WORKSHOP IDEAS

Got any new cool ideas of workshops you would like us to offer…we would love to hear them! Even if it is something you have never seen done before- try us out, we like learning new things too! 

LOCATION

 We are right downtown Bracebridge inside the ANNEX, just a short walk…bike…or drive away! We also take some of our programs on the road to do art at the cottage or in your home!

CONTACT US

Whether you are a student or teacher wanting to get involved feel free to call or email to get more info about the studio.

FINE ART AND CRAFT STUDIO AND GALLERY

Welcome to the only year round art studio in Muskoka offering classes and workshops for all ages and artistic levels! Let The Cat Go supports local Muskoka artists who teach in our studio as well as show in the gallery where you can buy original one of a kind art from the
Annex Arts Collective.
Lessons are a variety of mixed media such as acrylic and watercolour painting, drawing lessons, sculpture, fabric and textiles, printmaking and more. You can enjoy classes as a social event with a group, with your children for parent and child classes, send your children to day camp or sign them up for their own programs!

ARTIST

Andrea Balmer

Andrea Balmer

From a very young age you could find Andrea creating sewing projects without a pattern, colouring outside the lines, cutting the tips off the snowflakes when you weren’t supposed to and taking scraps from the basement and piecing them together for a magical creation the turned out to be a beautiful sculpture. Things often evolve and change in her art as she is working through a project and it was the artists around her, in her family and in her instructional/non-instructional life that encouraged her to be creative in this way. Andrea will be facilitating classes of discovery- creating along side with you and having fun in the studio!

Andrea Balmer

Andrea Balmer

From a very young age you could find Andrea creating sewing projects without a pattern, colouring outside the lines, cutting the tips off the snowflakes when you weren’t supposed to and taking scraps from the basement and piecing them together for a magical creation the turned out to be a beautiful sculpture. Things often evolve and change in her art as she is working through a project and it was the artists around her, in her family and in her instructional/non-instructional life that encouraged her to be creative in this way. Andrea will be facilitating classes of discovery- creating along side with you and having fun in the studio!

Dayna Barley-Cohrs

Dayna Barley-Cohrs

Dayna Barley-Cohrs creates artwork and illustrations in a variety of materials, including oils, charcoal, watercolour, and digital mediums. She works both as a freelancer, creating art and designs for clients, and as Lead Illustrator for Next Day Animations, where she creates whiteboard explainer animations. After graduating from the Ontario College of Art and Design in 2003, where she studied figurative drawing and painting, she moved to Muskoka with her soon-to-be husband Andrew. The two built a straw bale home and studio in the village of Vankoughnet, where they created some loveable offspring, and began their artistic careers.

Dayna Barley-Cohrs

Dayna Barley-Cohrs

Dayna Barley-Cohrs creates artwork and illustrations in a variety of materials, including oils, charcoal, watercolour, and digital mediums. She works both as a freelancer, creating art and designs for clients, and as Lead Illustrator for Next Day Animations, where she creates whiteboard explainer animations. After graduating from the Ontario College of Art and Design in 2003, where she studied figurative drawing and painting, she moved to Muskoka with her soon-to-be husband Andrew. The two built a straw bale home and studio in the village of Vankoughnet, where they created some loveable offspring, and began their artistic careers.

Emily Hunter

Emily Hunter

Emily Hunter was raised in Uxbridge, Ontario and now, with her husband and 2 young children, calls Bracebridge home. Emily completed her BA in Studio Arts at the University of Guelph and went on to complete her Masters of Teaching Visual Arts in Queensland, Australia. She has a love of drawing, painting, sculpting, printmaking, crafting and anything to have a creative outlet. Emily is a supply teacher with the local school board and will be overseeing our school and community outreach programs. She will also be in the studio deliverying child and youth programs in painting, drawing and printmaking.

Emily Hunter

Emily Hunter

Emily Hunter was raised in Uxbridge, Ontario and now, with her husband and 2 young children, calls Bracebridge home. Emily completed her BA in Studio Arts at the University of Guelph and went on to complete her Masters of Teaching Visual Arts in Queensland, Australia. She has a love of drawing, painting, sculpting, printmaking, crafting and anything to have a creative outlet. Emily is a supply teacher with the local school board and will be overseeing our school and community outreach programs. She will also be in the studio deliverying child and youth programs in painting, drawing and printmaking.

Hannah Strand

Hannah Strand

Hannah Strand is a Muskoka based visual artist, arts instructor, and Montessori teacher. She is an award-winning graduate of Sir Sandford Fleming College, where she studied Visual and Creative Arts, Fibre Arts, and Expressive Arts. Hannah’s personal art practice centres around fibre and textile pieces that discuss social issues while celebrating traditional techniques used by craftswomen over the centuries. Hannah enjoys facilitating classes and creative experiences for all ages with an emphasis on experimentation, self-expression, and enjoyment. Focusing on the “how” and “why” of art, she leaves the “what” of the finished product up to her students, promoting self-satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment. Hannah’s mission statement is “encourage, empower, inspire”.

