Art Classes

Beginner

Rock Frame Photo Transfer

In this earthy and impactful class, you’ll create your own “forest rock” frame—crafted from plaster, shredded waste, and whatever textured magic you add—designed to cradle a photo that blends seamlessly into the surface like it was always meant to be there. The process is low-fuss and beginner-friendly, making it perfect for anyone aged 16+ who wants to try a new kind of storytelling through texture, memory, and eco-conscious creativity. Whether you bring a nature shot, a personal moment, or choose from a curated selection, you’ll walk away with a deeply personal piece that feels raw, grounding, and real. You’ll also gain insight into how to repurpose trash into durable, sculptural objects that hold both emotional and artistic value. This isn't just a picture frame—it’s a relic, a statement, a beautiful act of environmental rebellion.

Victorian Floriography + DIY Recycling & Plaster Canvas Making

This heartfelt series combines eco-conscious artistry with the Victorian language of flowers, inviting participants to create deeply personal art pieces using recycled materials and local floral imagery. You'll choose from a selection of native Port Alberni flower photographs—each with their traditional meanings—and use them to build a symbolic collage, sculpture, or wall art piece that reflects your story, your hopes, or your memories. Whether you craft a flower vision board on a canvas, embed blooms in a rock frame, or decorate a waste-formed orb, each piece becomes a unique expression rooted in both nature and sustainability. This class is accessible for beginners and meaningful for artists of all levels. Get ready to reconnect with nature, your inner self, and the power of reclaimed materials.

*Victorian Floriography was chosen due to the availability of the information but if anyone would like to help me develop a course on this topic through the lens of other cultures, that would be fantastic!!

DIY Photo on Canvas Magic

In this ultra-accessible class, you’ll learn how to transfer a full-sized photograph onto a hand-cast plaster canvas—using techniques that mimic high-end mounted prints at a fraction of the cost. Perfect for absolute beginners and creative dabblers alike (ages 16+), this workshop focuses on clean, crisp photo coverage with a subtle artistic finish that gives your image depth and texture. No artistic experience? No problem. Just grab a picture you love and leave with a piece that looks gallery-ready.

We’ll explore both one-day and two-day options:

One-day Class – You will make a plaster+ waste canvas, then print and transfer the picture to a pre-made canvas provided (because the plaster curing time would take too long) and then do the finishing touches. You’ll be able to take home both the canvas you made and the pre-made canvas with your photo-transfer.

Two-day Class – Day one we will made the canvas from the plaster and waste then take a nature walk to take some beautiful photos. Day two we will print he photos and transfer them you your canvas for the finishing touches.

Candle Holder Creations

In this relaxed and beginner-friendly class, you’ll create a one-of-a-kind candle holder using a simple mold, plaster, and your imagination. We’ll explore ways to customize the surface—add stamps, textures, shapes, and even fused-on design elements for a truly personal look. You’ll get to play with pre-made design molds and plaster attachments, experimenting with combinations to create something bold or minimalist, elegant or earthy. Perfect for gifting, decorating, or just warming up your space with something handmade, heartfelt, and totally unique. All materials provided—just bring your inner fire.

More Advanced

Illuminated Sculpture from Waste

In this hands-on sculptural workshop, we’ll explore how to shape recycled materials and plaster into light-bearing art pieces that glow from within. Whether you follow a guided project—like our signature raindrop lantern that fades from heavy base to glowing tip—or bring your own luminous concept to life, this class reveals how waste can be transformed into functional, emotional, and ambient sculpture. We’ll experiment with fabric, color, and structural techniques to let light shine through in surprising ways—without sacrificing strength or safety. Part I is beginner-friendly and step-by-step; Part II (optional) gives returning students space to experiment with their own ideas in a collaborative, encouraging setting. All materials are provided—just bring curiosity and your spark.

