SLICE OF LIFE: REAL PEOPLE, REAL STORIES PRESENTS: LESSONS LEARNED
The Beautiful Art of Stenciling on Fabric
Co-presented by Leslie Bird and Terri Bowen
Discover the beautiful art technique of stenciling from Leslie and Terri. Leslie has presented her workshops all over North America including exciting places like Las Vegas and is the published author of the book “Projection Stenciling”. Leslie and her husband David own “Buckingham Stencils” Company in Nanoose Bay, a company which is featured on numerous platforms such as Etsy and Amazon. Leslie will bring numerous samples of her work to get you motivated! Plus you will receive two books on stenciling from their company!
To begin the workshop, Terri will give you some background on how, over the ages, an amazing amount of media have been applied to a plethora of surfaces. Then you will practice the fine art of using a stencil brush properly on two small fabric surfaces. Afterwards, you will choose from a myriad of stencils for use on a sturdy canvas bag or you might finish it in your own way. As plastic
Apple Tech Workshops Spring 2023
Powered By Up Your Media, and the McMillan Arts Centre School For Digital Literacy. Our ongoing workshop series can help you gain control of your technology and allow you to better use your devices with skill and confidence.
Tuesday Mar 14, 4:00-5:30 pm - iCloud for iPads and iPhones
This workshop sets out to explain the basics of Apple’s Cloud computing service, and how to put this advanced, but simple to use technology to work for you and your multiple devices. Learn to sync your contacts, your calendars, your music and your photos on all your iCloud capable devices
I’m a mixed media artist, creating wildlife, animal + nature inspired pieces out of my studio on the unceded traditional territories of the Snuneymuxw First Nation, also called Nanaimo, BC Canada.
I’ve devoted my art practice to depicting the beauty + love animals bring to our lives through my commissioned pet portraits, original series + print collections.
From a walk on the Wild West Coast to A Maritime Road Trip with a visit to a winery along the way and taking time to smell the flowers.
I have been interested in art and painting for much of my life with art courses and workshops in my youth and continued the interest, although infrequent through my adult years. Like most of us life has been taken up with work and family life. I spent 45 years in the Forest Industry in British Columbia from Haida Gwaii to Vancouver Island. The stunning landscapes of Coastal British Columbia was an everyday experience as I pursued my career. I am now fully retired and have taken up painting again with emphasis on pen and ink with watercolour wash.
I have also taught several workshops in regard to pen and ink with watercolour wash and I tend not to paint what I haven’t experienced and seen with my own eyes,
Jim Sears
Terri has used her love of and experience with the landscapes of Vancouver Island to create this collection of acrylic paintings. Using her own photographs as well as those by locals Allan Bassett and Karen Bull, she has transferred this recorded beauty to vibrant canvasses. Terri wishes to also acknowledge the involvement of her many art students who have enhanced her life-long learning in the arts.
This is a workshop for weavers covering colour and visual design theory as it applies to woven cloth. Participants will design and weave their own pieces based to illustrate the principles
The workshop has two forms. The in-studio version will be given over a 3 week period at the QWSG studio in Qualicum Beach Participation is limited to accomodate one on one instruction. Cost $160.
An on-line version will be offered in late March, Cost $60
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT CARON BYRNE at Cebyrne@shaw.ca
This is a 4 day workshop given over a 3 week period. students will cover the basics of visual design and colour theory as applied to weaving and will design and weave their own pieces.
Anyone with an interest in making cloth of their own design will find this informative. Participants must be able to warp a loom.
There will be both in-studio and an on-line version of the course. Cost for in-studio workshop $160, Cost for on-line workshop $60
For details please contact Caron Byrne cebyrne@shaw.ca
Saturday January 21, 2023, 2pm-3:30 PM
shows you how to change the key of a song so it is more comfortable for your voice range; how and when to use a capo and why so many songs seem to have the same chords in them.
Saturday, February 25, 2023, 2-3:30 pm
teaches you basic finger picking skills, how to pick chords and how to pick a tune introducing, you to simple TABS.
Pre-requisite for both workshops – players should be able to strum and change between basic chords
The cost of each workshop is $30 but if you would like to register for both the total cost is $55.
If you would like to purchase a ukulele capo, add on $18.
To register or for more information email here or visit Liz DeBarros’ website.
A Reflective Pause: Meditation and Journaling
Tuesdays, Feb 21 to March 29
4:00 to 5:30 pm
$125 for all six sessions
Meditation: Learn how to be mindful in body, mind and breath and create a daily mindfulness practice.
Journaling: We begin by creating a personalized journal (all supplies will be provided) and then you will be offered inspiration and guidance in starting a journaling practice.
You do not need to have any experience with either meditation or journaling. You will be welcomed into a safe and supportive environment to explore both and discover how they work so well together.
Faciliated by:
Judi Malcolm, Meditation Teacher
Heidi Abbott, Art Therapist
Location of class: Studio, McMillan Arts Centre
Maximum number of participants:12
Paint a leaf, draw a pattern – no art experience required.