Hannah Strand

Hannah Strand

Hannah Strand is a Muskoka based visual artist, arts instructor, and Montessori teacher. She is an award-winning graduate of Sir Sandford Fleming College, where she studied Visual and Creative Arts, Fibre Arts, and Expressive Arts. Hannah’s personal art practice centres around fibre and textile pieces that discuss social issues while celebrating traditional techniques used by craftswomen over the centuries. Hannah enjoys facilitating classes and creative experiences for all ages with an emphasis on experimentation, self-expression, and enjoyment. Focusing on the “how” and “why” of art, she leaves the “what” of the finished product up to her students, promoting self-satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment. Hannah’s mission statement is “encourage, empower, inspire”.

Jen Manuell

Jen Manuell

Jen is a Muskoka based artist from Elmsdale, ON who runs Fish Eye Sisters. Her successful business and personal hobby is in the art of textiles and fabrics making beautiful pieces. She hand dyes her own wool, quilts and rug hooks Internationally acclaimed art pieces. This business is in her blood as she carries on the tradition of rug hooking from four generations in her family. We are very excited to have been able to arrange a workshop with Jen!

Jen Manuell

Jen Manuell

Jen is a Muskoka based artist from Elmsdale, ON who runs Fish Eye Sisters. Her successful business and personal hobby is in the art of textiles and fabrics making beautiful pieces. She hand dyes her own wool, quilts and rug hooks Internationally acclaimed art pieces. This business is in her blood as she carries on the tradition of rug hooking from four generations in her family. We are very excited to have been able to arrange a workshop with Jen!

Lynda Lynn

Lynda Lynn

A lifelong fascination with colour, Lynda works in a wide range of mediums She has continued to study art all of her life, her first formal training being with noted landscape painter and friend, Robert Emerson Everett and then at the Ontario College of Art and Design, Georgian College, Nipissing University, and with various master artists. The world around her holds infinite curiosity and interest, and she finds the whole field of artistic expression fascinating. Art helps her to see both inner and outer worlds and is a form of language that speaks to the soul. In her paintings, she uses colour subjectively, trying to psychologically capture the intrinsic spirit of the subject. Art is a matter of perception, with its elements changing through both the eyes of the artist and with the viewer. Lynda’s work leans toward abstract realism and nonrepresentational abstract forms of expression. She likes to play and experiment with the challenge of light playing on colour, to combine all of the elements in a satisfying whole, hoping to stir the imagination of the viewer by involving them on a personal level through the use of their own imagination. Lynda was a founding director of the Muskoka School of the Arts where she focused on teaching the uses and expressionism of colour and colour theory. Lynda has given workshops for Central Ontario Art Association; Kingston Collegiate and Vocational Institute; Barrie Art Club; Georgian College; Gibson Centre for Arts and Culture, Alliston; Halifax, N.S. Art Group, Muskoka Arts and Crafts; Brown Baggers; and others. Lynda’s paintings hang in private and corporate collections internationally.

Lynda Lynn

Lynda Lynn

A lifelong fascination with colour, Lynda works in a wide range of mediums She has continued to study art all of her life, her first formal training being with noted landscape painter and friend, Robert Emerson Everett and then at the Ontario College of Art and Design, Georgian College, Nipissing University, and with various master artists. The world around her holds infinite curiosity and interest, and she finds the whole field of artistic expression fascinating. Art helps her to see both inner and outer worlds and is a form of language that speaks to the soul. In her paintings, she uses colour subjectively, trying to psychologically capture the intrinsic spirit of the subject. Art is a matter of perception, with its elements changing through both the eyes of the artist and with the viewer. Lynda’s work leans toward abstract realism and nonrepresentational abstract forms of expression. She likes to play and experiment with the challenge of light playing on colour, to combine all of the elements in a satisfying whole, hoping to stir the imagination of the viewer by involving them on a personal level through the use of their own imagination. Lynda was a founding director of the Muskoka School of the Arts where she focused on teaching the uses and expressionism of colour and colour theory. Lynda has given workshops for Central Ontario Art Association; Kingston Collegiate and Vocational Institute; Barrie Art Club; Georgian College; Gibson Centre for Arts and Culture, Alliston; Halifax, N.S. Art Group, Muskoka Arts and Crafts; Brown Baggers; and others. Lynda’s paintings hang in private and corporate collections internationally.

Mary An Blythe

Mary An Blythe

Mary An moved to Muskoka 5 years ago. She describes her philosophy as “Life is Art to me and that is why I call my artist journey “Windows Into My Art~ Mary An is a self-taught artist in most mediums, She started with pencil renderings, and moved to accomplished pen and ink. Mary An fell in love with water colour painting over 30 years ago and is passionate about the magic that happens on paper. Teaching it for the last 15 years has become her second passion… “I love lighting people up with their creative gifts”! Mary An is a kind and gentle soul that encourages those around her to feel comfortable as soon as they meet her. Please join her in our watercolour workshops!

