Latest Events in Ladybank(August Updated)

Due to very popular demand, we are delighted to offer a repeat workshop in September! We welcome back Frances Law, a very well known and respected professional artist with 40 years studio practice in many aspects of fine art; painting, print-making, collage and artist’s books. Her work is stunning and inspiring, and you can see examples of her many projects on her website. She is also an experienced teacher and educator having worked in Further and Higher education, Art in Healthcare and within Community Arts Programmes throughout Scotland. Her role as an educator is to provide a safe and nurturing platform in which to teach a fundamental skill base and encourage artists to develop their own visual language and identity. Frances is particularly well known for her beautiful artist's books, and in this workshop she will share her book-making practice so that you can create your own. She will lead you through the process of printing unique papers which you will then cut, tear and paste to create beautiful, rich and diverse landscape books. You will be able to bring your own reference material but there will also be plenty of help with ideas. Information Source: Off The Rails Arthouse | eventbrite

Due to very popular demand, we offer another chance to take part in a fast, fun workshop and end up with a super-cosy finished rug! There will be a selection of both and coloured fleeces to choose from. We welcome Trish O’Meara, from Wormit Woolies. Trish is a local fibre artist specializing in making hand felted rugs and decorative wall hangings using natural raw fleece amongst other bits and pieces of nature. As she lives on a small holding, her interest in felting raw fleece came from owning sheep and wanting to find ways to use and recycle the fleece in both a practical and meaningful way. This is a practical workshop but you’ll also get loads of theory along the way. Come prepared for an upper body workout and wear your oldest clothes, felting is splashy, messy and physically demanding. Then we’ll get stuck into felting using warm water and soap along with a few different tools like rolling pins and paint rollers etc. This is followed by some throwing and fulling which is when the real magic happens! You will be provided with a plastic apron along with everything else needed to create your very own one of a kind felted rug/throw. Each participant will need to bring along a couple of large towel and a bag to carry your damp rug home in. Trish will provide you with an instruction sheet for follow up care of your rug! Information Source: Off The Rails Arthouse | eventbrite

Due to very popular demand, we offer another chance to take part in a fast, fun workshop and end up with a super-cosy finished rug! There will be a selection of both and coloured fleeces to choose from. We welcome Trish O’Meara, from Wormit Woolies. Trish is a local fibre artist specializing in making hand felted rugs and decorative wall hangings using natural raw fleece amongst other bits and pieces of nature. As she lives on a small holding, her interest in felting raw fleece came from owning sheep and wanting to find ways to use and recycle the fleece in both a practical and meaningful way. This is a practical workshop but you’ll also get loads of theory along the way. Come prepared for an upper body workout and wear your oldest clothes, felting is splashy, messy and physically demanding. Then we’ll get stuck into felting using warm water and soap along with a few different tools like rolling pins and paint rollers etc. This is followed by some throwing and fulling which is when the real magic happens! You will be provided with a plastic apron along with everything else needed to create your very own one of a kind felted rug/throw. Each participant will need to bring along a couple of large towel and a bag to carry your damp rug home in. Trish will provide you with an instruction sheet for follow up care of your rug! Information Source: Off The Rails Arthouse | eventbrite

Unleash your creativity by delving into the realm of 3D form and structure at the upcoming workshop led by Jenny Pope, a renowned sculptor based in Edinburgh. With a background in Ceramics and Sculpture from Edinburgh College of Art, Jenny's work centers on sculptures and installations crafted from found and recycled materials, exploring themes of uncertainty, change, and the emotional impact of climate crisis. Through a series of engaging exercises, participants will have the opportunity to experiment with non-precious materials like packaging, cardboard, and clay, as well as everyday objects, under Jenny's expert guidance. This workshop, titled "Unblocking your Creativity, with Jenny Pope," encourages a playful and experimental approach focused on the creative process rather than the final outcome. Participants will draw inspiration from various sculptors, molding and shaping materials to create unique structures while reflecting on the perception of 3D art. Suitable for all skill levels, this workshop will take place at Off The Rails Arthouse in Ladybank on April 27-28, 2024. Tickets are priced at £136.14, and participants are encouraged to bring their own materials in addition to those provided.

