Arts & Crafts

Come join Melissa Bardsley for a 6 week class of hand building at Merrymeeting Arts Center in Bowdoinham. This class is intended for beginners, we will start with pinch pots and progress to 3D slab work where students will create plates, mugs, and lidded containers and then progress into students individual projects. Surface texture and design will also be covered and explored allowing for students to explore combining techniques. Take advantage of this opportunity to add creativity into your schedule and take time for yourself. A $40 materials fee, payable to the instructor will be paid on the first night of the class. Additional clay will be available for purchase separately.

Sign up with your young person and make art together. Each adult will bring one 10 year old or older for a meaningful art experience together. I will incorporate some art history, we’ll explore some techniques and ideas, then we’ll roll up our sleeves and make some art! There will be moments where you work collaboratively, as well as times where you each make your own piece. Some of the things we do will make lovely holiday gifts. Share the fun of making art with a young person you love.

Working with Silver Clay is an exciting process where the inexperienced can explore their artistic abilities and create unique one of a kind items. Come join this exciting class where beginners can easily learn to create earrings, pendants, charms, beads, bracelets, and rings. Experience a new creative adventure and learn how easy and fun it is to make beautiful items from Precious Metal Clay (PMC) or Art Clay Silver (ACS). Materials fee of $70 is payable to the instructor.

Covid 19 safety protocols will follow state and school district recommendations for in-person events.

Have you wished to explore watercolors, but didn’t know where to start? Or perhaps you’ve dabbled in the medium and wish to expand your skills? This class will discuss what supplies you need to be successful and a variety of approaches. Each class will begin with a short lecture and demonstration, followed by time for student work. The teacher is available throughout the class for assistance and questions. You will gain confidence, knowledge and skills as you go. In the event that we cannot meet in person, lessons and demonstrations will be available virtually.

Make a beautiful, rustic, leather covered sketchbook with Anna Low of Purplebean Bindery. You will work with reclaimed leather and some heavy-weight paper to bind your very own blank book, perfect for a travel journal sketchbook, or just to doodle in. We'll cover some basic bookbinding techniques (no previous experience required) and you will design your own book. We will bind it all together with the decorative and functional long stitch. You will leave class with instructions and a few tools to continue making books at home. $10 material fee included. No discounts.

White pine (Maine’s state flower) and Red pine are ubiquitous throughout the region and provide a vital pool of resources for human and nonhuman Mainers alike. Pine needles are beautiful, strong, and can be coiled and sewn together to make jewelry, hats, lovely usable baskets and/or adorably tiny ones. Learn to identify; regeneratively gather and harvest; properly store and process; and weave with pine needles. We'll cover the basics of coiled basketry, which is a global, ancient human skill. Every participant will make a basket to take home. Price includes all required tools and materials. No discounts.