Artists' Workshop of New Smyrna Beach

Clay Studio

About Clay @ Artists’ Workshop

 

Our spacious classroom offers access to 6 wheels, 3 kilns, a pug mill, a slab roller, and a creative community to learn and grow with.

 

After becoming an Artists’ Workshop member and completing a basic series of classes, students are able to attend our open studios, during which time they are able to design and create their own projects.

 

Materials, including 4 types of clay, glazes and a large variety of tools, are provided for a fee, in addition to the base price of the class. HOT TIP: Buy your materials in advance online!

Christmas Ornament with Yolonda Pelz

  • Make Day: Friday, Nov. 14,
    5 pm – 8 pm
  • Glaze Day: Friday, Nov. 21,
    5 pm – 8 pm
  • Location – Clay Studio
  • $60 Members
  • $65 Non-Members
  • 2-day Workshop

Get into the holiday spirit by creating your own beautiful Christmas Ornament! Instructor Yolonda Pelz will guide you step-by-step through the process, making it easy and fun for even first-time crafters.

You’ll leave with a gorgeous, personalized ornament to keep, gift, or cherish for years to come. All materials are included!

Register

Sign up online or call (407) 362-8918.

Supplies

  • Included in workshop.
  • Basic tools are available for use while in the studio. Please bring your own towel and apron.
Register Online

Holiday Mug Class with Nancy Saxon

  • Make Day: Friday, Dec. 5,
    5 pm – 8 pm
  • Glaze Day: Friday, Dec. 12,
    5 pm – 8 pm
  • Location – Clay Studio
  • $55 Members
  • $75 Non-Members
  • 2-day Workshop

Join us for two evenings of winter or holiday mug hand building with clay! Create a one of a kind hand-built mug… made by you!

Week one will be for creating your mug and week two will be for glazing the bisque fired product. Your instructor, Nancy Saxon, will be on hand to guide you through processes and decorating ideas.

Treasure your mug for years to come or give as a holiday gift to friends or family!

Register

Sign up online or call (407) 362-8918.

Supplies

  • Included in workshop.
  • Basic tools are available for use while in the studio. Please bring your own towel and apron.
Register Online

Afternoon Hand Building Techniques for Beginners

  • Mondays & Tuesdays,
    1 pm to 4 pm
  • Location – Clay Studio
  • $150 Members
  • $180 Non-Members
  • Six-Week Course

This hand building class is a fun and easy way to get started in ceramics, or as a refresher course to enhance your knowledge of the key skills used in nearly every ceramic project (pinching, coiling, and slab building).

You will be creating your own unique functional and/or sculptural pieces of art, utilizing each key skill and then combining them all for one single project.

Explore different forms of designs using textures, stamps, molds, stencils, etc… , as well as various glazing options. Open studio is also free for the 6 weeks that you’re enrolled in the class.

Register

Email Cindy Weimer at Cindy@artistsworkshopinc.com or call (386) 846-0400.

Supplies

  • AWI Clay Pre-Pay for $50 includes:
    • 25 lb bag of Laguna B-Mix clay (with or without grog, based on current stock).
    • Use of our studio glazes.

    • Two firings (one bisque and one glaze firing) for your finished pieces.

  • Basic tools are available for use while in the studio. Please bring your own towel and apron.
Register Online
Clay Pre-Pay (Buy Materials)

Evening Hand Building Techniques for Beginners

  • Mondays, 5 pm to 8 pm
  • Location – Clay Studio
  • $150 Members
  • $180 Non-Members
  • Six-Week Course

This Hand Building class is a fun and easy way to get started in ceramics, or as a refresher course to enhance your knowledge of the key skills used in nearly every ceramic project (pinching, coiling, and slab building).

You will be creating your own unique functional and/or sculptural pieces of art, utilizing each key skill and then combining them all for one single project.

Explore different forms of designs using textures, stamps, molds, stencils, etc… , as well as various glazing options. Open studio is also free for the 6 weeks that you’re enrolled in the class.

Register

Email Cindy Weimer at Cindy@artistsworkshopinc.com or call (386) 846-0400.

Supplies

  • AWI Clay Pre-Pay for $50 includes:
    • 25 lb bag of Laguna B-Mix clay (with or without grog, based on current stock).
    • Use of our studio glazes.

