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Winter Art Adventures in Hillsborough: Classes and Activities Around Town

January 14, 2025

Winter Art Adventures in Hillsborough: Classes and Activities Around Town

Winter Art Adventures in Hillsborough: Classes and activities around town

As the winter season settles in, Hillsborough is buzzing with creative opportunities to keep you inspired and engaged. Whether you’re looking to sharpen your artistic skills, explore new crafts, or simply admire incredible artwork, the town has something for everyone. Here’s a roundup of local businesses that will be hosting classes this winter!

 

Upcoming Art Classes & Events

Margaret Lane Gallery

Since its opening in January 2017, Margaret Lane Gallery has been a welcoming space for art and community. Committed to accessibility, inclusivity, and expanding horizons, the gallery creates connections between artists and the public, celebrates diverse styles and cultures, and provides opportunities for all ages to engage with art. The gallery fosters a deeper appreciation and understanding of the creative world with programs ranging from art education for the public to business workshops for artists. To register for events at Margaret Lane Gallery, visit their website here: https://margaretlanegallery.com/workshop-registration

  • Gouache Painting Journal Series at Margaret Lane Gallery
    • Learn the basics of color theory and composition while dabbling in gouache, taking cues from famous artists while developing your own style as you add paintings to your journal. Explore different color mixing combinations with every session.
    • Gouache is a lovely medium as it is “rewettable” – you can rework a dried painting, and rewet paints that have dried on your palette. 
    • 💲$45 per session
    • 📅 Wednesdays, January 15th – February 12th; 6pm to 8:30pm
  • Anything Goes Art Meetup
    • Drop in for a relaxed, open studio session perfect for artists and dabblers. There’s no instruction, just plenty of supplies to spark creativity: specialty and handmade papers, adhesives, paints, paint markers, washi tapes, rubber stamps, inks, a die cutter with embossing folders, and various ephemera. Feel free to bring your own materials as well.
    • 💲It’s “pay as you please,” with $15 as a suggested guideline.
    • 📅 January 13th and January 27th; 10am to 1pm
  • Free Creative Respite for Caregivers of Loved Ones with Dementia with Debi Drew
    • Each month, enjoy a 2-hour art lesson designed for relaxation and stress-free creativity. All supplies are provided. These free sessions are specifically for caregivers supporting loved ones with dementia, but registration is required.
    • January’s lesson features Brilliant Scratch Art—create one or two drawings by scratching a black surface to reveal vibrant colors beneath. A perfect way to start the year with a touch of magic!
    • 💲Free
    • 📅 January 18th and January 22th; 2pm to 4pm

 

Anne & Arthur

Anne & Arthur offers a local alternative to big box stores, providing the essential supplies you need in the community where you live and create. It specializes in a curated selection of high-quality art materials and unique gifts and supports your creativity close to home.

  • Drink ‘n’ Draw at Eno River Brewing
    • Part networking, part artist hangout, part skills share, part drinks. Join us for all of these parts and more as you sit with other artists for a 2-hour ticketed event, hosted by A&A owner Erin Campbell at Eno River Brewing in Hillsborough, North Carolina. 
    • 💲$25
    • 📅 January 16, February 20, March 20; 6-8pm
    •  https://www.anneandarthur.com/drink-n-draw

Eno Arts Mill – Orange County Arts Commission

The Eno Arts Mill is an arts hub located in the historic Eno Mill in West Hillsborough, NC, managed by the Orange County Arts Commission.  It invites people of all types to gather and experience the visual, performing, and literary arts. They strive to be a community arts space that is safe, welcoming, and accessible for all people. Check out the recurring and upcoming classes happening this winter! To view even more classes, visit their website here: https://artsorange.org/enomill/classes/

