Art and craft classes and workshops in Essex.
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January 2022
Beginners Embroidery Pt. 1 (5 weeks)
With Pam Jermy. 5 weeks from 28th January 2022.
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February 2022
Practical Sewing Skills: Unlined Wrap Jacket (5-week course)
With Karen Odinga. A five-week course, meeting on Wednesday evenings: 9th, 16th and 23rd February, 2nd and 9th March. Please note there will be an additional charge of £3 for the pattern, to be paid to the tutor at the first session. Sew an unlined, lightweight wrap jacket for spring either long or mid- length. A throw on jackets that keeps the chill off on an early spring or autumn day. This sew along is suitable for those confident beginners who have sewn a simple item (like a bag or other simple pattern) and are familiar with their sewing machine’s…
Find out more »Watercolour Spring Woods
With David Pasfield. Paint with confidence in this challenging medium. Bring a freshness and immediacy to your landscapes in watercolour. Work from the tutors idea or bring your own sketches or photographs for inspiration. Equipment & Materials Watercolour paints Watercolour paper (NOT surface preferably) Selection of watercolour brushes Easel (table or free standing) Palette with large mixing reservoirs 2 waterpots and roll of kitchen paper Masking fluid (Windsor & Newton brand please) Sketches or photos for inspiration.
Find out more »Drawing with Pencils: Still Life
With David Pasfield. These classes are suitable for beginners through to more experienced artists. We will begin with drawing 'warm-up' exercises progressing to a final piece of work. You will use a range of pencils (of your choice) to achieve pleasing results. Equipment & Materials: Pencils – your choice. Eraser and sharpener. Several sheets of paper. Part of a series of three Drawing with Pencils workshops: 26th February - Still Life 2nd April - Human Figure 7th May - Outdoor Sketching
Find out more »March 2022
Practical Sewing Skills: Children’s Capsule Wardrobe
With Karen Odinga. Dates TBC but will be Monday evenings - please register your interest below. Making a series of children's clothes, one item at a time, with various options and learning the techniques that make clothes that fit your kids well. Age 1- 6. Requirements: Sewing machine and accessories Whilst this class is aimed at beginners, you must be able to sew a little and be able to thread your machine.
Find out more »Acrylic and Paper Collage Seascapes
With David Pasfield. Seascapes can be “loosened up” by using collage and acrylics. Bring texture and vibrancy to your work on canvas or primed board. No experience is required as a tutor-led step-by-step process will be used during the day. Work from the tutor’s ideas or bring your own photographs for inspiration. Equipment & Materials: Acrylic paints – vibrant colours. Papers, newspaper, magazines, old maps, prints, doilies, rice paper, tissue paper, sheet music, junk mail adverts, and any other decorative papers. Canvas or primed board at least 60 x 60 cm. Large bristle brushes / old decorating brushes. Easel –…
Find out more »Practical Sewing Skills: Tea Party Wrap Dress (5-week course)
With Karen Odinga. A five-week course, meeting on Wednesday evenings: 16th and 23rd and 30th March, 6th and 13th April. Please note there will be an additional charge of £3 for the pattern, to be paid to the tutor at the first session. No wardrobe would be complete with a lovely dress which you can wear casually or style it up. This wrap style has semi fitted bodice, flared skirt and collar. The hem falls below mid knee and ¾ length sleeves (which can be altered as desired) Session dates (5) March 16,23,30 April 6, 13 This session is suitable…
Find out more »“Thick and Thin” Acrylic Spring Landscapes
With David Pasfield. Heavy body acrylics can be used with a palette knife to create textures and expressive paintings. David will demonstrate his technique during this inspiring day; first using a brush and then palette knife. Free up your painting style – being bold and not worrying about detail. Equipment & Materials: Acrylic paints – preferably heavy-bodied (or you can use ordinary paints mixed with an impasto gel). Impasto gel – Winsor & Newton Galeria range has a heavy structure gel which is idea for creating strong surface texture. MDF board or hardboard at least 60 x 60 cm which…
Find out more »Green Sewing with Your Machine
