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McMillan Arts Centre
Parksville, BC, located in Oceanside, Vancouver Island
MAC School for the Creative Arts
Join us for an art class or workshop hosted by McMillan Arts Centre in Oceanside on Vancouver Island in Parksville / Qualicum Beach (PQB).
We have Art Bites, Art Gems, and Creative Kids classes and workshops throughout the year.
MAC School for the Creative Arts
Creative Kids - MAC Comic Can Do Camp July 7 - 11 - 10am - 3pm A full week of art and fun! We will have a whole week to get creative and make some incredible art! We will be doing a bunch of projects like character development, building perspective...
Creative Kids: X Marks the Spot Tues July 15, 2025, 10am-12pm Location: MAC Community Art Garden We are making our own mini treasure chest. Let’s paint the outside, and then add special treasures inside. Maximum number of participants: 12 About the Instructor: Kat Cearns is a multidisciplinary artist based in...
Creative Kids: Stained Glass Class Tues July 15, 2025, 1pm-3pm Location: MAC Community Art Garden Create your very own stain glass illusion, place it in your window and let the sun light up your masterpiece. Maximum number of participants: 12 About the instructor: Kat Cearns is a multidisciplinary artist based...
Creative Kids: Flower MANIA Wed July 16, 2025, 10am-12pm Location: MAC Community Art Garden We are making 3D flower art. By painting, cutting and pasting, our paper flowers will be turned into a beautiful bouquet Maximum number of participants: 12 About the instructor: Kat Cearns is a multidisciplinary artist based...
Creative Kids: Camp Fire Desire Wed July 16, 2025, 1pm-3pm Location: MAC Community Art Garden The glowing light of a campfire will illuminate our scene as stars twinkle above. Using acrylic paint we will create a camp scene and learn about light and shadow Maximum number of participants: 12 About...
Creative Kids: The Extreme Green Thurs July 17, 2025, 10am-12pm Location: MAC Community Art Garden Wandering into the lush West Coast forest you see a million shades of green; can you mix them all? We will be painting a green forest scene using a limited pallet and having fun mixing...
Creative Kids: Pastel Pro Thurs July 17, 2025, 1pm-3pm Location: MAC Community Art Garden Learn oil pastel techniques and create a serene sunset. Maximum number of participants: 12 About the Instructor: Kat Cearns is a multidisciplinary artist based in Coombs. Her art career has a focus on whimsical illustrations featuring animals and nature inspired by...
Summer Plein Air Journey - Lights, Trees and Pathways with Carla Flegel Sunday, July 20, 10 am - 1 pm Catch the sunlight through giant forest trees and shadowed pathways at Rathrevor beach. Previous experience is not required. All art materials provided for this class. Just bring hat, sunscreen, water...
Creative Kids: Painting Day Tues July 22, 2025, 10am-12pm Location: MAC Community Art Garden We are busting out the paints and brushes and painting a still life masterpiece. In this class we will learn how to paint from life and study form, light and shadow. Maximum number of participants: 12...
reative Kids: Furry Friends Tues July 22, 2025, 1pm-3pm Location: MAC Community Art Garden Paint your favorite furry (or scaly) friend's portrait in watercolour and colour pencils. Maximum number of participants: 12 About the instructor: Kat Cearns is a multidisciplinary artist based in Coombs. Her art career has a focus on whimsical illustrations featuring animals...
Creative Kids: Abstract Picasso Portrait Wed July 23, 2025, 10am-12pm Location: MAC Community Art Garden Unleash your inner Picasso and create a colourful portrait on a pattern background. Maximum number of participants: 12 About the instructor: Kat Cearns is a multidisciplinary artist based in Coombs. Her art career has a focus on whimsical...
Creative Kids: Stamp Stamp It Out Wed July 23, 2025, 1pm-3pm Location: MAC Community Art Garden Make your own stamps then use them to create an incredible art piece. Maximum number of participants: 12 About the instructor: Kat Cearns is a multidisciplinary artist based in Coombs. Her art career has a...
Creative Kids: Contour Line Divine Thurs July 24, 2025, 10am-12pm Location: MAC Community Art Garden Discover the power of line. Improve your drawing skills and have lots of fun with contour lines. Maximum number of participants: 12 About the instructor: Kat Cearns is a multidisciplinary artist based in Coombs. Her...
Creative Kids: Funky Bug Thurs July 24, 2025, 1pm-3pm Location: MAC Community Art Garden Float and flitter make some funky critters made of paper, paint and clothes pins. Maximum number of participants: 12 About the instructor: Megan Riera moved to Europe from Qualicum Beach in 1999, and recently returned to...
Summer Plein Air Journey - Farm, Fields, and Fauna with Carla Flegel Sunday, July 27, 10 am-1 pm Enjoy the pastoral vistas at local farm and community hub - Springford Farm. Previous experience is not required. All art materials provided for this class. Just bring hat, sunscreen, water bottle, water...