Mini Worlds: Recycled Dioramas & Dreamscapes

In this playful workshop, you’ll build your own miniature world using recycled materials, plaster, and a whole lot of imagination. Whether you’re crafting a mossy fairytale glen, a windswept coastal bluff, or a secret garden from your childhood dreams, this class blends photo transfer, sculpture, and sustainability into one magical creative journey. Bring your own small box (shoebox-sized or smaller) and any bits of non-recyclable waste you’d like to transform—we’ll supply shredded scraps, plaster, and enchanting local imagery to make your diorama truly come alive. Ideal for lovers of nostalgia, nature, and tiny treasures. No experience needed, just curiosity and a sense of play.

Mold + Plaster Sculpture Series

This intermediate-to-advanced class guides you through the creation of sculptural forms using tinfoil, recycled textiles, paper mache, and plaster—layer by layer. You’ll start with a handmade mold, reinforce it with reclaimed materials, coat it in plaster, and then hollow it out to fill with a sturdy waste-plaster mixture for weight and strength. The result? A bold, fully upcycled sculpture that feels heavy, solid, and one-of-a-kind. This class will be offered in two formats: one with prepared base shapes for hands-on practice, and one for advanced students to create fully custom designs. Coming soon—this is one of our most experimental and rewarding techniques yet.

The Object Series

This upcoming series is all about creating practical, functional objects—real tools and household pieces—using recycled materials and plaster techniques. From customized Lazy Susan bases to sculpted storage or mounts, the focus is on utility, adaptability, and sustainable innovation. It's not about art for art’s sake—it’s about solving problems creatively with things that would’ve ended up in a landfill. This class will appeal to tinkerers, DIYers, artists, and sustainability nerds ready to experiment with waste as a raw material for everyday life. Coming soon, once we've laid the groundwork (literally) with our beginner classes—stay tuned.

*This class will be developed based on interest.

Specialty Classes

Frame It Yourself: Mold-Making & Eco-Frames

In this functional and flexible workshop, you'll learn how to make your own custom frame molds and cast them using a simple plaster technique—with the optional bonus of mixing in recycled household waste for an eco-conscious twist. This class is ideal for artists, art lovers, and DIYers (ages 16+) looking to cut framing costs without cutting corners on creativity or impact. You’ll walk away with at least one finished frame mold, the know-how to make endless more, and a major life hack for future exhibitions or home displays. Whether you go clean and classic or lean into textured, trash-infused style, the method is completely customizable. Practical, affordable, and planet-friendly—this class is about empowering artists to own every inch of their presentation.

Earthstone: Pet Memory Rocks

This tender class offers a creative way to honor beloved animal companions by crafting a custom “memory rock”—a hand-formed piece made from plaster, upcycled materials, and optional symbolic inclusions such as pet ashes or keepsakes. Students will transfer a meaningful photo onto the surface of the piece, blending it into the natural texture of the rock-like sculpture for a soulful, grounded tribute. Designed for adults and teens 16+, this is a quiet, supportive space for those grieving or simply wanting to create a memorial with intention. You’ll leave with a one-of-a-kind remembrance stone that can rest indoors or be adapted for outdoor display, depending on your preferences. This class is not about “moving on”—it’s about holding on, artfully and gently, to the love that never leaves.

Education Classes

How to Recycle in Port Alberni 

Every town does recycling differently, and Port Alberni is no exception. In this class, we’ll decode the rules, explore what goes where (and why), and show you how to use the Recycle BC app so you never second-guess a bin again. Learn about surprising recyclables you can divert, how to cash in on refundable items, and the hidden gems of local drop-off centers. We’ll also cover what can’t be recycled (yet), where it actually goes, and how to reduce your contribution to the landfill. If you’ve ever stood over a bin wondering if you’re doing it right—this one’s for you.

This class is being split into a multi-series course.

Conscious Consumerism: Greenwashing and Why it Matters

In today's marketplace, navigating the world of consumer choices can be incredibly challenging. With an influx of labels, commercials, branding, and packaging designed to mislead, understanding what it truly means to be a conscious consumer is more important than ever. This course will explore the phenomenon of greenwashing—where companies falsely promote their products as environmentally friendly— and equip you with the tools to identify it.

