Heart & hands: Summer art and craft classes across Clark County offer creative funSubscriber Exclusive

Ah, the joys of making something by hand! Clark County is bursting at the seams with makers and artisans, both masters of their craft and those who are eager to learn. Here is a sampling of the many creative opportunities from now through the end of August. This is not an exhaustive list by any means, but it does provide a broad palette of art forms and handiwork for you to explore. You could try bookbinding, leatherwork, raku, pastel painting, ceramics, watercolor, crochet, jewelry-making, glass fusing and cookie decorating, to name but a few classes offered this summer. If you don’t see anything that tickles your fancy here, check The Columbian’s free community calendar at events.columbian.com. We’re always posting new classes and workshops to feed your artsy soul.

• Susan Soltau of Dragon Half Art leads a Cosmic Watercolor Splatter Coasters workshop at 6:30 p.m. Mondays at Vancouver Arts Hub, 1007 E. Mill Plain Blvd., Vancouver. The next workshop is July 27. Students will learn the art of wet-on-wet watercolor blending, splatter techniques to create nebula-like patterns and color layering to build galactically inspired hues. No experience is needed. All supplies are provided. The cost is $35. Register at eventbrite.com.
• The Elbow Room, the James Beard Award-nominated bar at 1800 Broadway St. in downtown Vancouver, hosts a free, artist-led Craft Night from 6 to 8 p.m. every Tuesday. Craft projects vary widely, from taxidermy Beanie Babies to bottle cap insects. The next Craft Night is July 28. Cocktails, grilled cheese sandwiches and tater tots with toppings are available to buy. No registration is necessary.
• Kadence Collective, a community art studio and social space at 214 E McLoughlin St., Vancouver, offers a Raku Basket Lab with ceramicist Nathan LacQuaye from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays. The next Raku Lab is July 28. Students will explore the unpredictable and exciting art of pit-firing in this open-ended class. Students will learn how to apply texture and how to join clay elements together to make a decorative, basket-like slab vessel. Attendees can return on Aug. 7 or Sept. 4 to glaze their pieces and participate in a pit firing session led by LacQuaye. The cost is $59.84. Register at kadencecollective.com.
• theARTScentered will offer a Paint with Watercolor Pencils class from 6 to 8 p.m. July 28. Students will draw with watercolor pencils and paint with brushes. All supplies are provided. The cost is $50. Classes are at Vancouver Arts Hub, 1007 E. Mill Plain Blvd., Vancouver. Register at lorilorefineart.com.
• Craft Warehouse, 9307 N.E. Fifth Ave. in Hazel Dell, hosts two Quilt Clubs at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. on the last Thursday of every month. The next meeting is July 30. Participants will see new fabrics, notions, quilting books and get ideas for new projects and patterns. All skill levels are welcome. Participants should bring a current project and be prepared to give and receive inspiration and advice. Learn more at craftwarehouse.com.
• Vampire Unicorns, 3510 N.E. Third Ave., Camas, will offer a Coptic Bookbinding Workshop from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 1. Coptic bookbinding is a method that sews multiple sections of paper together with a chain link stitch. The paper and the stitch are visible in the spine. Without a traditional spine, the book lays flat when open — ideal for journaling, collaging or sketching. Students will learn all the steps to leave with a finished book. Students are welcome to bring their own special paper or use what’s provided. The cost is $75. Register at vampireunicorns.xyz.
• ArtZone, 6929 N.W. Friberg-Strunk St., Suite 230, Camas, will offer a Pastel Studio for beginners. A four-week session will begin on Aug. 5. Class meets from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Students will learn the basics of using soft chalk pastels in an open studio environment. Students will need a set of 12 soft chalk pastels, 9-by-12 sanded paper, graphite pencil and sketch pad. The cost is $185. Register at artzonecamas.com.
• Kilnfolk Clay Studio, 108 W. Sixth St., Vancouver, offers First Friday Open Sculpting from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on the first Friday of every month; the next session is Aug. 7. An instructor will guide students through the steps to create simple, beginner-friendly projects like mugs, vases, gnomes or animal sculptures, using up to two pounds of clay. No prior pottery experience is needed. Kilnfolk staff will fire and glaze all pieces in desired colors and they will be ready to pick up in about a month. A separate custom glazing session is available at an additional cost. The open sculpting session is $50 per person; sign up at kilnfolkclay.com.
