School Holiday Workshop Program
Dive into the school holidays in 2022 in Blacktown Art’s Creative School Holiday Program. With 6 low cost art workshops, children will take home something new every time. Book in for one or a few and enjoy the summer break being creative with experienced, local facilitators.
This summer, drop in on Saturday 22nd January with two free art experiences for children and families, rock painting and the Letters of Love project. See the schedule below for more info and read about the local artists who you will meet.
We look forward to welcoming families and children back to the arts centre after the challenging year of 2021 and starting 2022 with community and art making.
Please note:
- all children under the age of 9 must be accompanied by a parent or carer who must remain on-site. Due to COVID-19, only one parent or carer can accompany the child or group of children in their care. Please remember to book a free ticket.
- all materials are provided except for art smocks and aprons, so please consider bringing your own or wearing clothes that can get dirty if you’re a messy painter or art maker!
- workshop numbers are limited to be COVID safe in line with NSW government public health guidelines
- no food or drink is currently available for purchase at The Leo Kelly Blacktown Arts Centre. Please provide your child with a water bottle for their session. Feel free to bring your coffee or a snack while you are visiting The Leo Kelly Blacktown Arts Centre.
- our nearest café is the Young Lions coffee cart, located 200m directly across the road from the Arts Centre on Flushcombe Rd with opening hours 7.15 am – 4.00 pm, Monday – Friday.
Click here to plan your visit to The Leo Kelly Blacktown Arts Centre
Bottle art workshop
Artist Saranya Jayaram
Date Tuesday 18th January
Time 10:30am to 12:30pm
Cost $15 (booking fees apply)
Age Suitable for children 10 years and over
Learn the art of glass bottle painting in this fun and interactive workshop by Saranya Jayaram. Repurpose glass bottles into an incredible piece of art. In this workshop, you will learn the step-by-step process of basic glass bottle painting. This is an exciting workshop for the creative minds who wish to explore painting on the surface of glass.
Saranya Jayaram is a local artist with many skills and interests with over 15 years of experience in art making and Indian crafts.
Screen printing workshop
Artist Coralie Horsnell
Date Wednesday 19th January
Time 10:30am to 12:30pm
Cost $15 (booking fees apply)
Age Suitable for children under 12 years
Screen Printing: Print your own design with paint using a silk screen. Learn about how to use positive and negative shapes and colours to make a template to use with a silk screen.
Coralie Horsnell was born in Sydney Australia. Her creative flair was evident from a young age, enhanced by formal studies in Design and Visual Arts Teaching. While studying and bringing up a family, Coralie worked in the Childcare Industry. In 2010, Coralie established “Artistique Art & Design” – teaching visual art lessons and workshops. Coralie’s first solo art exhibition “Animal Instincts” in 2013 was inspired by animal behaviours, consisting of paintings and sculptures.
Coralie, and many of her students, have experienced success with various art accolades. Today, Coralie specialises in expressive artworks that entice the finding of joy in objects that most people take for granted, by putting them in the spotlight, capturing their personality and recording their existence beyond intended purposes.
“Do you See What I See?”
Nature and Me workshop
Artist Skye Andrew
Date Thursday 20th January
Time 10:30am to 12:30pm
Cost $15 (booking fees apply)
Age Suitable for children under 12 years
We will be creating an artwork of our favourite place in nature. It could be a beach, a bush scene, a special place in your local park or even a place from your imagination. Learn how to experiment with mark making and create your very own artwork of your favourite place in nature to take home.
Skye completed a Diploma of Fine Art at the National Art School, majoring in photography and painting. She has exhibited in solo and group shows throughout Australia. Skye has a passion for the outdoors and loves creating art experiments alongside her primary school aged son.
Landscape painting workshop
Artist Eman Nasr
Date Friday 21st January
Time 10:30am to 12:30pm
Cost $15 (booking fees apply)
Age Suitable for children 8 years and over
Learn how to paint a beautiful landscape painting on canvas using acrylic paints. Step by step guidance suitable for all abilities. Let us guide you to create your very own masterpiece!
Art is my peaceful sanctuary. My inspiration is derived from my own life journey. I have been strongly influenced by my travels around the world, and the people that I met along the way. Colours and textures excite me as reflected in my artwork. My painting process is heartfelt and usually spontaneous as I paint what I feel and not what I see. Every stroke of my brush is an imagination let loose, and every colour that I mix is an emotion that I am setting free. My passion for art continues to grow each day, and I hope I can be an inspiration for others, especially children, to follow their dreams and let their creativity thrive.
Letters of Love workshop
For kids and parents/carers
Artist Negin Chahoud
Date Saturday 22nd January
Time 10:30am to 12:30pm
Cost Free
Age All ages however adult supervision is required
Together, families are invited to make a Letter of Love. Using the art materials provided unleash your creative side on an A3 Watercolour and a Letters of Love Project postcard. Once your artwork has been completed, you are invited to write a letter or quote to your younger self.
Workshop facilitator Negin says “I want participants to have an artwork where they have created something together as a family.”
Rock painting workshop
Artist Saqlain Binte Saleh
Date Saturday 22nd January
Time 10:30am to 12:30pm
Cost Free
Age All ages however adult supervision is required
Drop in and take part in the latest tech free craze – painting rocks. Use the materials and rocks supplied at the art centre and be inspired to paint your own designs onto rocks to take home.
I am Saqlain. I am a local artist from Ropes Crossing, passionate about art and creativity and am enjoying working as an arts facilitator at The Leo Kelly Blacktown Arts Centre. Nature and bright colours inspire most of my art work. I completed Tafe -Certificate III in Design Fundamentals in June 2021 and am skilled at creating exciting, positive and supportive creative spaces for children and adults. I have a range of experience teaching many age groups and planning creative experiences with the curriculum.