WINTER TERM CLASSES
Registration Opens Monday 13 November at 9am
Introductory Courses
Dynamic Landscapes in Oil
Geared toward beginners with little to no experience in oil painting, the objective of this course is to provide students with a basic understanding of how to construct a realistic and dynamic landscape using oil paint via the 'indirect' painting method. Using a limited palette of colours, minimal solvents, and with special emphasis on composition, value, and colour, this course will provide simple, straightforward instruction on how to layer oil paint that will give students the necessary experience to paint oil landscapes with confidence. SESSION 1 Wednesdays from 1:30pm - 4:30pm | 17 January - 27 March (10 Weeks) Teaching Artist: Brandon Liesen SESSION 2
Wednesdays from 5:30pm - 8:30pm | 17 January - 20 March (10 Weeks) Teaching Artist: Brandon Liesen |
Intro to Gouache Painting
Embark on a creative journey with our "Introduction to Gouache Painting," where you not only learn the fundamentals of this captivating medium but also discover the essence of gouache itself. Gouache, a water-based paint that combines the best of both watercolor and acrylic, offers a unique opacity and versatility. In this hands-on course, delve into the world of gouache as we guide you through fundamental techniques, color mixing, and brushwork tailored for beginners. Teaching Artist Carleigh Milburn will provide a supportive environment for you to explore and express your artistic vision, ensuring a solid foundation for creating stunning, opaque artwork. Whether you're an emerging artist or simply curious about the magical properties of gouache, this course promises an immersive experience that unlocks the potential of this remarkable medium Tuesdays from 6:30pm - 8:30pm | 23 January - 26 March (10 Weeks) Teaching Artist: Carleigh Milburn |
Acrylic Painting for Beginners
Are you a beginner artist who has the desire to learn acrylic painting fundamentals and has little to no prior experience? Then this course is a great opportunity for you to build your foundational art skills and create your own portfolio! We will build these skills by learning about different painting techniques, colour theory, value, composition, and experimenting with subject matter. Thursdays from 7pm - 9pm | 11 January - 28 March (12 Weeks) Teaching Artist: Lisa Leskien |
Drawing the Portrait
This course focuses on capturing the most individualistic part of a person - the face! In our quest to capture a likeness, students will be guided through creating studies of the head and facial features, and learn techniques for effective drawings. We will wrap up the course with a finished portrait, for which students will provide their own reference. This class is a recommended prerequisite for Teaching Artist Brandon Liesen's "Realistic & Expressive Portraits in Charcoal." Mondays from 6pm - 8pm | 15 January - 25 March (10 Weeks) Teaching Artist: Floriana Ehninger-Cuervo |
Making Comics
"Making Comics" is an in-depth, immersive multi-week program designed to break down barriers to entry and guide creatives through the process of comic creation. Whether they are a seasoned artist looking to expand their skills, a storyteller interested in expressing themselves through the medium of comics, or a beginner inspired by pop culture, this course will be a valuable step forward on their creative journey. Drawing proficiency/experience is a bonus but truly not required; there a famous comics that are made with just stick figures. Thursdays from 6:30pm - 8:30pm | 11 January - 28 March (12 Weeks) Teaching Artist: Colton Fox |
Comprehensive Crochet
Go from zero to crochet hero with this "Comprehensive Crochet" Course for complete beginners to learn to crochet. Learn how to hold the hook, how to chain, single crochet, half double crochet, double crochet, slip stitch, and increasing and decreasing stitches. You will learn the basics of reading crochet patterns starting with reading one that Facilitator Lisa Leskien created. Projects that you will create will be: a washcloth, a granny square bag, crochet in the round for an adorable bear hat, and our final project will be the student's choice where Lisa will guide you through your choice of crochet creation. Come join us for a fun class of crochet creations! Mondays from 7pm - 9pm | 15 January - 25 March (10 Weeks) Teaching Artist: Lisa Leskien |
Head to Toe
Working in dry media, you will create a series of studies of the human body! Through these, you will develop an understanding of the forms and movement of the body, and learn to simplify the structures of the figure for compelling and effective drawings. Starting with the head and portrait, this course will cover body parts in isolation, before putting it all together. Throughout the course we also discuss and problem-solve a variety of topics such as foreshortening, posing, capturing a likeness, expression, and more! Tuesdays from 6:30pm - 8:30pm | 16 January - 26 March (10 Weeks) Teaching Artist: Floriana Ehninger Cuervo |
Character Design
