Innovation Studio - Lake Shore Center for the Arts

Communal digital arts studio space and learning environment cultivating creativity, artistic passion, and self-discovery. Learn, experiment, explore and develop your unique artistic voice--Free to LSCFTA members.

Feb 2023

Mar2023

About the Studio

Innovation Studio Mission (Click to expand)

We believe that both novice and experienced digital artists thrive in a communal studio space for inspiration and to work on creative projects–a space where they can throw on a pair of headphones, rig cameras and microphones, grab a creator laptop and produce digital works of art using industry standard music, photo, animation, illustration, web, and video production software. We endeavor to provide necessary equipment and software enabling members to digitize and restore multimedia elements such as slides, old photos, mementos, and newsprint into imagery to be used in digital art projects. Our goal is to provide members hundreds of free, previously recorded classes, from beginner to advanced level, to deepen their digital artistic skillset. Additionally, we offer in-person workshops and a lending library of digital arts books to members.

Members are encouraged to share their creative work with peers and mentors, receive constructive feedback, and learn the value of usefully critiquing others’ work. Innovation Studio strives to provide members with a breadth of experiences in digital arts and deliver our area’s most creative digital studio experience reflecting the vibrancy of Western New York’s artistic community.

Studio Resources

Innovation Studio resources support members using graphic illustration, filmmaking, animation, website development, podcasts, and photography. Our state-of-the-art PC-based studio includes laptops specifically configured for digital creators within a high-speed internet environment and a full Adobe Creative Cloud Suite is available for use. Tools and equipment are provided to support workflows for the latest digital cameras, backdrops, lighting, and sound.

The studio space is made up of four open tables with surge protected outlets, 8 ergonomic chairs, 4 PC creator laptops with full access to the Adobe Creative Design Suite and high-speed internet. This flexible environment is quickly adapted for use in classes, photography shoots, podcasts, video interviews and more. Bring your own camera or use one of the DSLR cameras at the studio. For a complete list of equipment, please scroll to the bottom of this page.

Shared Studio Space

Shared studios help enhance creativity by offering the use of software, high speed internet and equipment, but we also believe there is real value when artists are interacting, informally swapping resources, and exchanging feedback. We find that sharing our studio space and resources tends to foster this gracious collaboration, but we also encourage a sense of freedom to balance a need to work solo at the studio with time engaging with others. The freedom to think and create independently, within our shared studio space strengthens our sense of community and can lead to a heightened sense of achievement and wellbeing.

Innovation Studio offers open studio sessions every month to interested community members and digital media professionals who are current LSCFTA members. Open Studio sessions are drop-in opportunities to work within our community of artists and other innovative practitioners of the digital arts, enabling a safe space for networking and exchange of knowledge. Members also have 24/7 access to the studio provided that those times are approved and scheduled with a Studio Administrator.

Who uses the Studio?

Innovation Studio is designed for artists who prefer to work within a community of other artists; for those who need to concentrate on their work away from home distractions for a specific amount of time; for those who want to learn more about digital arts before investing in their own equipment, or for those artists visiting from out of town who need access to workspace during their stay in Western New York. To use the studio, simply maintain an active Lake Shore Center For The Arts membership, for as little as $35 per year, or pay a Studio Rental fee.

Equipment Usage

Loaner Program

LSCFTA members may borrow studio books and may be able to borrow our audio, camera, and video field equipment. These are tapeless cameras with support audio and lighting equipment. For more information about the process for borrowing equipment, please email a Studio Administrator at admin@lakeshorecenterforthearts.com.

Learning and Connection

Studio Classes (Click to expand)

Studio Classes

People, job, occupation, age and employment. Indoor image of beautiful gray haired female on retirement looking for remote work using portable computer. Mature woman photographer typing on laptop

old age, photography and people concept - happy senior woman photographing by digital camera on city street

Our classes are free of charge for Lake Shore Center For the Arts members and our approach to learning fosters interaction without sacrificing flexibility. Each month, you will engage with your studio administrators, participate in peer discussions, and receive informal, one-on-one support from your peers—all from the Innovation Studio. Monthly studio calendars are posted at the beginning of each quarter allowing you to plan ahead and participate as much as you wish. Our studio offers hundreds of previously recorded classes, from beginner to advanced level, designed to deepen your digital artistic skillset. In-person workshops and a lending library of digital arts books are available to members as well. Members will also find enrichment in photography walks and gallery visits, special workshops, and by participating in our open studio sessions. We welcome proposals and ideas from members on an ongoing basis, throughout the year. To propose a class, send details via email to admin@lakeshorecenterforthearts.com.

Studio Schedule

Our broad spectrum of classes includes principles of design, typography, composition, and color theory. We offer hundreds of free prerecorded classes from beginner to advanced level, to deepen your digital artistic skillset. You’ll have continuous opportunities to learn powerful software tools used to create digital art for print such as Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. Other classes help you learn to take, edit, and adjust photographs, create original photo manipulations, and original illustrations. Some stock imagery may be used but taking and manipulating your own original photographs is highly encouraged. Still other classes provide opportunities for learning sound design work, video and animation production, software tools such as Premiere Pro, Audition, After Effects, Animate, and more.

