We buy used jewellery tools and supplies
​ and gratefully accept donations
[email protected]

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What's it going to be?  One day?  Or day one!

More 2026 in person and online workshops are being updated. 
  
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​  ABSTRACTING THE LANDSCAPE
​NATURE RE-IMAGINED 
SELF-PACED ONLINE VIDEO WORKSHOP 

- YOU WILL BE GUIDED THROUGH 4 COMPLETE PAINTINGS
-BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE
-PAINT AT YOUR OWN PACE AND ON YOUR OWN SCHEDULE
-SAVE MONEY, USE MOSTLY INEXPENSIVE ACRYLIC STUDENT GRADE PAINTS
-ALMOST 5 HOURS OF CONTENT
-WORKS IN PROGRESS: EXAMPLES OF WHAT TO DO WHEN THINGS
DON'T GO AS PLANNED
- A FUN AND ENTERTAINING WORKSHOP EXPERIENCE- ENCOURAGING YOU TO PLAY WITH PAINT!
NO REFERENCE IMAGES REQUIRED, WE MAKE IT ALL UP
-LOOSEN UP, USING NONTRADITONAL TOOLS 
-LOTS OF TIPS AND TECHNIQUES THAT YOU CAN BRING INTO YOUR OWN WORK
​-LIFETIME ACCESS
FREE BONUS-CONNECT WITH GREG AND STUDENTS IN OUR PRIVATE COMMUNITY SPACE
​$399.00 CAD plus tax where applicable. 

 Thumbnails are actual or approximate representations of video demonstrations 

About Greg:​ As a successful commercial illustrator and fine art painter Greg has sold more than 1500 paintings to date! His beautiful abstract landscape paintings resonate with his collectors and painters alike. Greg taught part time at the Milwaukee Institute of Art And Design and later at Hawkeye Community College for almost five years all the while working as a professional Illustrator. And he recently taught two, week long workshops for us on Vancouver Island.
​He paints with a humorous, lighthearted approach and refers to his painting style as just "Playing with Paint". 
He has been represented by galleries in North and South Carolina, Iowa and Wisconsin but now prefers to sell to his collectors and world wide through his Etsy shop at  HargreavesArt.

SPRING SILVERSMITH JEWELRY INTENSIVE WITH KELLY ALLANSON

​Join us for our fun, skill building workshops and leave proudly wearing what you make! 
Or make something for someone special as a treasured gift
5 days - 5 stunning projects!
If you know, you know.  We sell out fast! This is our 11th year.
 Session 1 - ​5 days     March 19-23, 2026 Thursday through Monday   10- 5 daily
​Session 2 - 5 days     March 26-30, 2026 Thursday through Monday  10-5 daily
BEZEL SET RING
​​Deceptively simple, this playful and versatile, cute little duo is a  perfect way to have a little fun with your jewelry.  Flip it this way, flip it that way and have a different look each time.
 
The focus of this project is to learn how to solder facetted stone bezel settings closely beside each other. It is tricky to set the stones without the issue of having the solder joint between the settings interfere with pushing the bezel over the stone fully.
​Students will have the option of 3 faceted round or oval natural or CZ stones to play with.  We will be fabricating our own step bezels for this project and then joining them on a simple but playful bands.  Each ring will have a bit of a fluid line which keeps things interesting when stacked together. Lots of technical steps will be covered and advancing your settings skills.​
​

DOUBLE YOUR PLEASURE PENDANT & BROOCH

Wow! 
​Versatility is a bonus when it comes to jewelry making and this dynamic piece can be worn either as a pendant or brooch.  

Students will spend the day exploring design and learning how to create a balanced piece so it will hang or pin perfectly.  And Kelly's clever double pin design for the brooch ensures it won't flip when worn. 

​ You will explore the use of textures and building up of layers which will add depth along with visual interest. 
Negative space, and structure achieved through 3D fabrication is what pushes this beautiful piece over the top!
These same elements will come into play when orienting your bails and brooch mechanism.  ​
A selection of unique stones will be available for you to choose from, allowing for an even more personalized design creation. 

Kelly will have Omega chains available for purchase as well. 

​INLAY OR BEZEL SIGNET RING


We will experiment with mixing different media and learn to build this elegant and classic signet ring. This is both a fun and challenging ring to fabricate.

Students will learn how to size, form, and shape a beautiful signet ring from a flat strip of sterling silver sheet.  After forming and shaping the ring, you will work on sizing and fabricating a setting for the ebony wood inlay or bezel set stone.
 
