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AuSable Artisan Village

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Our Classes

Intermediate Pottery Wheel Workshop

$200

with Jan Wachowski

Calendar Feb 6, 2026 at 12:30 pm, runs for 4 weeks

Cost: $200

Dates: Friday afternoons Feb 6, 13, 20, 27. Glaze class will be held on March 6th

Time: 12:30-3:00pm

Level: Adult Intermediate

Instructor: Jan Wachowski

Class Description:

The focus will be on enlarging and refining basic shapes (bowls, cylinders, and plates). Students should have some experience on the potter’s wheel. If a student has a particular skill, they want to work on with me, that is also an option. 

Class Disclaimer:

A refund minus the processing fees is issued if registration is canceled more than seven days before the class begins. No refunds after that time. Full refunds if AAV cancels the class at any time. 

Creations must be picked up within four months of the class.

AAV is handicapped accessible.

AAV takes precautions to provide a safe environment and our instructors are educated in providing options for individual limitations.

Please make your own individual decisions regarding health precautions.

Will run

Introduction to the Potter's Wheel

$65

with Lindsey Samotis

Calendar Feb 7, 2026 at 11 am, runs for 1 week

Cost: $65.00

Date: Saturday, Feb. 7

Time: 11:00am -1:30pm

Level: Adult Beginner

Instructor: Lindsey Samotis

Class Description: This two and a half hour workshop is designed to give registrants instruction on successfully using a potter's wheel.  Each registrant will choose one creation to have kiln dried and then to glaze and complete to take home.  

- Learn Mud Room basics including emergency procedures, room rules, and clean up expectations.

- Learn to cut & prepare your clay for the wheel

- Watch a demo of correct usage of the wheel with guided discussion of what is happening. Then use wheel time to get the feel of the clay and to create your form

- Learn to trim, and texturize your piece in preparation for glazing.

All materials and supplies will be there for you. Registration includes the supplies and materials, wheel time and two firings in the kiln.

Disclaimer:

A refund minus the processing fees is issued if registration is canceled more than seven days before the class begins. No refunds after that time. Full refunds if AAV cancels the class at any time. 

Creations must be picked up within four months of the class.

AAV is handicapped accessible.

AAV takes precautions to provide a safe environment and our instructors are educated in providing options for individual limitations.

Please make your own individual decisions regarding health precautions.

Will run

The Ins and Outs of Publishing and Illustrating a Book

$35

with Sherry Graziano

Calendar Feb 7, 2026 at 2 pm

One session   2:00-4:00

Feb 7

14 max

Creativity Center

 

Join Sherry Graziano as she talks about her adventure in writing and illustrating books and articles. She'll cover all aspects of her process and answer questions you may have.  And, although she'll tell about her way and highlight the essential elements to getting published, she will encourage you to recognize that everyone is different and that your way may be different!

Key topics:

  • Illustrating a book
  • There's more than one way to get published 
  • Know your market - do your research
  • Using an editor, cover letter
  • How to self publish
  • How to submit to markets
  • Marketing yourself and your book
  • Promotion (And you thought the hard part was writing the book!)

 

About the Instructor

Local artist and resident, Sherry Graziano graduated from Central Michigan University. She has experience teaching children and adults in  Grayling, Roscommon, and St. Helen public school and at the Saginaw tribal college.

Sherry has served the community for many years and was the program director for the Devereaux Memorial Crawford County Library. Sherry has published "60 Quick Knits" and worked with Bambi Mansfield as illustrater on her book, "Through the Eyes of a Child."  She loves animals and has many hobbies, including knitting!

DISCLAIMERS

A refund minus the processing fees is issued if registration is canceled more than seven days before the class begins. No refunds after that time. Full refunds if AAV cancels the class at any time.

AAV is handicapped accessible.

Please make your own individual decisions regarding health precautions. 