Families of any ages and description are welcome (children must be accompanied by their grown-up).
Participants will receive a memento and the finished piece will be on exhibit at the MAC.
Pre-registration not required. Just come by the MAC upstairs between 10am and 2pm and add your family presence to our community forest!
For more information contact the MAC office
Feb 19 AM – Palette Knife Painting with Deborah Nicol
A fun and creative session, using palette knife techniques and acrylics to create rich images by ‘smearing and scraping’ your paint (rather than paint brush methods), on your canvas.
All supplies included in this class.
About the Instructor: Deborah Nicol is an emerging artist, working primarily in Acrylics. Deb started her artistic endeavors with pencil portraits, quickly moving into Oil Pastels and Oils and expanding into landscapes and paintings of children. In recent years she has moved into Acrylics and finding her true passion in Abstract venues.
Location of class: Studio, McMillan Arts Centre
Maximum number of participants: 12
Feb 13 - Wet Media Drawing with Gordon Wilson
Gain skills and learn to loosen up and draw with brushes using a variety of wet mediums such as watercolour, ink and gouache to achieve unique and creative results. Previous experience with dry media helpful but not essential prior to taking this class.
All materials included for this class.
Cost: $100
About the Instructor: Gordon Wilson enjoys taking seemingly complex art styles and making them accessible and easy to learn. He has a degree in design and education and has taught in high schools for 15 years, as well as other venues. Prior to teaching Gordon was a commercial designer and illustrator for 20 years working in television, publishing, and advertising
Location of class: Studio
Maximum number of participants: 12
Feb 6th signup deadline
This course is all about teaching you much of what I wish I was told just a little sooner in my learning process.
There is so much to learn and it can be overwhelming. So many products, techniques and supplies!
This is why it can be so difficult to start, and to top it off, the self doubt comes along and can really take the wind out of your sails. It’s all so silly…right?
"Building Blocks of Acrylics-A Starter Course" is designed for the beginner acrylic level. In a nutshell I will cover :
Supplies
mediums
how to use your brushes and which ones to buy?
mixing black, grey AND colour
basic compositional tips
values
warm and cool colours
And plenty more.
You will come away at the end with more confidence and understanding of this versatile medium and be able to move forward to either paint on your own or take a class without feeling like a fish out of water. You should be able to go into an art supply store and know what many of the items are a
Feb 12 PM – Folk Art with Mary Unger
Folk Art expresses the lives and feelings of ordinary people in communities. Learn to tell a story in simple pictures and designs using acrylic paint on board.
All supplies included in this class.
About the Instructor: Mary Unger was raised on the east coast of Canada and moved to BC in 1970 after six years in Montreal. She studied fine arts at Mount Allison University and took classes and workshops in Montreal, Calgary and here on Vancouver Island. “Travel to Mexico, Hawaii, Hong Kong, South Africa, and Europe has been a feast to the eyes and soul.”
Location of class: Studio, McMillan Arts Centre
Maximum number of participants: 12
Feb 12 AM – Ink Relief with Gordon Wilson
An unusual and exciting art form!
Ink Relief is a technique where using just ink, gouache and paper, a process is followed where the final art work develops before your eyes much like developing a traditional photograph.
If you enjoy this class, sign up for Gordon’s Art Foundations Ink Relief workshop Mon April 3rd and learn more!
All supplies included in this class.
About the Instructor: Gordon Wilson enjoys taking seemingly complex art styles and making them accessible and easy to learn. He has a degree in design and education and has taught in high schools for 15 years, as well as other venues. Prior to teaching Gordon was a commercial designer and illustrator for 20 years working in television, publishing, and advertising.
Location of class: Studio, McMillan Arts Centre
Maximum number of participants: 12
Feb 6 - Dry Media Drawing with Gordon Wilson
Explore line, shape, shadow, placement and more to help build confidence in your drawing skills. This class incorporates a variety of dry mediums such as pencil, conte, charcoal to create images with a variety of exciting effects.
All materials included for this class.
Cost: $100
About the Instructor: Gordon Wilson enjoys taking seemingly complex art styles and making them accessible and easy to learn. He has a degree in design and education and has taught in high schools for 15 years, as well as other venues. Prior to teaching Gordon was a commercial designer and illustrator for 20 years working in television, publishing, and advertising.
Location of class: Studio
Maximum number of participants: 12
Feb 5 PM – Art Journaling with Watercolour Pencils - Merrilyn Laursen
The class will have a 4-page handout covering supplies needed, planning a page layout and lettering suggestions, followed by some time for using the pencils and designing a practice page.
All supplies included in this class.
About the Instructor: Merrilyn Laursen lives, plays, and paints in Parksville. In 2018, she started using watercolour pencils to keep an art journal of her travels; she is now recording her latest journey, that of COVID19. “There is always something to journal.”
Location of class: Studio, McMillan Arts Centre
Maximum number of participants: 12