Experience a brush with Nature through Artist’s Books with Frances Law, a distinguished professional artist boasting 40 years of studio practice across various fine art disciplines. Renowned for her captivating work in painting, print-making, collage, and artist’s books, Frances Law's impressive portfolio can be explored on her website. With a strong background in teaching and education within Further and Higher education, Art in Healthcare, and Community Arts Programmes in Scotland, Frances excels in fostering a safe and nurturing environment for artists to hone their skills and artistic identity. Known for her exquisite artist's books, Frances Law invites participants to delve into her book-making techniques in the upcoming workshop, "Cut and Paste with Frances Law - Make your own Artist Book." Delve into the process of printing unique papers, subsequently transforming them into intricate landscape books through cutting, tearing, and pasting. Attendees have the opportunity to bring their own reference materials, with additional guidance available for inspiration. All necessary materials are provided, ensuring a seamless and enriching creative experience at the Off The Rails Arthouse in Ladybank on May 25, 2024, for £60.29.

Step into the enchanting world of Botanical Printing with Elisabeth Viguie Culshaw, a captivating arts event taking place at Off The Rails Arthouse in Ladybank. Immerse yourself in the beauty of nature as you learn the intricate art of botanical printing from the renowned artist herself. From June 1st to June 2nd, witness the magic unfold at the Upper Flat, Ladybank Station House, Victoria Street, Ladybank, KY15 7JT. Delve into the creative process, explore the delicate balance between art and nature, and walk away with your very own masterpiece. Tickets for this exclusive event are priced at £152.38. Don't miss this opportunity to experience the wonder of botanical printing with Elisabeth Viguie Culshaw. Reserve your spot now and embark on a journey of artistic discovery.

Immerse yourself in a delightful weekend of vibrant colors and expressive artistry at the "Fabulous Floral Landscapes, with Jo Perkins" event. Based in rural Scotland, artist Jo Perkins captures the essence of her local landscape through bright and joyful paintings that reflect her emotions and the changing seasons. With a keen fascination for color and its emotional impact, Jo creates stunning compositions using acrylic and mixed media, blending life and imagination into expressive works of art. At the event, participants will have the opportunity to explore mixed media and mark-making techniques under Jo's guidance, delving into the world of abstract floral paintings. Through the use of just 5 tubes of acrylic paint, attendees will unlock the secrets of vibrant color mixing, inspired by nature's beauty. Join Jo Perkins at Off The Rails Arthouse in Ladybank on June 22-23, 2024, for a midsummer weekend filled with creativity and inspiration. Tickets are priced at £119.89 for this unique artistic experience.

As part of the Open House at the Arthouse we run free taster sessions every 4-6 weeks. Greyscale hand painted collage led by Pat bray is the next in the series. This exercise is a wonderful way to start thinking about abstraction. The process is unique to everyone. The process expands skills in abstract painting and composition. The moving parts of collage make it a quick and easy way to construct a composition whilst training your mind and eye. Pat will guide you through 4 steps to create your collaged compositions. To find out more about Pat visit her Instagram page here Information Source: Off The Rails Arthouse | eventbrite

Georgia Rose Murray uses the language of painting to explore the mystical reality of far Northern and winter landscapes. Her investigations in conjunction with scientists, have led her to Iceland in winter, Svalbard and even further north to witness, record and interpret the impact on these stunning landscapes of climate change. The results are beautiful, moving artworks. You can find out more about her creative journey on her website. This lecture and discussion session is a preliminary for those taking part in the weekend workshop on 1/2 February, but the evening session is also open to others who are not involved in the weekend but are interested in finding out more about Georgia's work. Information Source: Off The Rails Arthouse | eventbrite