    • Two firings (one bisque and one glaze firing) for your finished pieces.

  • Basic tools are available for use while in the studio. Please bring your own towel and apron.
Register Online
Clay Pre-Pay (Buy Materials)

Custom Tile 1-Day Workshop with Yolonda Pelz

  • Thursday, Nov. 7, 5 pm to 8 pm
  • Location – Clay Studio
  • $60 Members
  • $65 Non-Members
  • One-day workshop

Ready to get whimsical with clay? Join this “Custom Tile 1-Day Workshop”! This hands-on exploration of beginning and intermediate ceramics is perfect for building on your existing skills– no matter the level of experience.

Students will design and sculpt individual tiles that, when completed, will form a beautiful, custom piece of art or individual pieces.

We’ll dive into the core principles of design, composition, and construction, giving you the tools to bring your boldest, most whimsical ideas to life.

Whether you have a distinct style you want to perfect or are still discovering your unique voice, this class will provide the guidance and space to push your boundaries and create something truly unique.

Register

Email Cindy Weimer at Cindy@artistsworkshopinc.com or call (386) 846-0400.

Supplies

  • Clay and basic tools are available for use while in the studio. Please bring your own towel and apron.
Register Online

Intermediate Level - Create your own Garden Totem

  • Date: TBD
  • Please use the registration form to let us know if you’re interested!
  • Location – Clay Studio
  • $150 Members
  • $180 Non-Members
  • Four-Week Course

Ready to take your clay skills to the next level? This four-week course is a hands-on exploration of intermediate ceramics, blending traditional handbuilding with fundamental wheel-throwing techniques.

We’ll dive into the core principles of design, composition, and construction, giving you the tools to bring your boldest ideas to life. The final project is a striking 3-4′ outdoor garden totem, built from individual hand-sculpted pieces.

Whether you have a distinct style you want to perfect or are still discovering your unique voice, this class will provide the guidance and space to push your boundaries and create something truly unique.

Register

DeAnn Parker to register : ‭1 (386) 689-3031‬. Leave a voicemail and we’ll return your call as quickly as we can!

Supplies

  • AWI Clay Pre-Pay for $50 includes:
    • 25 lb bag of Laguna B-Mix clay (with or without grog, based on current stock).
    • Use of our studio glazes.

    • Two firings (one bisque and one glaze firing) for your finished pieces.

  • Basic tools are available for use while in the studio. Please bring your own towel and apron.
Register Online
Clay Pre-Pay (Buy Materials)

Private Group Learning Sessions

Try the Wheel

Summary:

Customizable experiences for 5 adults. All parties include materials, clay, glazes, and 2 kiln firings.

Pricing (Party of 5):

  • $275 Members, $55 each additional person
  • $325 Non-Members, $60 each additional person

Host your own hands-on clay party with our amazing Artists’ Workshop Clay Studio instructors! Reserve your spot today. Clay one-day parties are available to celebrate your special days and occasions or just do something fun with your friends! Price covers up to five adults.

Our parties are 3 hours with a variety of instructors and projects to choose from. Wheel Activities include choosing projects such as:

  • bowl
  • mug
  • planter
  • bird feeder

Register

Email Cindy Weimer at Cindy@artistsworkshopinc.com or call (386) 846-0400.

Notes

  • A teacher will be assigned based on project and date of event. 
Register Online

Handbuilding

Summary:

Customizable experiences for 5 adults. All parties include materials, clay, glazes, and 2 kiln firings.

Pricing (Party of 5):

  • $275 Members, $55 each additional person.
  • $325 Non-Members, $60 each additional person.

Clay one-day parties are available to celebrate your special days and occasions or just do something fun with your friends! Price covers up to five adults. Our parties are 3 hours with a variety of instructors and projects to choose from.

Handbuilding activities include choosing projects such as:

  • mug
  • bird house
  • gnome
  • sushi set
  • animal figurines
  • Name/House/Number Plaque
  • Trinket, Soap, Sponge Holders
  • Fish/Sea Urchin Tea Light Luminary
  • Make a Turtle or Turtle Tray

Register

Email Cindy Weimer at Cindy@artistsworkshopinc.com or call (386) 846-0400.

