Short courses 2024

Creative Matakana’s shorter workshops are perfect for those who can’t commit to a five-day course – but you’ll still benefit from a solid creative hit.

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701A. Still Life painting: A feast for the eye / MAY 13-15

Tutor: charlotte thodey /  Fee: $350 + $15 materials

Workshop to be held in: Matakana
Maximum number in class: 12
Level: All levels

In this workshop you will embark on a practical search for solutions in the still life genre, with an emphasis on composition, tone and colour. You’ll explore your individual style, ranging from a loose, open brush to finely detailed work; you’ll learn how to clear your mind and how to make big decisions about small things!

The course emphasis will be on the close-up observation of nature and light, the basics of drawing and the arranging of the objects on the canvas, the composition. You’ll learn how to set out out the painting according to the tonal values, then proceed to the careful building up and layering of colour to capture the light, revealing the fleshy essence of the hero – blemishes included.

You’ll use seasonal fruit, foliage, vegetables, china and linen as props. In a three-day workshop you can expect to produce two to three paintings.

CHARLOTTE’S BACKGROUND

Charlotte was born in New Zealand, and studied art in England and life in Paris. She has painted continually and exhibited her work for over 35 years throughout Australia, New Zealand and France. She regularly teaches drawing and painting at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, the Sturt Summer School and in Berry, Cairns and Geelong.

Her sumptuous artworks have featured in print publications for the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney and the Historic Houses Trust, as well as other books.

Charlotte paints her bigger works in her studio in Berry, New South Wales, surrounded by her huge garden. In her Sydney studio, she likes to sleep next to her cabbages, so on waking she can paint them in the early morning light.

Charlotte’s Instagram and website.

709: making a braided rag rug / ilka white / 2 days – one day online SAT 27 April, one in person in matakana, fri 10 may / $160

Maximum number in class: 15
Level: Any level, no experience necessary

Please note: for the first time Creative Matakana is utilising Zoom for this workshop! The first workshop is online at the participant’s home, and second is your choice: either online at home again, or at a Matakana venue. Easy instructions will be emailed to you.

Workshop hours are:
Saturday 27 April, 10.30am to 1.30pm
Friday 10 May, 10.30am –12pm, 1.30pm-3pm.
BYO lunch, morning and afternoon tea provided.

Learn to make fantastic rag rugs using an off-loom, spiral-woven braiding technique. This method weaves in as you go so there is no stitching up required afterward. Ilka shares an inspiring range of patterning possibilities in this two part workshop. Beautiful and unique floor coverings are possible using contrasting colours, or blending your scraps for a ‘carpet of flowers’. Most people’s work by the end of the first day is about the size of a bread  and butter plate. The completed rug size is up to you, and could range from a small mat to a room-sized rug. You’ll have all the skills you need to finish off your rug following this workshop.

A braided rag rug is a great way to recycle old clothes and fabric. Bring your own material to recycle and find out what riches can come from rags!

ilka’s background

llka’s practice spans projects in textiles, sculpture and installation, community arts and cross-disciplinary collaboration. She taught Weaving and Textile History at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology for many years and now works throughout Australia as an independent artist and facilitator. Close engagement with the natural world informs the way Ilka lives and makes. Her popular workshops and classes reflect a love of the handmade and contemporary use of traditional techniques. An experienced and dedicated teacher, Ilka’s a great believer in the ability of mindful making to lift the spirits!

Ilka’s website and Instagram

710a: contemporary calligraphy / margaret woollett / 3 days, mon-weds 6-8 may / $450

Workshop to be held in: Leigh
Maximum number in class: 10
Level: All levels, no experience necessary

In this three-day workshop, you’ll have fun creating content for an artist’s book as well as a book cover paper that you take home to further develop (or bind into a book in the following two-day book-binding workshop with Margaret).

You’ll learn how to create lettering in modern, lively forms. You will manipulate and modify, morphing shapes and combining these modifications into unique letterforms. Using colour, contrast, bold or delicate marks and other techniques will make our pages interesting, incorporating both legible and illegible lettering.

Your book will be not only your personal story, but will be a record of techniques learned and developed over the course of this workshop, leading to further development and providing ways to create beyond the workshop.

710b: making a hand-bound book / margaret woollett / 2 days, thur-fri 9&10 may / $200

Workshop to be held in: Leigh
Maximum number in class: 10
Level: All levels, no experience necessary

For those who attended the previous three-day workshop, you’ll work with the pages created during that time. Over two days you will gather, collate/refine and combine your book pages, hand stitching these into a book block. Taking your created cover paper, you’ll learn how to bind the block. Using a limp binding, you’ll this by further hand stitching, to complete your book.

For those who did not attend the calligraphy workshop, you will bring your own art content and cover paper ready to be bound. Each will complete your own unique artist’s book by the completion of the workshop.

710C: contemporary calligraphy and making a hand-bound book (both above) / margaret woollett / 5 days 6-10 may / $550

Workshop to be held in: Leigh
Maximum number in class: 10
Level: All levels, no experience necessary

Do both of Margaret’s workshops! See above for course descriptions.

margaret’s background

Margaret has been involved with lettering and calligraphy for more than 30 years, as a student, freelancer and teacher. She works from her Devonport for a wide range of clients.

As a member of the NZ Calligraphy Society, Margaret has learned both formal and contemporary lettering from leading international calligraphers and has participated in many collective calligraphic exhibitions.

Over the last three years she has further expanded her repertoire to include works not just on paper, but glass, metal, timber and the use of beautiful, translucent Japanese mulberry papers. She has created many artists books during this time, combining lettering with her passion for sewing and hand stitching.

Margaret’s website and Instagram

711A: beginner’s Screen printing / ingrid anderson / 2 days, mon, tue 6&7 MAY / $350 + materials $10

Maximum number in class: 6
Level: All levels
Workshop to be held in: Whangateau

We have two options for Ingrid’s two-day workshop – one at the beginning of the Creative Matakana week and one at the end. They are both the same.

711B: beginner’s Screen printing / ingrid anderson / 2 days, thur, fri 9&10 MAY / $350 + materials $10

Maximum number in class: 6
Level: All levels
Workshop to be held in: Whangateau

Developed with her teachers training experience, Ingrid’s screen printing workshops offer an option to suit everyone’s needs and creativity. From a first time screenprinter to someone building on previous experience, there is something to suit all levels and ages, from teenagers and adults alike.

Every course begins with building understanding of design principles from creating positive and negative hand-cut stencils, through to registration and the use of colour. These techniques support students to take designs through to a more complex form, incorporating multiple colours and pattern repeats. Techniques such as layering, colour merging and using mixed media disciplines help students extend and add interest to their designs. The cri-cut machine may also be used.

To get the most out of the courses, you’re encouraged to think about a project prior to the course (cushions, tee shirt, wall art) and have some designs in mind.

What to bring

All materials provided, including a piece of calico fabric 1m long x 150m wide. If you have your own fabric or t-shirt you want to print on, please bring with you.

ingrid’s background

Ingrid is one of New Zealand’s well-known textile designers whose work has been acquired by the Auckland Museum.

She creates screen printed fabrics with an innate connection to local design, heritage and contemporary art. Her designs are inspired by a love of New Zealand’s native flora and fauna and are recognisable with her use of simple motifs and bold flat colour.

All her products are designed, printed and made in New Zealand.

Ingrid’s Instagram and Facebook page.