• Unraveling the Mysteries of Indigo, Sep 14: 2:30-4:30pm

• Plant Dye Master Class, Sep 21 : 1:30-5:30pm

• $55. per session

• Teaching Artist Mona Lewis

• Pre-Registration Required

• All supplies included

• Adults

click on image for more information on each session

Join artist and educator Mona Lewis for a Plant Dye Series exploring the history, science, and beauty of natural dyes. Each workshop offers a unique focus — from discovering colors hidden in everyday plants to the history of Cochineal, the rich tones of Logwood and Brazilwood, the magic of indigo vats, and a master class on advanced techniques for achieving a broad palette from a single dye. Participants can take individual workshops or sign up for all. Sessions include hands-on instruction, prepared materials, and projects to take home.

Mona Lewis is an artist and arts educator in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, specializing in revitalizing the lost art of using plant dyes and earth pigments and teaching students how to use them in their work. She has been a Waldorf educator since 1998, and is co-director of the Waldorf Practical Arts Teacher Training program. Mona has illustrated four books for writer Alan Salazar, exclusively with natural earth pigments. Her own book, Nature’s Paintbox, is a collection of easy plant dye and earth pigment projects for artists.

• Community Workshop

• This workshop is part of “Rooted: Celebrating Chumash Culture” a two-day gathering honoring Chumash traditions through storytelling, art, community workshops, and tomol viewing.

• Saturday, Sept. 27, 10am-12pm

• $10. per person

• Pre-Registration Required

• Ages 6 thru Adult

• Youth ages 6 -12 must be accompanied with a registered adult

• Teaching Artists: Alan Salazar & Mona Lewis

• Located at the OASIS our outdoor gathering space adjacent to Vita Art Studios 50 West Main St.

Join Chumash elder Alan Salazar and artist Mona Lewis for a special hands-on workshop celebrating the traditional art of Chumash abalone jewelry. Participants will select a piece from Alan’s personal abalone shell collection, learn how to carefully polish and oil the shells, and create their own unique necklace to take home.

As you work, Alan will share traditional Chumash stories, offering deeper insight into the cultural significance of abalone and its role in Chumash life. This workshop is a rare opportunity to connect with Indigenous traditions through both art and storytelling, guided by two inspiring teachers. All materials are provided. Open to all ages 6 & up no prior experience necessary. This workshop is a part of the 2 day event :“Rooted: Celebrating Chumash Culture”

• Saturday, Sept. 27, 1-3pm

• $10. per person

• Pre-Registration Required

• Ages 8 thru Adult

• Youth ages 8 -12 must be accompanied with a registered adult

• This workshop is part of “Rooted: Celebrating Chumash Culture” a two-day gathering honoring Chumash traditions through storytelling, art, community workshops, and tomol viewing.

• Located at the OASIS our outdoor gathering space adjacent to Vita Art Studios 50 West Main St.

• Teaching Artist: Mona Lewis with Alan Salazar

Join Chumash and Tataviam elder Alan Salazar and artist and author Mona Lewis for a unique and immersive experience that brings traditional Chumash stories to life through art.

Alan will begin by sharing traditional Chumash stories passed down through generations—tales of animals, nature, and sacred lessons rooted in the Central Coast landscape. After listening to these stories, participants will be invited to grind local ochre stones into natural earth pigments and use them to create an illustration inspired by the story that spoke to them most. Artist Mona Lewis will guide participants in using these handmade paints to create their artwork inspired by the Chumash stories.

All materials are non-toxic, respectfully and locally foraged., and provided.

• Saturday, September 27

• Time: 3:30-5:00pm

• All ages

• $5. per person

• Located at the OASIS our outdoor gathering space adjacent to Vita Art Studios 50 West Main St.

• Bring your own beach chair

• This workshop is part of “Rooted: Celebrating Chumash Culture” a two-day gathering honoring Chumash traditions through storytelling, art, community workshops, and tomol viewing.

• Dress for outdoor Ventura weather, a hat is suggested

• feel free to bring a beverage and snack

Join us for a powerful afternoon of traditional Chumash storytelling with Elder Alan Salazar and guest Chumash storytellers. Appropriate for all ages, this gathering honors ancestral stories that have been passed down for generations—tales of animals, nature, and sacred lessons rooted in the Central Coast landscape.

Through humor, wisdom, and heart, Alan and his guests will offer a rare opportunity to experience the depth and richness of Chumash culture. This is not a performance, but a communal experience—one that celebrates storytelling as a way to teach, remember, and connect across generations.

Please bring your own beach chair, Dress for outdoor weather, a hat is suggested. Feel free to bring a beverage and snack.

• Sunday, September 28, 10:30am-12pm.

