This workshop will focus on expressive abstraction where you will use organic shapes and dynamic mark-making to build up a composition. You will experiment with abstracting images from photographs, as well from your own imagination and memory. Through a series of drawing and watercolour exercises, you will explore line, colour, and markmaking, while learning how to combine them in new ways to create strong compositions. Workshop will include a short presentation on 20th century and contemporary artists who use expressive abstraction as a way of picture-making. This workshop will provide a great way to develop ideas for future paintings. Suitable for all levels. All supplies included SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1:30 - 4:30PM IN-PERSON

In this 12-week course, students will focus on developing a unified series of paintings. Guided research assignments using photography, drawing and creative writing will lead to the cultivation of each student's own topic of choice. Series topics will include formal and conceptual investigations such as use of materials, composition, structure and the development of ideas. Course includes examples of contemporary and modern artists who work in thematic ways, along with assigned readings, weekly critiques and opportunities to share research processes. If you are an artist with a million ideas swirling around, or if you simply don't know where to begin, this course will help you to understand the connections in your life that can lead to the creation of a cohesive body of work. In addition to developing a series, students will learn how to write an artist statement and prepare a submission for an artist residency or gallery. Students can work in a painting media of their choice: acrylic, watercolour, gouache or oil. Previous painting experience recommended. THURSDAYS, SEP 18 - DEC 11, 2PM - 5PM ONLINE

In this workshop you will explore the favourite colour of most people in the world -blue while learning to paint flowers. The workshop will give you the opportunity to learn how to paint a range of blue and violet flowers including the Cornflower and the Himalayan Blue Poppy. You will learn to mix an array of different blues while painting these beautiful blue flowers. Workshop will culminate in painting a fantastical monochromatic bouquet that includes blue flowers and some greenery. This is a great workshop to learn about colour mixing and flower painting. Suitable for all levels. See supply list SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1:30 - 4:30PM ONLINE

This course will cover the fundamentals of painting with gouache while exploring how artists have painted the garden in the last 150 years from Monet, van Gogh, Klimt to Charles Burchfield, Ross Bleckner, Shara Hughes and others. Gouache is a water-based opaque paint that dries to a velvety surface. Unlike watercolour, gouache is very forgiving and great for the beginner artists. Discover the excitement of a new medium while learning about the ways historical and contemporary artists approach the garden as subject matter. Suitable for all levels. TUESDAYS, SEP 9 - DEC 9, 2PM - 5PM ONLINE (Tuesday courses start one week before other courses due to two stat holidays)

This workshop is designed for people who are interested in capturing the energy of nature using Chinese brush painting. You will be introduced to traditional and contemporary techniques and learn about Chinese ink, rice paper, colour, texture, composition, and the aesthetic principles of Chinese brush painting. You will learn technical skills, such as loading the brush with ink and water, dry and wet brush stroke control through instructor demonstrations, as well as in class discussions and hands-on practice. This workshop focuses on creative exploration of the brush painting medium and expanding your visual vocabulary. You will be encouraged to explore contemporary approaches using this ancient art medium. Some experience in painting will help but is not necessary. Suitable for all levels. All supplies included SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 10AM - 4:30PM IN-PERSON

In this course, students will be encouraged to connect to their unconscious through drawing. Students explore what happens when they try to let go of conscious thinking and work more intuitively in their art practice. During each class, students will practice automatic drawing (similar to what the Surrealists were doing in the 1920s), free-form drawing and 'no-editing' exercises. The creation of ink blots and doodling will be used as starting points for picture making. The course will also include meditation exercises and drawing inspired from dreams. Drawing materials and process will focus on mixed media and collage. By doing this work, students will explore what lies below the surface in their unconscious while finding new images and techniques for their art practice. This class is ideal for those who love to draw and are curious to see what new images might come up during these explorations. Suitable for all levels. THURSDAYS, JAN 8 - APR 2, 6PM - 9PM IN-PERSON

This course will focus primarily on contemporary painting because the twentieth century brought radical changes in art which were accompanied by fierce debates regarding the place of painting in contemporary culture. This course will examine how and why the medium of painting has not only persisted in the twenty-first century, but expanded and evolved alongside changes in art, technology, politics, and other factors, developing a unique energy and diversity. Course will include group discussions, image presentations, hands-on activities and gallery visits. This is a required course for Certificate of Visual Arts students, however anyone interested in what is going in the art world today is welcome to register. Contemporary Art I is not a prerequisite for this second part of this course. THURSDAYS, JAN 8 - APR 2, 2PM - 5PM IN-PERSON

This workshop is inspired by the beautiful gouache flower paintings made by Anna Bond at the Rifle Paper Company. Participants will learn the basics of working with gouache while creating their own fantasy flowers and bouquets by developing simple shapes into more complex forms. Emphasis will be on working with colour layering textures and compositions. By the end of the workshop you will have completed two beautiful bouquets, one on white paper and then the other on black. Suitable for all levels. See supply list SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, 1:30 - 4:30PM ONLINE

This course explores drawing from the 1960s to the present day, focusing on how contemporary artists use drawing as a tool for expression, experimentation, and conceptual exploration. Through image presentations and discussions, students will examine the work of influential artists who have expanded the boundaries of drawing in diverse and innovative ways. Weekly projects will encourage a variety of techniques and materials, from traditional to mixed and experimental media. The course concludes with a final project that reflects each student’s personal engagement with a contemporary approach or idea. This course provides an ideal way to learn about art history and drawing practice at the same time. Suitable for all levels. THURSDAYS, JAN 8 - APR 2, 10AM - 1PM ONLINE

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

This continuation of Landscape Painting Now I focuses on contemporary landscape concepts such as constructed realities, abstracted topographies and complicated vistas. Instructor will present a selection of artists each week based on these themes including, Gillian Carnegie, Mark Tansey, Cecily Brown, Andreas Erikson, Luc Tuymans and Francis Alys to name a few. Students will select one artist per week to do further research on and make a landscape painting based on something they learned from this artist. Students can paint in a medium of their choice including watercolour, gouache, acrylic or oils. It is not necessary to have completed Landscape Painting Now I, however some painting experience is recommended. FRIDAYS, JAN 9 - APR 3, 2PM - 5PM ONLINE

This workshop will provide hands-on examples on how to use geometric abstraction to create exciting designs and compositions. You will be led through a series of cut paper and watercolour painting exercises to discover the possibilities of this dynamic approach to design. The workshop will include a short presentation on 20th century and contemporary artists working within the realm of geometric abstraction. Shape, colour and composition will be the focus throughout the workshop, and you will be encouraged to work at your own pace. You will leave workshop with two completed works on paper, and a series of sketches or small compositions to fuel future work. Suitable for all levels. All supplies included SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 1:30 - 4:30PM IN-PERSON