Rooted in over 20 years of artistic research, this exciting course expands traditional quilting into a contemporary, expressive medium—an immersive exploration of textile as narrative. You’ll create a 1x1 metre artwork that moves between quilting, embroidery and soft sculpture while exploring stitching as drawing, layering as memory and material as storytelling. Develop your personal visual language using diverse materials such as threads, fabrics, fibres and found elements. The course unfolds through four key stages: understanding materials, designing a project, writing a personal narrative and exploring material possibilities. You’ll come away with a unique textile artwork that reflects your story through the use of layers, textures and time. Open to all levels—no previous experience required.

Members: $287.41 + HST, Non-Members: $295 + HST (Prices include $30 material fee). Thursday.

Fall in love with pastels and discover this beautiful and colourful medium. Using a step-by-step approach, Cathy will demonstrate the fundamentals of pastels such as mark making techniques, layering and colour mixing—all in a fun and encouraging environment. After a few skill building activities, you’ll create your own small pastel paintings. Lots of demonstrations and individual attention provided. For all levels—some previous drawing experience is helpful.

Members: $174.77 + HST, Non-Members: $179 + HST (Prices include $30 material fee). Thursday.

Break out of your colour comfort zone. This course will challenge your thinking about colour and give you a deeper understanding of value relationships as they pertain to colour. With presentations and live demonstrations, we’ll begin by playing with colour themes: high key and low key, dominant, adjacent and discord hues, and complementary colour sets. Working with one image, Clarence will take you through the process of producing exciting paintings sure to reignite your colour appetite. This 6-week course is an intermediate to advanced pastel course—a working knowledge of pastels is required. *Please note: there will be no class on October 1*

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

Designing and illustrating children's books presents all sorts of exciting challenges. This course is a beginner's guide to tackling them. Using pen, ink and watercolour, we’ll explore topics such as character design and expression, backgrounds and page layout. A study of historical and contemporary examples will provide a better understanding of the children's book industry and how you can apply this knowledge to the development of your own illustrations and projects. Some previous drawing experience is an asset.

Members: $315.61 + HST, Non-Members: $325 + HST. Thursday.

Continue your watercolour journey with this course designed to increase your confidence and enhance your paintings. With all new exercises and using small watercolour studies, your skills will continue to develop as we dig deeper into compositional considerations and how best to handle the challenges of landscape, architectural and still-life subjects. An examination of colour harmony, mixing, layering and colour schemes will provide a thorough understanding of colour use. Other topics include incorporating texture and the proper technique for dry brush and wet-in-wet. For students who have taken a beginners’ watercolour course—come and move your artwork forward.

Members: $315.61 + HST, Non- Members: $325 + HST. Thursday.

For the watercolour artist with some experience, this class is designed to build on your developing watercolour skills and increase your confidence in this medium. Explore basic value and composition related to landscape and architecture painting. Exercises will include transparency, layering, value, perspective, spontaneity and colour use. Plenty of group and individual instruction provided.

Members: $315.61 + HST, Non- Members: $325 + HST. Thursday.

A great introduction to the foundations of landscape painting as we look at a variety of historical styles and contemporary approaches to establish your artistic voice. We’ll begin with pencil, paper and simple black and white values. From there, it’s learning to see a landscape in terms of four simple values before extending the use of colour. You’ll work from a provided photo reference and come to better understand topics such as composition, perspective, colour mixing and paint application to achieve transitions, contrast and a sense of depth. Included are plenty of helpful PDFs you can refer to at any time as you navigate your artistic journey. For all levels.

Members: $261.44 + HST, Non- Members: $269 + HST (Prices include $5 material fee). Thursday.

Paint the Canadian landscape in oil or acrylic as you work from photo references. You’ll learn how to interpret landscape through the principles of design and then explore and practice the techniques needed to reconstruct it in paint. Plenty of group and individual instruction provided throughout. All levels.

Members: $251.47 + HST, Non- Members: $259 + HST. Thursday.

Forward we go on our painting journey as we further explore fundamentals such as composition, value, colour theory, blocking and proportion and apply them to simplified landscape interpretations. Other topics include learning how to build a solid foundation of shapes by simplifying the composition along with experimenting with overlays, silhouettes, edges and atmosphere—all part of your evolving understanding of the basics of landscape painting. Learn how to create an interesting painting that emulates instead of imitating your photo reference. You can work on a new landscape piece each week or develop one over the course of the program. Students should have at least one previous beginners’ painting class.

Members: $315.61 + HST, Non-Members: $325 + HST. Thursday.

Work in any painting medium and pursue your personal area of interest with support and feedback from the instructor and other participants. This course is tailored to each individual according to their own interests and aesthetic. Students are encouraged to bring source materials such as a sketchbook, photos, etc. For intermediate/advanced artists. Keen artists looking for a full day of painting are encouraged to register for both classes and stay all day. *Please note: there will be no class on October 15*

Members: $315.61 + HST, Non- Members: $325 + HST. Thursday.

Work in any painting medium and pursue your personal area of interest with support and feedback from the instructor and other participants. This course is tailored to each individual according to their own interests and aesthetic. Students are encouraged to bring source materials such as a sketchbook, photos, etc. For intermediate/advanced artists. Keen artists looking for a full day of painting are encouraged to register for both classes and stay all day. *Please note: there will be no class on October 15*

Members: $315.61 + HST, Non- Members: $325 + HST. Thursday.

Our most popular pottery sessions, these classes are designed to accommodate all levels of learners as you hone your skills and transform your ideas into inspired, finished pottery. Students seeking ceramic fundamentals will learn the hand-forming techniques of working with clay, including pinch, coil, slab and the potter's wheel. Also covered are the basics of glazing and surface decoration. More advanced potters will receive feedback and guidance as they set their own goals. For adults and students 16+.

Members: $379.64 + HST, Non-Members: $389 + HST (Prices include $65 firing & glazing fee) Clay extra. Thursday.