level: Beginner, no prior experience needed

Monday October 19, 6-8:30pm (1 session)

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

The Treasure Of Trash

Creative folks often talk about turning trash into treasure, but what if trash is the treasure? 

Multidisciplinary lyrical trash artist, Vas Littlecrow Wojtanowicz, will share a deeply moving first-hand account about embracing trash's role in decolonization, the environment's health, and our collective responsibility as human beings. 

During this workshop, participants will be able to create extravagant trash art hailing sticks.

Based on sensory tools developed for Lyricality by Vas, these creations are informed by cultural exchange, neurodivergence and childhood experiences with beachcombing crafts.

Join us for an evening of storytelling, reclamation, and whimsical transformation. 

All materials to create one Hailing Stick are included in the cost of tuition. 

Studio Practices- What to Expect While You Are Creating with Us!

The Paramount Center for the Arts welcomes all people to the Studios with the expectation of inclusion and respect towards all, including yourself, fellow students, instructors, staff and volunteers.

Instructor Prep Time: Please allow your instructor time to prepare your classroom; if you arrive more than 15 minutes earlier than the class start time, please explore one of our onsite exhibition spaces or wait in the Lobby in the Visual Arts Department.

Cleaning: Please help keep the Studios a welcoming space by cleaning up your area before departing the building.

Food and Beverage: The Visual Arts Department offers a Lobby Area for students and instructors to enjoy food and beverages. There is an onsite microwave and refrigerator, along with vending machines. For your safety, we ask that you please do not eat in any of the Studios.

Ceramics Studios: To ensure the appropriate firing temperatures and to protect the kilns, all clay must be purchased through the Paramount Center for the Arts, no outside clay bodies or glazes should be introduced to the Studios. If you have any questions about clay and glazes, please connect with our Ceramics Technician.

Supplies and Materials: For the safety and wellbeing of all visitors to the Paramount, we ask that materials that are used in the studios are the recommended brands and grade, as described in the materials list, or are approved by Paramount Staff.

Open Studio Access: Ceramic Artists are welcome and encouraged to utilize the Studio outside of class. September to May Studio availability is Monday through Wednesday 10am-9pm and Thursday through Saturday 10am-4pm, when classes are not in session. Please check the calendars posted outside the Pottery and Handbuilding Studios to see when studios are open and available for use!  

Weather Closures:  In the event of severe weather, the Visual Arts Department will update the phone messages on the Information Desk (320) 257-3125, announce closures on the Paramount website homepage, and will communicate via email to any students whose class meeting time is impacted by the closure.

Accessibility Statement: The Paramount Center for the Arts welcomes all guests, artists and patrons alike, and affirms our commitment to offering programming and services that are accessible to all. 

The Paramount welcomes comments and suggestions about how we might continue to improve our programs and services for visitors with disabilities and is committed to improve experiences for every patron.

Please contact our Box Office, to offer feedback or make requests: BKing@paramountarts.org  or call  320-257-3127.

Experience Level: Beginner, no prior experience needed

Saturday October 24, 9am-3:30pm (1 session)

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

Build foundational skills for creating portraits in any medium!

Explore demos that cover the principles of drawing a face; understanding what you see when looking at a face, how to capture features, interpreting what you see through line and tone, and hands-on work!

Please bring the following materials:

• Notebook and pen/pencil for taking notes.

• Soft Vine Charcoal

• Charcoal Pencils (Michael’s has a General’s pack that has 3 hardnesses,a white pencil and kneaded eraser,available at art stores as well.)

• Kneaded Eraser

• Economical Sketching Paper (I recommend Strathmore sketching paper or similar,at least 14” x 18”) several sheets.

• 2 sheets of Charcoal drawing paper at least 16”x 20” (I like Stonehenge, from Wet Paint—I like a smoother surface, but bring paper that’s comfortable for you)white or tinted. Be sure to have a white charcoal pencil if you bring tinted.

• Masking tape or clips to secure your paper.

• Paper towels for blending charcoal.

• Pencil SharpenerI have easels, wooden stools, small tables, and drawing boards, but feel free to bring adrawing board if you have a favorite.