Whether you're shopping for shampoo, sneakers, or anything in between, this class aims to empower you with the knowledge to make informed decisions and reduce feelings of overwhelm. Learn how every purchase is a vote; what message does your dollar send? Join us to become a more conscious consumer and make choices that reflect your values.

The Psychology of Waste: Guilt, Hoarding & Letting Go

Why do we keep broken gadgets and donate stained T-shirts? Why does tossing a plastic spoon feel weirdly bad? This deeply honest class explores the emotional and psychological side of waste—our guilt, our hoarding, our avoidance, and all the little mental gymnastics we do to not feel like trash monsters. But it’s not a guilt trip. It’s a map out of the spiral, into empowerment and sustainable change that actually feels good.

DIY Natural Pest Control & Eco House Cleaning

Your home should be clean, fresh, and not a chemical warfare zone. This two-for-one class gives you natural, effective ways to kick pests out (ants, moths, fruit flies, we see you) and clean your house without trashing the planet. We’ll make a few DIY mixes together, plus learn what to buy if you’re not into stirring vinegar with herbs like a crunchy witch. Your lungs will thank you. So will your dog.

* If you’d prefer it split into two classes, I can make two versions, just say the word!

Air-Purifying Plants & How to Not Kill Them

Turn your home into a leafy little oxygen factory. We’ll dig into the best air-purifying plants (hello, peace lily!) and teach you how to actually keep them alive, even if your thumb is less green and more...whatever color dried basil is. Bonus: we’ll also cover easy water plants and low-maintenance options. Whether you're plant-curious or a full-blown chlorophyll addict, this class will boost your air quality and your confidence. You'll leave with care tips, a plant baby (optional), and maybe a better relationship with your windowsill.

Animal Impacts: Local & Global

What do microplastics in fish, sea lions in nets, and bears at your garbage bin have in common? Us. This class looks at how our everyday waste habits affect animals both in our backyard and across the planet. You'll learn practical ways to protect wildlife through better choices, plus take home a simple craft or art piece that keeps the message close. It’s education with empathy—and maybe a little glue and glitter.

What’s Up With...? The Sustainability Mini-Series

This one's flexible: each topic can be run as its own workshop or bundle a few for a longer course.

Ever wonder what the real deal is with solar panels, compost toilets, or turning your shower time into a guilt trip? In the “What’s Up With...?” series, we break down the big stuff—solar energy, water reduction, energy efficiency, and waste reduction—into digestible, practical chunks. No preaching. Just real talk, cool tools, and tips you can actually use in your home, apartment, or cave-dwelling. Come for the info, stay for the aha moments.

*This class will be developed based on interest.

Other

Manifestation: “Best-Case” Life Design

What if saving the world started with designing your dream life? This class combines the grounded know-how of sustainability with a little future-vision magic. Together, we’ll dream up your most joyful, low-waste, soul-aligned life—and then map it backwards to today. This is part vision board, part strategy session, part personal revolution. Ideal for anyone who wants to live intentionally... without the burnout.

DIY Hair & Face Masks

Glowing skin and luscious curls, straight from your kitchen. In this class, we’ll whip up all-natural, waste-free beauty treatments that are good for your body and the planet. Think banana peels, coffee grounds, aloe scraps, oats—real ingredients for real results. You’ll leave with a few custom blends, a better understanding of what your skin and hair actually need, and the smug satisfaction of skipping plastic-packaged beauty products forever. Bonus: these make great, low-waste gifts.

Got an idea? Let's trash it (Artistically)

Have an idea for a DIY recycling art class that we don’t already offer? We’re all ears—especially if it gets people excited about creating something meaningful out of “useless” stuff. While most of our classes focus on work that doesn’t look like it used to be trash, we’re open to other visions too. Whether you’re dreaming of plastic bottle chandeliers, juice box puppets, or something wildly original, pitch it our way! We love collaborating with creative minds and evolving this into a shared space for making, imagining, and transforming.

“Because one person’s trash might be another person’s brilliant course idea—as long as it’s cute.”