Learn how to blast through artistic blocks and nurture your innate creativity through the development of a daily writing practice and five projects to activate and mine your subconscious. A useful course for beginners as well as mature artists in any medium. Course delivered through slide lectures, curated readings, seminar discussions, and drawing projects. Suitable for all levels. WEDNESDAYS, MAY 8 - JUN 12, 10AM - 1PM (No class May 22, last class Jun 19) IN-PERSON

Learn about Oak Meadow ecosystems through field sketches and studio drawings. In this course we will explore how to capture all the elements of an oak ecosystem - birds, flowers, bugs, and the invasive species that threaten them today. We will use our field sketches and drawings as a way to advocate for and learn about these endangered ecosystems. Regular trips to oak meadow spaces, such as Government House and Beacon Hill Park will be made in order to submerge ourselves in the subject and experience hands-on learning. Local initiatives that provide information about oak meadows will be used to gain more knowledge about oak meadows, such as Garry Oak Meadows (https://www.crd.bc.ca/docs/default-source/es-harbours-pdf/may19-2021-ecosysteminfosheets-garryoak.pdf?sfvrsn=79a94ccd_0). Suitable for all levels. WEDNESDAYS, JUN 26 - JUL 31, 2PM - 5PM (No class Jul 24, last class Aug 7) IN-PERSON

This course will reveal how acrylic paints can be used in a variety of ways to approach landscape painting. The instructor will provide examples of historical and contemporary artists who focus on landscape and show how these can be used as inspiration for developing personal compositions. We will also explore plein-air painting and use field sketches created at local landscapes to inform our studio paintings. Suitable for all levels. TUESDAYS, JUN 25 - JUL 30, 6PM - 9PM (No class Jul 23, last class Aug 6) IN-PERSON

Join us for two afternoons of drawing the beautiful flowers, plants and trees in Beacon Hill Park. Watercolour pencils are an ideal medium for outdoor sketching because they can be used both for drawing and for painting effects. They are also inexpensive and easy to carry. This workshop is ideal for those of you who might be travelling over the summer and want to make outdoor drawing part of your travel experience or even if you want to make drawings of your own gardens. You will learn a variety of techniques and approaches to watercolour pencils as well as discover some hidden treasures in the majestic downtown park. Suitable for all levels. SATURDAY & SUNDAY, MAY 11 & 12, 1:30 - 4:30PM IN-PERSON

Are you considering applying to a juried show, writing an exhibition proposal, or composing a grant? This workshop will cover basic tips and advice on writing and how to answer questions in a clear and concise manner, build a timeline, and create a budget. Through the duration of the workshop, you will create a draft proposal, using feedback from the instructor and group to guide you. Resources on where to apply for various grants and places to show your work around the city will be reviewed. SATURDAY & SUNDAY, MAY 25 & 26, 10AM - 4:30PM IN-PERSON

This course will introduce you to the many ways of looking at architecture and how to use it as a source for drawings. In addition to practicing technical skills of drafting and perspective drawing, you will also learn to visually represent interior and exterior spaces in conceptual and abstracted ways. This course will include field trips to significant architectural sites in the downtown area. Traditional drawing materials such as pencils, pens, and charcoal will be used throughout this course and students will be encouraged to experiment with mixed media for assignments. Suitable for all levels. FRIDAYS, MAY 10- JUN 14, 2PM - 5PM (No class May 24, last class Jun 21) IN-PERSON

Learn how to capture flora and fauna in painting in this course. Students are welcome to use a variety of paint media of their choice including acrylic, oil or watercolour. We will look at contemporary and historical artists' work where the focus is on flora and fauna, and learn about the importance of nature in art and in our broader world today. We will work both inside in studios and outside at local parks creating field sketches and paintings. Sketching and visual journaling techniques will be explored and utilized throughout the course. Some painting experience recommended. TUESDAYS, JUN 25 - JUL 30, 2PM - 5PM IN-PERSON

In this course you will develop a textile project of your choice that could include a range of materials and methods, or something as simple as stitching on fabric. You are welcome to start a new project, or to bring in an existing project or idea to receive ongoing support in bringing it to completion. The course will include an introduction to contemporary textiles and the artists and thinkers that have an impact on contemporary art, as well as critique centered on developing a personal voice and textile instruction. The content will be curated to your project interests and delivered in an encouraging and supportive environment. All skill levels are welcome: this can be your first time undertaking a 6-week project or you can be an established artist looking for a community to bring your questions and receive feedback. Skills will be taught from an anti-mastery perspective, meaning that you don’t have to have mastered a particular skill to create beautiful and insightful work using it. Projects could include sewing, embroidery, knitting, quilting appliqué, weaving or any other textile-related process or a combination of many. There is also an opportunity to incorporate the language of textiles with photography, painting and other work on paper. No textile experience is necessary. Suitable for all levels. WEDNESDAYS, JUN 26 - JUL 31, 2PM - 5PM ONLINE

Everybody loves flowers and this painting course will introduce you to innovative and unusual ways to approach the age-old subject of flower painting. This course will use the flower to inspire a range of experimental projects from contemporary botanicals, to using floral patterns as surface and subject. Examples of the work of historical and contemporary painters will be shown for inspiration and discussion. Suitable for all levels. TUESDAYS, MAY 7 - JUN 11, 2PM - 5PM ONLINE

This course invites you to push the boundaries of traditional drawing and explore the diverse approaches and techniques of contemporary drawing. Over the duration of the course students will explore conceptual frameworks that define contemporary drawing practices. We will analyze the methods of contemporary artists to inform our creative processes and challenge conventional notions of drawing. Through weekly slide presentations, discussions, and projects, you will develop a deeper understanding of conceptual approaches in drawing and gain the skills to create meaningful and thought-provoking artworks. The course will include sessions in collage, deconstructing photographs, and experimenting with other unconventional drawing techniques. With a focus on concept and idea, this course will encourage you to think critically and experiment boldly. Suitable for all levels. MONDAYS, MAY 6 - JUN 10, 2PM - 5PM (No Class May 20, last class Jun 17) IN-PERSON

This mixed-media drawing course is inspired by a new book published by Phaidon called “The Ocean”. The course will use a range of sources for inspiration from historical drawings and scientific diagrams, to artists who use the ocean as a main source of subject matter in their work. You will explore beneath and above the ocean’s surface as well as the variety of plants and animals that live there. Materials used include pencils, graphite, pastels, watercolour and ink. Suitable for all levels. THURSDAYS, MAY 9 - JUN 13, 2PM - 5PM IN-PERSON

Do you see people sitting on a park bench or in a café sketching and wish you could do that too? Would you like to draw what you see around you? This course teaches you to draw what you see as you make your way through the city including architecture, interiors of buildings, people, gardens and parks. You will learn some basic drawing techniques, as well as the best materials to carry for sketching on-site. This is a great course to take if you are traveling to an urban destination this summer and would like to do some drawing while you are there. Suitable for all levels. THURSDAYS, JUN 27 - AUG 1, 6PM - 9PM IN-PERSON