Art and craft classes and workshops in Essex.
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February 2020
Water and Reflections in the Landscape
If you need to free up and paint in a bolder style, this is the course for you! Use vibrant acrylic paints and large brushes to create an underpainting, and then enhance the work using mixed media with wax and oil pastels. Follow David’s step-by-step method or bring your own photographs to work from with David’s guidance. - £38 for this full day workshop, payable in advance - Free refreshments provided, but bring or buy your own lunch - Please check the list below to find out what you will need to bring with you - There is no additional…
Find out more »December 2020
Virtual Craft Market
Browse and buy a range of handmade items and craft supplies from local independent sellers, over the weekend of Friday 11th to Sunday 13th December. Pick up some great handcrafted gifts, a treat for yourself, or even some arty supplies to keep you busy with a new project over the festive period!
Find out more »January 2021
Annual General Meeting 2019/20
The Braintree Community Centre Annual General Meeting 2019/20 will take place by Zoom on Tuesday 26th January 2021 at 7.30pm. Please notify info@braintreecommunitycentre.org.uk if you wish to receive an invitation.
Find out more »February 2021
Braintree Open Online Art Exhibition 2021
The Braintree Open Online Art Exhibition will be back in 2021, with another virtual exhibition opening on 14th February – love theme optional! Submissions accepted up to 11th February 2021.
Find out more »July 2021
Reconnect With Your Sewing Machine & Make a Tie Top Bag
Bought a Sewing machine during COVID lockdown and need some help to make the most of it? Try this basic class in July and follow up learning how to make clothes, starting with a simple pair of trousers over 5 weeks in September: Trousers Sew-Along.Get 10% off the Trousers Sew-Along course starting September if you attend this class! Ease back into sewing or if you want to start afresh with this easy and satisfying soft, lined tie-top bag. The pattern is really a blank canvas for other textile techniques you can try out as well as a great stash buster…
Find out more »September 2021
Practical Sewing Skills: Trousers (5-week course)
Starting Your Sewing Bee Journey With Karen Odinga A five-week course, meeting each Wednesday evening from 15th September to 13th October. £35 for the full course paid in advance, or £7.50 per week (total £37.50). Get 10% off this course if you also attend "Reconnect With Your Sewing Machine & Make a Tie Top Bag" in July! If you are a beginner to sewing, you don’t have to be stuck making endless tote bags to learn the basics. Sew up something that you can really use again and again like this smart and comfortable pair of trousers with flattering side…
Find out more »Braintree Community Centre Reopening Event
The Centre will be celebrating three great things on this day! In celebrating our post Covid re opening you can come and see how our new internal layout gives us a new hall with better disabled access and a changed kitchen. We will also thank Dolphin WI for the planting of a centennial apple tree in our new garden and celebrate the achievements of local community heroes by unveiling a plaque - all in one day. Chair of Braintree District Council, Cllr Sue Wilson, will attend together with several community leaders. Many of the user groups will be showing off…
Find out more »October 2021
Mixed Media Landscapes
Mixed Media Landscapes With David Pasfield Use acrylic washes on textured or smooth paper, overlaid with different “stick” mediums, to enhance your original washes. This technique will “free up” your style, producing pleasing and sometimes experimental effects. Equipment & Materials: Acrylic paints – vibrant colours. Watercolour paper – preferable hot-pressed paper (smooth surface) at least 50 x 50 cm square. Large bristle paint brushes / decorator’s brushes. Palette knife. Easel – free-standing. Wax / oil crayons, chalks, soft pastels, felt-tip pens / markers, charcoal, acrylic inks – all colours. Palette – grease-proof paper on cardboard or stay-wet palette. Two water…
Find out more »Practical Sewing Skills: Sewing with Knits (4-week course)
With Karen Odinga A four-week course, meeting each Wednesday evening from 20th October to 10th November. £28 for the full course paid in advance, or £7.50 per week (total £30). Learn to work with stretch knit fabrics to create a tunic or dress. With the basic T-shirt style pattern provided, you will be in control since you will have the opportunity to adjust the length for either a tunic or dress as well as creating a round or v-neck. All styles have sleeves and there are options for a ruffle and adding additional colour bands. Pattern provided is multi-sized so…
Find out more »Make Do and Mend – Illustrated Talk
With Amanda Sutherland Part of our "Green Sewing" series. Reuse, recreate and restyle your wardrobe - finding flattering styling with eco and recycling elements in mind. Amanda Sutherland will show fabulous garment recreations that can be achieved from charity shop finds and old keepsakes, with simple yet effective methods. She will demonstrate various ways of adapting everyday clothing ,including worn and badly fitting garments, into exciting and unique fashion pieces. Amanda will show examples of clothing hacks which are easy to recreate, giving us a talk full of tweaks, surprises and repurposed fashion ideas. Amanda will also be bringing along…
Find out more »Landscapes in “Thick & Thin” Acrylics
Landscapes in "Thick & Thin" Acrylics With David Pasfield Heavy body acrylics can be used with a palette knife to create textures and expressive paintings. David will demonstrate his technique during this inspiring day; first using a brush and then palette knife. Free up your painting style – being bold and not worrying about detail. Equipment & Materials: Acrylic paints – preferably heavy-bodied (or you can use ordinary paints mixed with an impasto gel). Impasto gel – Winsor & Newton Galeria range has a heavy structure gel which is idea for creating strong surface texture. MDF board or hardboard at…
Find out more »November 2021
Sewer’s Delight
With Pam Jermy We will be making a crewel work inspired piece of embroidery, with silks and beads. More details coming soon.Discount for EHA members!
