Get creative with a packed programme of arts activities for adults in Aberdeen

20 August 2015

A packed programme of exciting, educational and fun activities and workshops will be available this autumn/winter at Aberdeen Maritime Museum, Shiprow.

The Get Creative programme 2015/16 for adults is being held in the maritime museum while Aberdeen Art Gallery is closed as part of a £30m redevelopment and is due to reopen in winter 2017.

Aberdeen Art Gallery & Museums staff have organised the programme working in partnership with professional artists. The workshops have been inspired by the exhibitions, which are being held at Aberdeen Maritime Museum and The Tolbooth Museum.

Aberdeen City Council's Convener of Education and Children's Services Councillor Angela Taylor said: "This Get Creative programme offers adults the opportunity to work with professionals arts and be motivated by the fabulous exhibitions on show now and in the coming months here in Aberdeen."

The programme gets under way with a flower painting workshop inspired by the Jacobites story with botanical artist Fiona Swapp on Friday 04 September.

The Get Creative programme is as follows:

Friday 4 September 2015

Flower Painting - intermediate
Join botanical artist Fiona Swapp to make a watercolour study of plants and flowers associated with the Jacobite cause such as the Morning Glory or the Oak and Acorn.

No prior experience of botanical painting required, but participants must be proficient in watercolour painting.

Basic materials provided, but you are welcome to bring your own paints, brushes and palette if you wish.

Times: 10.30am-4.30pm (inc 1 hour lunch break)
Price: £45 (£40 Accord Card Holders)

Friday 18 September 2015
Flower Painting - Advanced
Fiona Swapp returns to lead you in creating a watercolour study of more complex flowers linked to Jacobites and the Highlands such as the White Rose and the Thistle.

Some prior experience of botanical painting is required - participants from the intermediate class may wish to expand their repertoire in this class.

Basic materials provided, but you are welcome to bring your own paints, brushes and palette if you wish.

Times: 10.30am-4.30pm (inc 1 hour lunch break)
Price: £45 (£40 Accord Card Holders)

Saturday 19 September 2015
Making Brooches - Beginners
Inspired the Jacobites White Cockades, this workshop will lead you through making your own mixed textile brooch. Pauline and Paula will use traditional tartans and tweeds alongside other fabrics in this fun workshop.

No prior experience necessary.

All materials provided.

Times: 10.30am-4.30pm (inc 1 hour lunch break)
Price: £45 (£40 Accord Card Holders)

Saturday 26 September 2015
Making Bags - Beginners
Make your own simple bag in tweeds and tartans, as well as a variety of embellishments. Pauline and Paula will lead you through the basics of pattern cutting, stitching and embellishing your bag.

There will be a mix of hand and machine stitching.

No prior experience necessary.

All materials provided.

Times: 10.30am-4.30pm (inc 1 hour lunch break)
Price: £45 (£40 Accord Card Holders)

Fridays 6 and 13 November 2015
Exploring Traditional Portraits
Kelly-Anne Cairns leads this two-day portraiture workshop, inspired by Aberdeen's great portraitist, George Jamesone. You will work from a life model to create your own figurative portrait in oils.

For more experienced artists.

Basic materials provided, but you are welcome to bring your own paints, brushes and palette if you wish.

Times: 10.30am-4.30pm (inc 1 hour lunch break)
Price: £90 (£80 Accord Card Holders)

Saturday 7 November 2015
Life Drawing - beginners
Learn the basics of life drawing from Kelly-Anne Cairns in this fun workshop. You'll work from a life model to produce drawings in a variety of mediums, experimenting to find techniques that work for you.

No prior experience necessary.

All materials provided.

Times: 10.30am-4.30pm (inc 1 hour lunch break)
Price: £45 (£40 Accord Card Holders)

Fridays 20 and 27 November 2015
Exploring Abstract Portraits
How do artists take the familiar form of the human face and manipulate it to create something new and exciting? Join Kelly-Anne Cairns to explore this question. You'll study a life model to create your own unique abstract portrait in oils.

For more experienced artists.

Basic materials provided, but you are welcome to bring your own paints, brushes and palette if you wish.