In a first for Off the Rails arthouse, we are delighted to welcome three emerging artists in their final year studying Fine Art at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, who will be showcasing their work and sharing their creative practice with you over three days. The exhibition explores the way each of them bases their work on different embodiments of time; Past, Present and Future, using their minds and bodies to generate work with personal resonance. Look for colour and texture in their work as well as reference to the process of creating using material, significant imagery, historical allusion and technology. This is a free event and you do not need to book. The artists will be on hand to discuss their ideas throughout the weekend. About the artists: PAST Sophie Mathews creates gestural paintings of domestic spaces inspired by old-time still life paintings but playing with contemporary ways of working, adding fabric and sewing into the canvas. She looks into the past focusing on everyday items that she remembers from childhood as well as those from her own home as an adult, using these as reference. Initially working on paintings and enhancing with textiles to add texture has made her become more process-led. Creating as she goes, adding different materials and hand-stitched detail, her practice becomes more spontaneous with each piece. PRESENT Nicole Robertson’s work is a response to the life she experiences with the people she experiences them with, as well as the world she sees everyday - her world. Using mixed media such as acrylic and oil pastels she paints and draws the people and the environments that share her life and are significant to her. She is gestural and fluid while creating these mundane and intimate moments that she wishes to share. FUTURE Liv Rodgers’ work is an exploration of the transhumanism ideas of the future, with the influence of plant and human intelligence, urban space and control. She brings together imagery of plants and her own body overlapping and many uses of layering to create ambiguous forms and shapes. She wants her work to be current and a form of self-reflection in terms of the text used as well. Using her own body as influence or to create works is key for her because it allows her to have full control, and in the digital space that is not always the case. Using AI to develop the work further is a key element to the way she works and creates more avenues for ideas and new works. Finally, her works do not exist as solo pieces; they are all influencing each other simultaneously because she is always learning and creating, nothing is singular. Everything has transcending boundaries. Information Source: Off The Rails Arthouse | eventbrite

Following a highly successful workshop in June, artist Jo Perkins will work her magic again in an exciting, experimental weekend suitable for anyone who wants to try something new. You will start the weekend creating your own collage papers using tissue paper and then go on to some drawn studies of flowers and how they behave. Then, using your homemade collage papers as a starting point, you will then create colourful abstract paintings of flowers from vases around the studio, reference photos or from your own imagination! As it is a mixed media weekend, you are encouraged to bring crayons, pencils, pastels, acrylic pens, markers and anything else you would like to experiment with! Jo Perkins is an artist based in rural Scotland making bright, joyful paintings in response to her local landscape. Fascinated with colour and how it makes us feel, Jo often explores saturated palettes that reflect both her emotions in regard to the landscape and the changing seasons. You can see examples of Jo's beautiful landscape and floral work on her website. Jo is also a highly experienced and inspiring teacher who will demonstrate her technique and also work one-to one with you. Information Source: Off The Rails Arthouse | eventbrite

Following very successful willow workshops in October and November, we welcome back Katy Bremer for a half-day introduction to this lovely craft. In this two and a half hour workshop, Katy will show you how to make a simple bird feeder for your garden, or a garlic holder for your kitchen, if you don’t have a garden. This is a great way to introduce you to basketry as in the small project alone, there are multiple weaves and techniques that you can transfer to making a full basket in the future. This workshop is suitable for all skills levels and ages 12+, but please be aware that working with willow can be hard on the hands, so if you have any weakness or trouble there, please do get in touch to discuss whether we can accommodate you. Information Source: Off The Rails Arthouse | eventbrite

Following very successful willow workshops in October and November, we welcome back Katy Bremer for a half-day introduction to this lovely craft. In this two and a half hour workshop, Katy will show you how to make a simple bird feeder for your garden, or a garlic holder for your kitchen, if you don’t have a garden. This is a great way to introduce you to basketry as in the small project alone, there are multiple weaves and techniques that you can transfer to making a full basket in the future. This workshop is suitable for all skills levels and ages 12+, but please be aware that working with willow can be hard on the hands, so if you have any weakness or trouble there, please do get in touch to discuss whether we can accommodate you. Information Source: Off The Rails Arthouse | eventbrite

