Upcoming Workshops
Bush Animal Workshop
The Tjanpi Weavers of the Central Desert region were the first to create 'Bush Toys' by wrapping 'Tjanpi' (grass) with raffia and wool. Their work is featured in Art Galleries around Australia. I acknowledge them as the initiators of this indigenous art form, which was taught to me by Gunditjamara master weaver Aunty Bronwyn Razem, who has given me permission to teach Bush Animals.
Hand-build with hay to create a colourful, sculptural animal. The simplicity of wrapping wool around hay requires no tools and few materials and great results can be achieved with just a sense of fun and imagination.
In this workshop you will be guided in
*creating a base form with hay appropriate to your chosen animal
*divide the straw into the main features
*techniques in wrapping with wool
*finishing the details of your animal
source http://www.carolinehawkins.com.au
Easter Nest Weaving Workshop
A variation of the random weave workshop. the random weaving is more dense and then lined with soft material stitched randomly in place, to make the work more nest like.
Random weaving borrows from the basketmakers knowledge of the tactile qualities of plant fibres, whilst allowing for the creative freedom to explore their sculptural capacities.
Creative play as you learn how to form a sculptural basket with vines.
The weaving technique known as ‘random weaving’, is a method which requires a balance of manipulation of the natural materials versus acceptance of the direction the material will take you. Freedom of expression evolves and the process becomes almost meditative as the individual pieces take shape through our innate need to create order out of chaos.
This workshop offers an introduction to the random weaving method and how to adapt the technique to suit a selection of plant materials and how to gather and prepare them.
Stitched Basket Workshop
Utilising plant fibres to create something useful is not only immensely satisfying but it nurtures our connection with the environment, stimulating us to view plants in new ways. Basket weaving is one of oldest known crafts and the technique of ‘coiling and stitching’ fibres together to create a basket is still common in many cultures across the globe. Learning to coil a basket, provides us with a link and an insight in a tactile way to a depth of knowledge of plant fibres and methods of using them which have been passed down through generations for thousands of years.
This workshop is an ideal starting point for those new to basket-weaving; it offers an introduction into using and selecting plant fibres for basketry.
Choose from a variety of plant fibres to form the ‘core’ of the basket, which is then ‘coiled and stitched’ together with hemp twine.
Step by step guidance will be offered in material preparation, starting the coil, stitching, shaping and finishing your basket.
Bullrush Basket Workshop
A variation of the twined basket, using bullrush (combungi) to create the framework and as a twining fibre
Tap into our intuitive knowledge of handling natural fibres and one of the oldest known crafts in human civilization in this Twined Basket weaving workshop. Once learnt, the technique of ‘twining’ a pair of fibres around a frame can be used to create rigid frame baskets with a handle to flexible framed bags and bowls.
In this workshop, create your own small ‘twined’ basket over a flexible frame with a mix of locally harvested plant fibres, such as flax, red hot poker, cordyline, bulrush and tall spike rush. The workshop includes instruction in material preparation, setting up your frame, how to ‘twine’ around the frame and detailed steps in finishing the rim of your basket. The day will include a wander nearby to identify suitable weaving plants, as well as discussion on the history of traditional and contemporary basket making.
Twined basket making has its challenges and whilst not essential, is ideally suited to those with existing craft skills or those who have already attended the Stitched and Coiled basket making workshop.
Sculptural Weaving Workshop
Allowing our materials to guide the shape and direction an art piece takes invites the imagination to evolve as the work develops
Tap into your creative side and stimulate the imagination whilst playing with sticks to make a sculptural artwork. Do you have a quirky shaped vine waiting to be brought to life as a sculpture? Now is its moment!
In this workshop the shape of a collection of sticks or a small branch is used as a frame, across which sections can be 'twined' to emphasize the natural shape inherent in the sticks to create a sculpture. 'Twining' is a basket weaving method using a pair of fibres to weave around a frame. We will explore how to use this method to hold the sticks together in a three-dimensional form, filling in areas or weaving to create space within the form.
Typical programme for this six hour workshop:
Spend the morning making samples to learn some basic basketry methods, such as cordage, twining and random weaving, to utilize as techniques.
Guidance in developing a sculptural form and choice of materials.
The afternoon provides the opportunity to create your own sculpture.
Completion of works: the workshop focus is on learning techniques, students choosing to work on larger sculptural works may not necessarily finish their pieces within the time frame of this workshop.
