Archives: Past-workshops

Zentangle™ – Basics and Beyond

Zentangle® drawings may appear complex and intricate, but learning the step-by-step method shows how simple it really is. Tangling, or pattern-drawing promotes mindfulness – hence “zen” in the name. Unlike doodling, you concentrate on each line, circle or shape. This focus creates a calming effect that helps you forget distractions around you. Many have found Zentangle helpful in managing sleeplessness, stress or agitation, chronic pain, etc. , while others just tangle for the joy of producing satisfying and appealing art. One low-stress feature is that tangled drawings are abstract. There is less stress when there is no pressure to achieve a pre-planned “something”. The finished art may be unexpected, and who doesn’t love a nice surprise?

Zentangle is easy to learn and share and is appropriate for any age group or level of ability from “I can’t even draw a stick man” to accomplished artists who use it to unblock creativity, and/or to enrich other projects. Zentangle adds interest to projects as diverse as scrapbooking, mixed media, quilting,  jewellery, graphic design, cake decoration and pottery.

Zentangle is therapeutic, non-technical, requires few supplies, and takes on a different personality with the style of each tangler. In this two day program , you will learn the basics, then build confidence and skill as you progress through more complex designs and some finishing techniques to add that  “Wow factor”. No previous art successes necessary.

Course cost: $285   Supply fee: $24  STUDENT SUPPLY LIST

Tuition includes lunch and daily snacks and is inclusive of all applicable taxes.

BARB ROUND, a retired registered nurse,  was excited when she was introduced to Zentangle, recognizing that this method had so much to offer people as stress relief, confidence building and skills development. Barb became a Certified Zentangle Teacher in 2012, and since that time has provided instruction in this meditative art to 2000+ keen students in three provinces.

In 2015 examples of her art were included in 4 different books. Barb teaches frequently in schools, and enjoys working with seniors and special needs groups as well as adult classes.

Barb’s goal is to get people in touch with their inner artist – even if they’ve never met him before! She feels that this easy-to-learn and calming art form is perfect for those who are new to arts and crafts as well as experienced artists. Her students’ successes are Barb’s greatest pleasure and her best endorsement. See what they have accomplished on her website.

Introduction to Natural Dyes

Join Hanahlie Beise from Hinterland to explore the magic and history of natural dyes. There are thousands of dye materials available in nature. In this class we will use Cochineal, Indigo, Fustic, and Pomegranate. Hanahlie has studied natural dyes in Oaxaca, Mexico, and has held a series of workshops in both Oaxaca and in Victoria over the past two years. The goal for this class is to achieve a rainbow of colours on wool fibres. You’ll learn how and why we mordant fibres prior to dyeing, how to make an extract, and how to safely dye fibres. Plus, you go home with all of the recipes and instruction to make it all again later.

• Cochineal is a small invasive insect that thrives on the nopal cactus (also known as the prickly pear cactus) native to Oaxaca Mexico. Cochineal has been cultivated, harvested, and used as a natural dye by the ancient Aztec and Maya people of Mexico and Central America. During the Spanish conquest, this dye became one of the most valuable exports in Mexico (second to silver). It is still used in many products outside of textiles including cosmetics, alcohol and food colouring.
• The Fustic tree commonly grows in ditches, on roadsides, or near swamps and rivers in Mexico and Central America. The yellow dye comes from the wood and is used globally as a textile dye and in leather tanning.
• Pomegranates are originally from Northern Iran and India, but are now widely cultivated around the world. Using the skins of the fruit, we can produce sunny or earthy yellows, greens, and even grey and black.
• Indigo is a living dye made of fermented and crushed wild indigo (in this case the indigo is from India). Indigo grows in many places around the world and has been used as a natural dye for centuries. As it’s name describes, the natural dye colour is blue, but indigo can also be used as an over dye to achieve browns, greens, purples, and black.

Classes run from 9 – 4 pm daily. Studios are open after hours.

