Everyone knows about the experience economy, but what about the self-improvement economy? TAFE SA is running a bunch of fun and short courses covering everything from painting in the garden to letterpress in July.

Investing in personal growth is a good way of building resilience in an increasingly fast-paced world. CityMag has written about the experience economy before, but giving your personal CV a creative edge can go a long way to opening new doors in your career as well as providing an outlet for latent artistic energy.

Don’t let another financial year go by where you’re left looking at your group certificate wondering what you spent your money on. Book yourself a TAFE SA Winter School Short Course and flex that creative muscle, learn new skills and make connections with likeminded people in Adelaide.

View the full program of courses available.

Garden Party – Introduction to Painting

Over this two-day nature inspired workshop, you will be guided through open-ended creative exercises, play with a variety of materials and learn how to paint. You will be shown the basics of selecting materials, handling paint and composing a picture. Students are encouraged to bring photographs or sketches of their garden, plants, favourite floral patterns or examples of preferred artists’ works.

Date: Mon 8 Jul – Tue 9 Jul
Duration: 2 days x 9:30am – 4:00pm
Cost: $260

Meghan O’Rourke presents Introduction to Jewellery Making

Learn how to make jewellery with contemporary jeweller and metalsmith, Meghan O’Rourke. Over this three-day course you will be introduced to the basics of silver jewellery making and will be guided through the design and creation of a neck pendant and finger ring.

Date: Mon 8 Jul – Wed 10 Jul
Duration: 3 days x 9:30am – 4:00pm
Cost: $345

Bridgitte Scales presents Letterpress for Beginners

Access vintage type and create your own letterpress projects! Using a large range of vintage wooden and lead type, you will be able to print your own words using our historic platen press. Experience the way words came together on the page before the advent of computers, and discover the origin of the digital fonts we use today.

Date: Tue 9 Jul – Thu 11 Jul
Duration: 3 days x 9:30am – 4:00pm
Cost: $320

Phil Hart presents Intro to Ceramic Hand Build Vessels

In this hands-on short course, lecturer Phil Hart will introduce you to the ancient ceramic hand building method of coil building, including surface embellishments, additions and decorating techniques. Over the three days you will have the opportunity to create your very own design of a large vessel or jardiniere, which will be glazed and fired for you to take home and enjoy. This course is a great introduction to working with clay.

Date: Tue 9 Jul – Thu 11 Jul
Duration: 3 days x 9:30am – 4:00pm
Cost: $375

Watercolour with Sue Ninham

Sue Ninham will guide you through some of the methods she uses in her own work. You will be shown how to prepare a palette, mixing a range of colours, followed by a variety of basic watercolour techniques and tricks. Emphasis will be given to achieving luminous, loose, transparency with the paint, whilst touching on the fundamentals of composition, tone and colour.

Date: Wed 10 Jul – Fri 12 Jul
Duration: 3 days x 9:30am – 4:00pm
Cost: $375

Fusing Colour – Mixed Media Abstract Acrylic

Let mixed media artist, Elizabeth Wojciak, show you how to combine materials to create fascinating artwork by integrating drawing and painting with collage. No prior experience is necessary, just a willingness to try these easy abstract painting ideas.

Date: Thu 11 Jul – Fri 12 Jul
Duration: 2 days, 09:30 – 4:00pm
Cost: $260

If you are deaf, or have a hearing or speech impairment, contact TAFE SA through the National Relay Service relayservice.gov.au
1800 882 661 | arts.adl@tafesa.edu.au