Create to Connect
A welcoming, low-pressure visual arts studio to explore creativity, build confidence and feel connected.
Located on Heatherhill Road in Frankston.
Weekly art groups for young people and women.
Kids’ arty birthday parties.
Holiday programs and special occasions.
Whats on….
Sip & Snip: Decoupage Mixed Media Trays
Sunday 4 October | 3–5pm
$70 per person
Create to Connect, Level 1, 50C Heatherhill Road, Frankston
Come and spend a relaxed Sunday afternoon cutting, collaging and creating at Sip & Snip, our latest Make & Mingle event.
Over two hours, you'll transform your own wooden tray into a completely individual mixed-media piece using paint, collage, decorative papers and images, pressed flowers, gold leaf and other finishing details.
Go botanical, vintage, colourful, minimal, bold or completely eclectic. There is no set design to copy and no expectation that everyone's tray will look the same. I'll have examples and plenty of inspiration available, and I'll be there to help with materials, techniques and composition if you'd like some guidance.
Whats included?
Everything you need is provided:
Your own wooden tray to decorate and take home
Acrylic paints
Collage and decoupage materials
A selection of papers and images
Pressed flowers
Gold leaf and finishing details
Adhesives and all other art materials
A glass of bubbles
Nibbles
You're also very welcome to bring along any personal papers, photographs, images or other flat materials you'd like to incorporate into your tray.
Do I need art experience?
Not at all.
This isn't about being able to draw or paint, and you don't need any previous experience with decoupage or mixed media.
I'll demonstrate the process and help you get started, then you're free to take your tray in whatever direction you like.
As always at Create to Connect, you can't get art wrong.
What will my tray look like?
That's completely up to you.
You might paint your tray black and add dramatic florals and touches of gold, create something soft and botanical using pressed flowers, layer vintage imagery and text, or make something bright, contemporary and colourful.
The examples shown are there for inspiration rather than designs you'll be expected to reproduce.
Can I come on my own?
Absolutely. You don't need to organise a group to come along.
Make & Mingle is designed to be relaxed and social, so you're very welcome to come on your own or book with a friend.
What should I bring?
Just yourself.
All art materials, your tray, bubbles and nibbles are provided. If you'd like to incorporate something personal into your collage, feel free to bring it along.
Food and Drink?
A glass of bubbles and nibbles are included in your booking.
If you have any dietary requirements, please let me know when booking and I'll do my best to accommodate them.
Home and Distance Learners
A relaxed, hands-on creative space for home and distance learners aged 7–15 to explore art, materials and ideas at their own pace.
These are not traditional art classes. There is no pressure to copy an example or make something the “right” way. Each session offers a mix of guided activities and open-ended creative exploration, with opportunities to paint, draw, build, sew, sculpt, experiment and follow individual interests.
Small group sizes allow children to work at their own pace, connect with others and receive support when they need it. It’s particularly suited to creative and neurodivergent young people who enjoy learning through making and benefit from a relaxed, low-pressure environment.
Mondays | 10am–12pm
Create to Connect, Frankston
Ages 7–15 | All materials included
Flexible weekly bookings available — come when it works for your family.
September Holiday Programs
This time, we're doing things a little differently.
I asked what would make our Holiday Program work better for your families — and the answer was pretty clear! So, based on your feedback, we're moving from full-day programs to flexible 2-hour workshops.
6 workshops
3 days
2 sessions each day
Book one, book two and stay for the day, or mix & match across the week
Each workshop is $55, or grab a 3 Workshop Pass for $150 and choose ANY three workshops.
And because sibling discounts were one of the biggest requests in our poll, we've added those too! Use code SIBLING10 when booking siblings together for 10% off.*
MONDAY 21 SEPTEMBER — DRAW + PAINT
10am–12pm | Still Life Studio
Explore drawing through graphite, charcoal, ink and more — definitely no boring bowls of fruit!
12:30–2:30pm | Watercolour Studio
Experiment with washes, colour, layering, mark making and ink before creating a finished artwork.
TUESDAY 22 SEPTEMBER — TEXTILES
10am–12pm | Sew Your Own Bag
Learn some simple sewing skills and turn fabric into your very own functional bag.
12:30–2:30pm | Make It Yours: Textile Art
Stitch, embellish and customise using embroidery, appliqué, beads, buttons, patches and more.
THURSDAY 24 SEPTEMBER — SCULPT + BUILD
10am–12pm | Clay Studio
Squish, roll, build and sculpt while exploring hand-building, texture and form.
12:30–2:30pm | Cardboard Sculpture: Maker Space
Part art, part engineering! Design and build a freestanding sculpture with articulated, movable parts.
Want to stay all day?
Book both workshops on the same day and kids can stay with us for the 12–12:30pm lunch break — just pack lunch and a drink bottle.
Individual workshop — $55
Any 3 workshops — $150
Sibling discount — 10% off with SIBLING10*
Pick the sessions that work for your child and your family.
Bookings are now OPEN!
*Sibling discount applies when booking siblings together and cannot be combined with the 3 Workshop Pass.
Term 4 Women’s Groups
The Women’s Art Group is back for Term 4, with five relaxed Sunday afternoons, held every second week.
The fortnightly format has worked beautifully, so we’re keeping it for Term 4. Each session focuses on a completely different medium, giving you the chance to try something new without needing any previous art experience.
Come for the full five-session series for $200, or pick and choose the individual sessions that appeal to you for $45 each.
Term 4 Sessions
Sunday 11 October — Clay Relief Art
Work with clay, texture, pattern and raised sculptural details to create your own relief artwork.
