Instructor: Amelia Butcher (Click for Bio)

This workshop invites you to explore ceramic decoration techniques and engage in a playful journey of design. You’ll discover how to enhance surfaces with depth and layers while learning how form and surface can work in harmony. Drawing from Gestalt psychology, optical science, and natural visual patterns, participants will move beyond underglaze to experiment with materials like ceramic ink, pigmented wax, sticker resist, and erosion drawing. Simple exercises, practical tips, and unexpected sources of inspiration will help you build curiosity and confidence.

Develop an enhanced awareness of how 2D and 3D elements interact, creating surfaces that respond to the curves and character of your pottery. Experiment with new techniques and materials, adapting them to your personal style, and explore layering multiple techniques to add depth and complexity to your work.

Student should bring at least 3 pieces of bisqueware, a typical set of pottery tools, x-acto knife, scissors, pencil, and sketchbook or notebook. All other materials are included.

All participants must be 17+

Instructor: Diane Black (Click for Bio)

A “Narrative Portrait” is a meaningful clay sculpture that tells a story drawn from your personal experiences. In this workshop, you will explore how to use symbols and gestures in clay to assemble a three-dimensional piece that illustrates your unique narrative.

The session begins with planning and creating a small clay “sketch,” which will help refine ideas and act as a reference for the larger sculpture. Participants will learn a variety of sculpture techniques and approaches to effectively realise their vision. Finishing techniques will be covered in depth, ensuring participants leave with a clear plan for completing their fired pieces.

By the end of the workshop, participants will develop confidence in using clay as a sculptural medium, focusing on how to translate ideas into forms suited to the material, and building technical skills to achieve expressive and impactful results.

Students should bring 1 bag of IMCO Sculp (must be purchased at VCAC),  clay tools, journal, drawing materials,  sponges, and an apron.

All participants must be 17 year or older.

Instructor: Marlene Lowden (Click for Bio)

Immerse yourself in a dynamic five-day workshop designed to deepen your understanding of abstraction and enhance your artistic voice. Through hands-on exercises and creative exploration, participants will refine their technical skills, embrace experimentation, and connect with the principles of abstract art.

Planned activities include mark-making exercises to build confidence in abstract expression, composition studies to explore balance and movement, and sessions on integrating design elements such as line, shape, and colour. Art history discussions will provide context and inspiration, while guided critiques and open studio time offer opportunities for personal exploration and feedback.

This workshop is designed to help participants master the fundamentals of abstraction by exploring mark-making and composition to create dynamic artwork. It encourages experimentation with materials and techniques, fostering innovative approaches to art-making. By applying design principles and engaging in critique strategies, artists will refine their unique creative voice. Balancing structured lessons with open exploration, the workshop empowers participants to build technical confidence and create meaningful, inspired art.

Students will need a mixed media sketchbook (minimum size: 11” x 14” or larger), a pad of newsprint paper, and 2 or 3 canvases with at least one side measuring 24” or more. Acrylic paints required: black, cyan blue, primary yellow, naphthol red medium, primary magenta, and white (Amsterdam brand recommended). A palette, such as a butcher tray or paper plates, and a palette knife approximately 1.5” wide at the base. Brushes should include one round brush (size 6 or 8), one flat brush (size 8 or 12), and one hardware store brush (1” to 2”). Additional suggested materials include markers, crayons, or pencil crayons, a thin black acrylic marker (e.g., Posca), a glue stick, scissors, pencils, water containers, green painter’s tape, rags, any favourite paints and tools, gloves, and a water bottle. Please wear appropriate clothing and shoes for painting.

Instructor: Patricia Doyle (Click for Bio)

Discover innovative methods and techniques to elevate your glasswork to new heights. Experience the magic of using torches to craft intricate, organic shapes in glass, impossible to cut by hand. Delve into the realm of powders, metals, and mica to broaden your artistic horizons with glass. Participants will study firing schedules and techniques to gain a deeper insight into the fusing process. Use a ring saw to fashion one-of-a-kind shapes and learn how to successfully create precise cuts in glass. If there is interest, the class will venture into vitrigraph firing, unlocking the potential for truly unique designs.

Students will purchase their own compatible class at the Arts Centre. Frits and powders and other specialty items are included in the class price.

Participants must be at least 16.

Instructor: Amelia Butcher (Click for Bio)

In this workshop, artists will embark on three playful sculpture projects inspired by natural history, fungi, decaying logs, and woodland walks. Participants will explore a variety of clay tips, tricks, tools, and techniques, such as working with paper clay and grog, incorporating wire details, hand-modelling, and creating and using bisque molds and custom texture tools. The cycles of decay and creation in nature, along with influences from science, poetry, art history, and close observation of the wild, will enrich our creative process.

Workshop objectives include enhancing hand-modelling skills, experimenting with innovative tools and techniques (altering clay with paper, grog, and marbling; using kanthal and nichrome wires for details and support; creating bisque press molds and texture slabs; sourcing textures from found objects; and designing custom texture tools), and fostering an individual context for inspiration by connecting our creations to the underlying reasons for making them.

Student should bring 1 bag of M390, half a bag of M370, basic clay tool kit (including rolling pin, wire, pin tool, paint brushes). All other materials will be provided.