Notes

  • A teacher will be assigned based on project and date of event. 
Register Online

Clay Open Studio

 For more information, please complete the form below.

Already registered? Pre-pay your material fees online below.

  • Clay Studio

    Class Materials

     $50.00

    Pre-pay for your Artists’ Workshop clay studio materials, including 4 types of clay, glazes and a large variety of tools.

    This fee is in addition to the base price of the class.

    Add to cart

Studio & Gallery

​540 Barracuda Blvd
New Smyrna Beach
FL 32169

​(386) 424-9254

Gallery on Canal St.

115 Canal St
New Smyrna Beach
FL 32168

(386) 424-9254

Send Post

PO Box 1194
New Smyrna Beach
FL 32170

Connect

Environmental Considerations

Disposal of Paint Waste Water

 

Download printable PDF: Environmental Considerations Disposal of Paint Waste Water

Artists’ Workshop has instituted two paint waste water disposal processes at our studio facility.

  • These processes apply to the dirty water that is created when painting with watercolor, gouache and acrylic or when using glue in a mixed media project.
  • Oil painters will not pour pigments or solvents into the sink and will dispose of their waste by removing it from the site.

Why are we doing this?

As artists, we want to help in keeping our groundwater as unpolluted as possible. Additionally, our lease requires it. The Wildlife Foundation of Florida is our landlord and the following statement is in our lease: “Sub-sublessee shall not use, generate, store, produce, place, treat, release, or discharge any contaminants, pollutants, or pollution, including, but not limited to, hazardous or toxic substances, chemicals, or other agents (except those used, stored, generated, and disposed of by sub-lessee in the operation of its allowed use of the sub-subleased premises) on, into, or from the sub-subleased premises or any adjacent lands or waters. Sub-sublessee shall only use, store, generate, and dispose of such hazardous substances in strict accordance with the law.”

The EPA holds a non-household facility, like Artists’ Workshop, to tighter disposal restrictions than it would for a household.

What does this mean to us?

We have consulted Jennifer Stirk, an environmentalist at the Tomoka Landfill about proper disposal of our waste water. She told us that

  1. We cannot dump waste water onto the ground.
  2. She also said that any waste water containing toxic substances cannot be poured down the sinks or disposed of in the Tomoka landfill. The list of EPA toxic substances is: arsenic, barium, cadmium, lead, mercury and selenium. Cobalt is not on this list and “hues” of these are usually okay, such as “Cadmium Yellow Hue” as they are made of other yellows, not using cadmium.
  3. It is best to discard a solid instead of washing everything down a drain. Allow unneeded paint to dry on the palette or in the jar and discard it in the trash.
  4. Acrylic pigments cannot be poured down the sinks.

What are we doing to address this?

We will be using 2 processes, the pigment disposal process and the sand disposal method. The first method is described on the “Just Paint” newsletter March 1996 from Golden Paint. The second process has been recommended by Kevin Tobin, a Golden Paint representative. Watercolor, gouache and glue waste water can be emptied into our sinks as long as no toxic substances are present. (If using glue with an acrylic project, it is recommended that the artist keep the glue water separate and pour it down the drain. It doesn’t pour well through the filter system in the pigment disposal process.) The pigment disposal process can be used for acrylic waste water as long as no toxic chemicals are present. The sand method can be used for both watercolor waste and acrylic waste either with or without toxic substances.

In both instances, artists need to wipe their brushes and palettes on paper towels and rags before rinsing in the water to reduce the amount of water used. These paper towels and rags will be put in the Tomoka Landfill garbage for proper disposal in the landfill. Once wiped off, rinse out the brushes in no more than two inches of water in your waste water container.

Pigment Disposal Process

This process uses a chemical reaction called flocculation to separate the water and the pigment. Once the clear water is skimmed off the top, the pigment is filtered and the filter is disposed of in the trash. This process cannot be used with toxic paints.
It uses common garden chemicals which are hazardous so read label precautions. Gloves are provided.

