Arts and Crafts
Explore all workshops in the Arts and Crafts learning track below!
Getting Creative with Nature’s Canvas
Thursdays, July 6 – August 3
1:30 – 3:00 pm
Open to all Maine youth
Maximum 12 attendees
Are you just itching to express some creative energy? In this workshop, youth will get to explore all the creativity the environment has to offer! By collecting and utilizing the nature found in your daily life, we’ll create marvelous bean mosaics, sun print cyanotypes, potato block print scenes, and pinecone gnome sculptures. Youth are encouraged to let their creative energy loose in every class! They’ll even have the opportunity to share their work and sit down for a Q&A session, with a real Maine artist. We can’t wait to get crafting! Register by June 21.
Nature Science Journaling
Mondays, July 10 – August 7
10:00 – 11:00 am
Open to Maine youth ages 9 & up
Maximum 12 attendees
In this 5-week workshop series, we will become natural scientists as we observe, describe, and draw the patterns we find in nature. Combining scientific observations with drawing, we will work on developing our attention to detail as we explore the big and small natural patterns all around us. You do not need to be good at drawing to enjoy this workshop! Materials will be provided. Register by June 26.
Seaweed Lava Lamps
Friday, July 28
10:00 – 11:30 am
Open to Maine youth ages 9 & up
Maximum 10 attendees
Do you know all of the amazing properties of seaweed? In this workshop, you will learn about some of these wonders by harnessing seaweed’s “gelling” abilities to make Seaweed Lava Lamps right at home! This workshop will be led by 4-H Aquaculture Interns. Youth must register by July 17 for supplies to be mailed to attendees’ homes.
Whimsical Watercolor
Wednesday, July 5, 19, 26, and August 2
12:30 – 2:00 pm
Open to Maine youth of all ages
Maximum 10 attendees
In Whimsical Watercolor, learners will explore watercolor supplies and materials. In each class, artists will be shown various painting techniques. Exploration time will be given for learners to practice and get more comfortable. They can then use this as inspiration as they continue their watercolor journey outside of class. Register by June 12.
- Week 1: Intro
First steps will include learning to load the brush, control our water, and mixing colors. We will then continue with techniques like wet on dry, wet on wet, a wash, scumbling, lifting, splatter, layering, dry brushing, charging and blending, adding details, creating blooms, and painting silhouettes. We will learn how to paint water, sky, and sand and create a bookmark. - Week 2: Animals
We will continue using our new techniques to help us paint animals. We will be creating whimsical fish, jellyfish, and a turtle. Learning to control the paint and drying time will be our focus this week. - Week 3: Items Found at Sea
We will be sketching a sand dollar, shell, and palm tree. Learning to paint items found in nature can be daunting since we need to learn how to show details on something that is mainly one color. - Week 4: Aquatic Scene
Artists will compile the techniques practiced previously to create a scene complete with water, the sky, a palm tree, rocks, and small turtles crawling toward the water.
Woven World: A Creative Weaving Adventure
July 11, 13, and 18
10:30 – 11:45 am
Open to Maine youth ages 9 & up
Maximum 12 attendees
Attention young artisans aged 9 and up! Join us for an extraordinary weaving workshop where we will embark on a journey into the enchanting world of textile art. Get ready to explore the rich heritage of weaving as we create stunning tapestries, mixed media woven trees, and delve into the intricate art of straw weaving. This immersive workshop spans three sessions, allowing ample time for exploration and creativity to flourish. All of the supplies will be provided for hands-on fun and learning. Register by July 3.