April 2025 Art Bites Classes
$45/Class – supplies included*
AM classes: 10am – 12 pm
PM classes: 1-3 pm
*Double Art Bites Classes – $90 (10 am-2pm)
Register online or at the MAC Office
About Art Bites:
Art Bites is a fun way to try out all different kinds of art mediums without investing a lot of time and money. Our instructors are welcoming and encourage everyone to ‘just have’ fun creating art. Try something you’ve always wondered about, or take a class with a friend or family member just for fun! Our classes run from Sept-Dec in the fall and Jan-Jun in the spring. Explore all our current Art Bites offerings here.
Ready for more? Try our Art Gems workshops and explore techniques and mediums in a more in-depth workshop setting. No experience necessary; all supplies included.
Hand Stitch a Stunning Quilt with Carolyn Shaw
Sun Apr 6, 10am-12pm
Register for this class
Hand stitch a quilted placemat as you learn the techniques to create a kawandi. Kawandi means quilting in India. This style of quilting was brought to India over 800 years ago by Siddi migrants from Africa. Their hand stitched quilts are made from old clothing and fabric scraps. Sewing a kawandi is sustainable, relaxing, creative, fun and very addictive!
Even if you have never previously sewn, you can make a kawandi. The tools and supplies are minimal, and everything will be provided: fabric scraps, batting, pins and needles, thread and scissors, and a bit of rice!
All materials provided for this class.
About the Instructor: Carolyn Shaw has been sewing for over 45 years and quilting for over 30. She recently discovered the joy of using her extensive piles of fabric scraps and old spools of thread to make kawandis. She looks forward to teaching you this creative and useful art.
Art Bites – Palette Knife Painting with Deborah Nicol
Sun Apr 13, 10am-12pm
– CLASS FULL –
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 materials provided for this class.
About the Instructor: Deborah Nicol is a versatile artist who works in a variety of mediums, and 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.
Deborah’s website: https://sites.google.com/view/abstractbydesigngallerycom
Art Bites – Rock Painting with Mary Unger
Sun April 13, 1-3pm
Register for this class
Have you ever wanted to paint on rocks? They make great decorations for your gardens, plant pots or gifts.
We will paint on rocks just to give you an idea of how much fun you will have and creative you can be.
All materials provided for 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.”
Double Art Bites – The Ancient Art of Nalbinding with Rita Blom
Sun Apr 27, 10am-2pm
Register for this class
Learn a historic fibre craft, Nalbinding. An ancient Scandinavian forerunner of knitting and crochet and is still practised today.
In this workshop, we’ll start with a brief overview of nalbinding historically and a display of stitches and garments will be provided as a backdrop to a fun and challenging workshop where we learn the basic stitch, how to start and finish, how to increase and how to decrease.
A nal (needle) will be provided for the class time, as well as single ply bulky wool. (If you choose to work at home, a blunt darning needle can be used for a nal). We will start with wrist warmers. You will be able to complete the project on your own after the class.
All materials provided for this class.
About the Instructor: Rita Blom began studying music at 7, crafting at 16 and art as an adult. Her current passions in crafting are Nalbinding (a historical craft of single needle fabric construction), knitting and weaving. Zentangle is her art and her meditation. It is a form of line drawing that creates beautiful patterns that anyone can learn.
Rita is a Certified Zentangle Teacher (CZT42) and holds her ARCT(T) from the Royal Conservatory of Music. She is also a member of the Society for Creative Anachronisms (SCA) where she learns and teaches historical craft.
