Autumn Term at The Laboratory

The autumn programme for The Laboratory is now available for bookings. After a fantastic Summer we are looking forward to getting stuck into lots of creative, fun, messy - and clean - arts and crafts - see our programmes below:

Our September programme is now available for bookings at The Laboratory

Our October programme sees us celebrating 50 years of Dr Who and having lots of fun with plaster

If you are looking for a spooktacula October Half Term Holiday the look no further than The Laboratory

Art classes at The Laboratory

Our art classes offer a little something for everyone in a creative and relaxed environment. You do not need to bring anything other than yourself and we will even supply you with refreshments. Alongside our classes listed above, this Autumn term we will be launching our Make and Natter class. This class is aimed at any adults who enjoy arts, crafts and nattering. So with the kids back at school this could be just what you are looking for!

We will meet on a Wednesday morning 9:30-11:30am for a cuppa and a biscuit whilst working on the weeks creative project. Our Make and Natter class costs a just £5 per person. To find out more about any of our classes or to book yourself a space. Please contact Lisa at the_laboratory@hotmail.co.uk

Fun With Plaster

This week has seen the launch of the Summer activities programme hosted by The Laboratory Art Studio based at Wat Tyler Country Park. We have a fun filled programme including painting 3D Canvases, making minions, painting birdhouse, printing t-shirts and so much more.

 Today we had an amazing plaster casting workshop where adults and children alike cast their hands in plaster by printing their palm or cupping plaster in their hands.

The studio was buzzing with budding young sculptors and artists creating amazing pieces of work. The children had to sit still (a difficult task for most of us!), to let the plaster set and then got onto the fun job of decorating the finished piece using paint and gem stones.

Here is how we got on....

Waiting patiently for the plaster to set

Cast set onto the busy job of painting!

Smiles all around, busy painting and casting

Concentrating on creating an amazing design

Waiting for the plaster to set

Proudly showing off the finished piece

We loved that these piece were colour co-ordinated, amazing work created today

 Here are some of the finished pieces

Our mums didn't want to miss out on the fun and some spent time casting and painting their own hand-print

The metallic paint really picks out the detail of this piece - it almost looks 3D

We loved the precision and colour choice of this hand cast

Just beautiful!

There is always time for  bit of splatter art!

A matching pair, beautiful painting and colour choice

If you would like any further information about our Summer programme or would like to book onto workshops or classes please email Lisa on the_laboratory@hotmail.co.uk

New Make over for The Laboratory

We are proud to launch our new range of promotional materials for The Laboratory Art Studio based at Wat Tyler Country Park in Basildon. The fabulous designs have all been created by the very talented Lisa Dunn, showcasing the range of activities available at the studio including weekend workshops, children's art classes, adult art classes, children's art parties, exhibition space for hire plus artwork for by yours truly.

We hope that you like our new look and look forward to seeing you at The Laboratory soon!

Our Newly designed generic flyer

Information on our art classes

Information on our children's art parties

Our new programme for July - Don't forget to book your spaces

New signs up 

I hope to see you soon at The Laboratory, if you have any questions or queries email me on the_laboratory@hotmail.co.uk

Mask Making @ The Laboratory

This Saturday at The Laboratory Art Studio it was time to get out the sequins, glitter, tissue paper, gem stones and a bit of imagination - to design, make a create our own masks.

Using a wide range of materials children and adults of all ages enjoyed making some beautiful creations. Participants were encouraged to plan their designs, thinking about colour combinations, how the masks were going to be embellished and if there was a particular theme to their mask

Here's what we got up to....

We loved the details around Joshua's eyes on his mask

Brandon enjoyed making his sparkly sequin covered mask

Emmie carefully cut out a tissue paper bacground for her mask and then embellished this with glitter glue

We thought the symmetry and design on Zoe's mask was amazing

Adele used a range of mediums including sequins, gems, felt tips and paper cut outs to embellish her stunning mask

Great colour combination and patience made Nicky's mask a success

Have you seen the new superhero in town?

