Love the look of beaded jewellery?  Come and create your very own stylish, embroidered beaded cuff bracelet.  Learn how to incorporate beads, charms, buttons and zippers to create a one-of-a-kind piece.  Even if you have never beaded before you will leave this step by step class with a wearable work of art!

This class will be held at the instructor’s studio in Hanover. Create a beautiful, textured and exciting Lighthouse painting, by combining two mediums: watercolour & batik. Students will start with a quick sketch or transferring the image, applying a layer of batik wax before creasing the watercolour paper in many directions and finally applying a dark wash of watercolour. During the second day all wax is removed and the painting appears, after applying watercolour washes. Students may easily transfer this process to other landscapes involving realism and abstract images.

The object of this lecture course is to teach the key aspects of the Photoshop Elements (an affordable version of Adobe Photoshop) program that pertain to the artist in the digital world. Learn how to photograph your artwork, enhance photographs for website and contest submissions, size photos, along with additional ways to manipulate your photos for interesting and creative effects. Handout provided.

Warm up your brushes for the summer season or expand on what you already know and partner with this supportive and positive teacher and take your own art to the next level! Committed to assisting participants achieve based on their individual goals, Peter has unwavering faith that every artist has the ability and deserves to be their best. He is equipped with a knowing of when to ask, when to encourage, when to praise and when to positively challenge and push you past the barriers to a rewarding result.

This course is suitable for both beginners and experienced painters. Participants will be encouraged to build a repertoire of textural effects to enhance your work in watercolours at any skill level. Working with themes such as buildings, unusual still-lifes and abstracts, you will carefully plan how to make each painting come alive with texture and freshness. A strong emphasis will be placed on composition.

Material requirements online.

Digital imagery has given us the magic of close up/macro photography. In this inspirational workshop you will learn pro tips in visual design, light, creative exposure for dynamic scenes and close ups, time exposures and more. Suitable for point and shoot and DSLR cameras. Part of the day will be spent outdoors. Please wear comfortable footwear/clothes.  If available, please bring tripod and camera manual.

Material requirements available online.

This class will be taught by both Sandy Esplen and Pat Keeling.

Do you have the urge to create and don’t know where to begin? This two day course is for you! Instructors will explain design, composition and painting tips as well as guide you through the process of producing a watercolour mono-print using both a press and alternative methods. All basic materials will be supplied by the instructors, just bring your creativity, a willingness to explore and experiment.

Learn how to turn a good photo and a blank canvas into a work of art that is all you. This hands-on course begins with the approaches and decisions that allow you to compose a plan uniquely your own. From there, brush and paint techniques will be demonstrated, and how they can (and will!) support what you want to bring to your painting. Each morning is dedicated to techniques, discussions, exploration, and practice. Afternoons are filled with working on individual canvas(es) and applying what has been learned to personal works under the watchful eye of a seasoned professional.

Material requirements available online.

Enamelling is the ancient art of painting with powdered glass onto a metal surface using heat fusion. Sound intimidating? On the contrary, it is relatively simple. Enamels combine the opaque features of oil paint and the transparency of watercolours with their own idiosyncrasies to make an exciting medium. This hands-on introduction will teach you about metal preparation, application of enamel, kiln firing and various forms of enameled art to start you on your way to your own unique jewellery collection.

This week long workshop for advanced painters will focus on the conceptual development and construction of paintings on complex surfaces designed and developed by the individual using a variety of materials. Students will be encouraged to create a distance, personal style. Individual consultations and critiques by the instructor will help students realize their personal best.

Material requirements available online. 

This class will be held at the instructor’s studio in Hanover. Create a beautiful textured and exciting painting of a water fountain, by combining two mediums: watercolour and batik Students will start with a quick sketch or transferring the image, applying a layer of batik wax before creasing the watercolour paper in many directions and finally applying a dark wash of watercolour. During the second day all wax is removed and the painting appears, after applying watercolour washes. Students may easily transfer this process to other landscapes involving realism and abstract images.

In this workshop, participants will explore various techniques using cold wax and oil to build texture into the surface using frottage, grattage, scraffito and heat. Join the instructor in the exploration and diversity of this medium that is gaining widespread popularity, and breathe new life into your work. Whether you enjoy painting abstracts or realistic paintings, this medium will give a new glow to your paintings.

