In this hands-on mixed media two-day workshop, participants will create a 16 x 20 inch mixed media artwork using dry branches, reclaimed wood, pebbles, sentimental material and repurposed fabrics.

Through intuitive construction techniques such as wrapping, binding, stitching, layering, balancing, and painting, we will explore how “found” and sentimental materials can hold memory, weight, and movement. Stones and branches become anchors; fabric becomes gesture and narrative, carrying traces of the past into a new form.

Participants are encouraged to bring pebbles, small stones, tiles, or rocks that carry personal meaning — perhaps something collected during travel, from a shoreline, a childhood place, or a meaningful moment. You are also invited to bring sentimental textiles or old garments to incorporate into your artwork, allowing personal memories and stories to become part of the final composition.

Guided by Andrew Phua’s material-driven and sustainable approach to art-making, this workshop invites you to see “found” materials not as waste, but as fragments of story, memory, and place — reassembled into a contemporary 16 x 20 sculptural composition ready to hang.

No prior experience is necessary — the focus is on experimentation, intuition, and material exploration in a supportive environment.

Please Note: Classes take place in unit 2E of the Picton Armoury (Main Street level). The most convenient access is through the Main Street entrance, but you can also enter through the back/Mary St. entrance and use the interior stairs to reach the main floor (please note there is no elevator in the Armoury). There is one accessible parking spot at the corner of Main and Ross streets across from The Regent Theatre.

Meet Andrew! Andrew Phua (APhua) is a multidisciplinary artist and bespoke designer whose journey bridges the worlds of fashion, photography and art. Born in Indonesia, Andrew spent his formative years between Pontianak, Indonesia, and Australia (Perth and Melbourne). His curiosity and sense of wonder about the world fueled his passion for creative expression across various mediums, including dance, music, film, drawing, photography, and fashion design. 

After graduating from RMIT University’s Fashion Design program in Melbourne, Australia, he began crafting his own clothing and documenting the process through photography, sparking a deeper interest in visual storytelling. This led him to further his studies in creative photography at Humber College in Toronto, where he honed his ability to capture unique perspectives of everyday subjects and his designs.

As a bespoke designer, Andrew specializes in creating custom clothing tailored to fit each client’s individuality while championing sustainability. By also utilizing forgotten and unused materials, he creates innovative, meaningful designs that reflect both beauty and environmental responsibility. 

Art supply fee - Please note that the cost of supplies is not included in the course fee; this amount depends on the course, and will be automatically added to your total. If this cost is prohibitive for you, please contact our Programs Manager, Sarah at [email protected] before registering to make alternative arrangements.

Offline registration - We prefer to take payment and registration through this form, but if you are not comfortable with this option and it is more than 2 weeks before the course begins, please check the "Offline" box in the Billing Information section below. We will contact you with alternative payment options. Payment must be received at least one week before the course begins.  

Processing fee - This covers transaction and ticketing fees. We've decided to use Regfox, the most affordable ticketing platform we could find, which will collectively save our participants over $1000 in processing fees per year.

Policies and Waivers - We've included these as part of the registration process (thank you for your patience!) to save some paperwork on your end and get straight to creating when we are in person!

  • We encourage those who are able to pay a little more to choose this price ($22/hr). By doing so, you are helping build a community that prioritizes access to the arts for all, and allowing us to cover more of our operating costs, which include Artist Instructor fees, rent, and more.

  • This price ($17/hr) allows us to cover most of the costs of running the course.

  • This price ($11/hr) is available to those who find the other two options too high for their household.

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY: County Arts makes every effort to ensure that all community members, including those who (or have family members who) are more medically vulnerable feel that they can safely teach and learn at the County Arts Lab. We also want to ensure that those who are unable to wear masks have access to our programming. 

We recently moved to masking on a class by class basis. Please select the option below that best describes your comfort level with regard to masking. (Please note, if anyone in the class selects the third option, we will ask that everyone who is able to do so wear a mask.) If you have any questions, please reach out to Programs Assistant Heather McCorquodale at [email protected].

$25.88
$3.36
$30.55
Includes $2.30 of processing & fees
$30.55
Includes $2.30 of processing & fees
Registration Summary:Total
Registrants (x1)$28.25
Processing & Fees
Fees include credit card processing fees and third-party software fees
$2.30
$30.55
Includes processing & fees

Billing Information

  • Visa
  • Mastercard
  • American Express
  • Discover
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