Studio Practices- What to Expect While You Are Creating with Us!

The Paramount Center for the Arts welcomes all people to the Studios with the expectation of inclusion and respect towards all, including yourself, fellow students, instructors, staff and volunteers.

Instructor Prep Time: Please allow your instructor time to prepare your classroom; if you arrive more than 15 minutes earlier than the class start time, please explore one of our onsite exhibition spaces or wait in the Lobby in the Visual Arts Department.

Cleaning: Please help keep the Studios a welcoming space by cleaning up your area before departing the building.

Food and Beverage: The Visual Arts Department offers a Lobby Area for students and instructors to enjoy food and beverages. There is an onsite microwave and refrigerator, along with vending machines. For your safety, we ask that you please do not eat in any of the Studios.

Ceramics Studios: To ensure the appropriate firing temperatures and to protect the kilns, all clay must be purchased through the Paramount Center for the Arts, no outside clay bodies or glazes should be introduced to the Studios. If you have any questions about clay and glazes, please connect with our Ceramics Technician.

Supplies and Materials: For the safety and wellbeing of all visitors to the Paramount, we ask that materials that are used in the studios are the recommended brands and grade, as described in the materials list, or are approved by Paramount Staff.

Open Studio Access: Ceramic Artists are welcome and encouraged to utilize the Studio outside of class. September to May Studio availability is Monday through Wednesday 10am-9pm and Thursday through Saturday 10am-4pm, when classes are not in session. Please check the calendars posted outside the Pottery and Handbuilding Studios to see when studios are open and available for use!  

Weather Closures:  In the event of severe weather, the Visual Arts Department will update the phone messages on the Information Desk (320) 257-3125, announce closures on the Paramount website homepage, and will communicate via email to any students whose class meeting time is impacted by the closure.

Accessibility Statement: The Paramount Center for the Arts welcomes all guests, artists and patrons alike, and affirms our commitment to offering programming and services that are accessible to all. 

The Paramount welcomes comments and suggestions about how we might continue to improve our programs and services for visitors with disabilities and is committed to improve experiences for every patron.

Please contact our Box Office, to offer feedback or make requests: BKing@paramountarts.org  or call  320-257-3127.

Experience Level: Beginner, no prior experience required

Saturday October 24, 10am-3:00pm (One session total)

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

Join us for this session on how to plan and start working on a memoir project, including how to find a theme, set a scene, create a sense of time, bring readers into the story and how to write about memorable characters.

This is the introductory class for joining fall session of “Memoirs: One Story at a Time.”

Studio Practices- What to Expect While You Are Creating with Us!

The Paramount Center for the Arts welcomes all people to the Studios with the expectation of inclusion and respect towards all, including yourself, fellow students, instructors, staff and volunteers.

Instructor Prep Time: Please allow your instructor time to prepare your classroom; if you arrive more than 15 minutes earlier than the class start time, please explore one of our onsite exhibition spaces or wait in the Lobby in the Visual Arts Department.

Cleaning: Please help keep the Studios a welcoming space by cleaning up your area before departing the building.

Food and Beverage: The Visual Arts Department offers a Lobby Area for students and instructors to enjoy food and beverages. There is an onsite microwave and refrigerator, along with vending machines. For your safety, we ask that you please do not eat in any of the Studios.

Ceramics Studios: To ensure the appropriate firing temperatures and to protect the kilns, all clay must be purchased through the Paramount Center for the Arts, no outside clay bodies or glazes should be introduced to the Studios. If you have any questions about clay and glazes, please connect with our Ceramics Technician.

Supplies and Materials: For the safety and wellbeing of all visitors to the Paramount, we ask that materials that are used in the studios are the recommended brands and grade, as described in the materials list, or are approved by Paramount Staff.

Open Studio Access: Ceramic Artists are welcome and encouraged to utilize the Studio outside of class. September to May Studio availability is Monday through Wednesday 10am-9pm and Thursday through Saturday 10am-4pm, when classes are not in session. Please check the calendars posted outside the Pottery and Handbuilding Studios to see when studios are open and available for use!  

