By Age Group
The Bascom is working towards creating a more integrated and user-friendly experience for our visitors. Please read the following information to familiarize yourself with the process.
How does it work?
Whenever you register for a class or workshop online, you'll be prompted to create a user account during the registration process. The information you provide there can then be used to log in here.
- Register for a Workshop
- Create your username and password during the registration process
- Check your email (Don't see it in your inbox? Check your junk/spam folder and mark it as not junk/spam)
- Click on the activation link in the email and... Voila! You're good to go!
Look-Think-Paint: The key to Creative Breakthroughs and Beautiful Paintings with John Guernsey
View the Supply List HERE
This workshop with award-winning painter and teacher John Guernsey emphasizes careful observation, thoughtful decision-making, and expressive painting. Through demonstrations, group discussion, and guided studio time, participants will refine essential skills while developing work that reflects personal intent. Open to all skill levels, working in oil or acrylic.
Power-carving a Red-Tailed Hawk Feather with Christine Smith
In this hands-on workshop with Christine Smith, participants will carve and paint a realistic Red-Tailed Hawk feather. The session covers three-dimensional carving techniques, surface detailing, and finishing with transparent acrylic paint washes. No prior carving or painting experience is required, and all instruction is provided.
Intro to Watercolor II: Washes with Ease
Artists will have the opportunity to try their hand at watercolor, learning a variety of Watercolor Washes. Guided by your experienced instructor, Caryn Raming, this workshop is perfect for those who haven’t tried watercolor in a while, or those who are brand new to the medium!
All Materials are provided – just bring your willingness to learn. Come ready to paint, explore, and grow your skills in a supportive, creative environment.
Intro to Watercolor III: Practicing Skills
Expand your watercolor confidence in this hands-on workshop designed for adults with beginner-level experience. Guided by your experienced instructor, Caryn Raming, you'll use your foundational knowledge of strokes and washes to create watercolor paintings. This session is perfect if you've painted in watercolor before and are ready to strengthen your technique through practice and guidance.
All materials will be provided—just bring your favorite brushes, paints, or tools, and a willingness to learn. Come ready to paint, explore, and grow your skills in a supportive, creative environment.
FREE the Art: Reimagine Recycling!
The Bascom invites young artists to work with Caryn Raming turn everyday discarded materials into imaginative artworks while learning creative ways to reduce waste. Through hands-on exploration, participants will discover how reuse and creativity can transform trash into meaningful art.
Bring a lunch or snack, and get ready to CREATE!
Ages 7-12
Still Life Drawing with Steve Reagan
View the Supply List Here
This introductory drawing class with Steve Reagan, art teacher and owner of Space Age Makers, explores the fundamentals of still life drawing, including perspective, composition, value, and basic drawing theory. Participants will work with essential materials to create both quick sketches and more finished drawings in a relaxed, supportive environment. Designed for beginners and those seeking a refresher, the course builds foundational skills that support drawing, painting, and broader art practice.
Section Throwing and Coil Building to Make Big Pots
Are you ready to step up your pottery game and create larger, more ambitious pieces? This workshop is designed for potters who want to push the boundaries of their skills and explore the art of making bigger pottery. The goal is to make 2, 12 lb pots in 3 days. Throwing and modified coil building techniques will be demonstrated. For hand builders, one pot will most likely all that can be completed.
Resident Artist Series: Wheel Throwing I
In this 5 day wheel throwing class, we will cover the basics of working on the potter’s wheel. If you have never tried this before, please expect some difficulty in the initial stages. The focus will be to learn centering and then to pull shapes such as bowls (ex. berry bowls, soup bowls, colander, cereal bowls, etc) and cylinders (ex. Mugs, tumblers, sippers – based on the learning curve). This class includes Open Studio access only on the day of class. There will not be a glazing component to this class. Please see Glazing Class in the Resident Artist Series Schedule.
Cardboard Centerstage!
The Bascom invites young creators to work with instructor Caryn Raming to design and build imaginative stage sets using cardboard. This hands-on workshop introduces the basics of set design and encourages teamwork, creative thinking, and big ideas brought to life in 2D and 3D form.
Bring a lunch or snack, and get ready to CREATE!
Ages 7-12
Kids Clay Camp - Handbuilding Camp
Try out different methods of handbuilding pottery. In this three-day workshop we will explore using clay to create functional and decorative ceramics. Student work will be finished in a variety of ways, including underglaze and glaze, and will be fired after the class and available for pickup or shipping two to three weeks after the last class.
Ages:
6-18
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Visit: 323 Franklin Road
Highlands, NC 28741 (Map It)
Call: 828-526-4949 (Main)
828-787-2892 (Ceramics Studio)

This project was supported by the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. Learn more at NCArts.org

Funded in part by a grant from South Arts in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. Learn more at SouthArts.org.

Funding is due in part to a Tourism Grant with Visit Highlands, NC. Learn more HighlandsChamber.org