Mindful Drawing from Nature for Well-being -This is also called 'astonishment' drawing. How observational drawing can promote awareness that leads to a sense of wonder and engagement with the natural world. Removing blocks that inhibit us and finding focus through drawing. Giving time and space to something in creative absorption that is also in a way giving time to ourselves. It is drawing without applying a value judgement to the outcome. (It is worth noting that many 'good' drawings arise in a space that is free from judgment). The session will introduce various exercises and methods to approach the practice of drawing that are exploratory and meant to be fun, engaging and ultimately revealing about the natural world around us and ourselves as part of that. I will bring in natural objects and plants to draw from. Although all drawing materials will be supplied if you have your own pencils, charcoal and erasers please bring them along. Free taster session Information Source: Off The Rails Arthouse | eventbrite

Due to great demand, we are offering a second workshop with Jo Perkins. Come for a colourful, expressive and possibly sticky weekend creating vibrant floral paintings using mixed media and collage! Following a highly successful workshop in June, artist Jo Perkins will work her magic again in an exciting, experimental weekend suitable for anyone who wants to try something new. You will start the weekend creating your own collage papers using tissue paper and then go on to some drawn studies of flowers and how they behave. Then, using your homemade collage papers as a starting point, you will then create colourful abstract paintings of flowers from vases around the studio, reference photos or from your own imagination! As it is a mixed media weekend, you are encouraged to bring crayons, pencils, pastels, acrylic pens, markers and anything else you would like to experiment with! Jo Perkins is an artist based in rural Scotland making bright, joyful paintings in response to her local landscape. Fascinated with colour and how it makes us feel, Jo often explores saturated palettes that reflect both her emotions in regard to the landscape and the changing seasons. You can see examples of Jo's beautiful landscape and floral work on her website. Jo is also a highly experienced and inspiring teacher who will demonstrate her technique and also work one-to one with you. Information Source: Off The Rails Arthouse | eventbrite

Due to very popular demand, we offer another chance to take part in a fast, fun workshop and end up with a super-cosy finished rug! There will be a selection of both and coloured fleeces to choose from. We welcome Trish O’Meara, from Wormit Woolies. Trish is a local fibre artist specializing in making hand felted rugs and decorative wall hangings using natural raw fleece amongst other bits and pieces of nature. As she lives on a small holding, her interest in felting raw fleece came from owning sheep and wanting to find ways to use and recycle the fleece in both a practical and meaningful way. This is a practical workshop but you’ll also get loads of theory along the way. Come prepared for an upper body workout and wear your oldest clothes, felting is splashy, messy and physically demanding. Then we’ll get stuck into felting using warm water and soap along with a few different tools like rolling pins and paint rollers etc. This is followed by some throwing and fulling which is when the real magic happens! You will be provided with a plastic apron along with everything else needed to create your very own one of a kind felted rug/throw. Each participant will need to bring along a couple of large towel and a bag to carry your damp rug home in. Trish will provide you with an instruction sheet for follow up care of your rug! Information Source: Off The Rails Arthouse | eventbrite

Followings very successful workshops in the past, we are delighted to welcome back Jenny Matthews RSW for a one-day workshop called Spring Flowers in Watercolour. Jenny is one of Scotland’s foremost watercolour specialists in botanical subjects. Trained at Edinburgh College of Art in Drawing and Painting, including a period tutored by Elizabeth Blackadder, she has been a professional artist for 30 years and has exhibited widely in the UK and abroad. Be inspired by her wonderful work at www.jennymatthews.co.uk The workshop will encourage you to explore watercolour as a descriptive medium whilst also enjoying its expressive and abstract qualities, pushing some boundaries and extending your use of the medium. The timing of the workshop means that spring flowers will be abounding, either in the garden adjacent to the Arthouse and also with cut specimens. If the weather behaves, you may enjoy working both outdoors and indoors - a wonderful start to your summer artwork. Jenny will give demonstrations of the techniques she uses in her flower paintings: both her detailed work, and her broader, looser approach. She will also give some useful insights into how to draw flowers and leaves which will help to create convincing finished pieces. She will draw your attention to the work of other artists and set you on a wonderful journey of exploration, in excellent creative company. Some materials will be available for use or to buy. Photograph by Robert Perry Information Source: Off The Rails Arthouse | eventbrite

