Even art teachers sometimes need to try something new, and that means new opportunities for students interested in expanding their horizons.
The Art Retreat: Multi Media course for ages eight to 12 at Harry Jerome recreation centre is one of two new courses to be starting in January, and the first afterschool course instructor Cherie Summers will teach to involve three-dimensional plaster oncanvas works and projects such as mask making.
"I'm always trying to come up with new ideas," she said. "There's a lot of standard things that are done in art but they really enjoy experimenting with new things."
It's not unusual for Summers to mix things up a bit. She's happy to tailor her classes to the students' ages and abilities, sometimes adding new ideas when students have the motivation, which is why she doesn't plan more than the first week of class until she has a chance to meet the artists.
But students in the mixed media course can expect to work with plaster and in 3D, combining a range of materials and skills. And Summers makes sure to keep things fun. Part of the idea for the class came from Summers herself experimenting with plaster on canvas, and a desire to try the techniques with the kids.
The drawing with mixed media course is also a first-time offering, getting more in-depth about drawing techniques using pencil, charcoal or soft pastel, also for eight-to 12year-olds, and both classes are $90 for Saturdays.
That's on top of a list of six other classes she teaches at John Braithwaite and Harry Jerome, including a range of arts programs for ages two up to 12, as well as a science adventures course involving plenty of experiments for ages five to eight years old.
All of the courses involve lots of creativity, adds Summers.
"With the younger kids and the parents, I really try to have them explore as many colours, as many materials as possible, so I'll bring in a lot of recycled and natural materials for them to work with and different surfaces for them to work with," she said. "I'm not just doing sponge painting and that."
The North Vancouver Recreation Commission has a number of other programs out, ranging from musical theatre and acting to circus programs to music lessons and arts, including a number of sampler courses where people can try out one course and see how they like it.
For more information and to register, visit www. northvanrec.com. The barcode for Art Retreat, used by the website to find courses easily, is 273995, while the barcode for Drawing With Mixed Media is 273996.
