Chester Springs Studio, a vibrant arts center, was founded in 1978 as an offshoot of Historic Yellow Springs. The Studio grew in reputation as a nationally known home for the visual arts, particularly in the areas of painting and ceramics. In 2007, the art studio formally became part of Historic Yellow Springs through an institutional merger that unified the village, and formed the basis for an innovative mix of art and history classes, workshops and exhibits. Today, Chester Springs Studio continues as an artistic epicenter in northern Chester County. The Studio’s dedicated faculty members bring experience and excitement to intimate classroom settings. Workshops led by visiting artists expand students’ horizons.
Most of the ceramic and fine art classes at Historic Yellow Springs are held in Chester Springs Studio. The Ceramic Studio is downstairs and the Fine Art Studio (also known as Barn Studio) is at the main level. Some workshops and classes are also held in the Lincoln Building (across the street).
Pottery classes and workshops include studies in:
- Wheel Throwing Techniques
- Handbuilt Pottery
- One-Day Pottery
- Glazing Techniques
- Working with Porcelain
- Nerikome
- Throwing Large Forms
- Anamalia
- Stamp Making
- Custom Clay Texture Rollers
- Creating Clay Tools & Brushes
- Slab Form Building
- Darting, Pattern Making
- Facetting Thrown Forms
- Altering Forms
- Tile Making
- Transfer Prints
- Paper Stencils
- Surface Decoration
- Underglazes
- Wax Resist
- Sgraffito
- Layered Slips & Oxides
- Marbleizing, Agateware
- Molds: Hump & Slump
- Clay Carving
- Sculpture for the Garden
- Low Fired Ceramics
- Reduction Firings
- Raku Glazing & Firings
- Wood Kiln & Salt Firings
Art classes and workshops include studies in:
- Drawing
- Charcoal Sketching
- Life Drawing & Painting
- Perspective Drawing
- Cast Drawing
- Pastel Drawing & Painting
- Illustration
- Oil Painting
- Acrylic Painting
- Watercolor Painting
- Portrait Painting
- Landscape Painting
- Still Life
- Gesture Drawing
- Plein Air Painting
- Composition
- Color Theory
- Relief Sculpture
- Sculpture for the Garden
- Portrait & Figure Sculpture
- Mold Making for Bronze
- Mixed Media
- Collage
- Paper Making
- Print Making
- Jewelry Design
- Landscape Design
Teen and Kids classes and summer program have offered:
- Drawing
- Pastels
- Collage
- Watercolor Painting
- Acrylic Painting
- Scratchboards
- Color Wheel
- Mixing Paints
- Perspective Drawing
- Botanic Illustration, Plant Identification
- Wheel Thrown Ceramics
- Handbuilt Pottery
- Mythology & Storytelling
- Puppetry
- 3D Animation
- Claymation
- Stop Motion Animation
- Audio Recording: Character Voices, Sound Effects
- Storyboarding, Character Development
- Archaeology: Surveying, Excavating, Mapping