Want to discover a simple, direct and fun way to fully live the moment? This original workshop will awaken your body, mind & soul! Share and enjoy beautiful energies as you experience a new awareness through paint, art, color and movement. No experience needed, all are welcome!

Kick up your style with a necklace that makes an impact! Learn all the skills you will need to incorporate chain with firepolised glass beads and create a necklace that is sure to be a wonderful accent to any outfit. 

Experiment and play your way to beautiful, original and expressive abstract paintings. Experience various approaches to abstraction. Find your personal artistic signature. Learn to trust your own creative instincts. Absorb the guidelines for colour use, concept, composition and design as you tease the boundaries of your imagination. Play with some of the new acrylic products and push their boundaries along with yours. The art classroom becomes your safe place to fearlessly experiment with the guidance of your instructor.

Materials requirements available online.

Discover watercolours in this workshop especially designed for beginners and acquire the skills and confidence to continue painting on your own. Each day Marion demonstrates a new challenge; landscapes, outdoor painting and flowers. Just bring a sketch book or notebook – all required materials are provided by the instructor.

Join in this exciting opportunity to explore new painting techniques using fluid acrylics, both on their own and in combination with other mediums! Discover their amazing versatility and develop skills using layers of fluid colours and acrylic mediums. A review of design/composition, tonal value, colour mixing and the use of metallics/iridescents is included. Guided through various applications, create colourful textural and patterned effects by building layers of blended colour and texture that serve as intriguing backgrounds for still life works or stand alone abstract paintings. Expand your creativity in an environment in which creative support is available and experimenting encouraged as your work progresses!

Materials requirements available online. 

ages: 4 - 6

Captain Smiley is looking for a new crew of scallywags for a week of pirate adventure. Masks, maps and puppets mixed with high-seas drama and games will turn you scurvy landlubbers into true pirate artists. Jump aboard ship, boys and girls, for a week of pirate fun.

ages 8 to 12

In this class students will become comfortable in the kitchen, try new foods and most of all inspire kitchen creativity. Kids will learn to make all the dishes from scratch and learn about the different uses of utensils, kitchen safety and hygiene, how to follow a recipe, the importance of visual presentation in food and much more. Kids will enjoy the fruits of their labour at lunchtime each day, and have the recipes to take home. This program will equip your child with the skills to make meals from scratch and select the ingredients that they need to make healthy choices and tasty food for the whole family.

ages: 9 - 12

Guess Who?, Monopoly, Life! Do you love board games? In this class you will make your very own game to share with friends and family. Explore many exciting art mediums to create everything you need to play.

ages: 8 - 12

The sky is the limit! Come and explore the arts while working with a variety of different materials. Throughout the week you will be creating many works of art in paper mache, textiles, sculpture and collage using both natural and recycled materials. Dress for a mess and plan for lots of fun!

ages: 8 - 12

Experience art in motion! Students will spend the week designing, planning and finally sculpting miniatures for their very own mobiles. Children will learn the fundamentals of working in 3 dimensions as well as the methods for assembling their tiny creations into one cohesive, kinetic work of art. Using self directed themes, children will then bring home a unique 3D work that they will be excited to display.

age: 8 - 12

This course will  give children an introduction to Theatre performance. They will play with different characters and various games. This will show the children what fun can be had taking to the stage and performing in a show.

ages: 16 and up

Thinking about a post secondary education in the arts? Trying to get it together for your portfolio submission? Professional artist Lois Green leads you through this course tailored to build confidence and boost your portfolio presentation. Participants will complete two artworks geared to making connections between art and ideas and will have the opportunity to fulfill the mandatory life drawing component for most portfolio submissions. Students will be introduced to the life studio experience with sensitivity and understanding. Participants are asked to bring in three existing pieces of personal artwork to be guided through presentation and critique.

ages: 6 - 8

Tell your story in a book that YOU create. Students will develop every aspect of their book from concepts and characters to narration and illustration. Whether filled with text or simply telling a story through images, children will be guided through the process from the conception of the idea to the moment the story springs to life on the page. When all the pages and cover are complete, children will learn simple bookbinding techniques to turn their stories into a book to be enjoyed for years to come.