Times: 10.30am-4.30pm (inc 1 hour lunch break)
Price: £90 (£80 Accord Card Holders)

Saturday 21 November 2015
Life Drawing - intermediate
A chance for folk who have had experience of life drawing but would like to improve their technique, or perhaps just want the opportunity to work from a life model. Kelly-Anne Cairns will be on hand to offer as much or as little tuition as you wish.

For more experienced artists.

Basic materials provided, but you are welcome to bring your own drawing materials if you wish.

Times: 10.30am-4.30pm (inc 1 hour lunch break)
Price: £45 (£40 Accord Card Holders)

Saturday 28 November 2015
Getting the best from your digital camera
Join photographer Karen Catto to learn how to get the best portraits out of your digital camera. This workshop focuses on taking photographs, rather than manipulating them using a computer, so you will go away with skills you can start using straight away.

No prior photographic training necessary.

Participants must bring their own digital camera.

Times: 10.30am-12.30pm
Price: £18 (£16 Accord Card Holders)

Birth and Baptism Season

Friday 22 January 2016
Shetland Lace Knitting - advanced
Shetland Lace has traditionally been used in baptismal blankets, but in this workshop Karie Westermann will teach you how apply this technique to make a shawl. You will learn how to design your lace pattern and construct your shawl, starting you off on a project you can finish at home.

This workshop is for confident knitters.

Yarns provided - details on what needles to bring will be included in your booking information.

Times: 10.30am-4.30pm (inc 1 hour lunch break)
Price: £45 (£40 Accord Card Holders)

Saturday 23 January 2016
Shetland Lace Knitting - beginners
A chance to try out this beautiful knitting style in a fun and supportive environment.
Karie Westermann will guide you in creating a bookmark showcasing Shetland Lace motifs - and hopefully inspire you to carry on to more adventurous projects!

Participants should have mastered basic knitting techniques.

All materials provided.

Times: 10.30am-4.30pm (inc 1 hour lunch break)
Price: £45 (£40 Accord Card Holders)

Friday 29 January 2016
Bookbinding - Beginners
Join bookbinder Susan Connon to create your own unique book, perfect for keeping mementoes of special occasions. You will have a number of coverings to choose from as well as freedom to select the shape and style of your book.

No prior experience necessary.

All materials provided.

Times: 10.30am-4.30pm (inc 1 hour lunch break)
Price: £45 (£40 Accord Card Holders)

Saturday 30 January 2016
Chinese Calligraphy
The New Year often suggests the idea of rebirth and new beginnings, why not join tutors from the Confucius Institute of the University of Aberdeen to start an early celebration of Chinese New Year? You will learn basic Chinese characters and brushwork technique, producing a piece of calligraphy to take home.

No prior experience necessary.

All materials provided.

Times: 10.30am-12.30pm
Price: £18 (£16 Accord Card Holders)

Booking
Visit www.eventbrite.co.uk then type in the activity you wish to go on or telephone 01224 523677 for further assistance.

If you wish to use an Accord Card to receive a discount please ensure you bring it with you to your workshop so it can be verified.

Payment for all workshops must be made in advance.

Accord Card
Residents living in Aberdeen can take advantage of a variety of discounts on many council services, including our workshops. The card is free and information about where to obtain one, as well as an online application from can be found at www.accordaberdeen.co.uk. Non Aberdeen residents can purchase a visitor card that will entitle the cardholder to the same discounts as city residents. This may be purchased from Aberdeen Central Library at a cost of £10 and is valid for two years.

For more information on Accord Cards or the Residents Discount Scheme please telephone 0845 345 2789 or email accordhelp@accordaberdeen.co.uk

Aberdeen Maritime Museum
Opening Hours
Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm
Sunday 12noon-3pm
Tel 01224 337700
www.aagm.co.uk

Inspiring Art and Music will see the transformation of the Art Gallery, Cowdray Hall and Memorial Hall through significant investment in the fabric of the buildings, new exhibition and display galleries and improved facilities for visitors. To learn more about the project, which is due to be completed in winter 2017, visit the project blog at www.inspiringartandmusic.tumblr.com