An abundance of materials will be available to play with: sticks, vines, prepared plant fibres for twining, as well as colourful threads, strings and fabrics
Intro to Watercolour with Natalie Martin
Spend the morning with Natalie learning the joys of loose, contemporary watercolour painting. Suitable for total beginners, you’ll learn some watercolour techniques and tricks, have a play and find your feet in the medium. After a refuel with some morning tea we will then work towards a floral inspired piece to take home.
School Holidays - Illustrative Initial
Initial Illustration Workshop!
Create a bold, personalised artwork using your very own initial! Kids will mask off the shape of their chosen letter. Learn how to draw illustrations, using their imagination, patterns, pictures, and designs around it—leaving the initial crisp, clear, and standing out in the centre. It’s a fun way to explore creativity, contrast, and detailed linework while making a unique piece of art to take home.
School Holidays - Clay Hoop Art
Clay Hoop Art Workshop!
Get hands-on and creative as you design a beautiful patterned artwork using magic air-dry clay on fabric, all framed within a wooden hoop. Kids will explore shaping, pressing, and pattern-making techniques to create a textured, eye-catching piece of art. This workshop is perfect for young makers who love tactile projects and unique designs—everyone goes home with a stunning, display-ready creation!
School Holidays - Cupcake Art
Cupcake Artwork Workshop!
Get creative as you design a vibrant cupcake masterpiece using oil pastels and paint. Kids will learn fun techniques to blend colours, add texture, and bring their sweet creation to life. To top it all off, each artist will craft a polymer clay decoration to place on their cupcake artwork—making every piece extra unique!
School Holidays -
Needle Felting: Create Your Own Animal!
Learn the magical art of needle felting as you transform soft wool into an adorable handmade animal. Kids will explore shaping, layering, and detailing techniques while building a cuddly creation from scratch. This hands-on fine-arts workshop is fun, calming, and perfect for young makers who love working with textures and imagination. Everyone leaves with their own felted friend to take home!
Learning Lino - Printmaking workshop
Discover the art of lino printmaking in this hands-on workshop designed for beginners and designed for fun! Learn the fundamentals of this versatile and rewarding technique, from designing your print to carving your lino block and printing your masterpiece.
The workshop is run by Emily Wright from Ahki Illustration who is well known locally for her bold black and white surf lino prints. She will help you to create your own ocean / nature inspired lino prints. Emily will guide you on how to break down an image into positive and negative spaces for carving, teach the process of taking drawings through to prints, and introduce easy tools and materials great for starting out and improving your skills.
School Holidays - Tissue Paper Collage
Come and learn about layering a collaged piece of art. Shred, cut and shape pieces of tissue paper into a beautifully design artwork.
School Holidays - Paint Your Own Pottery
Paint Your Own Pottery Workshop!
Let your creativity shine as you paint both a bowl and a trinket dish in your own colours, designs, and imaginative style. This hands-on experience is perfect for young artists who love exploring vibrant paints, playful patterns, and personal expression.
Once your masterpieces are fired, they’ll be ready for pickup within 2–3 weeks—a beautiful keepsake to treasure!
School Holidays - Polymer Clay Earrings
Get creative and learn how to shape, sculpt, and style your very own polymer-clay earrings. Kids will explore colours, patterns, and techniques as they craft unique wearable art pieces to take home. It’s a hands-on activity that’s fun, expressive, and perfect for young makers who love to create! Participants can make clip on or post/hook earrings.
School Holidays - Cacti Water Colour Painting
Come and learn some fun water colour painting techniques and take home an artwork you'll be proud of.
Stitched Textured Basket
Utilizing plant fibres to create something useful is not only immensely satisfying but it nurtures our connection with the environment, stimulating us to view plants in new ways. Basket weaving is one of oldest known crafts and the technique of ‘coiling and stitching’ fibres together to create a basket is still common in many cultures across the globe. Learning to coil a basket, provides us with a link and an insight in a tactile way to a depth of knowledge of plant fibres and methods of using them which have been passed down through generations for thousands of years.
This workshop is an ideal starting point for those new to basket-weaving; it offers an introduction into using and selecting plant fibres for basketry.
Choose from a variety of plant fibres to form the ‘core’ of the basket, which is then ‘coiled and stitched’ together with hemp twine.
Step by step guidance will be offered in material preparation, starting the coil, stitching, shaping and finishing your basket.
Wreath Making
Come and join in the Christmas spirit - as we make beautiful floral wreaths together. You will learn how to make a wreath
using native flowers and foliage - which will last when dried also.