All participants must be 17 years or older.

Instructor: Reha Sakar (Click for Bio)

In this immersive workshop, participants will explore expressive watercolour, discovering how its fluidity and transparency can bring their artistic visions to life. Each day will focus on different themes, such as marine, street, and landscape subjects, offering opportunities to experiment with various styles.

Participants will build confidence with techniques from basic washes to advanced layering, focusing on composition, simplifying scenes, and enhancing storytelling. The workshop will also provide practical strategies for overcoming common watercolour challenges, such as controlling water flow and pigment intensity.

By the end, participants will feel more empowered in their ability to express their unique artistic voice, with the tools and inspiration to create watercolours that are both technically sound and expressive.

Students will need high-quality 300gsm cotton paper, such as Arches, Winsor & Newton, or Fabriano. Recommended watercolour tubes include Payne’s Grey, Burnt Sienna, Yellow Ochre, Alizarin Crimson, Ultramarine Blue, Cerulean, Cobalt Turquoise, Cobalt Turquoise Light, and Indigo. Students should also have a selection of opaque colours to experiment with, such as Jaune Brilliant No. 1 and No. 2, Lavender, and Chinese White. Additional supplies include a water spray bottle, a palette knife, and a variety of brushes, such as round, rigger, mop, or any other brushes they may already own.

Instructor: Angela Hansen (Click for Bio)

The workshop will begin with a demonstration on how to create encaustic medium and transform it into coloured encaustic paint. Participants will use this medium in their personalised projects. Attendees are encouraged to bring natural objects that resonate with them, as these will serve as inspiration during guided image development activities. These activities will culminate in conceptual sketches or ideas for their encaustic sculptures.

Students will explore a range of sculptural techniques using wax through a series of mini-projects, tailored to their individual creative goals. Experimenting with various materials and processes will help participants refine their final sculptures. Substrates for the wax medium will include options such as paper, fabric, wood, and leaves, allowing for diverse artistic expressions.

The workshop will conclude with participants creating nature-inspired encaustic sculptures, which may be freestanding or wall-mounted. These pieces will be finished with their uniquely pigmented medium.

By the end of the workshop, participants will have learned how to make encaustic medium and paint, advanced sculptural techniques, and how to design and create a sculptural piece inspired by a natural artifact.

Students will need a few natural objects that “speak” to them, such as a stick, rock, shell, seed pod, bone, or bug,  sketchbook or drawing paper and sketch pencils or pens, an apron or paint clothes, as well as a roll of paper towels or rags for cleanup. Additionally, students may want to bring natural fabrics, papers, or other materials that could be incorporated into their sculpture work.

All other materials are included in the price.

Participants must be 16 year or older.

Instructor: Patricia Doyle (Click for Bio)

This workshop is perfect for both beginners eager to learn and experienced bead makers looking to expand their skills. It offers a comprehensive introduction to the art and science of glass beadmaking, blending creativity with technique. Under the guidance of an experienced instructor, participants will explore the use of a bead maker’s torch and Italian glass rods to craft beautiful beads. The class covers essential bead shapes, various decorating techniques, proper use of hand tools, and the basics of glass theory. Emphasis is also placed on safety practices. By the end of the workshop, each participant will have created a collection of unique glass beads to take home. Please come dressed in cotton clothing and closed-toe shoes for safety.

All material are included in the price.

Participants must be 16 years or older.

Instructor: Catherin Acutt (Click for Bio)

Imagine a world without paper—some are essential for specific art forms, others are everyday materials, and some are so precious we hesitate to use them. In this workshop, participants will discover how to transform a variety of papers, including brown paper, newsprint, tissue paper, and flyers, into vibrant creations for mixed media art, journals, scrapbooking, cards, and books. You’ll also learn how to treat paper to make it acid-free.

This fast-paced class will explore techniques such as crystalline paper, waxed paper, monoprint paper, foiled paper, paper fabric, paste paper, orizomegami, plus texturizing and patterning using different tools and mediums. Each technique will be covered in approximately two hours.

By the end of the workshop, participants will leave with a set of paper samples, complete with instructions on how to recreate these techniques at home. Above all, expect three fun-filled days of creativity and learning!

Instructor: Gale Woodhouse (Click for Bio)

Join Gale for an immersive five-day workshop to explore the fusion of thrown and hand-built techniques for creating abstract clay sculptures. Designed for handbuilders and throwers with experience in one or more methods of construction.

Using a variety of techniques—including throwing, soft and hard slab construction, coiling, and extrusion—you’ll experiment with surface decoration, explore both common and specialized tools, and discover exciting creative possibilities to produce unique, one-of-a-kind sculptures in your personal style. By the end of the week, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of clay’s properties and the techniques needed to overcome structural challenges.

Bring your own ideas and concepts, or let Gale’s guidance lead and inspire you through the process. Through experimentation, creative exploration and a solid grounding in design and construction principles this workshop is designed to expand your technical skills and enrich your creative palette.

Students will need 1 bag of WSO or M390 (clay must be purchased at VCAC). Essential tools include clay tools, an apron, a notebook, a muslin-type cloth and a plastic sheet for wrapping your work.

All participants must be 17+