This course will begin with 10 blank squares of cotton. Each week participants stitch on a square and will learn beginner embroidery techniques including outline stitches, needle painting, knots and weaving stitches, as well as embellishment techniques such as stumpwork, cut work and flower pounding. Students will be invited to bring in their own cloth mementos and other materials to incorporate into the work. The class will explore methods for bringing these 10 works together into one piece or a body of work. Ross Gay’s “Inciting Joy” will be used as inspiration and point of departure for the stitching process. Students will listen to this text while stitching and let the intuitive response of the words inform the work. Each week will also include a writing prompt to expand each artist’s exploration of the relationship between their handwork and the text. No previous stitching experience required. THURSDAYS, SEP 24 - DEC 17, 6PM - 9PM(PDT) IN-PERSON

This workshop will cover traditional and contemporary Chinese brush painting techniques including how to properly load water, ink, and colour onto the brush, and how to create a range of different brushstrokes. You will learn about the composition and aesthetic principles of Chinese painting. In addition, you will discover ways to create experimental textures using non- traditional methods on rice paper. The first part of the workshop will focus on flower painting; for the second part, you will be guided through traditional and contemporary approaches to landscape painting. The workshop will include demonstrations, lectures, PowerPoint presentations, and plenty of guided one-on-one instruction. Some painting experience is helpful but not required. Relax, let your brush flow with ink and colour on rice paper, and discover your own personal style. Suitable for all levels. All supplies included in tuition fee. SATURDAY & SUNDAY, AUG 08 & AUG 09, 10AM - 4:30PM(PDT) IN-PERSON

Are you curious about oil painting but uncertain how to get started? This one-day workshop introduces you to the fundamental materials and techniques of oil painting. You will discover why most of the painters exhibiting in New York contemporary art galleries choose to use this flexible and forgiving medium. Techniques covered include creating layers with an underpainting and building up a surface with a limited colour palette. You will work on two paintings during the day: one based on a photo reference, the other, an abstraction of the composition of the first painting. You will leave the workshop with enough information to help you become a competent oil painter. Suitable for all levels. All supplies included. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 10AM - 4:30PM(PDT) IN-PERSON

While Canada is known for the landscape paintings of the Group of Seven and Emily Carr, there was also a very strong abstract art movement throughout the 20th century. Among some of the groups of note include the Automatistes (Montreal 1940s and 1950s), Painters Eleven (Toronto 1950), and Emma Lake and the Regina 5 (1960s). The course will present various regions and the abstract painting that was produced there including Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Halifax, Toronto and Montreal. This hands-on painting course will provide an overview of Canadian historical and contemporary artists whose practice revolves around abstraction. Assignments will be based on the work of the various artists presented throughout the course. The course is inspired by the book “Abstract Painting in Canada” by Roald Nasgaard. Also covered in the course will be artists left out by the author of the book such as: Wanda Koop, Elizabeth McIntosh, Sylvia Tait, and Shirley Wiitasalo. A great course for people who are curious about Canadian painting and abstraction. Some painting experience is required. FRIDAYS, SEP 25 - DEC 18, 2PM - 5PM(PDT) 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. WEDNESDAYS, SEP 16 - DEC 16, 6PM - 9PM(PDT) IN-PERSON (Due to two statutory holidays Wednesday courses start Sep 16)

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. TUESDAYS, SEP 22 - DEC 15, 2PM - 5PM(PDT) IN-PERSON

Collage is both an art technique and a resulting work of art. It can also be a catalyst for further experiments in drawing or painting. Working with simple everyday tools such as scissors, glue and found materials often yields surprising and satisfying results. A brief slide presentation covers the history of collage as well as the work of many contemporary collage artists. The essential principles and elements of colour and composition form the basis of class projects. This workshop will allow you to discover how a sense of play and experimentation can lead to exciting works of art. Suitable for all levels. All supplies included. SATURDAY & SUNDAY, OCTOBER 31 & NOVEMBER 1, 1:30 - 4:30PM(PDT) IN-PERSON

This workshop gets its name from the landscapes of Charles Burchfield who always attempted to capture the sound of nature in his paintings. Burchfield’s work will be used as a source for subject matter and you will discover how to see the natural world in his eyes: a cacophony of shapes and marks. Looking at the work of Burchfield will give you the ability to look at the natural world with new eyes and interpret it in a way to make interesting paintings. Suitable for all levels. See supply list. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1:30 - 4:30PM(PDT) ONLINE

Do you see people sitting on a park bench or in a café sketching and wish you could do the same? Would you like to draw what you see around you while wandering through a city? Students will develop the techniques and confidence needed to draw gardens and parks, interiors of buildings, people, and architecture, and will be introduced to materials and tools suited for sketching on-site, as well as ways to use photography to document ideas for at-home drawing. The course will include exploring downtown as well as visiting 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, SEP 22 - DEC 15, 10AM - 1PM(PDT) IN-PERSON

This two-day workshop will introduce an exciting range of creative and accessible approaches to making comics with a focus on developing your own personal stories. Workshop will begin with examples of independently made comics from the instructor’s personal library and a short overview of the history of alternative comics. Class participants will engage in structured comic and drawing exercises to encourage experimentation and play within the genre and come away with a completed eight- panel mini comic of their own and a collaborative one-page comic. Materials used include pencil, pen, marker, pencil crayon, and paper. The workshop will wrap-up with information on distributing self-published works, and general tips and tricks for getting your work out there and connecting with the community. This workshop focuses on artistic exploration and is open to creators of all skill levels as an introduction to making comics for personal enjoyment and/or independent distribution. Everyone has a potential comic book inside them, so come and see what yours might look like. Suitable for all levels. All supplies included. SATURDAY & SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 14 & NOVEMBER 15, 10AM - 1PM(PDT) IN-PERSON

In this introductory painting class, students will explore a wide range of painting styles and techniques. This course will focus on methods of paint application, colour theory, composition, and the material qualities of paint. While practicing foundational skills, students will develop an understanding of the painting process, learning how to start and develop a strong work of art. Both representational and abstract methods of painting will be explored through term assignments and in-class exercises/demonstrations. Projects will include painting from still-life arrangements, photography, and the figure. Students can work in acrylic and/or oil paints in this course. Suitable for all levels. WEDNESDAYS, SEP 16 - DEC 16, 2PM - 5PM(PDT) IN-PERSON (Due to two statutory holidays Wednesday courses start Sep 16)

You will learn the classic hatching and cross-hatching shading techniques that artists have used for centuries to build tone, volume, and texture. By varying the density, direction, overlap and spacing of lines, artists are able to render a range of values to create true representations of the subject matter. In this class, we’ll use pen and ink to create the foundation of our image, then finish with watercolour. We will look to classic botanical illustration by such masters as da Vinci, and more modern scientific illustrators, to examine how they have used cross-hatching to create vivid portrayals of botanical life with a focus on plants and flowers found here on Vancouver Island. Suitable for all levels. All supplies included. SATURDAY & SUNDAY, DECEMBER 5 & DECEMBER 6, 1:30 - 4:30PM(PDT) IN-PERSON