All funds raised will go towards Compassion International - which helps to fight global poverty. Did you know - over 355 million children are trapped in poverty? You can sponsor a child through compassion on the day, but all all funds raised from our wreath making will go toward providing clean and sanitary water and to the unsponsored
children’s fund.
Light Christmas snacks and drinks will be provided. Invite a friend!
Chunky Sisal Macrame Pot Holder
Create your own Chunky Sisal Pothanger (wooden pot included)- $95
You will get to create an awesome Chunky Sisal or Boho Plant Hanger that will become a statement piece in your home. You will learn the macrame knot needed to make this awesome textural hanger. This gorgeous hanger is created using textural cream cotton the cord, your finished hanger will be thick and chunky. A beautiful large wooden pot is included.
Also included in the price is a yummy grazing platter, all you have to do is bring a friend if you wish, bring your favourite bottle of vino or bubbles and enjoy 2 hours of creativity.
Pattern And Colour Painting Workshop
Join contemporary coastal artist Joanna McOwen for a creative day exploring bold patterns, vibrant colours, and expressive mark-making.This hands-on workshop is designed for all levels. Beginners will enjoy step-by-step guidance in acrylic techniques, layering, and composition, while more experienced painters can dive deeper into abstract expression and colour design. Throughout the day you’ll have time to experiment with shape, line, and rhythm, and create a striking patterned artwork that reflects your own style and creativity.By the end of the workshop, you will take home a finished canvas (plus practice pieces) that celebrates colour, pattern, and your personal artistic voice.To book and find out more information please go to:
What You Will Experience
Step-by-step tuition in acrylic painting: mark-making, layering & abstraction
Hands-on time to experiment with colour, form & floral-inspired pattern design
A finished canvas painting to take home, plus practice sheets from the session
Morning tea with coffee, tea & gluten-free treats
Who Can Join?
This Torquay & Surf Coast art workshop is open to all levels. Absolute beginners will find Joanna’s guidance supportive and easy to follow, while painters with more experience can dive deeper into colour, pattern, and expressive techniques. If you are looking for a creative day out near Geelong, Torquay or the Surf Coast, this pattern workshop is the perfect fit.
Colourful Spiral Macrame Planthanger
Colour, Colour, Colour.
That is what this workshop is all about. I love how colour brightens up everything it touches so in this creative workshop you will have the opportunity to select from a range of colourful ceramic pots that have matching cord already pre-measured and cut for your convenience. I realise that not everyone enjoys bright colours so I also bring along a selection of neutral colours. You will learn the spiral macrame knot and your completed hanger will be a beautiful addition to your home or you might choose to gift it to someone special.
Also included in the price is a yummy grazing platter, all you have to do is bring a friend if you wish, bring your favourite bottle of vino or bubbles and enjoy 2 hours of creativity.
source: knotsbyanita.com
Learning Lino - Printmaking workshop
Discover the art of lino printmaking in this hands-on workshop designed for beginners and designed for fun! Learn the fundamentals of this versatile and rewarding technique, from designing your print to carving your lino block and printing your masterpiece.
The workshop is run by Emily Wright from Ahki Illustration who is well known locally for her bold black and white surf lino prints. She will help you to create your own ocean / nature inspired lino prints. Emily will guide you on how to break down an image into positive and negative spaces for carving, teach the process of taking drawings through to prints, and introduce easy tools and materials great for starting out and improving your skills.
Intro to Watercolour with Natalie Martin
Spend the morning with Natalie learning the joys of loose, contemporary watercolour painting. Suitable for total beginners, you’ll learn some watercolour techniques and tricks, have a play and find your feet in the medium. After a refuel with some morning tea we will then work towards a floral inspired piece to take home.
Chunky Sisal Macrame Pot Holder
Create your own Chunky Sisal Pothanger (wooden pot included)- $95
You will get to create an awesome Chunky Sisal or Boho Plant Hanger that will become a statement piece in your home. You will learn the macrame knot needed to make this awesome textural hanger. This gorgeous hanger is created using textural cream cotton the cord, your finished hanger will be thick and chunky. A beautiful large wooden pot is included.
Also included in the price is a yummy grazing platter, all you have to do is bring a friend if you wish, bring your favourite bottle of vino or bubbles and enjoy 2 hours of creativity.
Colourful Spiral Macrame Planthanger
Colour, Colour, Colour.
That is what this workshop is all about. I love how colour brightens up everything it touches so in this creative workshop you will have the opportunity to select from a range of colourful ceramic pots that have matching cord already pre-measured and cut for your convenience. I realise that not everyone enjoys bright colours so I also bring along a selection of neutral colours. You will learn the spiral macrame knot and your completed hanger will be a beautiful addition to your home or you might choose to gift it to someone special.