Followings very successful workshops in the past, we are delighted to welcome back Jenny Matthews RSW for a one-day workshop called Spring Flowers in Watercolour. Jenny is one of Scotland’s foremost watercolour specialists in botanical subjects. Trained at Edinburgh College of Art in Drawing and Painting, including a period tutored by Elizabeth Blackadder, she has been a professional artist for 30 years and has exhibited widely in the UK and abroad. Be inspired by her wonderful work at www.jennymatthews.co.uk The workshop will encourage you to explore watercolour as a descriptive medium whilst also enjoying its expressive and abstract qualities, pushing some boundaries and extending your use of the medium. The timing of the workshop means that spring flowers will be abounding, either in the garden adjacent to the Arthouse and also with cut specimens. If the weather behaves, you may enjoy working both outdoors and indoors - a wonderful start to your summer artwork. Jenny will give demonstrations of the techniques she uses in her flower paintings: both her detailed work, and her broader, looser approach. She will also give some useful insights into how to draw flowers and leaves which will help to create convincing finished pieces. She will draw your attention to the work of other artists and set you on a wonderful journey of exploration, in excellent creative company. Some materials will be available for use or to buy. Photograph by Robert Perry Information Source: Off The Rails Arthouse | eventbrite

We are delighted to welcome back Frances Law, a very well known and respected professional artist with 40 years studio practice in many aspects of fine art; painting, print-making, collage and artist’s books. Her work is stunning and inspiring, and you can see examples of her many projects on her website. She is also an experienced teacher and educator having worked in Further and Higher education, Art in Healthcare and within Community Arts Programmes throughout Scotland. Her role as an educator is to provide a safe and nurturing platform in which to teach a fundamental skill base and encourage artists to develop their own visual language and identity. Frances is particularly well known for her beautiful artist's books, and in this workshop she will share her book-making practice so that you can create your own. She will lead you through the process of printing unique papers which you will then cut, tear and paste to create beautiful, rich and diverse landscape books. You will be able to bring your own reference material but there will also be plenty of help with ideas. All materials are provided and included in the cost. Information Source: Off The Rails Arthouse | eventbrite

We welcome back Elisabeth Viquie Culshaw who will guide through another weekend of printing with natural materials - this time on fabric. The process of Botanical Printing is the sustainable technique of creating prints by using plants essentially as a source of colour. With the help of heat and humidity you transfer the colour on to fiber to create unique designs. Elisabeth Viguie Culshaw is a highly successful and original Botanical Printer based in Glasgow. You can see examples of her amazing work on her Instagram page. She is creator of #thetruecolourofthecotinus, a method that allows Cotinus leaves to get printed onto fibre giving a beautiful blue print. During our week-end workshop Elisabeth will be sharing with you her Botanical printing methods and tips to allow you to print on both cellulose and silk fabric towards samples for Art projects. We will not be able to tackle large size prints but Elisabeth will share tips on how to upscale your work and will offer the option of upcycling a small item of clothing you would have brought along such as tee shirt/scarf in an immersion pot. During the two days you will forage for plants, learn how to select and prepare fibre and dyes, print, neutralise, finish and on Sunday afternoon you will turn some of your finished prints using both immersion and steamed methods. Elisabeth will share with you basic knowledge about dyes and mordants allowing you to take this technique further and she will also share with you some instructions as an aide memoire for the future. As this workshop is taking place in the right season… you will incorporate Cotinus for beautiful blue prints and talk about the chemistry behind the blue print as long as leaves can be sourced. This workshop is very much perfect for any print addict, any textile lover, any beginner. and those of you who attended last June's workshop will be ableto extend your skills. All material is supplied for up to 6 samples but please bring a small item of clothing for upcycling and some snippets of material for you to try. if you have leaves you want to experiment with ditto. If you have a good tree guide, flower guide, leaves app on your phone, bring them along. Looking forward to printing with you! ABOUT THE ARTIST: Originally trained in stencil conservation in Glasgow by Christies and the University of Glasgow, Elisabeth shared a body of work with the Mackintosh Heritage until she decided to move back to her first love… natural colours. For over 10 years now she has been working with natural dyes exclusively, growing, using and teaching dye plants for colours. She grows a dye plant garden in the Glasgow Botanical Garden every summer #theindigoplot. She travels extensively to South East Asia every year to share her knowledge and educate herself on the subject of Indigo. Her current research is based on resist printing with Indigo and mordant experimenting for blue-prints. She runs a sustainable studio in the West end of Glasgow, teaches in person and online all year around. Information Source: Off The Rails Arthouse | eventbrite