If you would like more information about art classes or workshops held at The Laboratory please email the_laboratory@hotmail.co.uk

Disney Time!

The magic of Disney came to life this weekend at The Laboratory art studio in our weekend arts and crafts workshop. With soundtracks from our favourite Disney movies playing in the background - children and adults were inspired to create their own 3D piece of art work. The workshop primarily focused on drawing skills, with our budding artists selecting an image and then using one of several techniques to transfer the image to paper. These included upside down drawing, pencil measuring skills, tracing or the use of a light box. Once the image had been drawn it was outlined using a black sharpie pen and then coloured in bold and beautiful colours. The next task was to create a stunning background that would set off the Disney characters. Both these drawings were placed through the laminator to make the images rigid  A small box was then placed between the two images to create a 3D effect. 

I was impressed with the concentration and detail the children put into their work to create some really beautiful and clever pieces of work. 

We loved this sparkly Tinker-bell

Alongside the 3D wall art our budding artists also created bookmarks, necklaces and mobiles.

Here's what we got up to:

There's something for everyone at The Laboratory

Using a light box to transfer an image. We were impressed with the precision and time spent on this piece.
 There were a lot of dogs to transfer!

Alice in Wonderland plus a fabulous Disney bookmark

We think this beautiful pink Disney necklace is fantastic and would look great on this stunning princess in-front of her castle.

Mr Potatoe head goes strolling through the forest!

Woody and his friends go for a stroll under a clear blue sky

This Tinker-bell is all heart!

This Incredible's 3D art work is just simply incredible! Perfectly drawn and coloured in with a pop art inspired backdrop.

All of the images were drawn by the children and then outlined with a black sharpie pen. This piece looks like it has come straight from the movie, beautifully drawn and coloured in - and we loved the bookmark to! 

Have you seen our latest flyer? Check out what workshops we have coming up over the next couple of months and join  us at The Laboratory to Explore, Experiment and Create

Workshops @ The Laboratory

The Laboratory Art Studio based at Wat Tyler Country Park offers a wide and diverse range of workshops suitable for all ages and all abilities. Our workshops run between 12:00 noon and 4:00 pm at the weekends and cost just £3:00 per person. 

Check out our programme for May and June, to book workshops email the_laboratory@hotmail.co.uk

 To give you an idea of what happens at The Laboratory here are some pictures from two of our recent workshops : Kite Making and Pottery

For our kite making workshop, children worked with adults to construct a basic frame using Withy Willow. Once the frame was build plastic was wrapped around the frame and then it was over to the children to decorate the kites using stickers, paint and embellishments ready for flying.

Carefully painting a stunning design on a handmade kite

Proudly showing of the final pieces

We just loved the intricacy in this kites design, we hope it flew well!

Some people chose to add ears, tails and tassels onto their kites

The Laboratory offers a calm and relaxed atmosphere where you can work with your children to create all kinds of arts and crafts. Children over the age of 8 can be left unassisted.
We just loved this beautiful beach scene which was painted fabulously! 

At the Laboratory you can create all sorts of wonderful pieces of work whilst chatting with your friends and family

Now let's go fly them kites!

 Pottery fun. One of our favourite workshops at The Laboratory is Pottery. We now have two potters wheels which offer children and adults of all ages (I think our youngest has been 2 years old) the opportunity to have a go at throwing a pot. With a little tuition and a little helping hand everyone is able to create a vase, bowl, plate etc that they can take home to paint. And whilst you are waiting for your turn on the wheel, we will show you how to make a pinch pot, a small animal sculpture and coiling with clay.

A helping hand offered on the potters wheel

Moulding the clay into a smooth shape ready to create a beautiful pot

Even adults enjoy having a go at throwing a pot on our wheels

The Laboratory offers a relaxed a clam atmosphere that is suitable for all ages and all abilities, Why not join us and explore, experiment and create!

Creating pinch pots whilst waiting to go on the potters wheel

 For more information email Lisa at the_laboratory@hotmail.co.uk