Creative Kids - MAC Dino Delight Camp July 28 - Aug 1 - 10am - 3pm A full week of art and fun! We will have a whole week to get creative and make some incredible art! Take a walk on prehistoric wild side, we have some big projects for...
Summer Plein Air Journey - Mariner's Choice with Carla Flegel Sunday, August 3, 10 am-1 pm Recreate the ambiance of the fishing boats, wharves and reflections at the iconic French Creek Marina. Previous experience is not required. All art materials provided for this class. Just bring hat, sunscreen, water bottle,...
Creative Kids: Straight Line, Wobbly Line, Circle Tues Aug 5, 2025, 10am-12pm Location: MAC Community Art Garden A painting lesson in composition with a limited pallet. We will make a series of bold paintings using a straight line, wobbly line and a circle. Maximum number of participants: 12 About the...
Creative Kids: Round And Round Tues Aug 5, 2025, 1pm-3pm Location: MAC Community Art Garden We will be exploring rhythmic geometric abstract circle art. Exploring colour and composition with an interesting result. Maximum number of participants: 12 About the instructor: Kat Cearns is a multidisciplinary artist based in Coombs. Her...
Creative Kids: Animal Bonanza Wed Aug 6, 2025, 10am-12pm Location: MAC Community Art Garden Create your own animal or bug Eric Carle inspired with pattern paper cut out art. Maximum number of participants: 12 About the instructor: Kat Cearns is a multidisciplinary artist based in Coombs. Her art career has a...
Creative Kids: Mobiles In Motion Wed Aug 6, 2025, 1pm-3pm Location: MAC Community Art Garden Using found objects, driftwood and shells we will make a mobile that moves in the wind. Materials provided, or bring some of your own! Maximum number of participants: 12 About the instructor: Kat Cearns is...
Creative Kids: Art Magnet Mania Thurs Aug 7, 2025, 10am-12pm Location: MAC Community Art Garden We will be creating our own mini art masterpieces and then turning them into fridge magnets. Maximum number of participants: 12 About the instructor: Kat Cearns is a multidisciplinary artist based in Coombs. Her art...
Creative Kids: Illusion Revolution Thurs Aug 7, 2025, 1pm-3pm Location: MAC Community Art Garden In this class we are creating our own art optical illusions; you won't believe your eyes! Maximum number of participants: 12 About the instructor: Kat Cearns is a multidisciplinary artist based in Coombs. Her art career has...
Summer Plein Air Journey - Go Wild! with Carla Flegel Sunday, August 10, 10 am-1 pm Explore your wild creative side and paint the animals at our own North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre. Previous experience is not required. All art materials provided for this class. Just bring hat, sunscreen, water...
Creative Kids: Scratch, Scrape and See Tues Aug 12, 2025, 10am-12pm Location: MAC Community Art Garden By painting over a colourful background we will then scratch away the paint to reveal a colourful artwork. Maximum number of participants: 12 About the instructor: Megan Riera moved to Europe from Qualicum Beach...
Creative Kids: Magic Potion Project Tues Aug 12, 2025, 1pm-3pm Location: MAC Community Art Garden Let your imagination run wild, make your own magical potion art with real potion inside! Maximum number of participants: 12 About the instructor: Kat Cearns is a multidisciplinary artist based in Coombs. Her art career has...
Creative Kids: Cityscape Spectacular Wed Aug 13, 2025, 10am-12pm Location: MAC Community Art Garden Incredible creations start with simple concepts. Create a Paul Kley inspired cityscape using coloured squares. Maximum number of participants: 12 About the instructor: Megan Riera moved to Europe from Qualicum Beach in 1999, and recently returned...
Creative Kids: Watercolour Scientist Wed Aug 13, 2025, 1pm-3pm Location: MAC Community Art Garden Become a watercolour scientist by experimenting with watercolour painting techniques. Mix, spill, splatter, add salt and wax, you won't believe your eyes. Maximum number of participants: 12 About the instructor: Kat Cearns is a multidisciplinary artist based...
Creative Kids: Paper Art Creator Thurs Aug 14, 2025, 10am-12pm Location: MAC Community Art Garden Using paper tole and paper quilling we will create a beautiful artwork with real depth using a layered paper art technique. Maximum number of participants: 12 About the instructor: Megan Riera moved to Europe from...
Creative Kids: Take a Look Sketchbook Thurs Aug 14, 2025, 1pm-3pm Location: MAC Community Art Garden We are making our own sketchbook! Let's fill a couple pages and get started! Maximum number of participants: 12 About the instructor: Kat Cearns is a multidisciplinary artist based in Coombs. Her art career has...
Summer Plein Air Journey - An Historical Perspective with Carla Flegel Sunday, August 17, 10 am-1 pm Enjoy bygone days and the interesting stories at the Qualicum Beach Museum. Previous experience is not required. All art materials provided for this class. Just bring hat, sunscreen, water bottle, water and container...