Also included in the price is a yummy grazing platter, all you have to do is bring a friend if you wish, bring your favourite bottle of vino or bubbles and enjoy 2 hours of creativity.
source: knotsbyanita.com
Resilient Heart- activate your heartspace
Resilient Heart
Science shows that the heart and mind are deeply connected, with the heart influencing our thoughts, emotions, and stress levels. By understanding this powerful connection, we can tap into the heart’s wisdom to enhance our emotional wellbeing and foster resilience. A unique workshop that combines:
Heart-based meditation
Introspective group conversation
Expressing inner messages through a hand-sewn heart art project
Exploring how concepts like Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs can nurture our hearts
Sarah Molnar, President of the non-profit organisation Art of the Minds, blends her academic background in psychology and creative arts with extensive experience in facilitation and the mental health field. She will guide you through this workshop to help you cultivate a resilient, open heart. Activate your heartspace with this unique workshop.
Session Duration: 2 hours
Cost: $40 per person
What to Bring: Any personal mementos you'd like to incorporate into your creative heart, and a journal for reflection.
Find out more - Sarah Molnar 0420 302 535
instagram @sinikka_paints
School Holidays - Lino Printed Pouch
Come and learn the traditional art of lino printing and use it to create bold, eye-catching designs. Guided through the process of carving their own lino block, they’ll then print their design onto a fabric pouch—turning a simple accessory into a one-of-a-kind, functional artwork.
School Holidays - Mosaic Mirror
Come and create your very own mosaic mirror! In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn how to design, arrange, and set colourful tiles into a unique pattern that frames your mirror beautifully. Each piece will reflect your creativity, making it a functional artwork to take home and treasure.with Ellie from Beebops Art School
School Holidays - Quilling
Come and explore the delicate art of paper quilling. Using colourful strips of paper, they’ll learn how to roll, shape, and arrange quills into beautiful floral designs. Each piece will then be mounted onto a wooden backing board, creating a unique keepsake that’s perfect to display or gift.
with Ellie from Beebops Art School
School Holidays - Mini Canvas Painting
Come and learn the art of scaling down images and turning them into a beautifully balanced artwork. Guided step by step, they’ll discover drawing and painting techniques that bring their work to life with realistic detail. Whether it’s fine lines, shading, or brushwork, participants will build confidence in their creative skills and walk away with an artwork they’ll be proud to display at home.
with Ellie from Beebops Art School
School Holidays - DIY Pamper Packs (Copy)
Come and learn how to make a body scrub, bath bomb and lip balm. All made from non toxic and environmental kind products.
with Ellie from Beebops Art School
School Holidays - DIY Pamper Packs
Come and learn how to make a body scrub, bath bomb and lip balm. All made from non toxic and environmental kind products.
with Ellie from Beebops Art School
School Holidays - Teen Mosaic Pot Workshop
Get creative these school holidays at a hands-on Pot Mosaic Workshop led by local artist Ellie from Beehop Designs! You'll design and decorate your own unique mosaic pot to take home – no experience needed and all materials provided!.
Held at The Light Box Torquay, this FREE workshop is open to young people aged 12–25 and offers a relaxed, welcoming space to try something new, meet others, and have some fun with art.
with Ellie from Beebops Art School supported by Surfcoast Shire Youth Development
Learning Lino - Printmaking workshop
Discover the art of lino printmaking in this hands-on workshop designed for beginners and designed for fun! Learn the fundamentals of this versatile and rewarding technique, from designing your print to carving your lino block and printing your masterpiece.
The workshop is run by Emily Wright from Ahki Illustration who is well known locally for her bold black and white surf lino prints. She will help you to create your own ocean / nature inspired lino prints. Emily will guide you on how to break down an image into positive and negative spaces for carving, teach the process of taking drawings through to prints, and introduce easy tools and materials great for starting out and improving your skills.
Rolltop random Weave
The roll top basket adds a twist to the Random weave workshop, quite literally!
With Caroline Hawkins you’ll be forming a sculptural basket with vines, by commencing with a traditional wreath, which we then allow to expand out into a random weave basket.
The weaving technique known as ‘random weaving’, is a method which requires a balance of manipulation of the natural materials versus acceptance of the direction the material will take you.
The difference with the roll top version of random weaving is that it provides you with a specific starting point.
This workshop offers an introduction to the rolltop random weaving method and how to adapt the technique to suit a selection of plant materials and how to gather and prepare them.