This is a practical paint-making course that covers the technical aspects of making a watercolour paint, the practical and cultural considerations of pigments and testing your paint’s characteristics. Be prepared to mull your own paint by hand!

Part 2 is a full day course where you make your own paint and also learn techniques to prepare your own historic mineral and plant pigments. 

In this course we’ll cover Maya Blue, Logwood Purple, Malachite Green and Calcium Carbonate White.

Welcome to the fun of hand carved stamps!

In this the morning you will learn how to transfer your design, what kind of materials you can use, tool selection, how to carve and ways to print. We will look at some mounting options and you can also try out the magenta Woodzilla relief press - which is especially handy if you carve a larger block. You will learn techniques for printing at home.

In the afternoon we will explore printing on textiles from 1.30-3pm with your blocks from the morning session. Tea towels, tote bags or fabric options will be provided to take home.

This is an introduction to screen printing with a focus on things that you can do yourself at home. During this course you will design and cut your own stencils and print on supplied bags or tea towels, or you can bring your own garments or fabrics to print. $195

Silverpoint workshop with Kat Allard.

The first session covers the basics of metalpoint and explores a range of substrates from ready-made papers to preparing a traditional gesso ground.

In the second session we’ll work on the traditional gesso ground and focus more on drawing techniques, the challenge of erasing, using different metals and combining metalpoint with mixed media.

Sunday 30th March - ’Supported Printmaking’ sessions are for those with some printmaking know-how. Book in for printmaking time using the press, a selection of tools and print sundries and have experienced printmaking tutor Kyla Cresswell on hand for guidance, tips and technical assistance. $45 per 2 hour session. 4 people maximum, session times - 2-4pm Sunday 30th March

So you have the foundation of drypoint and you’re keen to expand on this? Good news, printmaking is filled with endless possibilities! Come along and learn techniques for adding colour, printing multiple plates or try printing on to different papers including Japanese paper.  $45

In this introductory drypoint course you will learn drypoint, an intaglio printmaking process which is similar to etching, but produced by handheld sharp tools rather than chemicals.
This process will cover how to use the tools to create your drawing, how to ink up your plate and how to print this on a heavyweight printmaking paper. $95

8 week course, Tuesdays 7-8:30pm. 25th March - 27th May 2025
This is a practical paint-making course that covers the technical aspects of making a watercolour paint.
At the end of the course you will have eight hand-mulled watercolour paints, be able to create your own watercolour binder, and know how to make your own watercolour paints from dry pigments.
$360, pay in installments over 6 weeks with afterpay

Join us Saturday March 22 to celebrate World Pigment Day!

From the very first earth pigments such as ochre, through medieval botanical pigments, and the search for the blackest black, or the most vibrant blue, pigments are the lead characters in the paint we use, whether watercolour, oil or acrylic.

Come along to Among the Sparrows for watercolour paint-making demonstrations and a pop up shop with discounts on a wide range of pigments and everything you need to make artist paints. 

11am-4pm, 201 North Road, Dunedin

Learn how to make coloured inks from dye plants. What works - and what doesn’t!

Demonstration of the laking process - turning dye into pigment. Covers 3x botanical inks which we’ll make in class:
Indigo blue, Madder pink, Weld yellow.

You’ll get to take away samples of these three inks, along with the recipes and class notes. $95

This is an introduction to screen printing with a focus on things that you can do yourself at home. During this course you will design and cut your own stencils and print on supplied bags or tea towels, or you can bring your own garments or fabrics to print. $195

’Supported Printmaking’ sessions are for those with some printmaking know-how. Book in for printmaking time using the press, a selection of tools and print sundries and have experienced printmaking tutor Kyla Cresswell on hand for guidance, tips and technical assistance. $90 per 3 hour session or $45 per 1.5 hour. 4 people maximum, session times - Sunday 9.30-12.30, 1.30-4.30, Monday 7-8.30pm

We will be working with soy based etching inks on recycled tetra pak plate to produce drypoints on a small etching press. This is a magical way to turn your recycling into something beautiful. $95

Introduction to ink making - carbon black, oak gall, walnut brown.
what goes into an ink? Technical, cultural and environmental considerations.
You’ll get to take away samples of these three inks, along with the recipes and class notes.
$95