Mary An Blythe

Mary An Blythe

Mary An moved to Muskoka 5 years ago. She describes her philosophy as “Life is Art to me and that is why I call my artist journey "Windows Into My Art~ Mary An is a self-taught artist in most mediums, She started with pencil renderings, and moved to accomplished pen and ink. Mary An fell in love with water colour painting over 30 years ago and is passionate about the magic that happens on paper. Teaching it for the last 15 years has become her second passion... “I love lighting people up with their creative gifts”! Mary An is a kind and gentle soul that encourages those around her to feel comfortable as soon as they meet her. Please join her in our watercolour workshops!

Shailie Dubois

Shailie Dubois

Shailie is a Muskoka based artist who has written and illustrated her own children’s book “Dani”. She is multi-talented and a wonderful teacher. Most recently moved from British Columbia she comes to us with fresh ideas on nature based art projects, watercolour and youth programs.

Shailie Dubois

Shailie Dubois

Shailie is a Muskoka based artist who has written and illustrated her own children's book "Dani". She is multi-talented and a wonderful teacher. Most recently moved from British Columbia she comes to us with fresh ideas on nature based art projects, watercolour and youth programs.

Sherry Beiers

Sherry Beiers

Sherry Beiers is a self-taught Acrylic Landscape Artist. Sherry was born and raised in Muskoka and presently resides in Bracebridge. She was initially inspired by the Group of Seven and draws on the raw beauty of untamed landscapes to create works of art with vital and deep colours. Sherry’s unique style is alive with sharp contrasts achieved through the brush and bold use of a pallet knife. Sherry’s love of the outdoors and genuine concern for the environment provide her with unlimited motivation and subject matter to photograph and create her vibrant paintings. Please join Sherry in our studio for Adult Acrylic painting classes and our Friday night Art Nights!

Sherry Beiers

Sherry Beiers

Sherry Beiers is a self-taught Acrylic Landscape Artist. Sherry was born and raised in Muskoka and presently resides in Bracebridge. She was initially inspired by the Group of Seven and draws on the raw beauty of untamed landscapes to create works of art with vital and deep colours. Sherry’s unique style is alive with sharp contrasts achieved through the brush and bold use of a pallet knife. Sherry’s love of the outdoors and genuine concern for the environment provide her with unlimited motivation and subject matter to photograph and create her vibrant paintings. Please join Sherry in our studio for Adult Acrylic painting classes and our Friday night Art Nights!

Time well spent

When I was a child my mom tried desperately to teach me to sew. She was always someone that I watched creating clothes, sewing quilts, crafting animals and dolls. She was magical. She could make anything. She has always had an amazing sense of colour and style. My brother and I used to joke that if you tore into the walls of our house you would find a rainbow because she painted the walls almost every season. She changed the colour as she changed her feeling and style in the house and it always made it feel just like home.

Who likes getting dirty?

Apparently lots of people! The studio classes and drop ins have been going so well that we are running out of prime space to offer what people are looking for! 
July 1 will be a busy day for us as we help celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday at the Bracebridge Street Party downtown- (come visit our art tents)! We have also decided to expand the studio space into the next unit at 193 Manitoba St.

Experimentation or flop?

It is quite the task to come up with a variety of classes every 6-weeks. I imagined very early in this journey that I would need to get some feedback, to try new and random things and to take a chance that the classes may be the same as other places. So- I decided to go to the biggest critics. Children. Every last Friday of each month we do Testing Lab which is a time for our instructors to try out new ideas on kids and get their very real feedback about what works and what doesn’t.

Lead With the Punch Line

Month 2 in the world of active program in a business. We are all up hill from here. I am having a lot of fun, learning a ton and trying to remember that I also have a family to see once in awhile. (At least they come and see me in the studio). Life is good.

Hello Universe

I am inspired every day that I come to work. Those words used to make me cringe. I used to think that that was something that people said to cover up the fact that they really hated their jobs and it was like putting it out to the universe to see if it would actually come true.

Fail Fast

Starting a business is kind of like going to highschool for the first time. You have to put yourself out your comfort zone, make new friends and work really hard to prove yourself all over again in every aspect of your life.

Don’t get me wrong, I love every minute of it however everyday is like an emotional rollercoaster and I have found myself reinventing the way I have worked for the last 20 years in business. It’s fabulous.

Always Say Yes

As parents, Coel and I have been pretty fun with our kids. We have raised them mostly at a summer camp and outdoor centre, we are active and outside for most of the year. We love entertaining and most often are up for anything. When the kids want to try something new- we usually say yes. When I was a Camp Director one of the things that would drive me mad was when someone would say “oh, we can’t do that activity because the children are too young”. Nope- they just haven’t been taught yet. My father is fantastic for that. He would have us outside with tools at a very young age, learning how to use…and respect tools so that we would be free to create what we wanted. He still is like this with our kids- even though this generation seems a bit more terrified than I remember being for some reason, they still get right in there!

Sewing without a pattern

When I was a child my mom tried desperately to teach me to sew. She was always someone that I watched creating clothes, sewing quilts, crafting animals and dolls. She was magical. She could make anything. She has always had an amazing sense of colour and style. My brother and I used to joke that if you tore into the walls of our house you would find a rainbow because she painted the walls almost every season. She changed the colour as she changed her feeling and style in the house and it always made it feel just like home.

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