CREATIVITY AND PLAY

SPRING II - 2025

BOARD GAMES. Come On!  Let’s get together and play some of these fun games, many of which we played as kids or played with our kids or grandkids.  We’ll have a selection available - e.g. Scrabble,  Scattegories, Yahtzee, Boggle,  Rummikub or you can bring your own games.  Sign up with a friend or two and meet others who are out to have a good time!

If you are curious, please register, even if you are not able to attend every week. We would relish your presence and input.

BRIDGE SUPERVISED. Play bridge like a pro. If you are learning bridge or want to practice or refresh your skills, you can enjoy the game in an informal social environment.  You either win, or you learn or you enjoy yourself, or all three!  We will compare results to see how different players bid and played each board.  Playing bridge is a life-long learning pleasure. This is not for beginners.

CREATIVE WRITING. Instructor: Ellen Green

Come and enjoy this writing workshop where you can exercise your creative side and share your writing with your classmates and listen to their stories as well.  From interactive exercises and group discussions, this 6-week course will focus on character development, dialogue, memoir, structure, genres of writing and more. Participants offer helpful hints on how to improve other writer’s work, always in a warm and inclusive setting. It doesn’t matter your level of writing when you begin; everyone has a story to tell and we can’t wait to read yours.  Maximum 12 participants.

DRAWING FLOWERS Instructor: Deanne Hall-Habeeb

In this course we’ll look at a presentation of flowers and floral still lifes done throughout the history of art including drawings and paintings by famous artists and cultures such as Georgia O’Keeffe, Odilon Redon, Claude Monet, Vincent Van Gogh, the Dutch Golden Age, Chinese and Japanese prints.  The lessons will focus on how to construct different flowers such as roses, hibiscus, irises.  Learn how to draw multiple blooms, bouquets, and flowers in a garden. Step-by-step drawing instructions will be presented. Various media will be introduced.

INTRODUCTION TO ABSTRACT PAINTING Instructor: Margo Godin

We have all looked at beautiful abstract art pictures and wondered, “how does anyone get the ideas to paint these works?” This course will offer various exercises to get you started on an abstract painting and then guide you towards creating your own preferred compositions while focusing on shapes, lines, texture and colour. Abstraction can be based on realistic subjects, but also can start from the imagination, scribbling, mark makings, etc. Whether you are an experienced painter or a newbie, join this class and enjoy this adventure.
(For those who have paintings in progress, you are welcome to join this class to complete your projects and begin new works as well.).
Acrylic is the preferred medium although students working in coloured pencils or watercolour could also benefit.
Supplies:
Drawing or mix media paper, min. size 12”x16”
Palette 
Spatula or old credit cards
Rag or paper towels
Container for water
Masking tape 1/2” or 1”
Brushes 1/4”, 1/2”, 1”, round or flat, or what you have 
What you have from the following: Pencils/charcoal/markers/wax crayons/graphite/oil pastels/colour pencils
Canvas: min. size 10”x12” or size of your choice. Not needed until the second week.
Acrylic paint: red, blue, yellow, black and white, or what you already have, plus black and white

THE JOY AND MAGIC OF WATERCOLOUR PAINTING. Sharon is an artist with a passion for teaching watercolour painting.  She will first show colour and tones- an important part for the shapes in each painting and will create a visual reminder for creating primary, secondary, and complimentary colors.  Sharon will demonstrate painting techniques with the brushes and other materials required for the course.  The classes will proceed according to information the students share – what moves them - their experiences and interests and the classes will be organized to meet the needs of the group.