Make and Create Weekend Retreat: Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen and Pennsylvania College of Art & Design

Workshop Descriptions:

Mixed Media Photo Collage with John Ruggles, Saturday, March 29 from 9:30 am – 12:30 pm

Explore collage and narrative born out of personal photography in this workshop with artist John Ruggles. Thisclass includes the use of photographic elements and found objects and will cover the basics of collage, mixed media, and abstract drawing/painting. Together we will use sketchbooks, printed photos, various pieces of found paper and ephemera, as well as wet and dry media such as charcoal, graphite, marker, and acrylic paint to create works mounted on wooden panels. You will be asked to digitally submit 1-2 photos of your choosing to be printed before the workshop or you may bring printed photos to the workshop. 

Beginning Blacksmithing with Nicholas Tucci, Saturday, March 29 from 1:30-4:30 pm

Unlock the ancient art of blacksmithing in this engaging and hands-on workshop! This introductory class provides a unique opportunity for participants to delve into the world of metalworking, where they will learn the fundamental skills of forging, including hammer control, tapering, pointing, bending, scrolling, and twisting to create items using traditional blacksmithing techniques. Students have the choice to forge S-hooks, keychains, wall mounted hooks, bottle openers, or drawer handles. All necessary materials, including metal stock and safety equipment, will be provided.

No prior blacksmithing experience is required. By the end of this workshop, participants will have gained a foundational understanding of blacksmithing, developed practical skills, and created their own handcrafted metal pieces to take home. The class will take place outside, rain or shine. A tent will be set up if there is rain. Please wear closed-toe shoes and avoid loose & synthetic clothing.

Bezel Set Jewelry with Jessica Keemer, Sunday, March 30 from 9 am-12 pm

Discover the art of jewelry-making in this engaging Bezel Set Jewelry class, designed specifically for adults with no prior experience in metalsmithing or jewelry crafting. Over the course of three hours, students will create a custom piece of jewelry—a pendant, ring, or bracelet—featuring a bezel-set semi-precious stone.

Guided by an experienced instructor, participants will learn essential skills including soldering, forming, and polishing sterling silver jewelry from scratch. Every step of the process is covered, ensuring that even beginners feel confident and capable as they bring their designs to life. All materials and tools are provided, including a selection of beautiful semi-precious stones to personalize each piece. By the end of the class, students will leave with a one-of-a-kind creation to cherish for years to come, as well as the foundational knowledge to continue exploring the world of jewelry-making.

Introduction to Figure Drawing with Leah Limpert Walt, Sunday, March 30, 1  – 4 pm 

Interested in refining and building your skills with figure drawing? In this three hour workshop with artist Leah Limpert Walt, you will leave with a better understanding of anatomical context, material process methods, and gain experience working from a live model to create a proportional and rendered figure drawing from life. After a lecture and demonstration, you will complete a full value figure drawing from start to finish using methods covered in class utilizing graphite and/or charcoal. All materials are provided. 

Instructor Bios:

John Ruggles is a visual artist, graphic designer, and documentary photographer, currently based in Berks County. He holds a Master of Fine Arts from Rochester Institute of Technology. He has exhibited extensively and works both nationally and internationally. His work focuses on exploring the intersection of identity and experience within liminal spaces. John has taught classes at Rochester Institute of Technology, Penn State University, and the PA Guild of Craftsmen. Outside of work, most of his time is spent birding, gardening, or wandering antique shops.

Nicholas Tucci has been making art, sculpture, and furniture for most of his life, with thanks to his parents who had the care to nurture his creativity. Nick graduated from Millersville University in 2008 with a degree in Earth Science and a minor in Fine Art Metals. After college, he worked for several years at ART Research Enterprises, a fine art foundry in Lancaster, PA.  Since then, he’s made furniture, one of a kind blacksmithed pieces, and metal sculptures of his own. Nick believes in being a good steward of the planet and finds it proper to use the values of “reduce, reuse, and recycle” in his artwork; for that reason, most materials he uses are recycled. He has been teaching blacksmithing classes at the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen for the past two years.

Jessica Keemer is an award winning studio artist in Lancaster, PA. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Millersville University and also has a degree in Art Education and a Masters Degree in Environmental Systems Management. She has studied at the New Approach Jewelers School in Virginia Beach, VA, and at the Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, NY. Jessica is a PA State-Juried Artist, served as a State Board Member to the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen, and was the Interim Director of the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen. She exhibits her jewelry and flameworked glass pieces at several fine craft shows around the country throughout the year and teaches at several studios on the East Coast. 

Leah Limpert Walt ’19 (she/her/they) is a representational painter living and working in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. She studied at the University of Delaware, Moore College of Art and Design, and received her BFA from Pennsylvania College of Art and Design, graduating Summa Cum Laude with awards. She has shown in Philadelphia, New York City, and throughout the lower Susquehanna Valley. Leah teaches in CCE and is adjunct faculty at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design and co-founded King St. Workshops in Lancaster, PA.