We welcome back Elisabeth Viguie Culshaw who will guide through another weekend of printing with natural materials - this time on fabric. The process of Botanical Printing is the sustainable technique of creating prints by using plants essentially as a source of colour. With the help of heat and humidity you transfer the colour on to fiber to create unique designs. Elisabeth Viguie Culshaw is a highly successful and original Botanical Printer based in Glasgow. You can see examples of her amazing work on her Instagram page . She is creator of #thetruecolourofthecotinus , a method that allows Cotinus leaves to get printed onto fibre giving a beautiful blue print. During our week-end workshop Elisabeth will be sharing with you her Botanical printing methods and tips to allow you to print on both cellulose and silk fabric towards samples for Art projects. We will not be able to tackle large size prints but Elisabeth will share tips on how to upscale your work and will offer the option of upcycling a small item of clothing you would have brought along such as tee shirt/scarf in an immersion pot. During the two days you will forage for plants, learn how to select and prepare fibre and dyes, print, neutralise, finish and on Sunday afternoon you will turn some of your finished prints using both immersion and steamed methods. Elisabeth will share with you basic knowledge about dyes and mordants allowing you to take this technique further and she will also share with you some instructions as an aide memoire for the future. As this workshop is taking place in the right season… you will incorporate Cotinus for beautiful blue prints and talk about the chemistry behind the blue print as long as leaves can be sourced. This workshop is very much perfect for any print addict, any textile lover, any beginner. and those of you who attended last June's workshop will be ableto extend your skills. All material is supplied for up to 6 samples but please bring a small item of clothing for upcycling and some snippets of material for you to try. if you have leaves you want to experiment with ditto. If you have a good tree guide, flower guide, leaves app on your phone, bring them along. Looking forward to printing with you! ABOUT THE ARTIST: Originally trained in stencil conservation in Glasgow by Christies and the University of Glasgow, Elisabeth shared a body of work with the Mackintosh Heritage until she decided to move back to her first love… natural colours. For over 10 years now she has been working with natural dyes exclusively, growing, using and teaching dye plants for colours. She grows a dye plant garden in the Glasgow Botanical Garden every summer #theindigoplot. She travels extensively to South East Asia every year to share her knowledge and educate herself on the subject of Indigo. Her current research is based on resist printing with Indigo and mordant experimenting for blue-prints. She runs a sustainable studio in the West end of Glasgow, teaches in person and online all year around. Information Source: Off The Rails Arthouse | eventbrite

