For ages 8-12 years

Engaging art workshops at home. Nature can be a wonderful source of inspiration that teaches us about form, line, color, relationship, movement, rhythm and story. In this series of 3-day workshops, children will have the opportunity to explore the arts, culture and folk lore of different cultures and their relationship to the natural world around them. Choose one session, or join them all.

These workshops will be organized as ZOOM online conferences which are super easy to join. Links will be sent to parents the day before the workshop and parents are welcome to join in the creative fun as well. Kids will be able to continue working on their artworks after the online workshops are concluded if they feel inspired.

Parents will collect GRAB AND GO Art Kits (which will include many fun art materials for the children to use in these classes) by appointment after registering for the workshop.

Instructors: Melissa Koch is a full-time practicing artist and arts educator, bringing a lifetime of experience, appreciation, and world travel to her classes. Melissa has had many years of experience teaching art to youth of all ages, providing fun, interesting and diverse art projects to learn from. www.melissakochfinearts.com. Email:

Alice Springs is an artist and designer whose jewelry and art creations are inspired by her world travels and studies exploring new ways of using traditional crafts. She has worked alongside her artist mother Melissa since she was 4 years old and co-taught art to children with her over a number of years. www.alicespringsjewellery.com Email:

Minimum 3/Maximum 8 per session

WHAT YOU WILL NEED Requirements for workshops:

• Solid internet access (WIFI or lots of data). See Zoom system requirements.
• Ability to link to ZOOM via computer/phone/tablet and engage with video and audio. Links to be provided.
• Ability to pick up Grab & Go Art Kit from a South Whidbey location, to be arranged.
• In addition to the included “Grab & Go Art Kit” you’ll need to provide for your child: Tape, scissors, paper towel or rag, and a pot, jar or small container with water for painting. Please indicate if you have any art paint brushes, watercolor paints or colored felt pens at home already.
• Children will need to have plant and animal imagery to work from. Magazine print outs or copies made from online resources will work best for the collage part of the projects. They can also draw from book imagery.
• Flat work surface, at least 17″ X 24″ preferably where messes can be made. Best covered with the 17″ X 24″ brown paper provided in the art kits, to protect the surface.
• Clothing that can get messy.
• Water & snack on hand (optional)
• Behavior: If participant is unable or unwilling to engage in the workshop in a productive way (being disruptive, being unsafe or not following direction), they may be temporarily “muted” or permanently dropped from the course with no refund.

Notes: You will need to provide from home for the workshop: pair of scissors, glue or hot glue gun, tape, a ruler or something with a straight edge, a pencil, string if possible. All other art materials will be provided in the Grab-And-Go art kits.

Min 3/Max 8 per session

Mini Art Cards

Fold-Out, Pop-Up, Hand-Crafted Mini Art Cards

Create hand-made and solar printed cards! Hand craft and construct art cards that fold out, pop up, accordion using diverse materials and techniques. This workshop will include basic printmaking, solar prints using the sun, collage, mixed media, sewing and paper crafting techniques.

• Monday: Learn the art of paper crafting to make fold out and pop up art cards.
• Wednesday: Solar prints and basic printmaking.
• Thursday: Put it all together

Mon/Wed/Thu | June 8-11 | 10-11:30am | $65*

*Additional $35 materials fee paid directly to instructor provides a “Grab & Go Art Kit” which parents will collect by scheduling a pick-up at a South Whidbey Island location, to be arranged after registering. Some basic supplies will need to be provided by you.

Art & Story Telling Workshop

Bookbinding, Illustration Drawing, and Creative Writing

Learn how to make your own books using different materials and book binding techniques and learn how to create and illustrate a story or poem. The workshop will include fun paper crafting, basic printmaking, drawing and collage.

• Monday: Learn about basic bookmaking skills and how to create a story.
• Wednesday: The art of illustration.
• Thursday: Put it all together.

Mon/Wed/Thu | June 15-18 | 10-11:30am | $65*

*Additional $35 materials fee paid directly to instructor provides a “Grab & Go Art Kit” which parents will collect by scheduling a pick-up at a South Whidbey Island location, to be arranged after registering. Some basic supplies will need to be provided by you.

Playful Embroidery Art

Modern art, collage and punch needle embroidery

A visually colorful and playful workshop introducing modern art, design and the creation of embroidered artworks. Children will learn about composition, designing shapes, working with color and diverse embroidery techniques.

• Monday: Learning the art of composition and observation drawing. Children will learn about color mixing, texturing and how to create gradations of color and arrangement of shapes to create their designs for the embroidered artwork. Introduction to basic techniques of ribbon embroidery.
• Wednesday: Learn punch needle embroidery.
• Thursday: Embroidery continued. Learn how to transform your art piece into a functional object.

Mon/Wed/Thu | June 22- 25| 10-11:30am | $65*

*Additional $35 materials fee paid directly to instructor provides a “Grab & Go Art Kit” which parents will collect by scheduling a pick-up at a South Whidbey Island location, to be arranged after registering. Some basic supplies will need to be provided by you.

Register here.