  • Recurring: The Eno Arts Mill has recurring classes, both free and paid, hosted by local artisans and gallery owners.
    • Drop-In Life Drawing Studio with Tom Stevens
      • Join us for Life Drawing sessions facilitated by Tom Stevens. Each session offers multiple rounds of gesture and pose drawings with a live nude model. Artists provide their own materials.
      • 💲$15
      • 📅 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month; 6:30pm to 8:30pm
    • Teen Art Collective: LGBTQIA+ with Natalia Torres del Valle
      • This bi-monthly group is a safe and creative space for LGBTQIA+ identifying teens. Group sessions are led by Natalia Torres del Valle, MA, Registered Expressive Arts Therapist #2104. Interest in any art form is welcome. Basic visual art materials are provided and teens are encouraged to bring supplies to express themselves in their favorite artistic medium . Sessions begin with a grounding exercise, an art exploration centered on a theme, and ends with group processing.
      • 💲Free
      • 📅 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month; 5pm to 6pm
  • Upcoming: There will also be many upcoming original classes this winter at the Eno Arts Mill!
    • Writing with the Seasons with Stacey Hayes
      • Embark on a soulful, seasonal writing journey to slow down and connect with your inner and outer landscapes. Through guided explorations in nature writing, mindfulness, and expressive arts, discover poetry, micro essays, and pairing imagery with words. Focused on self-expression and self-care, this three-part series nurtures the spirit and deepens connection with the natural world. No experience needed—just bring curiosity, a journal, and a favorite pen. Supplemental art supplies are provided. Register for one, two, or all three classes.
      • 💲$40 for 1 session, $120 for the whole season
      • 📅 Third Saturdays (Jan 18th, Feb 15th, Mar 15th); 11am to 1pm
    • Winter’s Wisdom: Nature Art Cards with Stacey Hayes
      • Create a mini deck of seasonal art cards filled with inspiration and affirmations. Using watercolor, mark-making, and writing, this mindful journey invites creativity, self-connection, and harmony with winter’s rhythms. No experience needed; all materials provided.
      • 💲$40
      • 📅 Saturday, January 25th; 11am to 1pm

The Hillsborough Yarn Shop

The Hillsborough Yarn Shop began as a lifelong dream. The owner, Anne Derby, a passionate knitter since childhood, turned her love of fiber arts into reality in 2006 when she opened the shop on Churton Street in historic downtown Hillsborough. Balancing her career as a biomedical engineer, she grew the shop steadily, expanding inventory, adding a classroom, and building a strong community of knitters and crafters.

Today, Hillsborough Yarn Shop is a beloved local spot, and has won many local awards. With the support of dedicated staff and loyal customers, the shop thrives as a welcoming space for creativity and connection. Stop by to explore its carefully curated yarn selection, take classes, and join the community!

  • Beginning Crochet (Section B) at Hillsborough Yarn Shop
    This three class series will cover the basics of crochet, including the following stitches: chain, single crochet, half double crochet, and double crochet. Students will also practice changing colors and reading basic crochet patterns.

  • Colorwork Pullover: The Petite Knitter’s Saskie
    Join Katherine’s class to knit a top-down colorwork pullover! Choose from fingering weight “saskie” or DK weight “floe jumper,” both designed by thepetiteknitter, knit in the round with seamless construction and an engaging colorwork yoke. Both patterns come in ten adult sizes with customization options for both body length and sleeve length.

The Alliance for Historic Hillsborough

The Alliance for Historic Hillsborough is a non-profit that has 3 main pillars as its mission: visitor services, heritage education, and preservation. They inspire visitors and residents to enjoy Hillsborough by managing the Visitors Center and Gift Shop at the Historic Alexander Dickson House, serving as the primary resource for visitor information, and promoting the town through brochures, tours, and events. They also offer educational programs for schools and the public, focusing on Hillsborough’s rich history, and advocate for the sustainable preservation of its historic sites in collaboration with local partners.

  • Indigenous Beading Classes
    • Learn the history of local Siouan-speaking nations and the culture of Indigenous beading. Participants will receive instruction from the Hon. Beverly Scarlett on simple beading techniques as they create unique beaded jewelry. Registration fees cover supplies including gemstones, tools, and other materials. Participants will leave with their creations and an understanding of the importance of beading in Indigenous culture.
    • 💲$40 per session
    • 📅 January 18th, February 15th, March 15th, April 19th; 10:30am-1:30pm

 

This winter, let Hillsborough’s art scene inspire your creativity and warm your spirit. With hands-on workshops and artist-led classes, there’s no shortage of ways to connect with the arts. Mark your calendars and dive into the vibrant world of Hillsborough’s artistic offerings!
For more details, visit https://visithillsboroughnc.com/events/.

 

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