UCCAC Studio · Monroe, NC
Classes
Hands-on classes taught by local artists, right here at the Arts Council. New sessions are added throughout the year — browse what's coming up and reserve your spot below.
Registration and payment for all classes is handled securely through Zeffy, a platform built for nonprofits that charges the Arts Council no processing or platform fees — so 100% of your class fee supports local artists and community programming. At checkout, Zeffy will separately offer you the option to leave a tip to support their free platform for nonprofits; that's optional and separate from your class fee. See our Registration Policies for withdrawal, refund, and cancellation details.
Browse Classes
Monday, November 9, 2026 · 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Color Confidence: The Secret Language of Color
All Levels
Color is one of the most powerful tools an artist possesses. It creates excitement, calm, drama, warmth, and emotion. In this engaging and hands-on course, students learn how to use color intentionally to strengthen every creative project.
Tuesday, November 10, 2026 · 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Block Printing on Fabric
All Levels
Explore the process of block printing on fabric. You will learn the process of textile design and how to create custom fabrics using block printing techniques, stamping, and overdyeing.
Wednesday, November 11, 2026 · 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Slow Stitch & Visible Mending: The Beauty of Imperfection
All Levels
Celebrate the art of slowing down while rescuing worn clothing with slow stitching and visible mending. Inspired by Japanese sashiko, boro, and contemporary embroidery, students will learn techniques that extend the life of clothing and embrace creativity and sustainability. No sewing experience required.
Thursday, November 12, 2026 · 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Making Handcrafted Books & Creative Journals
All Levels
Long before digital devices, books were treasured works of art. Learn unique bookbinding techniques to create your own distinctive notebooks and journals. No previous experience is required.
Friday, November 13, 2026 · 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Field Journaling: Drawing, Writing & Observing the World Around You
All Levels
Inspired by naturalists, artists, and explorers, you are invited to slow down and discover the beauty found in everyday surroundings—from backyard gardens to local parks and landscapes. This plein-air class will rejuvenate you and time will stand still so you can catch up. No artistic experience is required. The goal is not perfection; it is learning to experience.
Monday, November 16, 2026 · 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Creating a Designed Monogram
All Levels
You will learn to design a unique monogram using letter forms and imagery in color.
Tuesday, November 17, 2026 · 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Endless Possibilities with Acrylics
All Levels
Explore and play with acrylic paint. Learn the fundamentals of working with this watersoluble, fast drying, polymer paint. Discover unique ways of manipulating and creating interesting surface texture making your work unexpected and exciting.
Thursday, November 19, 2026 · 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Creative Fiber Collage
All Levels
Create fiber art using colorful textiles, decorative papers, fibers, threads, and embellishments. No sewing experience is required—just a willingness to experiment and create. Fabric collage is perfect for anyone loving color and texture.
Friday, November 20, 2026 · 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Illuminated Tunnel Books: Stories in Light
All Levels
Learn to create magical miniature worlds that glow from within. Tunnel books combine layered paper illustrations with soft lighting to create breathtaking scenes filled with depth, shadow, and atmosphere.
Monday, November 30, 2026 · 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Break the Rules with Experimental Printmaking
All Levels
Break the rules and discover new ways to print! This exciting studio course encourages fearless experimentation using plants, recycled materials, handmade stamps, gel plates, fabric, lace, string, cardboard, and everyday objects to produce imaginative prints.
Tuesday, December 1, 2026 · 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Vibrant and Transparent Watercolors
All Levels
Watercolor is all about luminous beauty and transparent vibrancy. Dive into the creative freedom of watercolor, from delicate washes to dramatic textures. Explore techniques from realism to expressive abstracts as you learn how to control watercolor.
Thursday, December 3, 2026 · 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Paper Engineering: The Magic of Pop-Ups
All Levels
Open a greeting card and watch an entire world spring to life! Discover the fascinating art and engineering behind pop-up cards as you learn to design moving, folding, and interactive paper creations. This course blends creativity with problem-solving while introducing students to the mechanics that make paper move.
Friday, December 4, 2026 · 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Embossing & Texture Printing
All Levels
Discover the satisfying art of paper embossing to add tactile, raised dimensions to your creative projects. This hands-on course teaches you how to use simple handheld tools, stencils, and light pressure to transform plain paper, cardstock, and foil into textured works of art.
Monday, December 7, 2026 · 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Beginners Drawing
All Levels
Learn the five basic essentials for drawing anything you see. Turn your ideas into reality.