Beginner Pottery Wheel Class

$200

with Lindsey Samotis

Calendar Feb 9, 2026 at 5:30 pm, runs for 2 weeks

Cost: $200.00

Dates: Monday & Tuesdays: Feb 9th, 10th, 16th, and 17th

Time: 5:30-8:00pm

Level: Beginner Adult (no experience necessary)

Instuctor: Lindsey Samotis

Class Description:

Ready to take the plunge and start your pottery wheel journey? This beginner series includes 4 instructor-led sessions and 1 independent glaze day and focuses on learning the basic techniques of working on the potter's wheel. Students can expect to leave this series feeling confident in the basic steps of wheel throwing. In this class, students will: 

- Learn Mud Room basics including emergency procedures, room rules, and clean up expectations

- Learn to prepare clay for the wheel

- Receive skill-based instruction to cone, center, open and shape a piece on the wheel

-Spend time refining basic wheel throwing skills 

-Have fun!

Registration includes all supplies and materials, wheel time, a glaze day, and two firings in the kiln. 

Bring a smock or wear clothes that can get a little messy. 

Class Disclaimer:

A refund minus the processing fees is issued if registration is canceled more than seven days before the class begins. No refunds after that time. Full refunds if AAV cancels the class at any time. 

Creations must be picked up within four months of the class.

AAV is handicapped accessible.

AAV takes precautions to provide a safe environment and our instructors are educated in providing options for individual limitations.

Please make your own individual decisions regarding health precautions.

Will run

Mindfulness February Series

$30

with Patty Clark

Calendar Feb 10, 2026 at 10:30 am, runs for 3 weeks

Cost: $30 for series, $15 cash for drop-in (correct change only, please)

Date: THREE Tuesday mornings   Feb 10, 17, 24

Instructor: Patti Clark, ERYT

Level: Adult

Class Description:

Breathe and relax. This new Mindfulness Series will focuse on manifesting and creating the life you envision.

Essential elements of breathwork, meditation, philosophy and some gentle movement will be included.

Dress comfortably and join us for a truly transformative experience. Perfect for any experience level.

Class Disclaimer: 

A refund minus the processing fees is issued if registration is canceled more than seven days before the class begins. No refunds after that time. Full refunds if AAV cancels the class at any time. 

AAV is handicapped accessible.

Please make your own individual decisions regarding health precautions. 

Will run

Clay Club Series 2 - Ceramic Clay

$180

with Patrick Ertel

Calendar Feb 12, 2026 at 3:30 pm

Ages: 9 - 14

Series: Three classes, each three hours - nine hours

Dates: Thursdays on Feb 12th, Feb 26th and March 12

Time: 3:30-6:30pm

Ages: 9-14     

Instructor: Patrick Ertel 

Class Size: Max 5 students/Min 3 students

All supplies and materials included. 

Ausable Artisan Village members may use their membership promo code at checkout. If you need help with that, contact AAV.

Class Description:

Join in the Clay Club fun as students engage in an introductory 3D class on the art of creating with stoneware clay.  (Series 1 was polymer clay.). Patrick Ertel, local pottery artist and experienced "kids" pottery teacher, will guide students as they develop hands-on knowledge, experience and skills with stoneware clay. Each class will build on the skills presented in the previous classes. 

Patrick loves kids and he loves pottery. He says, "It's about exploration and learning for kids this age, not about production." 

Ceramic Clay: 

Working with ceramic clay is a fun, educational process where children develop fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, focus, and creativity by shaping clay into unique forms.

Ceramic clay, which is a natural material that hardens by drying in the air then firing in a kiln, while polymer clay is a plastic-based, man-made modeling material that requires baking in a home oven to become hard and durable.

Class 1: Overview & Handbuilding with Clay

Students will learn the fundamentals of working with ceramic clay. Techniques such as slab rolling, stamping, cutting, scoring, and slip/joining to create tiles, pinch pots, figurines, decorative wall art. Projects are only limited by the imagination!

Class 2: Potter's Wheel

Join us for some muddy fun as we learn how to throw clay on the pottery wheel. Maybe a mug? Maybe a bowl? Maybe just a mess!

This class is more about learning how the clay, the wheel and the potter interact. Students will learn the basics of securing the ball of clay to the wheel, centering and opening, and pulling to a desired shape.

