Explore the inner artist in you at night classes

This year’s Get Creative Winter Programme has a mix of arts programmes available where you can learn new skills in a friendly and relaxing environment.

It’s also a great opportunity to meet new people while working with some of the most experienced tutors in Scotland.

Booking is essential for all creative courses through the council’s new online booking service - www.edlc.co.uk/horizons/culture - or by calling 0141 777 3143.

Brand new for 2016 is 3D Me - an introductory session into the cutting edge world of 3D printing for adults. This half-day session takes place at the William Patrick Library in Kirkintilloch on Monday 10 October and costs just £3.

Why not join a Drawing to Music group to see how a range of musical clips influence your style of drawing and painting? This free taster course at the Lillie Art Gallery in Milngavie is on Monday 17 October.

The Programme highlights for adults also include: Drawing for beginners - the combination of patient tuition of traditional and not so traditional drawing skills, demonstrations and the opportunity to experiment makes this class at the Milngavie CE Centre ideal for those who are just starting out. The six-week course costs £48 and starts on Monday 24 October or Monday 6 February 2017.

A 10-week Mixed Ability course costing £80 will also take place at Lillie Art Gallery in Milngavie which has start dates of Wednesday 5 October and Wednesday 11 January.

Drawing and Painting Still Life - in this beginner’s guide to drawing and painting you will learn how to represent light, what tone is and explore composition through step-by-step demonstrations. The

five-week course is free and starts at Lennoxtown Library on Wednesday 26 October. There’s also a free five-week arts and crafts taster course at the Library starting on 25 January 2017.

Oil Painting Masterclass - this informative short course on oil painting will see students develop new skills in how to prepare surfaces, mix colours, represent light and tone and explore composition through demonstrations and one-to-one tuition. The course, which costs £30, runs for two weeks at the Barony Chambers in Kirkintilloch starting on 2 December.

ottering Around is wonderful five-week beginner’s course to ceramics in the relaxing and friendly setting of the Barony Chambers at the Auld Kirk Museum in Kirkintilloch. Learn traditional skills in the very basics of clay, slip and glazes and the importance of colour and texture with the help and support of an experienced tutor. Student’s creations will be fired by the course tutor and returned for collection at the end of the course, which has start dates of Friday 7 October or Friday 13 January 2017 and costs £90.

There are also a number of courses on offer for youngsters. Digital Arts is a six-week after school course in 3D printing and design at the Brookwood Library, Bearsden. The course, aimed at 8-11 year olds, costs £45 and has start dates of Thursday 3 November and Thursday 2 February 2017.

Saturday smART is aimed at 7-11 year olds who like drawing, painting and making things. The 10-week course will take the youngsters on a journey about ideas, art, material and objects with our artist, Lou, who will help them create some awesome artworks. smART, which costs £65, takes place at the barony Chambers in Kirkintilloch and starts on Saturday 1 October or Saturday 7 January 2017.

More information on the above course and many others is available at www.edlc.co.uk.

Councillor Anne Jarvis, Chair of East Dunbartonshire Leisure and Culture Trust, said: “I’m thrilled by the wide range of attractions on offer at our arts venues this Winter. There’s something for everyone - from the absolute beginner through to the more skilled artists - and the courses are bound to capture the imagination of people looking for something to do this winter.”