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 while wandering through a city? Students will learn the basic techniques necessary to draw architecture, interiors of buildings, people, gardens and parks, and be introduced to the best materials to carry for sketching on-site, as well as how to use photography to document ideas for at-home drawing. The course will include walking around downtown as well as going to local parks and public spaces. During inclement weather, class outings will include going inside buildings such as the Atrium, the Empress Hotel and the Royal British Columbia Museum. This is a great course to take for those who will be travelling to an urban location and would like to do some drawing while there. (There will be an additional fee for museum entrance). Suitable for all levels. TUESDAYS, JAN 6 - MAR 31, 10AM - 1PM IN-PERSON

This course introduces students to the elements of design (line, value, shape/volume, texture, space and motion), and the principles of design (process, unity, emphasis and focal point, scale and proportion, and balance and rhythm. Weekly assignments are given in conjunction with a visual presentation of the subject matter discussed. Students assemble a reference book with emphasis on small-scale collage exercises to develop an understanding of how design can be applied across mediums such as drawing, painting, textiles, photography or graphic design. Suitable for all levels. FRIDAYS, JAN 9 - APR 3, 2PM - 5PM IN-PERSON

In this course students will explore a range of themes inspired by art history and trends in contemporary art. These themes will include genres such as landscape, portraiture, still life, and various approaches to abstraction, as well as broader themes such as formalism and conceptualism. These themes will give students an opportunity to practice painterly techniques such as colour mixing, glazing, underpainting, and various approaches to mark-making. Experimenting with a range of themes is an excellent way for students to discover their own direction and personal interests as they develop a painting practice. Students can use acrylic or oil. Some painting experience recommended. WEDNESDAYS, JAN 7 - APR 1, 6PM - 9PM IN-PERSON

Building on a basic knowledge of paint handling and colour, this course presents students with a range of projects that explore possible approaches to painting in terms of subject matter, style and technique. Students work from a range of historical models, including representation and abstraction to gain a better sense of the ideas, methods, and formal issues that can support their own vision. Course will include painting from a model as well as a range of other choices for subject matter. Class projects are accompanied by slide presentations. Prerequisite: Painting: Introduction I or some painting experience. WEDNESDAYS, JAN 7 - APR 1, 2PM - 5PM IN-PERSON

This course focuses on creating dramatic or subtle effects of light in painting. Students will explore various kinds of tonal ranges in painting by making works that focus only on dark values, others that contain only light values, as well as works that have a wide range of contrasting values of both light and dark. Students will learn how glazing can complicate effects of light and how colour can be used to affect our perception of light and shadows. An understanding of value, which includes light and shadow, leads to strong and dynamic paintings. Some painting experience recommended. TUESDAYS, JAN 6 - MAR 31, 6PM - 9PM ONLINE

The unique qualities of watercolour make it an ideal medium to create experimental landscapes. In this workshop, participants will make three small-scale landscapes that will focus on a variety of watercolour techniques, including mark making with brushes, mixing colours on the paper, and creating tonal graduations and glazing (layering of colours to create depth and brightness). Discussion of colour and composition will also be covered. Suitable for all levels. See supply list. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1:30 - 4:30PM ONLINE

This course focuses on the figure as illuminated by a survey of examples from the history of painting. As each new example presents ways to appreciate the possibilities of the figure as a subject matter, it likewise presents new technical challenges in areas such as scale, paint handling, layering and composition. Students combine direct work from a model with other sources including photographs, art historical sources and imagination. Suitable for all levels. WEDNESDAYS, SEP 17 - DEC 10, 10AM - 1PM ONLINE

This course provides students with an introduction to the basic materials and techniques of drawing. Emphasis is on elements such as line, shape, value, space, proportion, perspective and composition. In addition, students are encouraged to explore a range of materials and develop personal expression in their drawing. Subject matter includes still life, the figure, landscape, architectural space and student-supplied source material. Suitable for all levels. FRIDAYS, SEP 19 - DEC 12, 10AM - 1PM IN-PERSON

This course introduces students to the greatest hits of "fine art" by charting the history of Western Europe from Medieval times through the early modern period (1300-1800). Gothic art, the old masters (and mistresses!), and the emergence of printing, guide us through the major changes brought about by the Enlightenment and the Reformation. Focus is on Western art, religion and philosophy, but will be presented from a secular perspective of critical pluralism. Course includes lectures, curated readings, class discussions, and exhibition design. Suitable for all levels. THURSDAYS, SEP 18 - DEC 11, 10AM - 1PM IN-PERSON

This course guides students through the complexities of colour theory with weekly exercises that focus on making colour swatches. The systematic assignments explore the full range of colour mixing and a multitude of colour combinations. Topics covered include value, complements, temperature, and how colours change depending on context. By the end of the 12-week course, students will gain a thorough understanding of the colour wheel and how colour theory can be put to immediate use in their paintings. The colour assignments culminate in a completed personal workbook that becomes a long-term source book. Students can work in acrylic, watercolour or gouache. Oil paint is possible but challenging due to the slow drying time. Suitable for all levels. FRIDAYS, SEP 19 - DEC 12, 2PM - 5PM IN-PERSON

This course will encourage you to explore our country’s unique geography through a variety of expressive drawing materials. Each week you will focus on a different natural feature, from rugged coastlines to vast prairies, learning techniques to capture texture, light, and atmosphere. For inspiration we will look at the work of contemporary Canadian artists who have depicted both the land and life as a Canadian. Through exercises, demonstrations, and discussions, you will develop your drawing skills while deepening your appreciation for Canada’s natural beauty. Suitable for all levels. TUESDAYS, SEP 9 - DEC 9, 2PM - 5PM IN-PERSON (Tuesday courses start one week before other courses due to two stat holidays)

In this course, students explore how paint can be used to create effects of light, and how various subjects create different kinds of visual space. Based around thematic projects, this course will cover how translucent layers of paint allow light to come from inside the painting, how glazes complicate space and the contrast of light, and how light operates in conjunction with hue and chroma to affect the illusion of visual depth. Subjects include photographs, still life, collage, and non-objective abstraction. Each project is contextualized through historic and contemporary examples. Students can work in either acrylic or oil paint. Suitable for all levels. FRIDAYS, SEP 19 - DEC 12, 10AM - 1PM ONLINE