Sunday 25 October — Mosaic Mirrors
Create your own mosaic mirror using colour, pattern and texture. Go bold and colourful, simple and subtle, patterned or completely abstract.
Sunday 8 November — Mixed Media Keepsake Boxes
Transform a simple wooden box using paint, collage, papers, fabric, imagery and other mixed-media materials. Layer, experiment and make it completely your own.
Sunday 22 November — Printmaking
Explore printmaking without lino. Create textured printing plates using everyday materials, then experiment with ink, layering and printing.
Sunday 6 December — Stitch & Texture
A relaxed afternoon of free-form stitching and textile play using embroidery hoops, fabric, thread, wool, beads and other materials. Your finished piece can be abstract, patterned, botanical or anything you like.
The details
Sundays, 2–4pm
11 & 25 October
8 & 22 November
6 December
Full five-session series: $200
Individual sessions: $45 each
All materials are included and no art experience is needed.
These aren't traditional art classes where everyone has to make the same thing. You'll be introduced to the materials and techniques, then given plenty of freedom to experiment and create something that feels like you.
The group is small, relaxed and welcoming. Come on your own or bring a friend, make some art, have a chat and enjoy a couple of hours set aside for yourself.
You can't get art wrong.
Hello and welcome!
I’m Brooke Ary, a mum of three and an art educator and therapist with a heart for helping individuals, children, families, and groups connect through creativity.
Create to connect was born from a simple but powerful truth I’ve witnessed again and again: when we make art, we find ourselves—and we find each other. There’s a quiet magic in sitting together with colours, textures, and open hearts. It softens us. It reminds us that we belong. My studio is a gentle, welcoming space where people can pause the noise of the world, breathe a little deeper, and reconnect with creativity in a way that feels nourishing and real.
I’ve been a visual arts teacher for over 20 years, and I’ve worked with everyone from tiny preschoolers to teenagers to adults rediscovering their creative spark. I hold a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Baylor University in Waco, Texas, and I’ve completed a diploma in art therapy as well as training in the Berry Street model of trauma-informed practice. I’ve coached basketball for many years too, which has shaped my understanding of teamwork and community. And yes—I'm first-aid trained, because feeling safe is part of feeling free to explore.
My studio welcomes people of all ages and walks of life—preschoolers with their parent or carer, school-aged children, teens, adults, women’s groups, men’s groups, carers’ groups, and anyone seeking a creative space to feel seen, supported, and connected. Whether you want to rediscover your creative voice, find a moment of calm, strengthen emotional resilience, or simply enjoy making art alongside others, Create to Connect is a place where you can show up exactly as you are and participate in whatever way feels right. Here, we make art to reconnect—with ourselves, with others, and with the joy of creating.
Check out our services page for information about our current and upcoming groups.
Why come to Create to Connect?
Create to connect is a visual arts studio where you come when you’re feeling disconnected, overwhelmed, too busy or simply craving a safe place to express yourself. Here, you can slow down, make art without any pressure, and feel genuinely supported. You will leave feeling calmer, more connected, and more like yourself again.
Teens who love to create and want to connect with like minded peers, but maybe don’t love being told how to create or how to connect.
Kids who have tried other after school activities and found they “aren’t quite right.”
Women who need a minute. Who feel overwhelmed or like they have lost part of who they are.
Carers who are burnt out and need space to process, heal, breathe and connect with people in a similar situation.
Parents, grandparents and carers who want to do something with their preschooler before they start their schooling journey.
Mums and Dads who need a break and want to explore their reality, not just ignore it.
Artists who want a space to create….and connect.
Anyone seeking connection and creativity
The Studio
Benefits of Group Art
Group art offers a relaxed way to explore, reflect, and connect through making — without pressure or expectations.
In each session, participants work on their own individual artworks, using materials such as paint, drawing, collage, or clay, while creating side by side with others. The focus is on the experience of making, not on producing a shared or “perfect” result.
Group art can be especially supportive for children, teens, and adults who:
Enjoy hands-on, creative activities
Find connection easier through shared activity rather than conversation
Appreciate space to explore ideas and feelings at their own pace
For many people, art becomes a useful way to express things that are hard to put into words, while still feeling connected to the group.
Simple, creative, and welcoming — and always with the reminder that you can’t get art wrong.
Get in Touch!
Let’s chat about if group art is right for you!
Inclusion Statement
Everyone is welcome here.
Let me know if you have any adjustments required to participate.
Unfortunately the studio is upstairs. I am unable to make it accessible to people who are not able to manage stairs.
FAQ
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Signing up for group art at Create to Connect is simple!
If you are ready to go, using this link (booking link) to choose your class.
OR
Reach out through the contact form.
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Group art sessions run for 60-90 minutes, depending on the age of the participants.
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Group art may be covered by the NDIS if it’s included in your plan under “therapeutic supports.”
If you’re unsure, I’m happy to help guide you through the process!
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Group art is a therapeutic practice that uses creativity to explore emotions, process experiences, and foster self-expression. Learn more here.
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You can’t get art wrong!
Not at all! Group Art is about the process, not the product. No artistic skill is required to benefit. Discover how group art works here.
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Group art uses creative expression to help access and process emotions, thoughts, and experiences in a safe space. Find out more here.
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Group art is for people of all ages and abilities, from children to adults, seeking support and connections.
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Group art can support challenges like anxiety, grief, trauma, sensory needs, and more.
Simply making art in the same room as other people can decrease loneliness and help us connect to the world, ourselves and other people.
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Group art focuses on emotional and mental well-being rather than learning artistic techniques. Its about the process, not the production.
Create to Connect is a place to make art and connect with the people around you.