Whitianga Summer Art with Hilary!

I’m excited to be running kids’ art classes again this summer holiday!

WHERE: Whitianga Town Hall, 24 Monk Street

WHEN:
*𝖶̶𝖾̶𝖽̶𝗇̶𝖾̶𝗌̶𝖽̶𝖺̶𝗒̶,̶ ̶𝖩̶𝖺̶𝗇̶𝗎̶𝖺̶𝗋̶𝗒̶ ̶𝟩̶,̶ ̶𝟤̶𝟢̶𝟤̶𝟨̶ (cancelled)
* Thursday, January 8, 2026
* Friday, January 9, 2026

WHAT:

Each day will have:
* A morning class (9am-12) for kids ages 8-12
* An afternoon class (1-4pm) for kids and an adult (parent/guardian), where the adults will have the chance to make their own project alongside their child. Children under 7 will need their adult’s assistance with the projects.

The same projects are taught in both the morning and afternoon classes each day.

COST:
* $40 per child in the 8-12 year old morning class
* $60 for an adult and child in the afternoon class (the adult and child each make their own project)
* $40 for an adult and child under 7 in the afternoon class (the adult and child work on one project together)

All materials are included.

Preregistration is required, as class sizes will be limited to 8 students. Kids should bring morning or afternoon tea and a drink bottle, and come dressed in clothes that can get messy. Artwork will be ready to take home at pickup time. To register, or for inquiries, please email me at hilaryemersonlay@gmail.com.

 

ABOUT ME:
Hi! My name is Hilary. I’m a recent Whitianga transplant, having moved here from the United States in 2024. From 2013-2019, I was the Assistant Director of a summer art programme for kids in Massachusetts. As the lead teacher, I guided hundreds of kids every summer through an amazing number of fantastic projects. It was an absolute dream job!
In 2019, the art camp director and I coauthored a book of our 53 favourite camp projects called Art Sparks. (The Mercury Bay Library has a copy if you want to check it out, or I have copies for sale).

CLASS SCHEDULE

𝖶̶𝖾̶𝖽̶𝗇̶𝖾̶𝗌̶𝖽̶𝖺̶𝗒̶,̶ ̶𝖩̶𝖺̶𝗇̶𝗎̶𝖺̶𝗋̶𝗒̶ ̶𝟩̶:̶ ̶𝖯̶𝖺̶𝗂̶𝗇̶𝗍̶𝖾̶𝖽̶ ̶𝖯̶𝗅̶𝖺̶𝗍̶𝖾̶𝗌̶ ̶&̶ ̶𝖲̶𝗁̶𝗋̶𝗂̶𝗇̶𝗄̶ ̶𝖠̶𝗋̶𝗍̶ ̶𝖬̶𝖺̶𝗌̶𝗍̶𝖾̶𝗋̶𝗉̶𝗂̶𝖾̶𝖼̶𝖾̶𝗌̶ Cancelled

9am-12pm: Kids ages 8-12
1-4pm: Kids of any age plus an adult

For our first project, we’ll be using pencil and tempera paint to transform old mismatched op-shop plates into beautiful works of art! (Please note that you can’t eat off of them or get them wet; they’re purely decorative).

Our second project will be creating miniature masterpieces through the magic of Shrink Art paper. The absolute best part of this project is when we gather round the toaster oven to watch the artwork shrink in front of our very eyes! Kids can choose to make a necklace or a keychain.

Thursday, January 8: Miniature Clothespin People & Negative Space Painting

9am-12pm: Kids ages 8-12
1-4pm: Kids of any age plus an adult

Using old-fashioned wooden clothespins, we’ll use felt and fabric scraps, yarn, sequins–you name it!–to make miniature people. Maybe yours are going to a fancy party. or they’re all superheroes–or maybe you make your own family! Each clothespin person comes with a little stand.

The second project will be negative space painting. “Negative space” is the empty area around and between objects. We’ll trace interesting objects onto watercolour paper and use vivid shades of tempera to carefully paint around and between the objects. The results are unusual, frame-worthy works of art.

Friday, January 9: Flying Egg Carton Dragons & Reverse Acetate Portraits

9am-12pm: Kids ages 8-12
1-4pm: Kids of any age plus an adult

For our first project, we’ll be transforming regular old egg cartons into wonderful, flying, fire-breathing dragons!

Our second project is when we’ll learn how to create fabulous “reverse” paintings on clear acetate. I have a stack of interesting photos of famous musicians & actors to choose from, OR you can bring in a 15mm x 15mm photo of your own face!