Weather Closures:  In the event of severe weather, the Visual Arts Department will update the phone messages on the Information Desk (320) 257-3125, announce closures on the Paramount website homepage, and will communicate via email to any students whose class meeting time is impacted by the closure.

Accessibility Statement: The Paramount Center for the Arts welcomes all guests, artists and patrons alike, and affirms our commitment to offering programming and services that are accessible to all. 

The Paramount welcomes comments and suggestions about how we might continue to improve our programs and services for visitors with disabilities and is committed to improve experiences for every patron.

Please contact our Box Office, to offer feedback or make requests: BKing@paramountarts.org  or call  320-257-3127.

Experience Level: Intermediate: Some Prior Memoir Writing Experience Preferred

Mondays November 2-November 29, 6-8:30pm (four sessions total)

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

Join us for this always popular, four-session workshop to launch a memoir project or get back to writing one you’ve started!

Writer Lisa Meyers-McClintick helps you shape the stories you would like to share and offers suggestions on how to strengthen what you write!

Bring a chapter to share each week for helpful feedback, storytelling tips, and ideas for staying on track and motivated.

Simply bring your favorite note taking tools and your memories! 

Studio Practices- What to Expect While You Are Creating with Us!

The Paramount Center for the Arts welcomes all people to the Studios with the expectation of inclusion and respect towards all, including yourself, fellow students, instructors, staff and volunteers.

Instructor Prep Time: Please allow your instructor time to prepare your classroom; if you arrive more than 15 minutes earlier than the class start time, please explore one of our onsite exhibition spaces or wait in the Lobby in the Visual Arts Department.

Cleaning: Please help keep the Studios a welcoming space by cleaning up your area before departing the building.

Food and Beverage: The Visual Arts Department offers a Lobby Area for students and instructors to enjoy food and beverages. There is an onsite microwave and refrigerator, along with vending machines. For your safety, we ask that you please do not eat in any of the Studios.

Ceramics Studios: To ensure the appropriate firing temperatures and to protect the kilns, all clay must be purchased through the Paramount Center for the Arts, no outside clay bodies or glazes should be introduced to the Studios. If you have any questions about clay and glazes, please connect with our Ceramics Technician.

Supplies and Materials: For the safety and wellbeing of all visitors to the Paramount, we ask that materials that are used in the studios are the recommended brands and grade, as described in the materials list, or are approved by Paramount Staff.

Open Studio Access: Ceramic Artists are welcome and encouraged to utilize the Studio outside of class. September to May Studio availability is Monday through Wednesday 10am-9pm and Thursday through Saturday 10am-4pm, when classes are not in session. Please check the calendars posted outside the Pottery and Handbuilding Studios to see when studios are open and available for use!  

Weather Closures:  In the event of severe weather, the Visual Arts Department will update the phone messages on the Information Desk (320) 257-3125, announce closures on the Paramount website homepage, and will communicate via email to any students whose class meeting time is impacted by the closure.

Accessibility Statement: The Paramount Center for the Arts welcomes all guests, artists and patrons alike, and affirms our commitment to offering programming and services that are accessible to all. 

The Paramount welcomes comments and suggestions about how we might continue to improve our programs and services for visitors with disabilities and is committed to improve experiences for every patron.

Please contact our Box Office, to offer feedback or make requests: BKing@paramountarts.org  or call  320-257-3127.

Experience Level: Beginner, no prior experience needed

Saturday November 7, 10am-3pm (1 session)

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

Unleash your imagination in this fun and exploratory workshop that combines the fluid beauty of watercolor with the expressive possibilities of collage! 

Designed for absolute beginners and curious creatives alike, this class invites you to explore abstract art using introductory watercolor techniques that, when combined with basic collage methods, lead to one truly unique work of art!  

Materials to create one piece in class are included in the cost of tuition! 

Studio Practices- What to Expect While You Are Creating with Us!

The Paramount Center for the Arts welcomes all people to the Studios with the expectation of inclusion and respect towards all, including yourself, fellow students, instructors, staff and volunteers.