Because of the project-based nature of digital art and the unique experience each member brings, we encourage members to follow their own learning paths at their own pace. We believe learning efforts are rewarded each time a meaningful piece is created and added to a member’s portfolio. Projects include poster design, logo design, surrealist image, self-portrait, digital painting, video and audio storytelling, podcasting, typographic design, vector illustration, character design, album cover design, and member choice projects.

Additionally, we offer in-person workshops and a lending library of digital arts books to members.

Open Studio

Innovation Studio offers monthly open studio sessions to interested community members and digital media professionals who are current LSCFTA members. Open Studio sessions are drop-in opportunities to work within our community of artists and other innovative practitioners of the digital arts, enabling a safe space for networking and exchange of knowledge. Members also have 24/7 access to the studio provided that those times are approved and scheduled with a Studio Administrator.

Weekly Thoughts

Artwork is

finished not when you are done adding but when you have nothing else to take away

On Record At Innovation Studio

Artist Voices & Resources

What if you could be in the studio creating your next amazing work of art and learning great tips from established artists at the same time? It’s totally possible. If you like to listen to music while you work, consider tuning into this podcast.

The On Record At Innovation Studio podcast empowers artists to share their stories, artistic points of view, share resources and promote their work. They may share successes and challenges with the intent of helping other artists and enlighten the public. Artists from all creative genres are encouraged to be a guest.

On the Record at Innovation Studio interviews Julie Orlando Kleven, a gifted painter who also engages all of our senses by creating exceptional experiences at Annex25 in Westfield, NY. Julie shares her inspirational artistic journey which was interrupted and altered by challenges and then beautifully transformed with profound courage and passion. Learn how Julie paints her stories and how that artistry continues to evolve. View Julie’s work online at: https://www.facebook.com/TheAnnex25; www.annex25.com; https://www.instagram.com/juliemargaretstudios/

On The Record at Innovation Studio interviews Audrey Kay Dowling, a renowned Painter; Artist in mixed media & clay; Art educator; Gallery Owner and Mentor to hundreds of artists. Learn how her inspiration comes from nature and how her creative life is motivated by joy and fearlessness. View Audrey’s work at http://www.portagehillgallery.com/ and https://www.facebook.com/PortageHillArtGallery

On The Record at Innovation Studio Podcast interviews one of the area's finest artists, Nancy Nixon Ensign, whose work ranges from sculpture to painting & multimedia. Her creative insights and secrets to artistic growth will surprise you! View Nancy's work on her Facebook page: Nancy Nixon Ensign Studio https://www.facebook.com/NancyNixonEnsign

More Details

Equipment List (Click to expand)

4 Creator PC laptops with full access to Adobe Creative Suite (includes Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Premier Pro, Audition and more) and Microsoft Office
Microphones (lavalier, boom, Rode, tabletop)
Canon DSLR cameras (70D, 80D), telephoto lens, prime lens, macro lens, extra batteries, chargers, camera cards
Tripods for DSLR cameras and mobile phones
Video rigs
Lighting equipment, strobe, flash and continuous lights, light meter, light triggers, reflectors
Rodecaster Pro 2 audio mixer
Backdrops (Greenscreen, black, white), equipment to support tethered shoots
Lightboxes, adaptive equipment for macro and reproductive imagery
TV with HDMI projection, DVD, and sound bar

Studio Administrators

Our volunteer studio administrators offer demonstrated skills in one or more digital medium(s) and are comfortable monitoring the studio and safely operating equipment and tools located within our studio. Studio administrators help us maintain our open studio drop-in sessions, scheduled classes and other programs by doing some or all of the following:

Unlock and lock building and studio, studio storage and special equipment
Help orient people to the studio
Monitor the use of equipment
Reinforce safety procedures and best practices
Help keep studio clean and organized, ensuring it is returned to “studio neutral” after each use
Create Social Media content

Studio administrators typically volunteer in the studio or from home for at least three-hours per month. Questions about becoming a studio administrator or about the studio administrator role? Email admin@lakeshorecenterforthearts.com

Studio Rental

Studio Policies

You may not download additional programs or software on Studio laptops without prior approval from the studio director.
Only a studio administrator is permitted to perform updates on Adobe Creative Suite and other programs.
No member’s work should be saved on the studio computer hard drives. Instead, members should bring their own external hard drives, flash drives, or save the files to personal cloud-based storage accounts such as OneDrive or Dropbox.
Studio laptop keyboards, computer mice, camera controls and tabletops will be wiped with sanitizing cloths after each use.

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About the Studio

Learning and Connection

Studio Classes

Weekly Thoughts

On Record At Innovation Studio

More Details

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