Archives for posts with tag: creativity

Painting with Class

By natashahenderson
June 27, 2012 //
2

nothing says “opportunity” like the hope of a blank canvas

Have you always wanted to paint? Whether you have your own supplies or not, here is an opportunity to paint in a welcoming, open, and fresh space.

Your instructor, Natasha Henderson, is an equally fresh and funny artist with loads of experience in teaching painting to all levels of learner.

Natasha with a few of her own works-in-progress

This summer, we have set up a casual and fun schedule so that you can opt to “Drop-In” to paint, with a rotating schedule of different focuses for each class.

Perhaps due to our love of yoga, we are always flexible at Fleurbain.

To encourage you to paint more often, there is a discount on the purchase of six tickets, good for any six of the summertime classes that you choose. Tickets are entirely transferable, so if you want to treat a friend to a class, you can! Perfect for out-of-town guests to make their own souvenir of Montreal.

If you have your own paints, or want an excuse to buy them, there is an option to bring your own supplies. Enquire if this interests you… nhen@videotron.ca

Cost for one class with everything supplied is $35. Cost for six summertime classes, with everything supplied, is $180 (savings of $30). For a special-special-special trial offer, this Tuesday July 3, we are offering the drop-in class for only $25, all inclusive!

Click to see the schedules (and zoom on in) to see what’s happening:

July’s Schedule

August’s Schedule

About the painting experience, Natasha says: “I am here to facilitate, get you painting, and have fun! Learning skills and techniques are important facets to enjoying your craft… however…. Expression and simple joy in making are equally important.”

Fleurbain is located at 460 St Catherine Street West, Unit 917, in downtown Montreal.

Drop-In Painting is Tuesday and Wednesdays 7-9pm, Saturday 1-3pm and Sunday either 11am-1pm or 1-3pm.

Sun July 1: 11-1 glazing and thickness, 1-3 colour

Tues July 3: 7-9 open painting fun (discount day! $25)

Wed July 4: 7-9 abstraction

Sat July 7: 1-3 brushwork skills

Sun July 8: 11-1 chiaroscuro and form, 1-3 glazing and thickness

Sat July 28: 1-3 colour

Sun July 29: 11-1 open painting fun, 1-3 abstraction

Tues July 31: 7-9 brushwork skills

Wed August 1: 7-9 chiaroscuro and form

Sat August 4: 1-3 glazing and thickness

Sun August 5: 11-1 colour, 1-3 open painting fun

Wed August 8: 7-9 abstraction

Sat August 11: 1-3 brushwork skills

Sun August 12: 11-1 chiaroscuro and form, 1-3 glazing and thickness

Tues August 14: 7-9 colour

Wed August 15: 7-9 open painting fun (special deal… BRING A FRIEND FOR FREE!)

Sat August 18: 1-3 abstraction

Sun August 19: 11-1 brushwork skills, 1-3 chiaroscuro and form

Tues August 21: 7-9 glazing and thickness

Wed August 22: 7-9 colour

Sat August 25: 1-3 open painting fun

Sun August 26: 11-1 abstraction, 1-3 brushwork skills

Tues August 28: 7-9 chiaroscuro and form

Wed August 29: (last class!) 7-9 glazing and thickness

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Categories Art, Uncategorized, workshops

DiP into painting

By natashahenderson
May 10, 2012 //
2

A McGill student takes a study break… and Drops In to Paint!

Drop-In Painting classes are a fun way to explore and learn about painting without a huge commitment.

a student opts to work from a combination of memory and a photograph

Drop-In Painting is a way to express yourself while painting under the guidance of an experienced artist.

classes held in Fleurbain, at 460 St Catherine West. Unit 917. Fabulous view of St James United Church, and always an interesting art exhibit on!

Relax. Create. Enjoy a cup of tea.

painting is good for you

Drop-in painting is now being offered MORE often…

SUNDAY: 11am-1pm

SUNDAY: 1pm-3pm

TUESDAY: 7pm-9pm

WEDNESDAY: 7pm-9pm

SATURDAY: 1pm-3pm

All you need to bring to drop-in painting is your self!

*Classes are limited to eight people max, so if you are anticipating bringing a large group, please book ahead. Custom workshops and travelling art lessons are available. Just talk to me: fleurbain@gmail.com

*Drop-In Painting price, all-inclusive, is $35 per two hours session. (For a private, booked session, it is $70 per two-hour session.)

Natasha Henderson, Montreal

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Categories Art, workshops

creative building blocks

By natashahenderson
November 17, 2011 //
0

Creativity knows no bounds… but it does work better when there are some constraints!