Instructor Prep Time: Please allow your instructor time to prepare your classroom; if you arrive more than 15 minutes earlier than the class start time, please explore one of our onsite exhibition spaces or wait in the Lobby in the Visual Arts Department.

Cleaning: Please help keep the Studios a welcoming space by cleaning up your area before departing the building.

Food and Beverage: The Visual Arts Department offers a Lobby Area for students and instructors to enjoy food and beverages. There is an onsite microwave and refrigerator, along with vending machines. For your safety, we ask that you please do not eat in any of the Studios.

Ceramics Studios: To ensure the appropriate firing temperatures and to protect the kilns, all clay must be purchased through the Paramount Center for the Arts, no outside clay bodies or glazes should be introduced to the Studios. If you have any questions about clay and glazes, please connect with our Ceramics Technician.

Supplies and Materials: For the safety and wellbeing of all visitors to the Paramount, we ask that materials that are used in the studios are the recommended brands and grade, as described in the materials list, or are approved by Paramount Staff.

Open Studio Access: Ceramic Artists are welcome and encouraged to utilize the Studio outside of class. September to May Studio availability is Monday through Wednesday 10am-9pm and Thursday through Saturday 10am-4pm, when classes are not in session. Please check the calendars posted outside the Pottery and Handbuilding Studios to see when studios are open and available for use!  

Weather Closures:  In the event of severe weather, the Visual Arts Department will update the phone messages on the Information Desk (320) 257-3125, announce closures on the Paramount website homepage, and will communicate via email to any students whose class meeting time is impacted by the closure.

Accessibility Statement: The Paramount Center for the Arts welcomes all guests, artists and patrons alike, and affirms our commitment to offering programming and services that are accessible to all. 

The Paramount welcomes comments and suggestions about how we might continue to improve our programs and services for visitors with disabilities and is committed to improve experiences for every patron.

Please contact our Box Office, to offer feedback or make requests: BKing@paramountarts.org  or call  320-257-3127.

Experience Level: Beginner, no prior experience needed

Saturday November 14, 9am-3:30pm (1 session)

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

Drawing Pet Portraits in Pastel Pencil Drawing your pet is easier than you think! Create a “head and shoulders” portrait of your pet from one of your own photos with the forgiving medium of pastel pencils—they’re easy to control and easy to layer.

The workshop will feature best practices and a demonstration in the morning session with hands-on student work in the afternoon. Students will learn how to transfer an initial drawing to pastel paper and how to build pet fur effects in a step-by-step process. Attention will be paid to drawing accuracy and rendering light effect.

Reference Photo: Please plan to bring a high-quality reference photo. Make sure it’s a full-size, full-color hard copy photo of your pet that shows the head and neck as we’ll be doing a one-to-one transfer. Be sure the photo has a head size of 4 to 5 inches to give you plenty of room to work. Look for a photo that shows good light and shadow on the fur. from. Look for a photo that is sharp and clear and shows light and shadow on your animal well.

Materials List, please also bring the following:
• Notebook and pen/pencil for taking notes.

• Soft Vine Charcoal and a small brush with fairly stiff bristles.

• A kneaded eraser and a hard white eraser.

• The easiest papers to use for this technique are smooth-finish pastel/charcoal papers or fine-grit sanded papers like Clairefontaine Pastelmat, Sennelier La CartePastel Card, or Ampersand Pastel-bord (choose 800 grit or higher).

Tinted papers work best such as light gray or tan to medium gray.

Make sure the surface of the paper is smooth and not too bumpy—AVOID felted papers that have chicken-wire like dents, or laid finishes that have line-like texture.

• A large piece of tracing paper roughly 4 inches larger than the size you want your final drawing to be.

• A few sheets of economical sketching paper, 14” x 18” or so, (to protect your drawing)

• Masking tape or clips to secure your paper.

• A large drawing board, if possible.

• A very sharp hand pencil sharpener (these dull very quickly so a new one for this class is must). Pastel leads are very soft and fragile.