With Karen Odinga Green Sewing with Your Machine - Mending, Re-purposing & Upcycling Sale, Charity & Vintage Finds or Your Own Pieces (Needing some TLC) Learn basic sewing and design techniques to give some TLC or upcycle your own well-loved pieces or vintage finds to extend its life or give a unique twist to a garment. Participants can bring along an item for advice and starting on its make-over with the skills learned in the session. Through demos and making your own reference samples, you will learn: How to make a dart to shape a garment. (Make a sample) Adding…
Find out more »April 2022
Drawing with Pencils: Human Figure
With David Pasfield. These classes are suitable for beginners through to more experienced artists. We will begin with drawing 'warm-up' exercises progressing to a final piece of work. You will use a range of pencils (of your choice) to achieve pleasing results. Equipment & Materials: Pencils – your choice. Eraser and sharpener. Several sheets of paper. Part of a series of three Drawing with Pencils workshops: 26th February - Still Life 2nd April - Human Figure 7th May - Outdoor Sketching
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Free Machine Embroidery – Using Dissolvables
With Tabatha Mitchel-Simons. Try out some different dissolvable fabrics and make your own fabric to use in a later workshop.
Find out more »Practical Sewing Skills: Cross Over Apron (2-week course)
With Karen Odinga A two-week course, meeting Wednesday evenings 27th April and 4th May. Be the hostess with the most-ness with this cross over apron. This apron is super easy to sew and learn how to make your own bias binding either to tone or contrast with the main colour of your choosing. You can wear as a traditional working apron to keep your clothes neat & tidy or use it as a fashion layer pinafore style. Endless options! Multi size pattern with long or short options provided for a teeny tiny cost of £3. The short version is shown…
Find out more »Mixed Media Spring Still Life
With David Pasfield. to create vibrant and textured works. No experience of these mediums is required, as a step-by-step process will be used throughout the day. Paint from a setup of flowers, foliage, and accessories. Free up your work with this exciting and experimental style. Equipment & Materials: Acrylic paints – vibrant colours. Decorative papers. Wax crayons, oil pastels, felt pens/markers, acrylic inks and charcoal. Hot pressed watercolour paper. (Fabriano Artistico or Arches are good quality papers) at least 50x50 cms in size. Large bristle brushes / old decorating brushes. Easel – free-standing (but a table easel will suffice). Palette…
Find out more »Click here to view our regular weekly leisure classes, including art, crafts, languages and more!
Information for Students
Some parking is available to the rear of the Centre. If you have equipment to bring in, you can access the building directly into the main hall through the doors in the car park. If the doors aren’t open, please inform the office you have arrived and the doors will be opened for you.
If you think you may have access difficulties please let us know in advance, as we have accessible facilities available. Accessible toilets are available on the ground floor. Wheelchair access is through the door on the front of the Centre.
Free tea & coffee will be provided. Don’t forget to bring your lunch or you can choose to visit one of the many cafes and takeaways in town.
Please wear suitable clothing, and if you’re bringing any electrical equipment please ensure that it is in good working order with a solid plug and undamaged wiring – check it before you come!
Payment
Class fees should be paid in advance by card (which can be done over the phone- 01376 323280).
We will also accept cheques, which will be cashed two weeks before the date of the class once we are sure the class will run, and should be made payable to Braintree & Bocking Community Association.
There may be an additional cost for appropriate materials, which if applicable, should be paid to the tutor on the day of the class – please check the class details.
Cancellation policy
Fees are non-refundable from two weeks before the class unless we can sell the space to another student (subject to a minimum of six students booked). Fees may be transferable at our discretion.
Please understand that the Centre cannot afford to run classes at a loss, since we are a charity. As such, classes may be cancelled if we are unable to achieve a minimum number of students. If this is the case, you will be informed two weeks before the date of the class and your fee will be refunded.