Elevate your creative projects with "Character Design," tailored for artists and storytellers in comics, animation, and diverse creative fields. Learn not only the core skills and fundamentals of character design but also how to craft multi-dimensional characters with engaging backstories and motivations. Gain the skills to create characters that are not only visually captivating but also emotionally engaging. Join our course to master the art of character-driven storytelling and connect with a community of like-minded creatives. Wednesdays from 6:30pm - 8:30pm | 6 - 27 March (4 Weeks) Teaching Artist: Colton Fox |
All Levels Welcome
Realistic & Expressive Portraits in Charcoal
Are you interested in creating life-like portraits using charcoal? In this course, you will learn how to use the medium of charcoal to create portraits with clarity and expressiveness! These will be made through the use of photographs, where you will explore the principles of how to render light and form to produce bold and believable portraits. This course focuses on using charcoal as a medium and is not a technical drawing course. Suited for all skill levels. SESSION 1 Mondays from 1:30pm - 4:30pm | 8 January - 25 March (10 Weeks) Teaching Artist: Brandon Liesen SESSION 2
Mondays from 5:30pm - 8:30pm | 15 January - 25 March (10 Weeks) Teaching Artist: Brandon Liesen |
Deep Dive Into Observational Drawing & Painting
This course is an exciting exploration of creativity, with a twist of photo references, open to all levels of students/artists. We take a variety of materials including drawing and painting media to work on board, canvas, and paper. We explore themes of equipment & materials, composition, colour relationships, values, edges, mark-making, perspective, and spaces. We observe, draw, and paint forming our intention through our eyes, the camera’s eye, and the eyes of artists whose works help to enrich our practices. Wednesdays from 1pm - 4pm | 10 January - 28 March (8 Weeks) Teaching Artist: Nancy Steele |
Open Studios
Printmaking Open Studio
Come and explore a wide variety of printmaking techniques in a friendly supportive environment! A supervised studio for printmakers. Facilities are available for creating monoprints, monotypes, etchings, collagraphs, linocuts, and woodcuts. Drop-Ins Welcome! Fridays from 10am - 1pm | 12 January - 29 March (10 Weeks) Teaching Artist: Margaret Bignell |
Brushstrokes: Painting Open Studio
Join Teaching Artist Lisa Leskien for "Brushstrokes: Painting Open Studio!" Bring your painting supplies and whatever painting you're working on. After a quick warm-up as a group, students will work on their choice of projects. Lisa will offer guidance and advice to help students troubleshoot painting challenges and grow as artists. Drop-Ins Welcome! Wednesdays from 4:45pm - 6:45pm | 17 January - 20 March (10 Weeks) Teaching Artist: Lisa Leskien |
Intermediate Classes
Intro to Sculpture: Part 2
In this course, students will be covering basic sculpture techniques using clay, plaster moulds, and mixed media. Students will get to try out different materials and create their own sculptures to take home with them. This is a continuation of "Intro to Sculpture" from the Fall Term. It is not a required prerequisite but recommended. Tuesdays from 6:30pm - 8:30pm | 6 February - 26 March (8 Weeks) Teaching Artist: Alicia Udvari |
Intermediate Acrylic Painting
Do you have some experience with acrylic painting but are looking to enhance your skills? This class will build on what is learned in "Acrylics for Beginners," and you will explore abstraction, work with limited brushstrokes, study and create various compositions, re-create a master's painting, and work on a personal series. Wednesdays from 7pm - 9pm | 17 January - 20 March (10 Weeks) Teaching Artist: Lisa Leskien |
FALL TERM CLASSES
Introductory Courses
Dynamic Landscapes in Oil
Geared toward beginners with little to no experience in oil painting, the objective of this course is to provide students with a basic understanding of how to construct a realistic and dynamic landscape using oil paint. Using a limited palette of colours, no solvents, and with special emphasis on composition, value, and colour, this course will provide simple, straightforward instruction that will give students the necessary experience to paint oil landscapes with confidence. SESSION 1 Wednesdays from 1:30pm - 4:30pm | 11 October - 13 December Teaching Artist: Brandon Liesen SESSION 2
Wednesdays from 5:30pm - 8:30pm | 11 October - 13 December Teaching Artist: Brandon Liesen |
Intro to Handpoking
This in-person course is geared toward folks who are looking to gain knowledge about safe tattooing practices, trauma-informed consent, and tips and techniques. Handpoking isn’t a new technique, but one that has grown rapidly in the last few years in popular culture. As a self-taught artist, Abby Nowakowski will share what they’ve learned from their practice and demonstrate ways to make tattooing more accessible in a safe environment. This 3-session course is an intro to learning more about the history of hand-poked tattoos, instructions in hygienic standards, and creative development. We will cover safety guidelines, business and admin, consent, material lists, set-up, inspections, and a how-to demo. FULL Tuesdays from 6:30pm - 8:30pm | 28 November - 12 December Teaching Artist: Abby Nowakowski |
Art Safari
