Have A Go & Artist Demonstrations

Saturday 12th July

10am - 12:30pm & 1pm - 3:30pm

Join us downstairs at The Kaiapoi Club for Have a Go sessions and Artist demonstrations from 10am - 12:30pm and 1pm- 3:30pm.

See below for more details…

HAVE A GO

  • 1pm - 3:30pm

    Try your hand at drawing with the help of small artist mannequins, geometric shapes and simple wooden animals. This relaxing, hands-on activity is suitable for all ages and offers a fun introduction to using reference models in your art, whether you're a budding young artist or just keen to give it a go.


    About Jane Reid:

    Rangiora-based artist Jane Reid brings a meticulous approach to oil painting, using careful underdrawing and layered colour to create depth and richness. Recently inspired by marginal areas where pioneer plants, dismissed as weeds, wage quiet battles for space and light, Jane captures their forms, rhythms, and the intricate patterns they create.

  • 10am - 12:30pm and 1pm - 3:30pm

    Sarah runs Paper Jam. A collage studio that is in the Old Kaiapoi Mill. Sarah is obsessed with collage and the joy and well-being it can bring to people of all ages. 

    The activity Sarah will be sharing at the Kaiapoi Art Expo is making a badge. You will use the medium of collage to make your very own badges. Super fun for ALL ages.

  • 10am - 12:30pm and 1pm - 3:30pm

    Canterbury Embroiderers' Guild will offer a couple of small projects that people can have a go at.  We will bring all of the materials required, which will include the material, threads & needles.  We don't guarantee that your chosen piece will be completed on the day, but the maker should have enough information to complete their project.  If any more help is required, people may join one of several of our groups that meet weekly for more assistance.

    The Canterbury Embroiderers’ Guild has been in existence for almost 60 years supporting needle crafts withing the community. We have over 100 members but welcome new members who are keen to learn new skills.

    We currently meet at Hammersley Park School which is just down the road from The Palms shopping centre. Our rooms can be accessed via Amos Place.

    There are currently six stitching groups that meet during the week (both day & evening meetings). Some are small project groups; others are free stitching. Extensions & Workdays are held monthly. From time to time, we offer classes tutored either by members or visiting embroiders.

  • 10am - 12:30pm and 1pm - 3:30pm

    Anna Heasley, local photographer, has been dabbling in acrylic painting recently and discovered the art of junk journaling. The idea is to create without thinking and enjoy the process. Come and have a go! We will be painting, drawing, and gel printing. 

  • Unfortunately due to an injury this activity will no longer be taking place

  • 10am - 12:30pm and 1pm - 3:30pm

    The Rangiora Woolcraft Group are a friendly group of ladies who enjoy getting together twice a month to knit spin crochet weave dye felt, all at there own level. 

    Come visit us, Welcome to come along for three free visits, spinning wheels available. 

    At the have a go day the group will be sharing the following activities for people to try: 

    Spinning, Diagonal pin Loom, crotchet, carding, peg looming.

  • 10am - 12:30pm and 1pm - 3:30pm

    Christchurch Lacemakers Inc we meet regularly twice a month as well as bobbin lace we enjoy creating all sorts of lace including tatting, needle lace, crochet and knitted lace. Our members range from beginner through to experienced 

    At the have a go day the group will be sharing a small bobbin lace project people can try.

Artist Demonstrations

  • Come along on Saturday 12th July to see our guest artist Gwyn Hughes working on one of his latest painting.

  • 10am - 12:30pm

    Kathy Thorpe is a Waikuku-based potter inspired by nature’s earthy tones, curious shapes, and sumptuous textures. She creates practical yet beautiful ceramics that bring warmth and character to interior spaces. Through exhibitions, markets, and teaching, Kathy shares her passion for handcrafted pottery, celebrating the beauty of clay and form.

    Kathy will be making a hand built snoot carved vase. She will show viewers how she can make things and create joins. Kathy will have a bit of clay on the side for you to carve or just feel the texture of clay.

  • 10am - 12:30pm and 1pm - 3:30pm

    Moya is a Pegasus-based artist who specialises in oils and artist pencil. She has an appreciation of the natural world and loves to celebrate the beauty of flowers and plants in her works. For the KAE 2025, she’s taken a variation on the botanical theme, and explores fruits, roots and other common foods in our kitchens to remind us to look for the beauty in the everyday parts of our lives. She presents a series of 25 paintings at KAE 2025 that express the alchemy of light and shadow on our everyday foods. Moya will be demonstrating at the KAE Have-a-Go to share the magic of oils and botanicals with those who are curious about the medium or the subject. You’re warmly invited to pop along to say “hello

  • 1pm - 3:30pm

    Ashleigh Ritchie is a North Canterbury artist with a Bachelor of Applied Visual Arts. She creates large oil paintings on wood, blending traditional portraits with a modern twist, often featuring bright florals and leafy accents. Her portraits frequently depict family or people close to her. She is a member of Arts Canterbury and Rangiora Art Society. Come along on Saturday 12th July to see Ashleigh working on her latest oil painting. 


  • 1pm - 3:30pm

    Jackie Hancock from Aroha glass will be chatting about glass fusing and the resources, equipment, time and work that go into each of her pieces. She will be demonstrating some cold working techniques and will have a variety of tools and samples for you to look at, learn about and touch.

    Whilst she isn't able to bring her kiln with her, Jackie will have some previously fired pieces to explore, so you can see, and feel, the difference between each of the different firing techniques involved. 

  • 10am - 12:30pm and 1pm - 3:30pm

    Throughout the day Lisa will be creating a mosaic owl using plywood as her base and precut prepared mosaic pieces 


    Lisa says: My mosaic work is a celebration of color, pattern, and texture using mainly recyclable materials. I explore the beauty of the world around us and the wonder of the unknown through my art. Each piece is a journey of creation, where I blend traditional techniques with a contemporary sensibility. I love the tactile nature of this craft and the joy of creating unique pieces for the eye to enjoy.

  • 10am - 12:30pm

    Sharon will be bringing along some pre-poured backgrounds and demonstrate how she creates beautiful artworks on top of these.

    Sharon says: My art medium is acrylic, in particular acrylic fluid art. I pour my backgrounds using a number of different techniques. When dry I embellish with different subjects depending on the colour and flow of the paint. I enjoy painting with Rangiora Arts Society of which I am on the committee

  • 10am - 12:30pm and 1pm - 3:30pm

    I’m working on a memorial portrait of Commander Rusty, King of the Quad … sadly no longer with us… in oils , on canvas.

    I spent a few hours  getting the composition sorted, blocking in, placing values, and colours, so it reads right. Now that’s dry, the next stage is to start adding more definition and increase the layers of details.. come along to the demo at the expo on Saturday and watch some of this process… ‘