3 ways ... to find your inner artist

Auckland Art Gallery. Photo / Janna Dixon

A is for Art, and A is for Auckland - are you spotting a connection here? Awesome, amazing and astonishing.

1. Auckland Art Gallery
Toi o Tamaki, Cnr Kitchener and Wellesley St. Drop-in sessions Saturdays 1pm-3pm. Free. Studio courses start September 2.

Auckland Art Gallery is super, and it's not just a place to look at art, it's also a place to create art. Drop-in sessions are inspired by art in the collection. There is no need to book, although participation is limited by space. Sessions are for children aged 4 and up (all children under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult). Perfect for budding Picassos and Dalis.

The next set of four-week Sunday studio courses starts September 2 (sessions for kids 6 to 8 and 9 to 12), cost $72 . Free art talks on Sunday afternoons, 1pm and 3pm.

2. Workshops on the wharf
Most Sundays and some Saturdays 11am-2pm, Wynyard Quarter, Auckland Waterfront. Free.

This is a great way to get the kids outside and thinking creatively. Workshops take place rain or shine and are best suited to 4 to 12-year-olds. To find out where in the Wynyard Quarter the workshop is taking place, head to the Karanga Kiosk. This Sunday, Skittles & Hoops; Sunday August 19, Make & Take Mini Rockets and Sunday August 26, Have a Go: Slack-rope Walking.

3. Te Tuhi Centre for the Arts
3 Reeves Rd Pakuranga. Ph (09) 577 0138. Various costs.

Each term Te Tuhi offers a comprehensive range of art, design, and lifestyle classes, for adults and children. There are lots of options; daytime, evening and after school programmes. Classes include painting, drawing and portraits. The most popular course is Art Today, an art history course run by Lois Perry.