Cut Paper Painting
Join us in the studio for a fun and enjoyable workshop where we will turn ordinary scraps of paper into captivating images full of depth, texture, and personal stories. This collage method is easy to learn and accessible, even if you have limited space, and it repurposes scrap paper. If you're looking for a way to relax and unleash your creativity, this workshop is perfect for you.
The Artist's Garden
In this exploratory class, Jen Anderson, of Jen Anderson Studio & Garden, invites you into the world of the Artist’s Garden; a space where plants become partners in the creative process. Drawing from her own creative process, pigment and flower gardens, flower-pressing practice, and experience as a garden consultant, Jen will share how the garden can inspire, inform, and supply your art.
Creating sacred spaces
Join Treehaus Studio and Better Place Forest for a two-part ceramic workshop designed to guide you in creating a sacred space for healing rituals. The goal is to establish a physical location where healing is embraced rather than avoided.
Creative Practice
Join us in the studio each week for a series of creative workshops designed for both beginners and experienced artists. Participants will have the opportunity to explore the work of various artists, art-making processes, materials, and tools. Enjoy a relaxed studio environment while connecting with friends and neighbors.
Kite Building
Come play, build, and fly in this joyful kite-making workshop for youths, families, and curious adults. Together, we’ll explore the universal joy of kite flying, an art form and activity shared by cultures around the world.
Clay Sculpture - St. Croix River Turtles
The St. Croix and Namekagon rivers are home to eight species of turtles, which you can often see basking on rocks, logs, and along the shores. Join us for a two-part workshop where we will explore the turtles that inhabit the St. Croix River Valley and use that knowledge to create beautiful ceramic sculptures.
Ceramic Curio Shelf
In this hand-building ceramic workshop, we’ll use slabs and coils to create curiosity shelves, which provide a beautiful display for small, treasured nature collectibles.
Intro to Paintbrush Making
Join us for an exciting workshop that explores the artistry of traditional brush making! Discover both time-honored and modern techniques for crafting brushes using natural materials such as deer tail, human hair and horsehair.
Intuitive Paint and Stitch
Join us for a class that focuses on creating and enhancing painting surfaces using textiles. We will begin by drawing inspiration from our surroundings and observing the colors, lines, forms, and movements around us. Then, you can explore acrylic paint in a relaxed environment, painting freely and loosely on canvas. As the class progresses, you will incorporate textiles into your paintings.
Land Art: ALa Andy Goldsworthy
Andy Goldsworthy is one of our most well-known environmental artists. He has been engaged in outdoor art-making since the 1970s. His decades of practice have fostered a humble and sensitive attention to form, light, color, condition, and temporality. Like many land artists, he exclusively uses natural materials found at the site of his creations, avoiding glue, rope, or other artificial tools. This approach allows him to understand the intrinsic qualities of the natural materials.
Plein Air - Walk and Weave
We will begin the evening by constructing a loom frame using branches and twine. After learning some basic weaving techniques and examining various examples, we will pack into a Paddlefish Adventures van and head to Standing Cedars Land Conservancy to collect natural materials to create plein air weaving while walking along the beautiful paths. Long grasses, fallen twigs, colorful leaves, and textured bark will form a lovely composition. We will conclude back at Treehaus Studio with a fun show-and-tell, where we can share our unique, ephemeral weavings.
Sumac Branch Weaving
This introductory class on experimental weaving transforms ordinary sumac branches into looms. Participants will learn fundamental weaving techniques using up-cycled materials and found objects.
GIANT PUPPET MAKING with Sandy Spieler
Join us for a five-day puppet-making intensive led by Sandy Spieler, the Founder of In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre (HOBT)—a Minneapolis-Saint Paul area arts nonprofit. Participants will work alongside Sandy and learn a traditional building method using cornstarch, papier mache, and clay for a more detailed, fluid face or creature. Each participant will select a being from either forest, prairie, pond, river, or sky and work together to create a unified performance that celebrates the living beings at The Acreage. You will be invited to perform as a group during the annual fall celebration.
Embroidery - Natural Elements
If you're seeking a relaxing hobby, embroidery might be perfect. Join us at the Treehaus for a refreshing weekend of de-stressing.
Natural Dye & Shibori
Shibori is a Japanese resist-dyeing technique where fabric is shaped, secured, and dyed to create unique patterns. It involves manipulating the fabric through folding, stitching, or twisting before dyeing, resulting in various patterns.
The Giving Tree
Join us in the studio to create a vibrant homage to your favorite tree and all its life-giving qualities. Each student will be asked to bring a series of photographs of their favorite tree and its location. Be prepared to share memories or stories associated with the tree as a group and through your work. Together, we will learn who and what depends on that tree and its role in the ecosystem.
From there, students will work alongside artist Carrie Katzenmeyer to sketch and plan their paintings. Then, they will work through the steps to complete and share the final piece.
The Sketchbook Project
The Sketchbook Project encourages you to dedicate time each day to build a library of inspiration. It serves as a platform to process life, document your surroundings, and engage in play and experimentation.