Creative Kids - MAC Sail The Sea Camp Aug 18-22 - 10am - 3pm A full week of art and fun! We will have a whole week to get creative and make some incredible art! Make some waves with some fun underwater inspired art projects, Treasure chests and 3D maps,...
Summer Plein Air Journey - Sun, Sea, and Sand with Carla Flegel Sunday, August 24, 10 am-1 pm Capture the coastal magic of the famous Parksville Beach. Previous experience is not required. All art materials provided for this class. Just bring hat, sunscreen, water bottle, water and container for painting,...
$125.00
Art Gems - Spend a Day in the Yukon: Pen & Ink with Jim Sears Sat Sep 13, 10 am - 2pm Create an image of a cabin in the Yukon using watercolour wash, pen and ink, with coloured pencil highlights. All materials will be provided. About the Instructor: ...
Art Bites -Enchanted Gardens: Acrylics with Alex Carr Sun Sep 14, 10am-12pm Let’s get loose with acrylic paint and create a magical garden scene. Focusing on value and composition we will complete a flower scene using bold strokes and bright colours. All materials provided for this class.About the Instructor: Alex...
Art Bites -Palette Knife Painting with Deborah Nicol Sun Sep 14, 1-3pm A fun and creative session, using palette knife techniques and acrylics to create rich images by ‘smearing and scraping’ your paint (rather than paint brush methods), on your canvasAll materials provided for this class.About the Instructor: Deborah Nicol is...
MAC School - Art Gems - In the Beginning - Abstract Acrylic with Dennis Brown - Sep 20, 2025 - 10 AM
$125.00
Art Gems - In the Beginning: Abstract Acrylics with Dennis Brown Sat Sep 20, 10 am - 2pm In the beginning, man created art. Our early ancestors expressed their feelings by painting on cave walls. We have progressed to many forms of art, one in particular can be very challenging,...
Double Art Bites: Landscape Collage Using Gelli Plates with Merrilyn Laursen Sun Sep 14, 10 am-2pm Create a collage landscape from papers that you have made! In the first half of the class, you’ll will be creating papers, which you’ll use in the second half to create your landscape using...
Art Gems - Oil Painting Skies and Clouds - Margery Blom Sat Sep 27, 10 am - 2pm The sky sets the tone of a landscape painting. In this workshop you will learn the keys to capturing the mood and atmosphere of your landscape by creating skies that are both...
Art Bites - Harvest Plein Air at Silver Meadows Farm with Peggy Burkosky Sun Sep 28, 10am-1pm Join us at Silver Meadows Farm for the last Plein Air class of the year. Fall is in the air, and we'll have a chance to paint the turning season. All art materials...
Art Bites - Botanical Zentangle with Watercolour Pencils - Rita Blom Sun Sep 28, 10am-12pm Zentangle is a meditative art form developed 20 years ago by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas. It starts with an 8-step process that includes appreciation, creation and then more appreciation. In this class, we will cover...
Art Bites -Abstract Acrylics with Deborah Nicol Sun Sep 28, 1-3pm A brilliant session creating movement, form and design using bold acrylic paint colours and abstract techniques.All materials provided for this class.About the Instructor: Deborah Nicol is a versatile artist who works in a variety of mediums, and primarily in Acrylics....
$125.00
Art Gems - Layered Landscape: Mixed Media with Patt Scrivener Sat Oct 4, 10 am - 2pm Celebrate the textures and colors of autumn in this hands-on, mixed media art workshop. We’ll explore intuitive layering techniques using paint, collage, mark making, and texture-building to create a unique fall-inspired landscape. Whether...
$45.00
Double Art Bites: Decoding Colour Theory with Margery Blom Sun Oct 5, 10 am-2pm Open the doors to how colours work together to affect our emotions and perceptions. Discover how to mix, match and create while unveiling the mysteries behind colour theory. It is not just mixing, but knowing how...
Art Gems - Limited Colour Palette - BC Landscapes with Dorota Goede Sat Oct 4, 10 am - 2pm Artworks often lack in colour expression due to too much, or too strong, colours used. The best works of art are created by strategically placed neutral greys beside, and around, the...
Art Bites -Textures in Acrylics with Michelle Manke Sun Oct 26, 10am-12pm This class is an exploration of different acrylic texture mediums to create different effects in acrylic and mixed media. Students can choose to create a sampler, abstract or image painting. All materials provided for this class. About the...
Art Bites - Miniature Painting with Lynn Orriss Sun Oct 26, 1-3 pm Miniature Painting: A painting of very small dimensions, anything represented on a greatly reduced scale. We will be working in watercolour and ink to explore creating a true miniature painting. All materials provided for this class. About...
$125.00
Art Gems - Fantastic Florals with Gelli Plates - Linda Greig Sat Nov 1, 10 am - 2pm We will start in the morning by creating unique papers using a gelli plate and a variety ofmaterials. During the afternoon session we will create an abstract floral painting using acrylic paint...
