This studio course focuses on a design-based approach to developing character art. Character design involves a combination of form, function, and personality. Using digital and traditional media, this course will explore brainstorming and design techniques used in character development for comics, graphic novels, video game design, animation, and advertising. Individual projects, critiques and discussion will be a large part of this class. Projects will provide students with the methods needed to pursue their own character-based art goals, as well as demonstrate their skills in character art development. Students are responsible for purchasing their own supplies.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• Gain hands-on knowledge of the process of designing a character, from brainstorming thumbnails to a final, polished Character Sheet,
• Familiarize working in a professional workflow, creating material than can be edited, duplicated, and shared with a team,
• Understand design for function, and of their own strengths as designers,
• Explore different aspects that make up a Character, both through personality and physicality.

Online courses are delivered in an asynchronous format through a series of tutorials and related assignments which students may complete at their own pace on our Learning Management System, Canvas. The instructor is available throughout the course time period for questions and discussions.

Bring the past into the present by exploring the fascinating collection of historic artifacts at the Dundas Museum and Archives. Curious, beautiful and often poignant objects, elegant ladies’ clothing, military uniforms, toys, exuberantly decorated china and silverware, crystal, hand tools and more will provide true inspiration for your drawings. Some drawing experience recommended. Classes are held at Dundas Museum and Archives.

Members: $373.81 + HST, Non-Members: $385 + HST. Friday.

Cheers to the night owls. Building on concepts introduced in Beginners’ Drawing, these evening sessions will have you working with various media including pencil, charcoal, pastels and coloured pencils. We’ll engage in deeper explorations into tone and value, light and shadow, linear and aerial perspective and composition. You’ll also further develop your observational skills and drawing ability while studying still-life set ups. Included is one session with a portrait model. A previous drawing course is recommended.

Members: $222.67 + HST, Non- Members: $229 + HST (Prices include model fees for 1 session). Tuesday.

This course provides the opportunity to fully immerse into your portrait drawing and/or painting. Featuring three different models throughout the term, each model will assume the same pose for several weeks. With ongoing guidance and feedback from the instructor, you’ll be able to take your time to re-work and refine your portraits. Previous drawing and/or painting experience is required.

Members: $376.53 + HST, Non-Members: $385 + HST (Prices include model fee). Tuesday.

This thought-provoking course invites you to embrace self-portraiture, identity and the psychological aspects of one’s image, exploring themes such as gender, race, place and societal perception. We’ll work on a series of self-portraits that investigate different approaches to the concept of portraiture and incorporate various influences such as cultural heritage, psychological states and personal experiences. You’ll be able to experiment with distortion, surrealism and symbolic elements that reflect aspects of identity beyond appearance. Designed to encourage bold exploration, honest expression and creative risk-taking, this studio time is ideal for artists ready to dig deeper into the meaning behind their work. Participants should have taken at least one painting course or have some painting experience.

Members: $212.67 + HST, Non-Members: $219 + HST. Tuesday.

This online studio course covers a range of techniques for bookbinding based on folding and sewing without adhesives. The structures covered through video demonstrations are a contemporary take on historical techniques and participants will produce a series of sample bindings. A final project will apply and adapt one structure for a visual project which may experiment with unconventional materials and structures while utilizing photography, illustration, text or other contents. Considerations of the relationships of form, content and sequence will be discussed. This course requires only basic tools and materials.

Learning Objectives

• Demonstrate familiarity with the making of a variety of hand-sewn book structures through hands-on production,
• Work with basic hand bookbinding tools and materials,
• Articulate basic factors related to sequencing and layout of images and text in the book format,
• Utilize a developmental methodology for project creation based on experimentation and maquette-making,
• Put into practice an understanding of using visual materials in the book format through completion of a final book project.

Online courses are delivered in an asynchronous format through a series of tutorials and related assignments which students may complete at their own pace on our Learning Management System, Canvas. The instructor is available throughout the course time period for questions and discussions.

This short course introduces the basics of working with stained glass and copper foiling. You’ll learn to cut, grind, foil, solder and finish a 9-12 piece suncatcher you can take home and hang. All materials and tools supplied. Note: this is a hands-on class and a certain amount of wrist strength is required. *Please note: there will be no class on October 15*

Members: $210.59 + HST, Non-Members: $215 + HST (Prices include $60 material fee). Thursday.

A special afternoon time for teens to create with a family member. Together you’ll explore the joys of clay as you throw some bowls on the wheel and learn a few new skills and techniques in this fun and fast program.

Please note: we are unable to provide refunds/credits/transfers for these courses.

Course Fee: $105 + HST. Saturday.

A special time for young potters 7+ to create with a family member. Together you’ll explore the joys of clay as you learn to throw on the pottery wheel and create pieces in this fun fast program. Warning: pottery is highly addictive and may cause outbreaks of creativity, new ideas and gales of laughter... Please note: we are unable to provide refunds/credits/transfers for these courses.

Course Fee: $105 + HST. Saturday.

Bring on Halloween! Vincent Van Gogh’s famous painting The Starry Night is our inspiration for this spook-tacular two-day workshop with an added creative twist. We’ll keep the essence of Van Gogh’s painting but transform its subject to create our own Hallow’s Eve inspired painted renditions – The Spooky Night. You and your young artist will work both independently and collaboratively, experimenting with drawing and painting practices and using materials such as pastels and acrylic paints to create truly terrifyingly creative pieces. Please note: we are unable to provide refunds/credits/transfers for these courses.

Course Fee: $89 + HST. Sunday.

Here’s your chance to unwind from the week, enjoy an adult libation or two and settle in to create with a range of art options. No experience necessary and all levels welcome. And, all materials provided. It’s a fun time – make it a date night with your partner or BFF. Or fly solo and make new BFFs! 1 complimentary bar beverage per participant plus cash bar (19+) or unlimited soft drinks included. Please note: We are unable to provide refunds/credits/transfers for these courses.
In this fun art basics class, we'll use our pets (or pets we hope to have) as inspiration to develop our drawing skills. With a photocopy of the pet’s image, you’ll learn how to implement a drawing grid and simplify the animal’s form into easier to interpret shapes. Then we’ll draw onto mylar, using a basic left-to-right, up-down guide to measure with our eyes as we create a rudimentary outline to be shaded into four simple values. For all levels. Bring a photo to work with of your pet or a pet you’d like to have. All other materials provided.
Course Fee: $55 + HST. Friday.

Here’s your chance to unwind from the week, enjoy an adult libation or two and settle in to create with a range of art options. No experience necessary and all levels welcome. And, all materials provided. It’s a fun time – make it a date night with your partner or BFF. Or fly solo and make new BFFs! 1 complimentary bar beverage per participant plus cash bar (19+) or unlimited soft drinks included. Please note: We are unable to provide refunds/credits/transfers for these courses.

A relaxed, playful evening experimenting with different mediums and techniques as you create artworks using your intuition and lots of creative freedom. Depending on your choice of workshop (or workshops!), you’ll be introduced to art concepts such as colour mixing and theory, composition, value, design principles, brush handling and more.

Course Fee: $59 + HST. Friday.