Category: Workshops

A Fun Workshop at The Paper Place

I was in Toronto last week visiting family, and I’d also arranged to teach a paper cutting workshop mid-week at The Paper Place. It was an enjoyable evening of talking about paper cutting, knives, and paper, all in one of the best paper goods stores I’ve had the pleasure to visit. I did not manage to take many photos during the evening, and I wish I’d taken a few of my students work in progress.

Paper cutting workshop

Paper cutting workshop

I did two activities during the workshop, one on kirigami and the other on pattern paper cuts with templates. The photos here were taken during the kirigami portion of the evening, as we worked with lots of lovely colourful paper. I’m so glad I decided to teach a workshop while I was in Toronto because it was a terrific experience.

I went back to the store a few days later and bought a selection of Gampi, Kozo, and other Japanese papers to test out and hopefully create beautiful new work with it.

Creative Paper Cutting Workshop in Toronto!

At the beginning of April I will be in Toronto visiting family, and I’ve arranged to teach a paper cutting workshop hosted by The Paper Place while I’m in town.

In this hands-on workshop I will introduce students to the joys of creating intricate art through paper cutting. During the class participants will work on two small projects incorporating traditional techniques with a modern twist, and a focus on abstraction and pattern. The goal is to help students develop knife skills, discuss tools and materials, as well as inspire ideas for how to integrate paper cut elements into their own work.

Paper cutting workshop at The Paper Place in Torono

Visit The Paper Place website for the full details and description. Register in person at the store or by phone at 416.703.0089.

Creative Paper Cutting at The Paper Place
Date: Wednesday, April 5th
Time: 6:30-9:30pm
Cost: $90 + $10 Materials fee
Location: 887 Queen St. West, Toronto

Workshop: Creative Paper Cutting Party at Opus Art Supplies

I am teaching a paper cutting workshop at Opus Art Supplies Hastings Street location on Thursday March 16th, 6:30pm to 8:30pm. The class is affordably priced at $25 which covers the cost of supplies. To participate you must register by phone or in person (604‑678‑5889) to reserve a spot as space is limited.

Creative Paper Cutting Party at Opus Art Supplies

I’ll be doing a thorough run down on knives, paper, techniques, and different ways to use paper cut elements in artwork. Participants will also get the chance to work on their own paper cut pattern to take home, like the ones pictured above. Visit the event page for more details »

Creative Paper Cutting Party with Rachael Ashe
Date: Thursday March 16th, 2017
Time: 6:30pm to 8:30pm
Cost: $25 and includes all supplies
Location: Opus Art Supplies, 100-207 West Hastings Street

Paper Cutting Workshop at Opus Downtown

I am teaching a short paper cutting workshop at Opus Art Supplies Hastings Street location on Sunday September 25th, 11am to 1pm. The class is a $10 bargain to participate and you must register by phone or in person (604‑678‑5889) to reserve a spot as space is limited.

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I’ll be doing thorough run down on knives, paper, techniques, and different ways to use paper cut elements in artwork. Participants will also get the chance to work on their own paper cut pattern to take home, like the ones pictured above. Visit the event page for more details »

Paper Cutting: Getting Started with Rachael Ashe
Date: Sunday September 25th, 2016
Time: 11pm & 1pm
Cost: $10
Location: Opus Art Supplies, 100-207 West Hastings Street

Kirigami Workshop at the Vancouver Art Gallery

On Sunday you can find me on the fourth floor of the Vancouver Art Gallery teaching people how to create kirigami paper cut work. I’ll be there as part of the Family Weekly Program in conjunction with Mashup: The Birth of Modern Culture, the current massive show occupying every floor of the VAG. This is a drop-in activity for all ages.

Kirigami paper cuts

Kirigami paper cuts

Kirigami, The Art of Folding and Cutting Paper
Date: Sunday April 17th, 2016
Time: noon to 4pm
Cost: Free with admission to the gallery
Location: Vancouver Art Gallery, 750 Hornby Street

Scenes From A Paper Cutting Workshop at Opus

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It’s been almost a year since I last did a demonstration of paper cutting techniques at Opus Art Supplies. I was feeling a bit nervous before I started because I was going to try something new, and more hands-on this time. In the past it’s been a demonstration only, and this time it was to be a workshop with people making things. I decided to use Japanese and Islamic patterns as printed templates to guide participants through the paper cutting activity, and I was a little worried this wouldn’t be interesting for them to work on.