Course cost: $285       Supply fee:  $10    All supplies are provided

• STUDENT SUPPLIES: Students may want to bring an apron, a notebook and a pen.

Tuition includes lunch and daily snacks. Prices are in Canadian Dollars and are inclusive of all applicable taxes.

HANAHLIE BEISE is a textile designer and fibre artist based in Victoria. For over five years, she has been raising alpacas for their fibre and producing yarn under the brand name Hinterland. With a global network of designers and collaborators, she creates knitwear patterns with Hinterland Yarn, which she sells online. As the growing farm business evolves, Hanahlie studies and practices the tradition of natural dye, teaching workshops locally and in Oaxaca, Mexico.

Practice on the Page: Five-Day Writing Intensive

Find the story you’re meant to write, and dive deeply into your practice.

Practice on the Page’s Five-Day Writing Intensive is your chance to stretch your writing muscles, get inspired and let your creative side come out to play.

This all-levels course offers you a safe space to find your voice and nurture the stories your heart has been waiting to share, with Pedder Bay providing a gorgeous natural backdrop. Danielle Pope will guide you through a progressive series of grounding activities, writing exercises, prompts and reading opportunities to get your words flowing and deepen your level of self expression. By the end of five days, you’ll have the tools to launch a practice, accelerate a project, or breathe life into that book you’ve always been meaning to write.

Come with a project, or a blank page — whether you dream of starting a blog, working on your next novel, or making space for five days of fun, this course is your chance to deepen your commitment to your writing practice. Bring along your favourite notebook and pen, and prepare to dive deeply into this journey of creativity.

Course cost: $665     Supply fee: $0     STUDENT SUPPLY LIST
Tuition includes lunch and daily snacks and is inclusive of all applicable taxes.

DANIELLE POPE, “The Story Midwife,” is a writer, editor, photographer and writing coach in Victoria, B.C.

She believes everyone has a story to tell, and leads writing workshops and retreats to help people find their voice and play with creativity. In addition to Practice On The Page, Danielle was the creator of the Women and Words workshop series, as well as the 30-Day Writing Challenge and the “Write Now” prompt cards — a deck aimed at stimulating creative inspiration.

Danielle earned her degree in writing from the University of Victoria, specializing in creative writing, poetry, non-fiction and journalism. She acts as a coach for new and experienced authors, and has been a journalist in Canada for nearly 15 years. Her writing can be found in publications across the country, and through her instagram account: @TheStoryMidwife.

When she’s not writing, you can usually find Danielle playing with poetry, acrylic paint, chickens or mason jars — but not usually at the same time.

Coloured Pencil & Mixed Media Techniques

In this course students will explore, practice and learn coloured pencil drawing in combination with non-traditional media and methods.   A variety of subjects including still life, botanical and portraits will be explored. Students will learn techniques for accuracy in rendering, building on and developing observational drawing skills and compositional perspective. We’ll push into areas not traditionally used with coloured pencils such as: scratching on paper, incorporating writing, using markers and chalk/oil pastels. Understanding balance, colour, form and visual movement will be an important focus as we work to give voice to students compositions using single and multi-drawing images through diptychs and triptychs. All skill levels are welcome.

Course cost: $285     Supply fee: $12    STUDENT SUPPLY LIST
Tuition includes lunch and daily snacks and all applicable taxes. 

JEANNETTE SIROIS is an award-winning artist working with coloured pencils in the creation of large-scale works focused on exploring the human condition and her connection to nature through a shoreline series and large format botanicals. Her work, often described as hyper realistic, is meant to investigate the journeys we go on throughout our lives and how this journey guides us towards decision making. Her work attempts to create dialogue around issues of destruction vs. healing, mindfulness and the possibilities of the unknown.  She has been creating and teaching art for over 30 years and has been a finalist in top portrait competitions such as the Kingston Prize.  Her works can be found in private collections, museum permanent collections and public art collections.