Class 3: Glaze Day

On the last day of Clay Club, students will finish their clay creations by glazing their work. Each student will use colorful glazes, called “underglazes” to decorate their pottery. Students may use a variety of different techniques, such as painting, using stencils, or fine details with squirt bottles to create their unique designs.

At the end of this series, each student will be able to complete and keep three to five pieces.

Feel free to bring a snack, since class is right after school.

 

Class Disclaimers:

A refund minus the processing fees is issued if registration is canceled more than seven days before the class begins. No refunds after that time. Full refunds if AAV cancels the class at any time.

AAV is handicapped accessible.

AAV takes precautions to provide a safe environment and our instructors are educated in providing options for individual limitations.

Please make your own individual decisions regarding health precautions.

Collage!

$65

with Linda Kane

Calendar Feb 14, 2026 at 10 am

February 14    10:00 am-12:00 pm

Instructor - Linda J. Kane

Artists of all ages invited! (Under 16s, please bring an adult buddy.)

Max 12     Min 3 

 

Looking for a unique way to celebrate Valentine's Day? Skip the standard box of chocolates and join us for a morning of playful creativity!

Whether you are a total beginner or a seasoned pro, come explore the bold world of high-contrast design. We’ll be diving into collage techniques using a fun variety of papers, textures, and delicate lace. With a mountain of materials and tools at your fingertips, the only limit is your imagination!

What can you make?

-A stunning, ready-to-frame original art piece.

-One-of-a-kind handmade Valentine’s Day cards for your favorites.

Come fall in love with new collage ideas and take home something beautiful. We can’t wait to see what you create!

 

Class Disclaimer:

A refund minus the processing fees is issued if registration is canceled more than seven days before the class begins. No refunds after that time. Full refunds if AAV cancels the class at any time.

AAV is handicapped accessible.

AAV takes precautions to provide a safe environment and our instructors are educated in providing options for individual limitations.

Please make your own individual decisions regarding health precautions.

Will run

Basic Drawing 1

$360

with Sherry Graziano

Calendar Feb 17, 2026 at 1 am, runs for 6 weeks

Six classes: Feb. 17, 24 and Mar 3, 10, 17, 24

Tuesday afternoon  1:00-2:30

Adults

Upstairs in the original gallery

Space limited - 8 max

All materials supplied

 

Love to doodle, but wish you could really draw something? If you've always wanted to learn to draw, to improve your beginner skills, or if you are just looking for something fun to do over winter, this class is for you! The time is set to allow you to get your driveway clean and then come on into town to join local artist, teacher, author and illustrator Sherry Graziano for six classes to learn the basics of drawing! 

As an experienced teacher, Sherry will make the class comfortable for all experience levels of students. Especially those who are just starting out! Don't worry if you haven't had lessons before or if you have just a little exposure to drawing basics.

Over the course of six class periods, Sherry will guide each registrant to understand and practice the basics of drawing. This experience will give you the knowledge of how get that image on a paper!

Lesson focus:

  • Week One - Supplies and Marking Marks
  • Week Two - Shapes
  • Week Three - Values
  • Week Four - Shading
  • Week Five - Texture
  • Week Six - Perspective

Materials  (Supplied.  But you may want to bring your own.)

8X10 Sketch Pad

Gray kneaded eraser

Art Pencil (or whatever #2 pencil you have )

 

About the Instructor

Local artist and resident, Sherry Graziano graduated from Central Michigan University. She has experience teaching children and adults in  Grayling, Roscommon, and St. Helen public school and at the Saginaw tribal college.

Sherry has served the community for many years and was the program director for the Devereaux Memorial Crawford County Library. Sherry has published "60 Quick Knits" and worked with Bambi Mansfield as illustrater on her book, "Through the Eyes of a Child."  She loves animals and has many hobbies, including knitting!

DISCLAIMERS

A refund minus the processing fees is issued if registration is canceled more than seven days before the class begins. No refunds after that time. Full refunds if AAV cancels the class at any time. 

AAV is handicapped accessible.

Please make your own individual decisions regarding health precautions. 

Will run





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