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It turned out to be the best thing for the amount of time we had for the class. I went through my information, did a quick paper cutting demonstration, and then got everyone working on a pattern paper cut selected from the printed templates I provided. It was interesting to see everyone choose a Japanese design over the Islamic ones. I suspect this is because they are perceived as easier to work with.

I had a fun group of participants in the class, and they seemed to enjoy and get inspired by everything I taught them. There were many converts to my beloved Olfa art knife, after each of them compared cutting with it versus an xacto with a #11 blade (they are the worst!)

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Above are some of the work-in-progress by participants in the class.

This group was a pleasure to teach, and I left afterwards feeling inspired and incredibly satisfied with a teaching job well done.

Paper Cutting Workshop at Opus Art Supplies

I am teaching a short paper cutting workshop at Opus Art Supplies Hastings Street location this Saturday, 11am to 1pm. The demo costs $10 to participate and you must register by phone (604‑678‑5889) to reserve a spot as space is limited.

Work in progress - pattern paper cut

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I’ll be doing thorough run down on knives, paper, techniques, and different ways to use paper cut elements in artwork. Participants will also get the chance to work on their own paper cut pattern to take home, like the ones pictured above. Visit the event page for more details, and to read the materials list »

Opus Artist Demo: Creative Paper Cutting Techniques
Date: Saturday April 9th, 2016
Time: 11pm & 1pm
Cost: $10
Location: Opus Art Supplies, 100-207 West Hastings Street

Scenes From My First Braided Rug Workshop

I was very close to having to cancel this workshop on the weekend, because in the days leading up to it I came down with laryngitis. My voice came back by Friday afternoon, so I decided to go ahead with it.

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The workshop was held at Studio 126 in Chinatown, and I had a small group of people in attendance which was the perfect size for the space. This is the first time I taught people how to make t-shirt yarn and braided rugs, so I wasn’t entirely sure how things would go, or how much space each person would need.

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We spent the first hour and a half making t-shirt yarn. I introducing them to the joys of cutting fabric with a rotary cutter, which makes it so much easier. Everyone made a few balls of yarn before we switched over to getting started on braiding rugs.

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One participant decided to include an upcycled pillow case in her rug, which didn’t seem to work as well as t-shirt fabric because it is less stretchy. I’d been thinking about testing out other types of fabric, but I think stretchy fabrics probably work best.

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The final photo is where everyone left off by the end of class. It’s a good start, and I hope each participant will eventually share their rug with me when they are finished.

Braided Rug Workshop at Studio 126

I love making braided rugs so much that I decided to teach a workshop on the subject. In this two part class I will be showing participants how to make yarn from t-shirts, and then how to bring it all together is rug form.

Braided Rug Workshop

The class is presented by Studio 126 in Chinatown on Saturday March 19th, 10am to 3pm. Visit their website for further details and to register.

Braided Rug Workshop
Date: Saturday March 19th, 2016
Time: 10am to 3pm
Cost: $125.00
Location: Studio 126, 126 East Pender Street

Teaching Workshops & Sharing Knowledge

I’m not sure why, but when it comes to scheduling workshops every year I struggle to get it done. For months I’ve been procrastinating putting together a number of workshop descriptions, and also reaching out to potential venues. It’s driving me crazy, but it made me realize it’s one of the areas where I am blocked and I want to figure out why.

I like teaching, and the more techniques I learn, the more knowledge I have to share with others. There are way more places in Vancouver that offer workshops then there used to be, which means more opportunities for teachers. It’s also one of the many ways I can make money from my art. It’s win win really.

Altered Book Workshop at Blim - Student Work

I think part of the block is a reluctance to share all of my knowledge because I am self-taught. I have earned what I know through many hours of work, and it seems weird to hand this off to students I barely know. Shouldn’t they have to earn it too? And the answer is yes! They’re starting with me to guide them but they still have to put the time in to become good.

It could be I am blocked because of all the work involved with putting together a teaching plan, especially when developing a new one from scratch. To date I’ve mostly taught altered book workshops, but I’m working out how to teach paper cutting, as well as a class on braided rugs.

If you’re interested, stay tuned over here…