Independent Study
Develop your unique creative voice with the guidance of a mentor and an intimate group of peers
What’s next after one or more Journeys at Drawing Room?
Embark on an Independent Study to get personalized guidance, research-based exploration, and monthly critiques to help you build a cohesive body of work, refine your voice, and culminate in a Drawing Room Night showcase.
Now Enrolling for Winter/New Year
Nov 12 - Mar 30
Runs through two Drawing Room seasons, or approximately 4 months (the holiday break extends this period).
Choose a recurring day with your small group to meet 8 times over this period.
This season is
led by Ayaka Takao
Independent Study (Ceramics)
$375 per month
(4 monthly installments of $375,
or pre-pay for the entire program to enjoy a 5% discount)
Includes a half ceramic storage shelf.
Only 3 spots available
What’s included in an Independent Study
Mentorship and guidance with your mentor and intimate group of peers
Two bi-weekly sessions each month (each 2 hours) with your mentor instructor and your small group of up to 3 peers. Sessions take place on the same day each week for the entire program. Groups may decide the best day at the start of the program, subject to instructor and space availability.
Drawing Room as your studio
Includes our Creative Flow Membership, and a half or full clay storage shelf (for ceramic programs), giving you access to the Art Library and Clay Library during Open Hours. Just show your digital member card to drop by anytime the space is open—whether to keep practicing, co-work, or connect with friends.
One additional workshop per month
We often explore across mediums at Drawing Room to generate new ideas, think outside the box, or clear creative blocks. Writing can spark new worlds for your next printing project…which might inspire a surface design for your next ceramic piece. Keep the inspiration going with your one workshop per month included in your Creative Flow Membership.
Consistency and accountability
Show up consistently for yourself and your community. Group accountability is a great way to push yourself to strive to accomplish your goals and see growth.
Longer term for deeper development and exploration
The Independent Study runs for 2 Journey seasons at Drawing Room, which is approximately 4 months. This longer length allows you to explore, experiment, and connect to your goals and your group in a meaningful way.
Opportunities to collaborate
Learn not only from your mentor instructor, but your peers, too! Feeling inspired by someone’s project? Explore collaboration opportunities – anything goes!
What your goals might look like
Portfolio Development
Build a cohesive body of work that reflects your voice and style, culminating in a Drawing Room Night showcase, where your work can also be displayed or offered for sale.
Level up your practice
Maybe you want to pursue a creative degree? Start a business? Apply for residencies? Get the help and insights (and the push) you need to get you to the next stage of your creative journey!
Develop your practice
Take your creative practice more seriously. Understand yourself as an artist and your process, inspiration, and practice to find your creative voice.
What your sessions will include
Conversation and Check-In
Review your progress, discuss conceptual and technical questions, and reflect on your growth.
Mini Critiques
Receive feedback on what’s working, what could be pushed further, and strategies for refining your work.
Technique Development
Practice new ceramic techniques tailored to your goals and interests.
Goal Setting & Assignments
Set intentions for the next month and receive research-based or hands-on mini challenges to inspire your practice.
Personal Experimentation
Learn to understand tradeoffs and develop confidence in selecting and using your own materials.
Research & Inspiration
Assignments may include museum visits, exploring shows, or creating mood boards to deepen your understanding of ceramics and your personal style.
Homework & Research
Engage voluntarily in assignments, field trips, and inspiration-gathering exercises to support your creative growth.
Material Testing
Explore different clay bodies, glazes, underglazes, oxides, and lusters. Learn what your options are and how to start exploring.
Things to note:
Choose your own supplies
An important step in growing your practice is making independent choices about your materials—exploring, sourcing, and testing what works best for you. Supplies aren’t included by default in this program, but many are available to purchase on-site. We can help you research, test, and sometimes even procure them to ensure they’re safe for use at Drawing Room.
Instruction Prerequisites
This program is not meant to replace the foundational curriculum covered in an Intensive. Because of this, taking an Intensive in the medium(s) you choose to explore in your Independent Study is a prerequisite.
Session Etiquette
While our mentoring instructors are genuinely excited to help you explore your creative voice, vision, and projects, we ask that you save your ideas and questions for the scheduled sessions so that your mentor can show up and give you the focused attention you deserve.
Our Journeys Team
Get to know the team that makes Journeys like the Cohort Program happen!
Drawing Room instructors are passionate, practicing artists who love sharing their skills and ideas to build a more creative, connected world. They each have distinct styles and ways of teaching, and work together to design and instruct our Cohort Program. Together with our Ariel and Kat on the operations side, they bring our programs to life!
Meiying Thai
Aubrey Aiese
Adriana Gramly (she/her) is an artist whose playful, multidisciplinary work draws from folklore, childhood, and Bolivian roots.
Rachel Herron (she/her) is a multidisciplinary artist, writer, and educator whose workshops blend storytelling, play, and creative exploration.
Ray Hwang
Ayaka Takao
Ray Hwang (he/him) is a an artist whose layered, abstracted personal‑history work explores themes of family, home, and intercultural tension.
Ayaka teaches ceramics workshops. She works in ceramics, painting, and written word.
Ariel (she/her) is your guide and support—you’ll be hearing from her often! With her deep knowledge of the magic behind our programs, she’ll help you find your way, keep things on track, and make sure you always know what’s next.
Kat Lee
Ariel Hwang
Kat (she/her) is our Journeys inventory fairy—she conjures up exactly what we need, right when we need it, and ensures every detail is just right. Her behind-the-scenes magic is essential to making everything run smoothly!
Aubrey (she/her) teaches workshops, intensives, and leads the ceramics team at Drawing Room! She makes pots with playfully illustrated faces and feelings.
Meiying Thai (she/her) is a multidisciplinary artist and Head of Mixed Media at Drawing Room, making work rooted in love, movement, and connection.
Rachel Herron
Adriana Gramly
Angie Hewitt
Ivy Weinglass
Angie (she/her) creates art and zines inspired by mystery, memory, and the otherworldly, highlighting the overlooked oddities of daily life.
Ivy teaches ceramics workshops and intensives. She’s inspired by the natural world around her.
FAQs
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Yes, of course!
If you are already a member with a payment method on file, please use the same exact email we have on file for your membership.
We’ll simply freeze your membership for the duration of the program since you get the Creative Flow Membership included through the program, then your membership will resume one the program ends, and any unused days will be available automatically in your account.