LUMEN workshop

March 28, 2026

Join Claire A. Warden and David Emitt Adams for this introductory one-day workshop exploring lumen printing. Lumens are cameraless photographs made using plant and other materials in direct contact with black and white silver gelatin photographic papers to create wildly colored and unpredictable prints. In this workshop, participants will learn about the contemporary use of lumen prints and create multiple prints to take home that day. All levels, no prior experience needed.

Already taken our Lumen workshop and want some open studio time? Reach out to us to learn more about our discounted open studio day rate. Lumen Open Studio will be held on the same day and time as the workshop.

Saturday, March 28, 2026, 11 a.m. - 3:30 p.m

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pRESENTATION MATTERS: FRAMING WORKSHOP

SATURDAY & SUNDAY, MAY 16-17, 2026

$125, frame materials included

COMO is pleased to announce Presentation Matters, part of the Professional Development workshop series. Join VILLA Custom Art + Framing artists, Fernando Villavicencio and Gina DeGideo for a weekend focused on professional artwork presentation and fine art framing. In this workshop, you’ll learn about both exhibition and preservation of 2D art, in accordance with gallery and museum standards.

Participants will select their own materials, cut mat boards, mount artwork, and finish an 8x10 frame for their own unique print to take home. This workshop is perfect for anyone looking to preserve or display their 2D art, including working artists looking for professional framing solutions for exhibitions. No prior experience is necessary.

Fernando Villavicencio is an artist, photography instructor, and the master woodworker/owner at Villa Custom Art + Framing in Mesa, AZ. With nearly a decade of framing experience, Fernando specializes in custom hand-crafted wood moulding, built to house collectible art and objects for life. Fernando has framed many unique and valuable works from private collectors and contemporary artists, as well as for museums and galleries nation-wide. Fernando has been teaching photography and artwork presentation since 2021.

Gina DeGideo is a photographer, curator, teacher, and the studio artist/owner at Villa Custom Art + Framing in Mesa, AZ. Gina has over 15 years of experience in contemporary fine art framing and archival methods for artwork preservation. In her studio work, she helps artists to archive and reproduce their artwork, as well as working to mat, mount and fit artwork for framing. In her curatorial practice, she’s worked with hundreds of artists on aesthetic and installation to display their work in dozens of different fine art galleries and museums. Additionally, as a former Gallery Manager, she was responsible for archival storage/handling and displaying fine art from represented artist collections, including those of Wynn Bullock and Imogen Cunningham. She’s been teaching presentation and archival methods for photography and related art forms since 2013.

May 16, 2026, 10:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. Arizona MST

May 17, 2026, 12:30 p.m. - 4 p.m. Arizona MST

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Image provided by VILLA Custom Art + Framing

Workshop gallery

  • Two people wearing black shirts, safety glasses, and gloves working together in a lab or workshop, handling a small object with a tool.

  • A man wearing glasses, a gray cap, and blue gloves is pouring a yellow liquid from a glass bottle onto a small object on a metal tray. Several people with serious expressions are watching him, including an older woman with blonde hair, a woman with dark hair tied back, and a man with a beard wearing a sleeveless shirt. The table has paper towels, a jar with yellow liquid, a plastic bottle, and a roll of paper towels. The background shows a door with a sign that says "The truth is out here."

  • A man smiling and holding a small glass of whiskey in a bright room with windows, large lights, and a woman sitting at a desk in the background.

  • Group of people inside a room having a conversation, with various bottles and cleaning supplies on a black metal shelf behind them.

  • A man wearing a red cap, blue T-shirt, and blue gloves standing at a table in a room with wooden walls, gesturing while speaking. The table has water bottles, cleaning supplies, and a notebook.

  • Group of people gathered around table in a workshop or classroom, engaging in a discussion or activity, with various tools and materials on the table.

  • Person wearing blue gloves handling a photograph or slide at a work station with various slides or photographs in the background.

  • A man wearing safety glasses and a black T-shirt is seated at a workbench, drawing or working on a piece of paper, while a woman with red hair, wearing a beige T-shirt with a Volkswagen logo, stands nearby observing. The workspace has large windows in the background, and various tools and materials are scattered on the table.

  • A woman working in a darkroom, surrounded by photo equipment and supplies, with a red light illuminating the scene.

  • A person organizes black and white photographs on a table with various other items, including cups, a camera, tape, and papers.

  • in a darkroom illuminated by red light, working at a counter with various photo equipment and supplies.

  • A woman in beige clothing standing in a backyard during filming, with a camera operator filming her. There is a photo in a frame, binoculars, and a fabric with a pattern on a bench nearby. The backyard has a corrugated metal fence, plants, and a paved brick floor.

  • Two people on a film set, one man and one woman, are working with a camera on a tripod outdoors with green trees in the background.

  • New List Item

General info

Close-up of a round window with a black border, divided into sections with transparent and frosted glass, mounted on a textured white wall.

  • COMO is such a treasure. I encourage anyone curious about learning alternative photography processes to make their way to learn from David and Claire. The workshop feels more like an artist retreat—where you can learn, make pictures, eat good food, and explore life with other makers. Can’t wait to go back.

    -Jamaica

    David Adams is not only an expert in wet plate techniques but also an amazing educator. His patience and clarity during workshops create an engaging learning environment, making every session such a rewarding and inspiring experience for everyone.

    -Beihua

  • Payments are available through the website registration. Payments in advance of the workshop guarantees your spot. Payment plans are available, please get in touch.

    Cancellations: We understand that life happens. If you have a serious reason to cancel, please allow us time to fill your spot. If it’s too late, we may not be able to return the deposit.

  • Every workshop is contingent on enrollment. Students will be notified and fully refunded at least two weeks in advance of a multi-day workshop and within the week of single-day introductory workshops that will not run.

    Cancellations of classes and workshops by participant:

    Each class or workshop has a maximum number of students. Once a class is fully booked it stops others from booking those spots. If you can’t make a class and want to avoid cancellation penalties, you’re welcome to find someone to take your place.

    Cancellation more than 31 days ahead of scheduled date:
    100% refund minus a 15% processing fee

    Cancellation 14 – 30 days ahead of scheduled date:
    50% refund -or- 50% transfer credit toward another similar class

    Cancellation from 7 days or less ahead of scheduled date:
    No refund -or- 25% transfer credit toward another similar class

    *No refund or transfer credit for cancellations within 48 hours of start time of class or workshop.

  • COMO is based in Phoenix, Arizona located in the Sonoran Desert within the homeland of the O’Odham and Piipaash peoples and their ancestors.

    Find us in downtown Phoenix at 1322 Grand Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85007

  • Reach out to us here.