• $10 per person

• ages 8 through adult

• Youth ages 8 -12 must be accompanied with an adult also registered in the workshop

• Pre-registration required, spaces are limited

• All materials provided

• Located at the OASIS our outdoor gathering space adjacent to Vita Art Studios 50 West Main St.

• This workshop is part of “Rooted: Celebrating Chumash Culture” a two-day gathering honoring Chumash traditions through storytelling, art, community workshops, and tomol viewing.

• Teaching Artist: Julia Samaniego

Learn how to create meaningful sage bundles using white sage (Salvia apiana) and complementary plants—ethically grown, respectfully gathered, and made without buying commercially harvested smudge sticks. This foundational workshop centers cultural respect, plant stewardship, and hands-on technique. Julia Samaniego is a proud member of the Tataviam tribe from the Siutconga village, with ties to the Chumash through the Tapuu village. She completed the Restoration Fire Resilience Program with Community Nature Connection, training in restoration, seed cleaning, plant identification, and Native plant propagation. At the California Native Plant Society Conference, she presented on Native women’s perspectives on reconnecting with Native plants. Julia currently serves as Assistant Manager at the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing Project Nursery, where she oversees Native plant propagation, seed collection, and nursery inventory.

• Sunday, Sept. 28, 12-2pm

• $10. per person

• Pre-Registration Required

• Ages 8 thru Adult

• Youth ages 8 -12 must be accompanied with a registered adult

• This workshop is part of “Rooted: Celebrating Chumash Culture” a two-day gathering honoring Chumash traditions through storytelling, art, community workshops, and tomol viewing.

• Located at the OASIS our outdoor gathering space adjacent to Vita Art Studios 50 West Main St.

• Teaching Artist: Matthew Vestuto & Gabriel Pedraza

  Join Barbareño/Ventureño Band of Mission Indians tribal members Matthew Vestuto and Gabriel Pedraza for a hands-on workshop in the traditional art of Chumash cordage making. Participants will learn how to work with nettle fibers, discovering the techniques used by the Chumash people to create strong, versatile cordage essential for daily life. All supplies are provided. This workshop offers a unique opportunity to connect with traditional knowledge, practice time-honored skills, and gain a deeper appreciation of how natural materials are transformed into tools of utility and beauty.

• Sunday, September 28, 2-4pm.

• $10 per person

• Adults

• Pre-registration required, spaces are limited

• Located at the OASIS our outdoor gathering space adjacent to Vita Art Studios 50 West Main St.

• This workshop is part of “Rooted: Celebrating Chumash Culture” a two-day gathering honoring Chumash traditions through storytelling, art, community workshops, and tomol viewing.

• All materials provided

• Teaching Artist: Kat High

Discover the essentials of basket weaving in a welcoming, hands-on class led by Kat High, a respected Hupa descendant, artist, storyteller, and teacher. Using round reed—an accessible material perfect for beginners—you’ll learn time-honored techniques while honoring the deep cultural roots of Native Californian basketry.

Kat High is part of a statewide movement revitalizing Native basketry and traditional ecological knowledge. Through her organization Kidiwische Connections, she leads programs that reconnect people to land, plants, and sustainable lifeways. A member of the California Indian Storytellers Association, Kat weaves cultural history and living stories into her teaching practice. Her advocacy and teachings have been featured in the PBS series Tending the Wild.

• Sunday, September 21

• Instructor: Jem Morris

• Time: 9am-12pm

• Adults

• $45.

• supplies not included Click on image for suggested supply list

Join us for Plein Air Ventura, a monthly outdoor painting workshop led by artist Jem Morris. Each session, students will meet at a different scenic location in Ventura, providing a fresh and inspiring setting to refine their plein air painting skills. The location will be disclosed upon registration.

Through expert guidance, Jem will share tips and techniques for capturing light, atmosphere, and composition in the ever-changing outdoor environment. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced painter, this workshop offers the opportunity to enhance your artistic practice, develop confidence in painting en plein air, and connect with fellow artists in a supportive and engaging setting.

Come explore Ventura’s beauty and paint the landscape before you!

• Adults

• Saturday,September 27, 3-5pm

• located in Vita Art Studios

• $5. per person

• Pre-Registration Required

• Instructor: Laura Mullen

Give yourself a break in the day to play with language: this generative mini poetry workshop, in which chance procedures and imaginative writing prompts lead to creative discoveries, is a chance to renew and refresh your joy in self-expression. Guided and encouraged by poet Laura Mullen, you’ll have the opportunity to explore your own psyche and the works of art on view inside the Vita Art Studios, which will all be open for viewing. You can share and discuss what you create—if that appeals to you. No pressure! What you can count on is the opportunity to tune into your own poetry super-powers and have fun.