Tuesday, December 8, 2026 · 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
The Artified Journal
All Levels
Explore creative journaling as a tool for self-expression, artistic development, and personal discovery. Combining writing, drawing, collage, painting, and mixed media, you will create pages that capture thoughts, memories, observations, dreams, and daily inspiration. No writing or artistic experience is required—only curiosity and a desire to create.
Wednesday, December 9, 2026 · 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Earth to Art: Creating Natural Pigments, Paints & Inks
All Levels
Long before modern paints existed, artists created color from the earth. In this fascinating exploration of natural pigments, you will discover how plants, minerals, charcoal, soil, and other organic materials can become pigments for artistic expression. This course combines science, history, and creativity while introducing sustainable and non-toxic alternatives to traditional art materials.
Thursday, December 10, 2026 · 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Fabric Collage Storytelling - Part 2
Advanced
Take your fabric collage skills to the next level in this studio-based course where you learn the basics of hand stitching and free-motion embellishment. Experiment with unique finishing techniques. Required - Bring your own sewing machine. Prerequisite - Fabric Collage Storytelling Part 1 and 36" x 36" fabric design
Thursday, December 10, 2026 · 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Fabric Collage Storytelling - Part 1
All Levels
Explore story telling in fabric and learn the basics of cutting and fusing fabric to create a story. Discover how patterns and colors create mood and volume.
Friday, December 11, 2026 · 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Fabric Dyeing with Natural Materials
All Levels
Create beautiful colors directly from nature. Flowers, leaves, bark, roots, berries, and kitchen botanicals become rich sources of color as students learn eco-friendly dyeing techniques that produce one-of-a-kind fabrics. Learn to dye fabrics and over dye print fabrics to change their coloration.
Monday, December 14, 2026 · 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Botanical Printing: Capturing Nature’s Impressions
All Levels
Capture the delicate veins of a leaf, the graceful shape of a fern, or the intricate patterns of flowers directly onto fabric and paper. Botanical printing allows artists to preserve nature’s details through beautiful, organic designs created from real plant materials.
Tuesday, December 15, 2026 · 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Jewelry Design 101
All Levels
Learn the essential techniques used by jewelry artists to design necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and pendants. You will work with a variety of materials and tools to create wearable art that is both beautiful and durable.
Wednesday, December 16, 2026 · 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Paper Mâché Masks
All Levels
In this hands-on creative studio, you will turn simple paper mache into expressive masks. From whimsical to imaginative, create mask desings that bring ideas to life as wearable art.bring ideas to life in wearable art. This playful and creative course combines storytelling and craftsmanship. You will discover that paper can become almost anything you can imagine.
Thursday, December 17, 2026 · 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Monoprint - The Ultimate Stress Relief
All Levels
The ultimate stress relieving, experimental, high intensity, and joyful form of creative print making is monoprinting. Unlike most printmaking, every monoprint is unique. Explore non-stop color, texture, spontaneity, and experimentation while creating expressive artwork using paint, rollers, stencils, and found materials.
Friday, December 18, 2026 · 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Experimenting with Mixed Media
All Levels
What happens when paint, paper, fabric, found objects, and imagination come together? Mixed Media Explorations invites students to experiment, play, and discover new possibilities through layered artistic processes. Try new techniques and break traditional artistic rules to make a work of art that speaks.
Monday, January 4, 2027 · 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Creative Design: Building Whimsical Mobiles
All Levels
In this imaginative course, you will explore the principles of toy-making while learning how artists and designers create objects that encourage curiosity, interaction, and storytelling as you make your own whimsical toy.
Tuesday, January 5, 2027 · 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Wire Wrapping Jewelry Essentials
All Levels
Discover the timeless art of wire wrapping as you transform gemstones, sea glass, crystals, and found objects into stunning wearable art—without the need for soldering. This versatile technique opens the door to endless jewelry design possibilities.
Wednesday, January 6, 2027 · 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Ordinary Objects into Extraordinary Art
All Levels
Great art can begin with something forgotten. In this environmentally inspired course, you will transform discarded materials, found objects, and everyday items into imaginative sculptures. Through experimentation and creative problem-solving, you will learn to see potential where others see waste. This course encourages sustainability, innovation, and personal expression.
Thursday, January 7, 2027 · 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Creating Miniature Worlds
All Levels
Step into a world where imagination becomes reality—just on a smaller scale. Miniature art allows artists to create tiny things filled with incredible detail and personality, the only limit is your imagination.
Friday, January 8, 2027 · 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Beaded Bracelet Design: Color, Pattern & Style
All Levels
Explore the endless possibilities of beadwork and design a bracelet that reflects your unique style. Learn professional stringing, knotting, and finishing techniques to create your own jewelry.