Understanding Contemporary Art with Kate Giles

Thursdays, 6:30 – 7:30 pm
May 4, 11, 18 and 25, 2023
$75.00 or $20.00 per week

A graduate of Emily Carr University of Art and Design, Kate Giles will help us connect contemporary art with art historical movements in order to help us understand today’s art and how we got to it. Over 4 one-hour classes, you will learn about famous artworks and their lesser-known counterparts to define the art movements from the 1900s that have influenced the work we see now. By providing an overview of the last century of Western art, you will be able to put current art trends into context and develop your ability to speak about art as a whole. Emphasis will be on historical and social events that have had a direct impact on the art of its time as well as how to use this knowledge to interpret and understand contemporary art.

Going Wild: Contemporary Handhooking with Lucie Quintal

May 12, 13 & 14, 2023
9:00 am – 5:00 pm (May 14 until 3:00 pm)
Meet the Artist Thursday 5:30 – 7:30 pm
$400 (Early Bird $375, register before March 31, 2023)

A special weekend to create a one-of-a-kind handhooking artwork with textile and fibre artist, Lucie Quintal. Participants will create their own work, following Lucie’s original artistic approach that explores colour, innovation, and spontaneity. Using different textiles and materials, and backed on burlap or linen, participants will create environmentally conscious artistic creations in hand-dyed wool, repurposed materials, silk, cotton, and other materials. Participants require a hook, a 10 or 14-in. hoop, backing fabric and fabrics. With registration, an extensive materials list and artist contact info will be provided.

Jay Dampf Memorial Paint Class, with Theresa MacKnight

July 3 – 7, 2023 9:30 am – 4:30 pm
$400 (Early Bird $375, register before March 31)

In honour of artist Jay Dampf, a long-time instructor at Sunbury Shores, this class is an opportunity for his students to meet as they so often have, to share dedicated time for their practice, and to receive individual guidance and assistance from artist and teacher Theresa MacKnight. This course is for experienced artists to develop their own practice. Students will bring their own work – either in progress or ready to start. The studio is available for students’ own practice during the mornings, with the afternoons available for individual time with Theresa regarding questions around technique, composition, subject, etc. . Group time will also involve peer group discussion, encouraging critique and sharing of ideas and techniques.

Sculptural Ceramics with Emilie Grace Lavoie

July 8, 9 & 15, 2023 9:30 am – 4:30 pm
$375 (Early Bird $350, register before April 30)

In this introduction to sculptural ceramics, artist Emilie Grace Lavoie will introduce participants to making sculptural ceramics with clay by exploring various hand-building methods, including clay slab, coil, and shaping techniques. The first two days will be working in clay; on the third day, participants will finish their fired ceramics. Tools used during the class will include rolling pins, clay tools for cutting and shaping, and more.  All materials included.

Originally from Edmunston, NB, Emilie brings a contemporary perspective to her ceramic sculptures, textiles, and installations. Her practice navigates and interrogates the space between an object and ecology and explores the relationship between material practice and complex systems, such as living ecosystems, and the environments in which they are located.

Intermediate Jewellery with Brigitte Clavette

June 30, July 1, 2, 3 & 4, 2023
9:00 – 4:30 pm
$400 (Early Bird, $375, register before March 31)

For makers who already have soldering skills and basic knowledge of benchwork techniques, this five-day course with award-winning contemporary metalsmith Brigitte Clavette will be packed with exploration of texture and form to develop jewellery-making skills. Participants will achieve a variety of textures using hammers and the rolling mill and primitive casting techniques including sand casting and cuttlefish bone. These will set the stage for considered design and well-fabricated, meaningful jewellery pieces. Estimated material cost excluding sterling silver: $75.00 (casting brass, cuttle fish bones, sand casting, flux, solder etc.) Sterling may be purchased at your supplier or at the NBCCD College Store or arrangements can be made with the instructor prior to the course. NBCCD College Store: 506-453-5939 (weekdays 8:30 am – 4:00 pm)

Drawing from Life with Geordie Millar

July 17 – 21, 2023
9:30 – 4:30 pm
Meet the Artist: July 16, 5:00 pm -7:00 pm
$600; Early Bird $575 (Register before March 31, 2023)
Limited to 12 participants

A comprehensive approach to figure drawing, this course is for artists of all levels who would like to further their skills. Working from life with a dynamic model, concepts of anatomy and technique will be explored and personal drawing goals will be the starting point for individualized game-plans, all aimed at improving your observational drawing and artistic voice. Instructor Geordie Millar’s enthusiasm, sure-handed draftsmanship and tested teaching methods all promise to make this a very fun workshop.

Geordie Millar studied drawing, painting & anatomy at the Art Students League and National Academy in NYC and privately with painters Mary-Beth McKenzie, Sybil Andrews, John Schoenherr & George McLean.

Millar’s work focuses on animal anatomy, landscape & perceptions of natural history both historical & contemporary. It is represented in the permanent collections of the New Brunswick Art Bank, the Royal Ontario Museum and The National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson, Wyoming.

He teaches life drawing & art direction for animation at Sheridan College in Oakville, ON. His work with film director Guillermo del Toro can be viewed onscreen in ‘The Shape of Water’, ‘Nightmare Alley’ and the Netflix series ‘Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiousities’.

Colour, Colour, Colour!! with Maggie Rose

August 8-11, 2023
9:30 – 4:30 pm
Meet the artist: August 7, 5:00 pm -7:00 pm
$475; Early Bird $450 (Register before March 31, 2023)

This 4-day intensive workshop is an information blast on all aspects of colour and colour
mixing as they relate to painting. No matter your medium of choice (oil, acrylic, gouache, water-colour, pastel…), this information is applicable to all.

You will learn to mix colours swiftly and accurately; learn to achieve both dynamic and subtle colour in your work; learn to get more out of the colours you already have and to make smart choices when adding to your paint box. This class teaches you how to juggle all colour attributes – hue, value, temperature and chroma. Most importantly, it explains how to alter only one aspect of a colour without altering other elements. You’ll learn how to reduce, maintain or heighten chroma and learn how to keep hues
consistent while they are lightened or darkened through all modelling factors. You’ll learn why an understanding of colour temperature is critical to successful work. We’ll explore a variety of palettes from the simplest to more complex. There will be many mixing demonstrations, application examples and time for the execution of small projects and exercises to ensure that you fully understand the information. This class is suitable for the beginner to the advanced painter.

Painting with Maggie Rose

August 14-18, 2023, 9:30 am -4:30 pm
Meet the artist: August 13, 5:00 pm -7:00 pm
$600; Early Bird $575 (Register before March 31, 2023)

A 5-day intensive workshop painting in oil is for artists with at least some painting experience although all levels will be accommodated and will benefit. A wide variety of painting techniques and approaches will be explored. Maggie will demonstrate various ways to “build” your paintings so that the results are complex and reflect and enhance the intent of your narratives. Artists will be encouraged to step out of their comfort zone and to take their work to places of new discovery and levels of excellence.
There will be an emphasis placed on understanding the underlying construction of all sound work. Subject matter will be up to individual artists and working from life and/or photographs will be equally encouraged. Participants are asked to arrive with a variety of possible ideas to explore. Maggie will provide prompts and suggestions for anyone interested in a more exercise-based approach. Participants will have the option to develop one piece or several pieces throughout the week. Contemporary painters and artists of historical significance and will be discussed and incorporated into all lessons, providing inspiration throughout the week.

Note: If you have never taken Maggie’s Colour Workshop you are encouraged to do so (if possible) the week prior to the Painting Workshop.