The Contemplative Brush

This workshop explores the power and tradition of the brush as a tool for contemplation. We will be inspired by the remarkable and enduring legacy of the Northwest Coast Calligraphic artists. These artists held deep affinities for Asian brush techniques and materials as they developed their very personal brush language.  Our focus will also be on creating a very personal brush language as we explore using the breath to support the brush in spontaneous mark-making.  A series of experimental ink exercises will combine with innovative brush-making and an investigation of hand-made papers. More structured practices will consider the mandala and the insights gained by the esteemed MISSA instructor, the late Jack Wise. Individual exploration will allow for numerous possibilities. There will be time devoted to the basics of artist’s books and we will also visit mandalas, boxes, mobiles, collages and finished works on paper.

All classes run 9 – 4 pm each day. Studios are also open after hours.

Course cost: $285   Course fee:  $35

• STUDENT SUPPLY LIST

Tuition includes lunch and daily snacks and is inclusive of all applicable taxes. 

ROBERTA PYX SUTHERLAND was born and raised on the west coast of Canada, and resided in Britain, Hawaii, Spain, Malawi, Scotland and Pender, Thetis and Hornby Islands. She attended Emily Carr College of Art and Design, received a BFA(Hon.) University of Victoria with printmaking training at the Hallam University in Sheffiend U.K. with residencies at the Banff Centre, and others in Europe including the BAU Institute. She studied Vajrayana Mandala painting in Katmandu, Nepal and zen calligraphy with Shinzan Roshi  Gyokuryuji Temple, Japan.

Pyx was the chosen artist for Cercle des Amis of 2012 by Geneva’s Editart Gallery to work with master printer Masafumi Yamamoto.  She was the mentor for MISSA Artist in Residence program. Frequent exhibitions in Canada, Mexico, and Switzerland (including United Nations’ Women’s Expo). Her work is  represented in numerous private collections, the Canada Council Art Bank, Bronfman Collection, public galleries in Victoria, Burnaby, Kamloops, Vernon, Universities of Concordia, British Columbia, Alberta, Puget Sound, Victoria and the public libraries of Toronto, and Geneva including various public art installations, particularly the Hornby Island Soup Can (Warhol tribute).

Ceramic Tiles: Seascape/Landscape/Cityscape

This weekend course focuses on making 3-dimensional clay wall tiles, with the natural beauty of the West Coast shoreline/majestic forest as the source of our inspiration as well as a source of our tools.  An interpretation of the environment in which each student lives, and how to express that particular place through similar methods with clay will be explored.

Each morning the class will go on short walks through the forests and shoreline collecting natural treasures such as bark, twigs, shells, rocks, ferns.  These found “tools” can be used to texture and decorate the wall tiles.   Students will explore ways to enhance and finish the pieces with “store bought” and “homemade” under glazes, recipes to be supplied.

Course cost: $285   Supply fees: $10  – slips and underglazes for use during class

• STUDENT SUPPLY LIST  Students are responsible for providing their own workshop  supplies
• 2018_Clay_Order_Form_for_MISSA

Tuition includes lunch and daily snacks and is inclusive of all applicable taxes.

SANDRA DOLPH obtained a BS in Art Education from New York State University College. After graduation, she taught Ceramics at the Adirondack Center for the Arts as well as owned and operated a gallery in upstate New York. After immigrating to the Canadian Rockies in 1974 and establishing a homestead, Sandra taught part-time in the public schools and ran a clay studio specializing in salt/wood fired pottery. In 1989 she relocated to Galiano Island, British Columbia, where she has spent the past twenty-plus years making a home for her small family and establishing her studio and gallery set among the beautiful cedars of B.C.  She has hosted and run ceramic workshops from her studio on Galiano, as well as given numerous workshops in the lower mainland, Victoria, Texas, Louisiana and New Mexico.  In 1998 Sandra started making many annual visits to Japan, where she would study, make pots and meditate in a Zen Buddhist temple.

The waitlist for this workshop has been closed.