New One-day Workshops at Down Arts Centre

Each weekend at the Down Arts Centre there is a different workshop where you create and take home an original piece of art.

On Saturday, 26 January, spend the day with artist Cheryl Martin in her ‘Silk Paper Workshop’ transforming 100% pure silk fibres into a bespoke piece of paper. You will be producing your own unique silk material and learning the basic techniques to transform it into a beautiful, decorative vase or bowl.

Or why not join experienced potter, Eleanor Wheeler to ‘Pot early for Spring!’ on Saturday 2 February? The workshop will focus on making a big terracotta pot using coil building method with decoration in the form of texture. Pots will be fired and can be collected at a later date. No experience is need and you will be able to make a large terracotta pot to your own design for your spring plants.

Saturday 9 February sees Lesley Black who will be helping to rekindle the art of conversation in her ‘It’s Good to Talk’. This two hour workshop will give participants a chance to enjoy talking about thoughts and feelings—something that can be difficult. With the emphasis on fun and friendship you’ll learn to break bad habits, cheer up your chat, enliven your listening skills, boost your confidence, and find new ways of encouraging the flow of meaningful and joyous conversation.

Naomi Whan returns to Down Arts Centre with a ‘Hand Embroidered Scented Lavender Decorations’ workshop Saturday 9 February. In this workshop, attendees will learn some hand embroidery stitches that include French knots, blanket, chain, feather, couching and many more. In the afternoon participants will have the opportunity to make, and take away, a beautiful lavender sachet employing some of the stitches learned in the workshop.

On Saturday 16 February, why not come and create a ‘Valentine’s’ heart in beautiful Tiffany stained glass using glass beads and ribbon. Participants will learn the technique of "tiffany"/copper foiled glass and create a lovely token, either to keep yourself or for someone special. Anyone planning to attend this workshop should bring an apron or overall, and wear shoes, not sandals.

On Saturday 23 February, Joy Gray will be helping attendees to make a wonderful ‘Wild Dark Tree’. By the end of the workshop, participants will produce a stunning ‘twisted’ tree, standing over 20cm tall. The trees will be mounted on stained, circular, wooden plinth, with twisted roots and with moss covering the ground.

For further information on any of the above events, please contact the Down Arts Centre box office on 028 4461 0747. The complete Down Arts Centre programme is available at www.downartscentre.com