• Melt Glass Art Supply, 502 Washington St., Vancouver, will offer Floral Bowls and Bee Baths workshops on Aug. 8 and Aug. 17. Students will create a flower-inspired glass bowl, bird feeder or bee bath. Students can choose from many designs and color options. Items can be used indoors or outdoors. All materials are included in the $95 cost. Class is best for ages 14 and up. A registered adult must accompany minors. The studio space is only accessible via stairs. To learn more, call 360-771-5617. Register at www.meltglass.com.
• Kilnfolk Clay Studio, 108 W. Sixth St., Vancouver, will offer a Lidded Fruit Jar Workshop from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Aug. 8. Students will be guided through the process of making a lidded vessel using pinch pot and coil techniques in this beginner-friendly class. Choose up to two glaze colors, included in the $75 price, or return for custom glazing for an additional $20. Staff will fire jars, ready for pick-up in about a month. Sign up at kilnfolkclay.com.
• Confluence Winery, 19111 N.W. 67th Ave, Ridgefield, will host a Sip and Paint evening with Elida Art Studio from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Aug. 9. Elida Field will guide participants through the step-by-step process of painting a Northwest landscape. Attendees will go home with a finished 11-by-14-inch painting. The $85 cost includes a glass of wine, a small cheeseboard and all art supplies. Register at elidaart.com.
• Craft Collective, 21506 N.E. 83rd St., Vancouver, will offer a Back Yard Barbecue Cookie Decorating Workshop from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 11. Attendees will learn beginner-friendly piping and flooding techniques using royal icing to decorate a set of six themed sugar cookies. No prior experience is needed. The cost is $65. Learn more at craft-collective.com.
• Dandelion Teahouse and Apothecary, 109 W. Seventh St., Vancouver, hosts Project Huddle Knit/Crochet Circle from 5:30 to 8 p.m. on the second Friday of every month. The next meeting is Aug. 14. Knitters and crocheters are invited to bring their projects to the teahouse to work on — or bring their unfinished projects and scraps for other people to use. No registration is necessary.
• theARTScentered will offer an Easy Landscapes class from 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 11 and 31 and from 1 to 3 p.m. Aug. 17. Students will explore techniques to create textures and paint landscapes. All supplies are provided. The cost is $50. Classes are at Vancouver Arts Hub, 1007 E. Mill Plain Blvd., Vancouver. Register at lorilorefineart.com.
• Kilnfolk Clay Studio, 108 W. Sixth St., Vancouver, will offer Berry Bowls Workshops from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Aug. 15 and 3:30 to 5 p.m. Aug. 30. Students will be guided through the process of making a ceramic berry bowl to store and wash berries. Class is beginner-friendly. Bowls will be fired and glazed with a single color, ready for pick-up in about a month. Custom glazing is available at an additional cost. The cost is $55. Sign up at kilnfolkclay.com.
• Vampire Unicorns, 3510 N.E. Third Ave., Camas, will offer a Flower Crafting Workshop from 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 20. Attendees will learn to bring their pressed blooms to life using different creative techniques and materials to make beautiful, nature-inspired crafts and gifts. Students will go home with bookmarks, cards and a few other surprises. The cost is $45. Register at vampireunicorns.xyz.
• Vampire Unicorns, 3510 N.E. Third Ave., Camas, will offer a Leatherwork Dice Pouch and Tray Workshop from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 21. Each student will learn the basics of leatherworking to create a custom dice pouch and rolling tray, perfect for Dungeons and Dragons enthusiasts and board game lovers. Beginners are welcome. The cost is $80. Register at vampireunicorns.xyz.
• Craft Collective, 21506 N.E. 83rd St., Vancouver, will offer a Ring-Making Workshop from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 22. Shelby Evans of Modeco Jewelry will teach attendees age 18 and older the basics of ring-making using the principles of metalsmithing, including sizing, filing, soldering, shaping, stone-setting and finishing. Each student will make a ring with sterling silver, 14K gold and a small diamond. No prior experience is needed. The cost is $210. Learn more at craft-collective.com.
• Craft Collective, 21506 N.E. 83rd St., Vancouver, will offer a Chunky Blanket Workshop from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 29. Attendees will learn the basics of hand-knitting, including casting on, building rows and finishing techniques, to create an oversized, chunky knit blanket. No needles or knitting experience is needed. The cost is $89. Learn more at craft-collective.com.