I read an article last night in the Globe and Mail, written by Russell Smith. I agree with his musings. I have seen students grow in their creative endeavours when there are constraints placed on them, a few rules they must adjust to.

Art is like surfing. Art is also like cooking, jogging, yoga… art is like surfing, because you have a platform on which to stand. You must balance this platform on a shifting and volatile surface. You balance, and sometimes you fall off. It is a rush. You normally survive these falls, and get back on that platform again. You have experienced a fall that is actually an opportunity to learn, provides some exciting fun, and is an integral part of the activity itself.

What I’m musing on is that those constraints are good, sometimes within those constraints you can grow and expand (think outside the box… it is a six-sided structure, and when you think hard enough you can bow the lid off one of those sides, now you have a five-sided box bursting with ideas.)

I have applied unnecessary rules to my own art, when I found that it was becoming unruly. I needed some sort of guidance… and I found it in poetry. I used strict poetic forms and applied their rules to painting. I ended up creating cohesive works, works that were easy to exhibit together. 

one of the poetry paintings (Click to see more of the poetry paintings!)

The most surprising and indeed creative classes I took in art school were the ones where we were made to create in a way we hadn’t thought of before. An example: we would make our own drawing tool, and it must be over six feet long. At the end of the three-hour session, we all had created our tools, and had done some pretty remarkable drawings! Even constraints like: “use no red”, or, “only use imagery that starts with the letter G” can seem arbitrary yet force you to think…

Natasha Henderson, Montreal

Natasha can be reached at fleurbain@gmail.com for workshops in team-building and creativity  

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Categories Art, Uncategorized

private and custom painting lessons

By natashahenderson
October 1, 2011 //
1

Now offered in Fleurbain… painting workshops that are tailored to you. Whether you want to try painting just once, or would like to paint over several days, we can accommodate you.

Private or semi-private painting lessons for any level, in oil or acrylic, for any number of people from one to eight… let’s paint together! Instructor Natasha Henderson has years of experience with painting in acrylic and oil. She has exhibited her works widely across Canada. Her workshops provide a supportive and creative environment, where the needs and wishes of the participants come first.

One suggestion: The perfect activity for a corporate retreat; painting together on a canvas is a team-building activity that provides a tangible result! At the end of the day, take the painting back to the office as an artifact of your team’s creative journey. Natasha will guide you through this creative process, to ensure your painting is not only uniquely your own, but retains its innate creative beauty.

Another suggestion: during a family reunion, some of the family would like to participate in an activity together. Why not all work on paintings? We can delve into imagery that is important to the family, imagery based on communal memories and events… or just simply paint and have fun.

Rates for private lessons are based on the number of students:

1 person, 2 hours: $70 including all materials
2-4 people, 2 hours: $50 each, including all materials
5-8 people, 2 hours: $45 each, including all materials.
+ GST

Various times are available during the day and on weekends. Just ask.

Tea is on…

Ready, set, paint!

Contact Natasha either through Fleurbain’s email: fleurbain@gmail.com or her email: nhen@videotron.ca

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Categories Art, Uncategorized, workshops

List of Fall Art Classes

By natashahenderson
September 16, 2011 //
1

ACRYLIC PAINTING LEVEL ONE: In this course, students with very little or no painting experience will learn about painting techniques, and practice these techniques through creative exercises. Students will not only learn and enjoy the process of painting, but will lose that fear of the blank canvas.

DATES: September 25-November 27 Sundays 9:30am-12pm (10 weeks) $250. Ask me for supplies list: nhen@videotron.ca (OR borrow communal paints/supplies for an additional $5 per session.) Located in Fleurbain, downtown Montreal on St Catherine Street.

ACRYLIC PAINTING LEVEL TWO: This course is suitable for students who have tried painting before, but have hit a wall with it. Or, perhaps they have found that they paint the same thing over and over again. We will expand our ideas of “what to paint” while inspiring one another and working on painting skills. We will talk about concepts in painting, and just generally have a great time.

DATES: September 25-November 27 Sundays 12:30-3pm (10 weeks) $250. Ask me for suggested supplies list. nhen@videotron.ca Located in Fleurbain, downtown Montreal on St Catherine Street.

PUPPET-MAKING WORKSHOP!!! Over two evenings, Wednesday the 26th of October and Wednesday the 2nd of November, from 6:30pm to 9pm each night.

In this two-evening workshop, students will learn the basics of creating wool felt from scratch in the wet-felting process, create their own hand-puppet template, and make a felt hand-puppet! Everything will be supplied, and cost for the two-evening workshop is only $60. Although puppets are for every one at every age, this course is for adults over 16 years old. Look out as this popular workshop will be repeated a few times over the autumn and winter, and kid-friendly courses too! Email me for more details: nhen@videotron.ca

FELT-MAKING PROJECTS: In this four-week course, students will learn how to make wet-felted objects and accessories for fall, for gifts, for fun. Scarves, beads, wallets and purses can all be made out of fluffy, loose felt from scratch and in these workshops we will do so!