We welcome back Elisabeth Viguie Culshaw who will guide through another weekend of printing with natural materials - this time on fabric. The process of Botanical Printing is the sustainable technique of creating prints by using plants essentially as a source of colour. With the help of heat and humidity you transfer the colour on to fiber to create unique designs. Elisabeth Viguie Culshaw is a highly successful and original Botanical Printer based in Glasgow. You can see examples of her amazing work on her Instagram page. She is creator of #thetruecolourofthecotinus, a method that allows Cotinus leaves to get printed onto fibre giving a beautiful blue print. During our week-end workshop Elisabeth will be sharing with you her Botanical printing methods and tips to allow you to print on both cellulose and silk fabric towards samples for Art projects. We will not be able to tackle large size prints but Elisabeth will share tips on how to upscale your work and will offer the option of upcycling a small item of clothing you would have brought along such as tee shirt/scarf in an immersion pot. During the two days you will forage for plants, learn how to select and prepare fibre and dyes, print, neutralise, finish and on Sunday afternoon you will turn some of your finished prints using both immersion and steamed methods. Elisabeth will share with you basic knowledge about dyes and mordants allowing you to take this technique further and she will also share with you some instructions as an aide memoire for the future. As this workshop is taking place in the right season… you will incorporate Cotinus for beautiful blue prints and talk about the chemistry behind the blue print as long as leaves can be sourced. This workshop is very much perfect for any print addict, any textile lover, any beginner. and those of you who attended last June's workshop will be ableto extend your skills. All material is supplied for up to 6 samples but please bring a small item of clothing for upcycling and some snippets of material for you to try. if you have leaves you want to experiment with ditto. If you have a good tree guide, flower guide, leaves app on your phone, bring them along. Looking forward to printing with you! ABOUT THE ARTIST: Originally trained in stencil conservation in Glasgow by Christies and the University of Glasgow, Elisabeth shared a body of work with the Mackintosh Heritage until she decided to move back to her first love… natural colours. For over 10 years now she has been working with natural dyes exclusively, growing, using and teaching dye plants for colours. She grows a dye plant garden in the Glasgow Botanical Garden every summer #theindigoplot. She travels extensively to South East Asia every year to share her knowledge and educate herself on the subject of Indigo. Her current research is based on resist printing with Indigo and mordant experimenting for blue-prints. She runs a sustainable studio in the West end of Glasgow, teaches in person and online all year around. Information Source: Off The Rails Arthouse | eventbrite

We welcome back Trish O'Meara of Wormit Woolies for another workshop making felted baskets. Everyone enjoyed greatly the last one and you can see above examples of the type of work you will do. Trish is a fibre artist from Fife who not only teaches workshops but also sells her work through Country Living online Marketplace. You can see more of her work on her website. Join Trish for a fast-paced, fun afternoon workshop and learn the ancient art of wet felting to create a 3D work of art. Wet felting involves layering wool fibres and working them with warm, soapy water to essentially knit the fibres together. You will take it one step further with 3D felting, using a plastic resist to create a vessel/basket. All materials will be provided and there will be a selection of driftwood to create a handle. Information Source: Off The Rails Arthouse | eventbrite

Join Jo Perkins for a fun, intensive weeklong exploration into colour and the landscape. Working mainly in acrylic with some added mark making in other media, you will be using the countryside as inspiration while you experiment with expressive mark making and let loose with colour! Starting the week with a dive into colour mixing and colour choices, you will investigate what colour means to you and gain more confidence to work on creating your own palette. The class then moves onto gestural mark making to loosen up your self-expression and start to develop your own visual language. The week is studio based meaning you will be using your own images to inspire your work. Learning to take what you need from a static image or sketch, looking closer at the structure of the landscape and interpreting it to inform final abstracted, expressive, colourful paintings. Ideal for painters of any experience level, Jo will help you explore the landscape, loosen up your technique and play with colour! Jo Perkins is an artist and teacher based in rural Scotland making bright, joyful paintings in response to her local landscape. Fascinated with colour and how it makes us feel, Jo often explores saturated palettes that reflect both her emotions in regard to the landscape and the changing seasons. You can see examples of Jo’s beautiful work on her website. Jo is also a highly experienced and inspiring teacher who will demonstrate her technique and also work one-to one with you. Information Source: Off The Rails Arthouse | eventbrite