Find out more »Landscapes in Acrylic & Paper Collage
Landscapes in Acrylic & Paper Collage With David Pasfield Landscapes can be “loosened up” by using collage and acrylics. Bring texture and vibrancy to your work on canvas or primed board. No experience is required as a tutor-led step-by-step process will be used during the day. Work from the tutor’s ideas or bring your own photographs for inspiration. Equipment & Materials: Acrylic paints – vibrant colours. Papers, newspaper, magazines, old maps, prints, doilies, rice paper, tissue paper, sheet music, junk mail adverts, and any other decorative papers. Canvas or primed board at least 60 x 60 cm. Large bristle brushes…
Find out more »Practical Sewing Skills: The Great Cover-Up (2-week course)
With Karen Odinga A two-week course, meeting on Wednesday evenings 17th and 24th November. £15 for the full course, or £7.50 per week. A loose, drapey, kimono style jacket for any occasion Create an easy to sew classic cover up with drop kimono-style sleeves with the multi sized pattern provided. An easy throw-on style or chic finish to an outfit. Materials to bring: Sewing machine with leads accessories etc. Please be familiar with the basic operations of your particular model. Fabric (see below for size requirements) All purpose thread to match your fabric Dressmaking shears Dressmaking pins Tape measure Your…
Find out more »Still Life in Acrylic & Paper Collage
Still Life in Acrylic & Paper Collage With David Pasfield Use paper collage in conjunction with acrylics to create vibrant and textured works. No experience of these mediums is required, as a step-by-step process will be used throughout the day. Paint from a setup of flowers, foliage, and accessories. Free up your work with this exciting and experimental style. Equipment & Materials: Acrylic paints – vibrant colours. Papers, newspaper, magazines, old maps, prints, doilies, rice paper, tissue paper, sheet music, junk mail adverts, and any other decorative papers. Canvas or primed board at least 60 x 60 cm. Large bristle…
Find out more »Click here to view our regular weekly leisure classes, including art, crafts, languages and more!
Information for Students
Some parking is available to the rear of the Centre. If you have equipment to bring in, you can access the building directly into the main hall through the doors in the car park. If the doors aren’t open, please inform the office you have arrived and the doors will be opened for you.
If you think you may have access difficulties please let us know in advance, as we have accessible facilities available. Accessible toilets are available on the ground floor. Wheelchair access is through the door on the front of the Centre.
Free tea & coffee will be provided. Don’t forget to bring your lunch or you can choose to visit one of the many cafes and takeaways in town.
Please wear suitable clothing, and if you’re bringing any electrical equipment please ensure that it is in good working order with a solid plug and undamaged wiring – check it before you come!
Payment
Class fees should be paid in advance by card (which can be done over the phone- 01376 323280).
We will also accept cheques, which will be cashed two weeks before the date of the class once we are sure the class will run, and should be made payable to Braintree & Bocking Community Association.
There may be an additional cost for appropriate materials, which if applicable, should be paid to the tutor on the day of the class – please check the class details.
Cancellation policy
Fees are non-refundable from two weeks before the class unless we can sell the space to another student (subject to a minimum of six students booked). Fees may be transferable at our discretion.
Please understand that the Centre cannot afford to run classes at a loss, since we are a charity. As such, classes may be cancelled if we are unable to achieve a minimum number of students. If this is the case, you will be informed two weeks before the date of the class and your fee will be refunded.