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

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...
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 21, 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....
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...
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...
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...
Art Bites - Intricate Pointillism with Jolene Hassard Sun Nov 2, 10 am-12 pm Learn the techniques of pointillism, and the basics of making consistently sized dots to create an image. We will cover pattern layout, the techniques of dot making, and making patterns to create floral images.  The end...
Art Bites - Slow Stitch with Margie Davidson Sun Nov 2, 1-3 pm Learn how hand-stitching can be a relaxing, creative, mindful art practice and how it connects to the “slow movement” culture.  All materials provided for this class. About the Instructor: Margie Davidson is a quilt artist and surface...
Art Gems - Coastal Harbours - Watercolours with Peggy Burkosky Sat Nov 8, 10 am - 2pm With a simplified palette and tips on good design, we will paint landforms, trees and common clouds typical of our west coast. All materials provided About the Instructor:  Since 1973, Peggy has experienced...
Art Bites -Paint & Play with Watercolours with Carol Ann Owers Sun Nov 9, 10 am-12 pm Dive into the world of watercolour in this fun, beginner-friendly art bite class.Discover how to create beautiful washes, blend colour, and add unique textures with simple, easy-to-learn techniques. By the end of the...
Art Bites - Alcohol Ink with Mary Unger Sun Nov 9, 1-3 pm In this session you will create with colourful alcohol ink using various tools and techniques while making free flow abstract designs.All materials provided for this class.About the Instructor:  Mary Unger was raised on the east coast of...
Art Gems - Mosaics with Debra Hagen Sat Nov 15, 10 am - 2pm Feel like experimenting with a medium that’s been used for thousands of years?! In this class students will have the opportunity to use the most coveted of mosaic material, Italian smalti. This glass tile comes in...
Art Bites - Fascinating Fluid Art with Barbara Townsend Sun Nov 16, 10 am-12 pm Create a fluid art painting using acrylics and a variety of pouring mediums. You’ll find out how to guide and work the mixtures to create the desired results, and finish your unique piece of fluid...
Art Bites - Fabric Collage with Margie Davidson Sun Nov 16, 1-3 pm Explore collage using fabrics to create abstract or realistic compositions.  Three different fabric attachment techniques will be covered to create fabric collage compositions, and examples of both abstract and realistic compositions will be shared. You’ll finish class...
Art Gems - Wire Fairy Sculpture with Sheena McCorquodale  Sat Nov 22 10 am - 2pm Create your own wire fairy sculpture, approximately 18” high, suitable for garden decor and more.  No experience needed and tools and pre-cut materials supplied.   All materials provided (bring your protective gardening gloves) Sheena...
Art Bites - Playful Portraits with Michelle Manke Sun Nov 22, 10am-12pm This class is a fun, casual approach to drawing  proportionally pleasing faces, then adding colour and embellishments to create unique portraits of real or imaginary people.  Students will be able to draw several faces and create one canvas...
Art Bites - Bold, Opaque Watercolours (Gouache) with Carol Ann Owers Sun Nov 23, 1-3 pm Discover 'gouache' (opaque watercolour) in this fun, hands-on class. You’ll learn to create stunning pieces on both white and black watercolour paper, exploring how colour and contrast bring your work to life. Perfect for...
Art Bites - Indigenous Medicine Bag with Barbara Townsend Sun Nov 30, 1-3 pm Learn the meaning and the story of the traditional medicine bag, while creating your own unique piece using leather, glass seed beads and traditional tools.   All materials provided for this class.About the Instructor:  Artist and...
Art Gems - Wire Angel Sculpture with Sheena McCorquodale  Sat Nov 29 10 am - 2pm Create your own wire angel sculpture, approximately 18” high, suitable for garden decor and more. No experience needed and tools and pre-cut materials supplied. All materials provided (bring your protective gardening gloves) Sheena says, “These...
Double Art Bites: Wet Felting an Illuminated Vase with Darrell Giraldeau Sun Dec 7, 10 am-2pm Explore the art of wet felting and create a holiday themed illuminated vase.  When your wet felted vase cover is complete, you’ll be able to add lights and have a lovely holiday centrepiece or...
Creative Kids:  After School Art Club Thurs Sept 18, 2025, 4pm-6pm Ages 8-15 years old Location:  MAC Studio Welcome to the Creative Kids After School Art Club. We are going to be making and learning all fall with awesome art projects, paintings, comics, art games and more. Every week we...
Creative Kids:  After School Art Club- Comic Book Class Thurs Sept 25, 2025, 4pm-6pm Ages 8-15 years old Location:  MAC Studio Welcome to the Creative Kids After School Art Club. We are going to be making and learning all fall with awesome art projects, paintings, comics, art games and more....
Creative Kids:  After School Art Club- Art Painting Class Thurs Oct 2, 2025, 4pm-6pm Ages 8-15 years old Location:  MAC Studio Welcome to the Creative Kids After School Art Club. We are going to be making and learning all fall with awesome art projects, paintings, comics, art games and more....
Creative Kids:  After School Art Club- Art Sketchbook Class Thurs Oct 9, 2025, 4pm-6pm Ages 8-15 years old Location:  MAC Studio Welcome to the Creative Kids After School Art Club. We are going to be making and learning all fall with awesome art projects, paintings, comics, art games and more....
Creative Kids:  After School Art Club Thurs Oct 16, 2025, 4pm-6pm Ages 8-15 years old Location:  MAC Studio Welcome to the Creative Kids After School Art Club. We are going to be making and learning all fall with awesome art projects, paintings, comics, art games and more. Every week we...
Creative Kids:  After School Art Club Thurs Oct 23, 2025, 4pm-6pm Ages 8-15 years old Location:  MAC Studio Welcome to the Creative Kids After School Art Club. We are going to be making and learning all fall with awesome art projects, paintings, comics, art games and more. Every week we...
Creative Kids:  After School Art Club Thurs Oct 30, 2025, 4pm-6pm Ages 8-15 years old Location:  MAC Studio Welcome to the Creative Kids After School Art Club. We are going to be making and learning all fall with awesome art projects, paintings, comics, art games and more. Every week we...
Creative Kids:  After School Art Club Thurs Nov 6, 2025, 4pm-6pm Ages 8-15 years old Location:  MAC Studio Welcome to the Creative Kids After School Art Club. We are going to be making and learning all fall with awesome art projects, paintings, comics, art games and more. Every week we...
Creative Kids:  After School Art Club Thurs Nov 6, 2025, 4pm-6pm Ages 8-15 years old Location:  MAC Studio Welcome to the Creative Kids After School Art Club. We are going to be making and learning all fall with awesome art projects, paintings, comics, art games and more. Every week we...
Creative Kids:  After School Art Club Thurs Nov 20, 2025, 4pm-6pm Ages 8-15 years old Location:  MAC Studio Welcome to the Creative Kids After School Art Club. We are going to be making and learning all fall with awesome art projects, paintings, comics, art games and more. Every week we...
Creative Kids:  After School Art Club Thurs Nov 27, 2025, 4pm-6pm Ages 8-15 years old Location:  MAC Studio Welcome to the Creative Kids After School Art Club. We are going to be making and learning all fall with awesome art projects, paintings, comics, art games and more. Every week we...
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