• A small drawing board and tabletop easel, and a dust tray made of stiff paper or split paper towel cores to put under drawing board.

• Please bring an assortment of Pastel pencils in the Faber Castell Pitt Pastel brand

Please bring light, medium, and dark values in the following colors:

Black/Grays/White are a must!

Browns/Tans/Golds

Rose/Mauve/Pinks/Purples

Red/Oranges/Peach

Blue: Deep/Medium/Light

Deep Magenta

Dark and Med Green

Studio Practices- What to Expect While You Are Creating with Us!

The Paramount Center for the Arts welcomes all people to the Studios with the expectation of inclusion and respect towards all, including yourself, fellow students, instructors, staff and volunteers.

Instructor Prep Time: Please allow your instructor time to prepare your classroom; if you arrive more than 15 minutes earlier than the class start time, please explore one of our onsite exhibition spaces or wait in the Lobby in the Visual Arts Department.

Cleaning: Please help keep the Studios a welcoming space by cleaning up your area before departing the building.

Food and Beverage: The Visual Arts Department offers a Lobby Area for students and instructors to enjoy food and beverages. There is an onsite microwave and refrigerator, along with vending machines. For your safety, we ask that you please do not eat in any of the Studios.

Ceramics Studios: To ensure the appropriate firing temperatures and to protect the kilns, all clay must be purchased through the Paramount Center for the Arts, no outside clay bodies or glazes should be introduced to the Studios. If you have any questions about clay and glazes, please connect with our Ceramics Technician.

Supplies and Materials: For the safety and wellbeing of all visitors to the Paramount, we ask that materials that are used in the studios are the recommended brands and grade, as described in the materials list, or are approved by Paramount Staff.

Open Studio Access: Ceramic Artists are welcome and encouraged to utilize the Studio outside of class. September to May Studio availability is Monday through Wednesday 10am-9pm and Thursday through Saturday 10am-4pm, when classes are not in session. Please check the calendars posted outside the Pottery and Handbuilding Studios to see when studios are open and available for use!  

Weather Closures:  In the event of severe weather, the Visual Arts Department will update the phone messages on the Information Desk (320) 257-3125, announce closures on the Paramount website homepage, and will communicate via email to any students whose class meeting time is impacted by the closure.

Accessibility Statement: The Paramount Center for the Arts welcomes all guests, artists and patrons alike, and affirms our commitment to offering programming and services that are accessible to all. 

The Paramount welcomes comments and suggestions about how we might continue to improve our programs and services for visitors with disabilities and is committed to improve experiences for every patron.

Please contact our Box Office, to offer feedback or make requests: BKing@paramountarts.org  or call  320-257-3127.

Experience Level: Beginner, no prior experience needed!

Tuesday November 17, 6-9pm (one session)

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

Create beautiful and unique cards to send to friends and loved one using the paper quilling techniques!

Paper quilling is a process of rolling strips of paper and gluing into place to create fun and unique shapes and designs, perfect as a stand alone piece or to add a fun touch on other works!

Absolutely no experience is needed, Andrea will guide the class step by step sharing tips for finding success as you create your own beautiful design!

Materials needed to create one piece in class are included in the cost of tuition, but the techniques you learn can be applied on future projects you create on your own! 

Studio Practices- What to Expect While You Are Creating with Us!

The Paramount Center for the Arts welcomes all people to the Studios with the expectation of inclusion and respect towards all, including yourself, fellow students, instructors, staff and volunteers.

Instructor Prep Time: Please allow your instructor time to prepare your classroom; if you arrive more than 15 minutes earlier than the class start time, please explore one of our onsite exhibition spaces or wait in the Lobby in the Visual Arts Department.

Cleaning: Please help keep the Studios a welcoming space by cleaning up your area before departing the building.

Food and Beverage: The Visual Arts Department offers a Lobby Area for students and instructors to enjoy food and beverages. There is an onsite microwave and refrigerator, along with vending machines. For your safety, we ask that you please do not eat in any of the Studios.

