State Fair of Texas 2023 SFOT RH

All ages can learn a new hobby in the new year

by | Jan 6, 2020 | Latest

Whether you’re seeking to stave off winter boredom or looking to make good on a New Year’s resolution, there are plenty of local options for tapping into your creative side.

At the Creative Arts Guild of Wylie, artists of all ages and experience levels can learn about different mediums. In January, students can take process art, drawing media or “master the art masters.” Besides art classes, other ways to get involved with the Guild are through exhibitions and special performances.

Their website states that “children, young people, adults and seniors can meet to engage with groups of people who have similar interests — photography, painting, ceramics, creative writing, filmmaking, drama, music [and] crafts.”

Pinot’s Palette in Garland is more aimed at adults, although it has plenty of child-centered activities a few times a month. Most evenings of the week, anyone over the age of 18 can sign up for a guided painting class. But what makes these sessions unique is the “BYOB” policy. As long as they are 21, painters can sip wine or beer as they work on their masterpiece. Pinot’s Palette provides the glasses and ice. Painting with a Twist in Wylie offers a similar experience.

AR Workshop near President George Bush Turnpike in Garland has more crafty options. Classes in wood, canvas, metal and yarn are available, and completed projects are for sale via the workshop’s website.

If music is more your speed, there are just as many options. One of them is Studio Barnes, a Sachse company offering private piano, voice, trumpet, woodwind and string instrument lessons. Lessons can be either 30 or 60 minutes.

Wylie’s Ballard Street Music School is enrolling students for 11 types of classes, ranging from popular instruments like guitar to less-known ones like the mandolin. Half-hour, 45-minute or hour-long lessons are available.

Taylor Robinson Music Company, also called TR Music, offers guitar, piano, voice, drums, bass and songwriting. Lessons can be given at the student’s home, in TR Music’s studio or via webcam.

Plenty of dance studios are also in the area. These include KC’s Dance and Cheer Center in Sachse, Red Door Academy in Wylie, Dance Company of Wylie, Wylie Elite Allstar Cheerleading, XD2 Dance in Garland and Amotion Dance in Plano.

Of course, dancing isn’t the only way to perform on a stage. Aspiring actors and actresses also have plenty of options.

Wylie Acting Group is more aimed at children, but adults can also get involved. Shows occasionally have parts that require grown-ups, and workers behind the scenes are also needed.

To audition, children must bring a 4×6 photo of themselves along with a resume of their theatrical experience. They will be required to perform a one-minute monologue that they chose and memorized themselves.

After the WAGGIE Awards at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 31, the next event will be auditions for “Knights of the Not So Round Table” beginning at 7 p.m. Feb. 28.

Garland is home to Breitling Performing Arts, aimed at everyone ages 3 to 23. Although the emphasis is on theatre, the center also offers dance, voice, guitar, piano, ukulele, violin, painting and makeup classes.

In fall 2019, Breitling started offering adult acting classes. Sign-ups for a spring course will be announced soon.

Children and adults alike have plenty of artsy options at the Wylie Rec Center as well. A few of the spring courses include Astonishing Animation, ballet and tap, floral design, card making, Comic Creator, Cooking Craze, quilting, sewing and wreath making.

Collin College offers arts, design, dance, music and theatre, along with more STEM-focused classes, as part of its continuing education program for adults not seeking a degree. 

For more stories like this, see the Jan. 8 issue or subscribe online.

By Morgan Howard • [email protected]

WEDC Gift Guide jpeg

0 Comments

Order photos

Related News

Parks proposition on Nov. 7 ballot

Parks proposition on Nov. 7 ballot

Texas ranks 35th nationally in state park acreage per resident. But voters will be asked in November to help improve that ratio. Proposition 14 on the Nov. 7 ballot would amend the state constitution to create the Centennial Parks Conservation Fund allowing the Texas...

read more
City to celebrate National Night Out Oct. 3

City to celebrate National Night Out Oct. 3

Get your face painted, visit with the SWAT team, watch a helicopter land and enjoy the fireworks. National Night Out is Oct. 3 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Olde City Park in Historic Downtown Wylie and admission is free. Ever wonder what the police are like when you are not...

read more
Cemetery association needs your help

Cemetery association needs your help

The Wylie Cemetery Association is on a quest to gain some new, youthful volunteers who are willing to step up and get involved to ensure the cemeteries are cared for in the future Since 1899, the nonprofit has provided maintenance to local cemeteries with volunteers,...

read more
Pirates jump on N. Garland early

Pirates jump on N. Garland early

Wylie Pirates (3-1, 2-0 District 9-6A) return from the bye week to win their first road game of the season against the North Garland Raiders (1-4, 1-2). The final score was 35-25 at Williams Stadium in Garland. The Pirates finished with 355 total yards including 284...

read more
Raiders struggle against Sachse defense

Raiders struggle against Sachse defense

Sachse’s defense was suffocating all night in the Mustangs’ 20-7 district victory over the Wylie East Raiders on Friday night from Wylie ISD Stadium. The Mustangs (3-2, 3-0 District 9-6A) held the Raiders (3-1, 1-1) off the board until the third quarter. Sachse scored...

read more
Council honors longtime WEDC member

Council honors longtime WEDC member

Mayor Matthew Porter and Linda Ferguson honor Constitution Week at council on Tuesday, Sept. 12. Jeremy Hallock/Wylie News A decades-long Wylie resident who played a key role in the city’s expansion and growth was honored at the council meeting last week.  John...

read more
New ammo for fentanyl battle

New ammo for fentanyl battle

Authorities say counterfeit fentanyl is often disguised in an assortment of rainbow colors resembling candy. Courtesy DEA Fentanyl poisoning continues to claim a growing percentage of drug deaths in the state, according to the Texas Health Data dashboard published...

read more
Dry times ahead as drought worsens

Dry times ahead as drought worsens

Drought, generally defined as an absence of water caused by insufficient precipitation over a period of time, is as old as the Bible. “Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me,” said Jacob as he described his hardships as a shepherd (King James Version, Genesis...

read more
NTMWD 2023