Featured Events in Ladybank in April 2025 (August Updated)

Mindful Drawing from Nature for Well-being -This is also called 'astonishment' drawing. How observational drawing can promote awareness that leads to a sense of wonder and engagement with the natural world. Removing blocks that inhibit us and finding focus through drawing. Giving time and space to something in creative absorption that is also in a way giving time to ourselves. It is drawing without applying a value judgement to the outcome. (It is worth noting that many 'good' drawings arise in a space that is free from judgment). The session will introduce various exercises and methods to approach the practice of drawing that are exploratory and meant to be fun, engaging and ultimately revealing about the natural world around us and ourselves as part of that. I will bring in natural objects and plants to draw from. Although all drawing materials will be supplied if you have your own pencils, charcoal and erasers please bring them along. Free taster session Information Source: Off The Rails Arthouse | eventbrite

Due to great demand, we are offering a second workshop with Jo Perkins. Come for a colourful, expressive and possibly sticky weekend creating vibrant floral paintings using mixed media and collage! Following a highly successful workshop in June, artist Jo Perkins will work her magic again in an exciting, experimental weekend suitable for anyone who wants to try something new. You will start the weekend creating your own collage papers using tissue paper and then go on to some drawn studies of flowers and how they behave. Then, using your homemade collage papers as a starting point, you will then create colourful abstract paintings of flowers from vases around the studio, reference photos or from your own imagination! As it is a mixed media weekend, you are encouraged to bring crayons, pencils, pastels, acrylic pens, markers and anything else you would like to experiment with! Jo Perkins is an artist based in rural Scotland making bright, joyful paintings in response to her local landscape. Fascinated with colour and how it makes us feel, Jo often explores saturated palettes that reflect both her emotions in regard to the landscape and the changing seasons. You can see examples of Jo's beautiful landscape and floral work on her website. Jo is also a highly experienced and inspiring teacher who will demonstrate her technique and also work one-to one with you. Information Source: Off The Rails Arthouse | eventbrite

Due to very popular demand, we offer another chance to take part in a fast, fun workshop and end up with a super-cosy finished rug! There will be a selection of both and coloured fleeces to choose from. We welcome Trish O’Meara, from Wormit Woolies. Trish is a local fibre artist specializing in making hand felted rugs and decorative wall hangings using natural raw fleece amongst other bits and pieces of nature. As she lives on a small holding, her interest in felting raw fleece came from owning sheep and wanting to find ways to use and recycle the fleece in both a practical and meaningful way. This is a practical workshop but you’ll also get loads of theory along the way. Come prepared for an upper body workout and wear your oldest clothes, felting is splashy, messy and physically demanding. Then we’ll get stuck into felting using warm water and soap along with a few different tools like rolling pins and paint rollers etc. This is followed by some throwing and fulling which is when the real magic happens! You will be provided with a plastic apron along with everything else needed to create your very own one of a kind felted rug/throw. Each participant will need to bring along a couple of large towel and a bag to carry your damp rug home in. Trish will provide you with an instruction sheet for follow up care of your rug! Information Source: Off The Rails Arthouse | eventbrite