We are delighted to welcome back Lorna Fraser, renowned ceramicist. Please have a look at her website to see examples of her beautiful work. This is an intense, inspiring one-day workshop that runs from 9 till 5. Here is the description in Lorna's own words: I am an Edinburgh based artist whose porcelain work is inspired by the infinite array of forms in the botanical world. My work explores the sculptural quality of plants, responding to their structure whilst selecting favourite composite shapes in order to create ceramic “hybrids”. Current work investigates the magical world of tiny mosses and lichens. Using a hand lens, these often overlooked plants can be observed up close, revealing incredible shapes and structures. During a residency on the Isle of Eigg I discovered a huge variety of different species colonising just one boulder. Magnified, they offered up a miniature landscape of wonder which inspires my work. I would like to start this workshop by making a short visit to the local Monkstown Wood in Ladybank, which is a ten minute walk from the Off The Rails Arthouse (there is a car park if you prefer to drive). Using a hand lens we will discover the tiny treasures that the wood has to offer, mosses carpeting the forest floor as well as lichens colonising trees and stones. On return, I will share with you how I make my work, chat through my process and show you some of the techniques and tools I use to work in a small scale. I will support and guide you to create your own bespoke hand-built pieces using beautiful porcelain clay, inspired from the woods or your own reference material. The emphasis of this workshop is to work in a small scale, taking our time to consider the form we are constructing. This workshop is open to all levels from beginners to the more experienced. All completed work will be fired by me in my kiln and available for you to collect approximately 2 weeks after the course - either from my studio in Edinburgh or from Off The Rails Arthouse. I will supply all tools and materials, although if you have a hand lens or a magnifying glass, please bring them along. Image Title: Rising from the Cracks Credit: Shannon Tolls Information Source: Off The Rails Arthouse | eventbrite

We are delighted to welcome back Lorna Fraser, renowned ceramicist. Please have a look at her website to see examples of her beautiful work. This is an intense, inspiring one-day workshop that runs from 9 till 5. Here is the description in Lorna's own words: I am an Edinburgh based artist whose porcelain work is inspired by the infinite array of forms in the botanical world. My work explores the sculptural quality of plants, responding to their structure whilst selecting favourite composite shapes in order to create ceramic “hybrids”. Current work investigates the magical world of tiny mosses and lichens. Using a hand lens, these often overlooked plants can be observed up close, revealing incredible shapes and structures. During a residency on the Isle of Eigg I discovered a huge variety of different species colonising just one boulder. Magnified, they offered up a miniature landscape of wonder which inspires my work. I would like to start this workshop by making a short visit to the local Monkstown Wood in Ladybank, which is a ten minute walk from the Off The Rails Arthouse (there is a car park if you prefer to drive). Using a hand lens we will discover the tiny treasures that the wood has to offer, mosses carpeting the forest floor as well as lichens colonising trees and stones. On return, I will share with you how I make my work, chat through my process and show you some of the techniques and tools I use to work in a small scale. I will support and guide you to create your own bespoke hand-built pieces using beautiful porcelain clay, inspired from the woods or your own reference material. The emphasis of this workshop is to work in a small scale, taking our time to consider the form we are constructing. This workshop is open to all levels from beginners to the more experienced. All completed work will be fired by me in my kiln and available for you to collect approximately 2 weeks after the course - either from my studio in Edinburgh or from Off The Rails Arthouse. I will supply all tools and materials, although if you have a hand lens or a magnifying glass, please bring them along. Image Title: Rising from the Cracks Credit: Shannon Tolls Information Source: Off The Rails Arthouse | eventbrite

Following on from very successful workshops on botanical printing, we are delighted to welcome back Elisabeth Viguie Culshaw for a weekend specialising in indigo dyeing and pattern making. Elisabeth is a well-known textile artist working with Indigo and an Indigo plant grower in Scotland at The Indigo Plot, her natural dye garden well worth visiting in the Glasgow Botanical garden. In this weekend workshop she will help you understand the mechanism of vat making and Indigo dyeing to create patterns on cloth. On day one we will learn about the Indigo pigment and how to create a blue dye vat from it. We will learn to select material and prepare it and various forms of resist that will help us create patterns. On day two after we will experiment on samples before creating some larger pieces made of recycled cotton and linen. Fructose and synthetic vats will be set up and samples of recycled material (cotton and linen) will be provided. Please bring on day one one or two small items of clothing you will be able to dye on day two. (tee shirts, scarves). They need to be clean, but not necessarily white. You don't need any prior knowledge for this workshop but please wear old clothes and bring some gloves together with a plastic bag to take home your wet dyed clothes. If you wish to take home a share of the vats, bring a clean plastic bottle, we will share the vat content at the end of the workshop. (up to 4 liters). Information Source: Off The Rails Arthouse | eventbrite