Burnaby teens have no reason to be bored on their days off school.
Burnaby Public Library is hosting more than a dozen free programs for youth aged 13-19 in the next three months – ranging from comic book drawing, to embroidery, to creating zines and folded books.
Responding to the recommendations and interests of local teens, the library scheduled its programming on weekends and professional development days when school is out, as well as during spring break.
The workshops will be in-person and online, with all in-person programs located at the library’s Tommy Douglas branch (7311 Kingsway), where a teen space recently opened.
All the programs and supplies are free – including paints, brushes and a blank canvas for the acrylic painting workshop and lended iPads and Apple Pencils for the digital drawing workshops.
The workshops are part of the library’s ongoing series known as Julia’s Studio, offered throughout the year in memory of Julia Nelson, a teen services librarian at BPL who was passionate about providing creative opportunities for young people, according to the library.
- Saturday, February 4 from 2 to 3:30 p.m.
- In-person at Tommy Douglas.
Join artist Paddy McGrath to learn techniques for creating Valentine Cards that feature a pop-up design.
Creating Zines and Folded Books
- Friday, February 24 (Pro-D Day) from 1 to 3 p.m.
- In-person at Tommy Douglas.
Join artist Dawn Livera to learn techniques for creating folded books, zines, and ‘found poetry’ using collages of words and pictures.
- Friday, February 24 (Pro-D Day) from 3 to 5 p.m.
- In-person at Tommy Douglas.
Join artist Dawn Livera to learn hand embroidery techniques for stitching botanical images.
- Tuesday, March 14 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- In-person at Tommy Douglas.
Join artist Dawn Livera and learn hand stitching techniques to create embroidered words.
Sewing Basics: Create a Scrappy Fabric Bird
- Tuesday, March 14 from 1:30 to 3 p.m.
- In-person at Tommy Douglas.
Join artist Dawn Livera and learn basic sewing techniques as we create scrappy fabric birds.
Online Drawing: Learn to Draw Comics
- Wednesday, March 15 from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m.
- Held online on Zoom.
Join artist Kathleen Gros to learn techniques for drawing comics.
Online Drawing: Learn to Draw Clothes for Comic Characters
- Friday, March 17 from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m.
- Held online on Zoom.
Join artist Kathleen Gros to learn techniques for drawing fabric and clothes for comic characters.
Landscape Painting with Acrylics
- Friday, March 17 from 3:30 to 5 p.m.
- In-person at Tommy Douglas.
Join artist Paddi McGrath to learn the step-by-step of using acrylics in landscape painting. Acrylic paint stains and participants are encouraged to wear appropriate clothes or bring a smock to wear during the workshop.
Digital Drawing: Drawing Manga Faces
- Wednesday, March 22 from 1:30 to 3 p.m.
- In-person at Tommy Douglas.
Join Janice Liu of Young Artists’ Place to learn the step-by-step of drawing Manga Faces digitally, in Procreate. We’ll provide iPads and Apple Pencils for participants to use in the workshop.
Studies in Watercolor: Painting Birds
- Wednesday, March 22 from 4 to 5:30 p.m.
- In-person, at Tommy Douglas.
Join Janice Liu of Young Artists’ Place to learn the step-by-step of using watercolors to create images of birds.
Digital Drawing: Drawing Manga Chibis
- Friday, March 24 from 1:30 to 3 p.m.
- In-person, at Tommy Douglas.
Join Janice Liu of Young Artists’ Place to learn the step-by-step of drawing Manga Chibis digitally, in Procreate.
Studies in Watercolor: Painting Fungi of B.C.
- Friday, March 24 from 4 to 5:30 p.m.
- In-person, at Tommy Douglas.
Join Janice Liu of Young Artists’ Place to learn the step-by-step of using watercolors to create images of local fungi and mushrooms of B.C.
- Saturday, April 22 from 1:30 to 3 p.m.
- In-person, at Tommy Douglas.
Join us as we create greeting cards that feature papercraft designs inspired by nature and springtime.
For more information about teen programs in the city, including a teen advisory group and teen booklists, see the library's website.