• Thursdays, Sep 11 - Oct. 16

• Instructor: Michelle Wilson

• Time: 6-8:30pm

• $315 for 6 classes

• Materials included

• Limited to 8 students

Explore the fundamentals of metalsmithing through jewelry making. We will learn the basics of sawing, filing, and soldering nonferrous metals. We’ll experiment with stamping, hammering, and finishing techniques. Students will leave with finished pieces, and a foundation in jewelry and metalsmithing.

• Fridays, Sept 12-October 17

• Instructor: Jem Morris

• Time: 11-2pm

• Adults

• Fees: $200.

• supplies not included

This introductory class is designed to build foundational skills and prepare you for our next-level drawing course. In this class, we’ll cover the essentials of drawing, including basic line work, shape construction, and the understanding of light and shadow. Through guided exercises and simple projects, you'll gain confidence in handling materials and developing observational skills. This class is perfect for beginners or anyone looking to refresh their skills before moving on to more advanced concepts in drawing and composition.

Supplies are available online from Michaels.com and Blick.com

SUPPLY LIST:

• Strathmore 400 series 11”x14”

• 2B pencil

• Kneaded eraser

• Blending Stump

• 14” x 18” drawing board

•  Thursdays, Oct. 2-Nov. 20

• Instructor: Sheri Garwood

• Time: 10:00-1:00pm

• $280 for 8 Classes

• Materials not included. see list

Explore the versatility of acrylic paint with fellow artists in beautiful covered patio classroom.  Guidance and suggestions gently offered as needed or desired, as you learn or hone your skills in technique, color and composition. All levels welcome.

SUPPLY LIST

• Saturdays, Sep 13 - October. 25, (No class Sept 27)

• Instructor: Jem Morris

• Time: 1-4pm

• $250. (supplies included) for 6 classes

• Canvases not included,

• Students need (2x) 9x12 Canvas Board

Join us for a dynamic six-day program designed to immerse you in both traditional and contemporary oil painting techniques. This comprehensive course will guide you through creating a small color study and culminate in a large, finished landscape painting. Through a blend of engaging lectures, live demonstrations, and personalized feedback, you’ll master the art of planning, preparing, and completing a landscape in oil. Emphasizing the creative process, this class offers a unique opportunity to develop your skills and produce a completed work of art.

• Mondays, Sept. 29-Nov. 17

• Instructor: Sheri Garwood

• Time: 11:00am-2:00pm

• $280 for 8 classes

• Materials not included. see list

Fun projects are introduced each week to demonstrate the fundamentals and techniques for watercolor painting. Color theory and composition are covered. This class is appropriate for all levels from beginner to advanced.

MATERIAL LIST.

• Thursdays, 12:30-3:00pm

• Sept.25-Oct.23

• Oct.30-Dec4 (no class 11/27)

• Instructor: Lee Ballard

• Adults

• $125 for 5 class session

• Drawing materials not included

Figure drawing is used to heighten skills of observation. Simple tools are taught which help students see the relationships of forms, shapes and values to each other and to the whole. Underlying anatomy is discussed to support the structure of the drawing. Students will draw from a nude model during this course.

Suggested materials include: 18”x24” smooth newsprint or 18”x24” smooth paper, carbathello charcoal pencil or any medium charcoal pencil, drawing board and kneaded eraser.

DROP-INS call to check availability.

• Adults

• 2-day workshop (attend one or both sessions)

• Saturday, October 18 & 25, 3:30-5:30pm

• $50. per person

• Pre-Registration Required

• Teaching Poet: Laura Mullen

Writers in all genres are invited into the VITA gallery to work in conversation with the current exhibits in order to explore associative gestures and the power of symbols (personal and cultural) while harnessing the force of the fragment on the energized page. Bring tools to write with and a curiosity about the possibilities of abstraction in language, for a workshop that will lead you into a deeper appreciation of the process and a stronger trust in your own voice. 

Current Exhibits include: MIKE BLAHA: Subsupernal, MAX PRESNEILL: Bread & Circuses, TOM PAZDERKA:

A Quiet Surrender, PETER OLSON: Marked for Life

• Fridays, October 3- October 24, 2025

• Instructor: Thomas Weber

• Time: 6-8:30pm

• Fees: $160. per 4 class session

  • $25. for first 25 lb. bag of clay, (included in the price)

• Bring a small towel or rag and an apron to your classes

• Classes are limited to 10 students

This is the perfect class for beginners and intermediate level students who would like to learn or perfect their skills on the potter’s wheel. 3 hours studio time per week is available for students to work independently. Glazes and firing included. Additional clay can be purchased from Vita.