After soldering the setting onto the ring and performing a final polish, you will epoxy the ebony into the setting and refine the wood to the desired height. 

These rings make a great statement piece suitable for both men and women. We can adjust the size to fit your preference – whether you prefer a bold and large ring or a more delicate option for smaller hands.  Either style, either shape.  

GINKGO LEAF CUFF​

Gingko leaves hold a special attraction for artists and are always visually appealing. This captivating cuff is inspired by their natural beauty of patterns, movement and symbolism. 
 
You will spend the day forming numerous ginkgo leaves of various sizes and shapes from brass sheet and give them form and life by adding depth with texture and organic curves.   You will bring out their beauty with the use of hammers and burs and form them into one of a kind organic shapes.

​​Once your leaves are fabricated you will solder them to a sterling silver cuff you will make and form to fit your wrist perfectly.   The leaves will be woven in and out of the frame to bring strength and further depth.  Lastly,  we will interweave a few sterling silver accent branches into the frame and leaves themselves. 
This cuff is a way to incorporate the use of mixed metals with playful whimsy.  You will have the option of paying a bit more for sterling silver if you prefer to to make the cuff entirely out of sterling silver.

​

CHAIN FRINGED EARRINGS

 
Let's play with chain! 
​
Chain can be used as fun accents in jewelry and serve a functional purpose or be used purely for design but either way soldering chain can be scary.  And costly. 
 
These earrings are highlighting using chain as fun accents, and allowing you to learn easy tricks to solder small chain and keep it from just fusing or melting together once it is hit with heat.
We will be playing with mismatched, freeform tumbled stones to add to the fun.  There will be lots of colour options and size options available for students to play with along with multiple styles of chains to accent with. Fun!
 ​
​​March 19-23, 2026 Thursday through Monday  5 days
March 26-30, 2026 Thursday through Monday  5 days
​Hours 10-5 daily
$745.00 Plus gst $37.25  = $782.25 TOTAL
​Plus $50.00 per day ($250.00 total) cash upon commencement paid to Kelly for material and consumable fee.
​Nanaimo - 1520 Stewart Avenue
​Payment is due in full.  E transfer to [email protected]
​
or if you prefer to pay with credit card via Pay Pal there is an additonal 4% handling fee added.  Use button below for the PayPal link.
​
Prefer a payment plan?  Email me here:  [email protected]

THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD ABSTRACT PAINTING WORKSHOP
with 
JASON HACKENWERTH


​​
​IN THIS WORKSHOP YOU WILL:
-Focus on preparation, process, and pushing past thought.
-Explore modes of bold mark-making that lend to immediacy and intensity.
-Consider the use of words as figures or forms for seducing the audience.
-Employ layering to generate unpredictable metaphor and allegory.
-Utilize wiping and rubbing to explore vulnerability and reveal hidden beauty and strength.​

​GOALS FOR THIS WORKSHOP ​
​To develop courage and confidence in yourself, your practice and your mark-making.
Learn the difference between common work that is “easy,” and distinctive work that grabs viewers and makes a lasting impression. 
Initiate a process-oriented practice that will build trust and faith in your ability to make bold and memorable work. 
Jason will share tips and tools for moving past thought, breaking through blocks and shattering doubt while overcoming procrastintion.​​
 You will define what you truly hope to achieve in your art practice and set a course to reach it.  ​
​
Jason Hackenworth is a multidisciplinary artist working in the fields of painting, sculpture and installations.
His work has been exhibited in galleries and museums around the world including:
Solomon Guggenheim Museum, New York
Victoria and Albert Museum, London 
National Museum, Scotland
​

​www.jasonhackenwerth.com
IG @hackenwerth
​
​5 Day Workshop    OCTOBER 22 - 26, 2026  THURSDAY TO MONDAY
$2,500.00 + $125.00 tax (GST 5%)  = $2,625.00
Payment in full or deposit with balance due July 1, 2026  Details on registration page. Use register button.
12 spaces max
​Acrylic only.  Jason loves oils but they dry slowly and limit progress in this workshop environment. 
1520 Stewart Avenue, Nanaimo, BC  
Hours: 10 - 5 daily with Jason
1 hour lunch
Studio is open 9 AM to 9 PM except Saturday evening when closed at 6
48"X 60" max stretched canvas. Wall space to hang and 6ft table ea
Supply list upon registration
​Prefer a payment plan?  Email me here:  [email protected]