This class is a watercolor with pen and ink class for beginners, or people who need a space to pull out the watercolors that are collecting dust. Students will leave with a matted, abstract botanical/nature-based piece. We will start with a free painting approach with an emphasis on colors and patterns in nature, creating two different pieces. Working from an array of photos, art books and bouquets of fresh flowers, students will be encouraged to paint, draw, or even transfer some abstract botanical shapes and images onto their watercolors. With a supply of different sized mats, we will mix and match our pieces with the goal of everyone finding a mat for one of their pieces. *Registration is required by Oct 9th.

Join master wood carver Ken Wise and cooking instructor Chris Toy for a fantastic weekend of hands on Carving and Cooking instruction. Come learn how to carve cooking utensils such as chopsticks, spatulas, and spoons. Then learn how to use them to prepare, cook, and eat some tasty Asian fusion recipes from Chris Toy's cookbooks! The retreat happens on the shores of Merrymeeting Bay in the Butler Head Nature Preserve. A limited number of AirBNB style overnight accommodations with shared bathrooms are available. Contact Chris Toy at christoy.net@gmail.com FMI. About the instructors: Ken Wise has been carving spoons, turning bowls and making Wildlife Art in Mid-Coast Maine for many years. He enjoys sharing the fun and challenges of working with wood through classes and private instruction. Chris Toy, long time cooking instructor, Maine Guide, and author of 6 Asian cookbooks has taught community education, in kitchen stores, and privately around midcoast Maine for many years. *There is a $25.00 non-refundable fee for cancellations.

Enjoy a relaxing evening sipping hot chocolate or tea while carving thoughtful designs into pre-made pottery by Janna and Zachary. Learn the sgraffito technique—scratching through colored slip to reveal the clay beneath—and leave your piece for firing. Finished work ready for pickup two weeks later. All tools and materials provided. $20 materials fee payable to the instructor. No experience needed.

In just a few hours, you can learn enough secrets of the trade to give you years of musical enjoyment. Learn to play piano the way professionals do-using chords. The chord method is LOTS of fun and dramatically easier to learn than reading notes. Fee includes the online book, online follow up lessons, a recording of the class and also an optional periodic question and answer session. Class is held online using zoom and is partly hands-on instruction and partly lecture demonstration. *This course includes ONE live online session, and students follow up on their own with provided video lessons.

In just a few hours you can learn enough about playing the guitar to give you years of musical enjoyment, and you won’t have to take private lessons to do it. This crash course will teach you some basic chords and get you playing along with your favorite songs right away. Fee includes the online book, online follow up lessons, a recording of the class and also an optional periodic question and answer session. Class is held online using zoom and is partly hands on instruction and partly lecture/demonstration. For ages 13+. *This course includes ONE live online session, and students follow up on their own with provided video lessons.

In this 2 day class, you'll learn everything you need to know to get started with watercolor painting. We will have an in-depth conversation about paper and pads, paint, palettes, and brushes. After the materials lecture, we'll jump right in and make a color chart, practice mixing paint and our brush strokes. After a quick review on the second day, you'll have the opportunity to paint a custom illustration created by Catherine and printed on watercolor paper. You'll leave this short, but sweet class with enough experience and knowledge to know if investing in the materials to paint with watercolor is something you are interested in doing. All materials provided. *A $20 materials fee must be paid to instructor at first class.

This yoga class blends Hatha, Yin, and Restorative practices, offering a gentle yet comprehensive introduction to mindful movement, deep stretching, and profound relaxation. We will begin each session by focusing on breathwork and foundational postures to warm the body and cultivate a sense of presence. Next a transition to stretches that target deep connective tissues, promoting flexibility and releasing tension in the hips, pelvis and lower spine. Finally we will conclude with a restorative sequence, using props to support the body in passive poses allowing deep relaxation and rejuvenation. Please bring a yoga bolster or personal cushion, blanket; yoga blocks provided.

Come learn some more advanced Latin dance moves with Barbara! You will learn about Bachata, Salsa & Rumba. Add to your Latin Dance experience with Afro-Cuban origin that became internationally popular in the last century. Rumba, the "Dance of Love" has your hips swaying and close partner connections. A popular choice for slow partner dances of both Latin and pop music. The Bachata is a playful Latin dance from the Dominican Republic. This style is danced with soft hip motions, turns and side-to-side footwork. The music of Bachata is very recognizable for its predominant use of the electric guitar combined with Caribbean and Latin musical influences. Salsa is a Latin dance, associated with the music genre of the same name, which was first popularized in the United States in the 1960s in New York City. Salsa is an amalgamation of Cuban dances, such as mambo, pachanga and rumba, as well as American dances such as swing and tap. The basic Salsa dance rhythm consists of taking three steps for every four beats of music.