CANNON BEACH – The Tolovana Arts Colony announces the start of its Saturday Workshops. Each one features a local artist sharing their skills for a couple of hours every Saturday afternoon at the Tolovana Hall.

Peaceful Presents: Workshop for Kids

2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, $35

Kathryn Claire has been making her own holiday gifts since she was a child. She brings her gift making expertise, her lifelong commitment to furthering peace on earth and her love for children together for this one-day workshop. Children will choose from a variety of gift ideas that incorporate recycled materials and peaceful themes. The focus is fun and creativity. Parents are welcome as well, free of charge.

Striving for Tone

2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 23, $35

Peter “Spud Siegel” shares how to get the best possible tone out of any instrument, specializing in, but not restricted to, string instruments. Posture, dynamics, attack/release, action and setup are covered. Find the tone you’re looking for. If there’s enough time, we’ll cover “the groove:” feeling your body through your music. Siegel has been playing music since he was a teenager and has played in more bands than he can remember. He currently plays with the Floating Glass Balls, the Bond Street Blues Band, the Muddy Bottom Boys and the Freak Mountain Ramblers. He plays mandolin, guitar, trumpet, fiddle, accordion and keyboards.

The Washboard: Theory and Practice

2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 30, $35

This is a rare opportunity to learn about a unique percussion instrument from Billy Hults, a musician with 40 years of experience. Learn the history and development of the kitchen tool that became a musical instrument. Learn the various forms of washboards and styles of play. Bring washboards, thimbles, brushes, cowbell, wood blocks or whatever you use to make rhythm. Hults has played the Avalon Ballroom in San Francisco, the Memorial Coliseum in Portland and countless bars, festivals and kitchens. He’s played with Ramblin’ Jack Elliot and Obo Addy and has recorded albums, appeared in films and made commercials all over the Northwest.