DATES either Sept 20-Oct 11 OR Nov 8-Nov 29. 6:30-9pm. Cost $150 all materials supplied! Located in Fleurbain, downtown Montreal. Email me for more details nhen@videotron.ca

One of my early books.

BOOK ARTS: Yes! Learn the basics of book-binding, and make your own simple (or elaborate!) books. Sewing signatures, folding pages… make your own sketchbooks, poetry books, blank pages to fill or to give as gifts.

DATES: Saturdays from September 24 – November 12, 12-2:30pm. (eight weeks). $280 all basic materials supplied. Please email me for more details nhen@videotron.ca Held in Fleurbain, close to the McGill Metro in downtown Montreal.

PLEASE CONTACT ME at nhen@videotron.ca for registration, information, and payment. More workshops being announced soon!

Natasha Henderson, Montreal

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Categories Art, workshops

Custom Workshops: have creativity, will travel

By natashahenderson
March 10, 2011 //
0

creation during a previous workshop

The brains behind Fleurbain, Tammy Schmidt CHT and Natasha Henderson BFA, are pleased to announce an exciting new service: Customised Workshops.

Combine these two women’s talents for an inventive and innovative experience that is tailored to meet your needs. For groups, clubs, corporate teams, or just a gathering of friends, Tammy and Natasha will craft a unique workshop with the greatest of expertise and care.

Tammy is a Clinical Herbal Therapist with an extensive knowledge of herbal remedies. Outside of her clinical practice, she excels in creative Green ideas for the home, bath, and beauty. Let’s not forget that she is brilliant in herbal/cooking fusion! Tammy will encourage you to grow and create while you learn.

Natasha is a graduate from the Emily Carr Institute of Art in Vancouver, with experience in teaching painting, felt-making, crafting, and general creativity to groups of adults and children alike. Natasha is an empowering instructor who invites the potential in every student.

Fleurbain will come to your location for workshops, or we can meet in our central studio location. It’s up to you.

in the midst of cooking/herbal infusion

A very few ideas for your workshops: Herbal bath treatments and notebook making; Team-building mural painting with a herbal tea session; Puppet-making workshop for kids or adults; Painting with herbal pigments; Informative nature walk while drawing from nature; City-scape walks, seeking nature in an urban environment; Crafting workshops with groups. Check out the two-day experience we hosted recently, in which we steeped herbalism and crafting together to create a unique Spa Weekend.

creative learning through activity

The sky is not even the limit… Give us an email at fleurbain@gmail.com to see what we can do together. Please provide dates and location desired for the workshop, as well as a rough idea of number of participants, their ages, and the purpose or reason for the workshop (eg team-building, fun event, educational, etc).  We will put together a package customized for you and your group.

Please note that we are in the Montreal area.

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I gotta hand it to you… DIY Hand Puppet!

By natashahenderson
December 12, 2010 //
1

Hand-puppets… they are fun, functional, and CUTE. Capital “c” cute. Cute! They are easy to make, and you can combine your imagination with whatever materials that are available to make something pretty cool.

My first puppet. He likes the piano.

To start, find some fabric that is big enough to fit your hand with fingers spread widely, twice. When I made my puppets, I used hand-made felt. You can use any type of fabric if you have access to a sewing machine… otherwise (for hand-sewing) I recommend a non-fray fabric such as felt.

roughly what a template would look like

The first thing to make is a template. The template is your pattern. If you are happy with your puppet, you can re-use your template for future puppets. If you are unhappy with an aspect of your puppet, the template can be adjusted.

Extend your hand so that your thumb is sticking out, then trace on paper. Fold the paper so that the “thumb-side” is mirrored. Add a seam allowance onto this, about an inch all around. It’s a good idea to give a little extra room, too. Check that the top is rounded, not weirdly shaped (unless you want to make a weird puppet, which is always a fun option!)

When you have a general shape for the template, cut it out. You can then use this to cut out two pieces of your fabric. Simply sew them together and decorate. Puppet. Keep in mind before you sew the pieces together, however, that this is a good time to add things such as ears! Some would prefer, also, to add a face or other features before sewing it together. I prefer to see what my final shape is before doing that. Have fun with your new pal! 

After I had adjusted my template, I made some more puppets.

 

After a short time I got more ambitious with puppets. See what YOU can come up with!

Natasha Henderson, Montreal

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