Come exploring on our Art Safari! Try out twelve different mediums or techniques over twelve weeks, with different instructors and all materials supplied. Great for beginners who want to try something new before buying a lot of supplies, and for anyone wanting a fun creative time. Drop-Ins Welcome! FULL Thursdays from 6:30pm - 8:30pm | 14 September - 30 November Teaching Artist: Various |
Acrylic Painting for Beginners
Are you a beginner artist who has the desire to learn acrylic painting fundamentals and has little to no prior experience? Then this course is a great opportunity for you to build your foundational art skills and create your own portfolio! We will build these skills by learning about different painting techniques, colour theory, value, composition, and experimenting with subject matter. FULL Wednesdays from 6:30pm - 8:30pm | 13 September - 29 November Teaching Artist: Lisa Leskien |
Head to Toe
Working in dry media, you will create a series of studies of the human body! Through these, you will develop an understanding of the forms and movement of the body, and learn to simplify the structures of the figure for compelling and effective drawings. Starting with the head and portrait, this course will cover body parts in isolation, before putting it all together. Throughout the course we also discuss and problem-solve a variety of topics such as foreshortening, posing, capturing a likeness, expression, and more! Mondays from 6:30pm - 8:30pm | 11 September - 11 December Teaching Artist: Floriana Ehninger-Cuervo |
Intro to Woodcut Printmaking
In this course, students will learn the techniques of woodblock printmaking from start to finish. Students will have the opportunity to design their prints, carve their own wood blocks, and print their blocks using a printing press and at-home techniques. Tuesdays from 6:30pm - 8:30pm | 12 September - 14 November Teaching Artist: Alicia Udvari |
Comprehensive Crochet
Go from zero to crochet hero with this "Comprehensive Crochet" Course for complete beginners to learn to crochet. Learn how to hold the hook, how to chain, single crochet, half double crochet, double crochet, slip stitch, and increasing and decreasing stitches. You will learn the basics of reading crochet patterns starting with reading one that Facilitator Lisa Leskien created. Projects that you will create will be: a washcloth, a granny sqaure bag, crochet in the round for an adorable bear hat, and our final project will be the student's choice where Lisa will guide you through your choice of crochet creation. Come join us for a fun class of crochet creations! FULL Mondays from 6:30pm - 8:30pm | 18 September - 18 December Teaching Artist: Lisa Leskien |
Drawing the Portrait
This course focuses on capturing the most individualistic part of a person - the face! In our quest to capture a likeness, students will be guided through creating studies of the head and facial features, and learn techniques for effective drawings. We will wrap up the course with a finished portrait, for which students will provide their own reference. Tuesdays from 6:30pm - 8:30pm | 12 September - 12 December Teaching Artist: Floriana Ehninger-Cuervo |
Making Comics
"Making Comics" is an in-depth, immersive multi-week program designed to break down barriers to entry and guide creatives through the process of comic creation. Whether they are a seasoned artist looking to expand their skills, a storyteller interested in expressing themselves through the medium of comics, or a beginner inspired by pop culture, this course will be a valuable step forward on their creative journey. Drawing proficiency/experience is a bonus but truly not required; there a famous comics that are made with just stick figures. Thursdays from 6:30pm - 8:30pm | 14 September - 14 December Teaching Artist: Colton Fox |
Open Studios
Printmaking: Open Studio
Come and explore a wide variety of printmaking techniques in a friendly supportive environment! A supervised studio for printmakers. Facilities are available for creating monoprints, monotypes, etchings, collagraphs, linocuts, and woodcuts. Drop-Ins Welcome! FULL Fridays from 10am - 1pm | 15 September - 1 December Teaching Artist: Margaret Bignell |
Intermediate Courses
Intermediate Acrylic Painting
Do you have some experience with acrylic painting but are looking to enhance your skills? This class will build on what is learned in "Acrylics for Beginners," and you will explore abstraction, work with limited brushstrokes, study and create various compositions, re-create a master's painting, and work on a personal series. Thursdays from 6:30pm - 8:30pm | 14 September - 7 December Teaching Artist: Lisa Leskien |
All Levels Welcome
Realistic & Expressive Portraits in Charcoal
Are you interested in creating life-like portraits using charcoal? In this course, you will learn to create charcoal portraits with clarity and expressiveness! These will be made through the use of photographs, where you will explore the principles of how to render light and form to produce bold and believable portraits using charcoal. SESSION 1 Mondays from 1:30pm - 4:30pm | 16 October - 18 December Teaching Artist: Brandon Liesen SESSION 2
Mondays from 5:30pm - 8:30pm | 16 October - 18 December Teaching Artist: Brandon Liesen |
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