Big Picture Gallery & Studio

03/19/2026

Look who visited the studio today!

03/16/2026

We have summer camps for adults! And they run year round! https://www.bpgalleryandstudio.com/summer-studiosummer-camp-for-adults

03/15/2026

This is Matilda. She's up to no good :)

03/09/2026

Jewelry Camps go on sale on Saturday, March 14 at 8am!
These run at the same time as our other camps, so check for conflicts.

AM Camp from 9am - noon: 8-13 year olds
PM Camp from 1pm - 4pm: 13-18 year olds

Jewelry Camp Week 1: June 9-11 Introduction to Jewelry Making $180
Designing your own jewelry is a fun way to express ourselves at all ages! During camp we will learn how to string on elastic, flexwire and nylon cord by creating anklets, bracelets and necklaces. Students will have the opportunity to design their own pieces perusing beads, chain and professional jewelry instruction by Cheryl Weatherford. The second day we will learn how to make a wire wrapped loop by creating keychains, earrings or zipper pulls. On the last day students will create pendants with different kinds of beads they will experience in the world of beading!

Jewelry Camp Week 2: June 30-July 2 Kandi Kamp $180
Create friendly fashion with pony and perler beads into fun accessories that say it all! Participants will learn pe**te stitch, beaded cord and flat right angle weave to design their own pieces using pony beads. We will end the week with beaded creature keychains and decorated sunglasses to wear this summer!

Jewelry Camp Week 3: July 20-22 Bead and Love the Earth $180
Sustainability in fashion is important to investigate and during this week we will explore different materials to make our own jewelry. Day one we will be making our own paper beads and experiment with different shapes we can create finishing in three pieces designed by you! Day two will be the French beading technique of beaded flowers and aluminum recycled bloomed works of art. Day three we will weave two h**p bracelets learning two stitches with each one.

Jewelry Camp Week 4: August 3-5 Bead Embroidery
Bead embroidery is a skill that can be used to make earrings, pendants, patches, fringe, shoes…you name it and beads can be added. This week we will use glass seed beads, gemstones, vintage acrylic pieces to create visual works of art. After learning how to embroider and add a flat stone to a piece, participants will be encouraged to design their own work of art for a final piece.

03/08/2026

This is Milton, Master of the Mushroom Garden and Keeper of Keith the Orange Kitten, who isn't terribly helpful but has a great purr.

Acrylics on a hollow core door. We're using doors for both kids' summer camps and adult summer camps!

03/07/2026

Aren't these great?! Leah, our Advanced and Guided Open instructor and our resident ceramicist, created these little dudes with a pinch pot foundation. You can make something like these two at our Pet Portraits in Clay at Clay parties, summer camp for kids or, coming soon, SUMMER CAMP FOR ADULTS!

03/05/2026

Colorado Landscape
24" x 18"
Watercolor, watercolor pencils, acrylic wash, micron pens on paper

I'm delighted to share this gorgeous landscape done over several months in private lessons at Big Picture! Check out that beautiful swirly line work in the clouds, which contrasts with the straight diagonals of the mountains. So much texture!

03/03/2026

Thank you again to U of I IT department for painting with Big Picture Gallery and Studio last week. Your owls turned out great!!

02/28/2026

02/28/2026

Birdhouses out of the kiln and look great!