Ceramics Studios: To ensure the appropriate firing temperatures and to protect the kilns, all clay must be purchased through the Paramount Center for the Arts, no outside clay bodies or glazes should be introduced to the Studios. If you have any questions about clay and glazes, please connect with our Ceramics Technician.

Supplies and Materials: For the safety and wellbeing of all visitors to the Paramount, we ask that materials that are used in the studios are the recommended brands and grade, as described in the materials list, or are approved by Paramount Staff.

Open Studio Access: Ceramic Artists are welcome and encouraged to utilize the Studio outside of class. September to May Studio availability is Monday through Wednesday 10am-9pm and Thursday through Saturday 10am-4pm, when classes are not in session. Please check the calendars posted outside the Pottery and Handbuilding Studios to see when studios are open and available for use!  

Weather Closures:  In the event of severe weather, the Visual Arts Department will update the phone messages on the Information Desk (320) 257-3125, announce closures on the Paramount website homepage, and will communicate via email to any students whose class meeting time is impacted by the closure.

Accessibility Statement: The Paramount Center for the Arts welcomes all guests, artists and patrons alike, and affirms our commitment to offering programming and services that are accessible to all. 

The Paramount welcomes comments and suggestions about how we might continue to improve our programs and services for visitors with disabilities and is committed to improve experiences for every patron.

Please contact our Box Office, to offer feedback or make requests: BKing@paramountarts.org  or call  320-257-3127.

Experience Level: Beginner, no prior experience needed

Every Other Tuesday, September 15-December 22, 6-8:30pm (9 sessions total)

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

Explore the exciting world of traditional rosemaling with professional artist and Vesterheim Gold Medalist Patti Goke!

Rosemaling is a decorative style of painting, traditionally on wood, utilizing beautiful elements of Norwegian folk art. Patti will walk the class through holding your brush and techniques on successfully creating two different designs, with a variety of brush strokes!

Please note that designs may vary from photograph.

All materials to create your two ornaments are included in the cost of tuition.

Studio Practices- What to Expect While You Are Creating with Us!

The Paramount Center for the Arts welcomes all people to the Studios with the expectation of inclusion and respect towards all, including yourself, fellow students, instructors, staff and volunteers.

Instructor Prep Time: Please allow your instructor time to prepare your classroom; if you arrive more than 15 minutes earlier than the class start time, please explore one of our onsite exhibition spaces or wait in the Lobby in the Visual Arts Department.

Cleaning: Please help keep the Studios a welcoming space by cleaning up your area before departing the building.

Food and Beverage: The Visual Arts Department offers a Lobby Area for students and instructors to enjoy food and beverages. There is an onsite microwave and refrigerator, along with vending machines. For your safety, we ask that you please do not eat in any of the Studios.

Ceramics Studios: To ensure the appropriate firing temperatures and to protect the kilns, all clay must be purchased through the Paramount Center for the Arts, no outside clay bodies or glazes should be introduced to the Studios. If you have any questions about clay and glazes, please connect with our Ceramics Technician.

Supplies and Materials: For the safety and wellbeing of all visitors to the Paramount, we ask that materials that are used in the studios are the recommended brands and grade, as described in the materials list, or are approved by Paramount Staff.

Open Studio Access: Ceramic Artists are welcome and encouraged to utilize the Studio outside of class. September to May Studio availability is Monday through Wednesday 10am-9pm and Thursday through Saturday 10am-4pm, when classes are not in session. Please check the calendars posted outside the Pottery and Handbuilding Studios to see when studios are open and available for use!  

Weather Closures:  In the event of severe weather, the Visual Arts Department will update the phone messages on the Information Desk (320) 257-3125, announce closures on the Paramount website homepage, and will communicate via email to any students whose class meeting time is impacted by the closure.

Accessibility Statement: The Paramount Center for the Arts welcomes all guests, artists and patrons alike, and affirms our commitment to offering programming and services that are accessible to all. 

The Paramount welcomes comments and suggestions about how we might continue to improve our programs and services for visitors with disabilities and is committed to improve experiences for every patron.

Please contact our Box Office, to offer feedback or make requests: BKing@paramountarts.org  or call  320-257-3127.