The instructions are as follows:

  1. Dump your waste water into the 5 gallon container in the studio filling it to either the one or 2.5 gallon level. 2.5 gallons is the maximum that can be processed in the 5 gallon container.
  2. Using the glass jar, mix the proper amount of aluminum sulfate into the jar, add a few ounces of clean water and mix thoroughly. For one gallon, use a well-rounded half Tablespoon. For 2.5 gallons of water, measure 1.5 Tablespoons. Pour into the waste water and stir vigorously with a wood paint stick.
  3. Add the proper amount of powdered lime and stir vigorously. For one gallon, this is a scant ¾ Tablespoon. For 2.5 gallons of water, measure 1 ¾ Tablespoon lime. Within a few minutes, flocculation of the solids should begin to occur. You should start to see a clear layer of water forming very quickly as the solids settle to the bottom. If, after several minutes, flocculation has not occurred, repeat steps 2 and 3.
  4. After the solids have settled, scoop off as much of the clear water as you can, using the pitcher, and pour it down the drain or outside.
  5. Assemble the filtering equipment as follows: Place TWO filters in the metal funnel and put them over another empty 5 gallon container. Pour the remaining dirty water onto the filters after flocculation has occurred. After the dirty water has been poured through the filters, the water in the 5 gallon container should be clear. If it is not, pour less into the filters in steps and let it filter through before adding more dirty water.
  6. Place the used filters into the garbage can with the other waste going to the Tomoka Landfill. The clean water in the 5 gallon container can now be poured outside on the ground or down the sinks.

Sand Disposal Method:

This process uses evaporation of the water out of the sand in a bucket.

Instructions are as follows:

An alternative method is available for disposing of waste water resulting from washing off brushes used for acrylic paints. There is an orange 5-gallon container in the large (north) studio filled 3/4rds of the way up with playground sand. During classes and open studio sessions, the bucket will be kept outside in the full sun. It is important that the bucket receive 5-6 hours of sunlight and that the lid be kept open (assuming it’s not raining). In the event of rain, the bucket will be kept indoors and, when not in use, a lid has been provided only if it must be kept outdoors. A ‘dent’ was first made in the top middle of the sand. After each day’s session, monitors or instructors are asked to simply turn over the sand lightly and restore the depression in the top surface of the sand.

As acrylic artists paint and need to clean off their brushes, they should first wipe them off on rags, paper towels or old phone books. We will attempt to keep some old phone books in the studios for our use. Once wiped off, rinse out brushes in NO MORE THAN TWO INCHES of water in your waste water container. No more water than this is needed to rinse off brushes and it is critical to the success of this process that acrylic artists don’t use too much water. It doesn’t matter if you use Cadmium-, Cobalt- or lead-based paints, or mix your colors with medium. The waste water is then poured into the sand bucket, which is, ideally, going to be kept outdoors during studio hours. The bucket should be kept in a sunny location, one which gets between 5-6 hours of sun per day, and in the event of rain, under an eave or awning to protect it.

The bucket has been placed on a luggage cart with wheels so that it can be moved easily in rainy season/weather to a shielded area. The sand bucket should be kept uncovered, and at the end of the day, brought indoors to one of our studios. Thanks to the sun, the waste water evaporates, leaving only the pigmented sand behind. Periodically (as mentioned above), the sand should be turned over with the trowel. This method is advocated as an alternative by Golden paint and by one of its artist representatives, Kevin Tobin. Kevin has used his sand bucket without ever recycling the sand for twenty years. In fact, he brought it here from CA! If the AWI ever needed to get rid of the sand (but it would never need to do that), Kevin has advised that it would need to cover the bucket and take it to a hazardous waste dump site. Golden alternatively suggested using the pigmented sand to create a sculpture from concrete. Kevin developed this method after consulting the local DEP and federal EPA.

The trick is to ensure that folks don’t use a lot of water in their buckets (no more than 2″) and that they first wipe off brushes of excess acrylic paint/medium before dunking them in rinse water. If artists use too much water or don’t wipe off excess paint, the sand method will not work.

Assuming our 5-gallon bucket works out, we will purchase another one or two containers for the sand method. Everyone’s cooperation in introducing this alternative method is requested.

Environmental Considerations: Disposal of Paint Waste Water
Copyright © 2025 Artists’ Workshop of New Smyrna Beach