Whether you are a beginner or a professional artist, mastery of the fundamentals is a lifelong pursuit. In this course, you will learn how to create convincing realism in charcoal, step-by-step.

Whether working from simple objects, still life arrangements, or photo reference emphasis will be placed upon solidifying structure and proportion, achieving a likeness, and utilizing shading techniques to create convincing, 3-dimensional drawings.

The instructor will demonstrate techniques throughout each class, and spend plenty of time with each student one-on-one. Attendees of this course will be able to confidently take on any subject matter with their new set of skills!

Learn to paint pets and animals full of character and dynamic realism.

Learn how to create accurate proportions, expressive eyes, and convincing fur textures while bringing warmth and character to your work. You’ll work from provided photo references, or you can bring your own to develop strong drawing foundations and confident brushwork. You’ll explore colour mixing for naturalistic coats, understanding light and shadow, and building depth through layering techniques. Demonstrations and step-by-step guidance will help you simplify complex forms and refine details without overworking your painting. 

By the end of this course, you will have strengthened your skills while celebrating the animals you love.

This course will equip you with the skills you need to capture the beauty of the natural world.

You will hone your ability to paint dynamic landscapes by focusing on one element of nature per week, exploring mountain ranges, lush forests, and open fields. Enriched by the expertise of our instructor, you'll master these essential aspects of the landscape, while learning to bring texture, depth and a sense of rugged realism to your paintings. Separating these elements into individual projects will help you develop an intimate relationship with each form so that when you put them together, the sum will be greater than its parts!

By the course's end, you will have built a portfolio of striking paintings that showcase your ability to transform the wonders of nature into captivating visual art.

In this course, you will learn the foundations you need to create acrylic paintings grounded in good technique. Discover how to prepare surfaces, maintain your brushes, use mediums, handle paint and more!

Students will develop compositions with a strong foundational drawing layer before approaching the painting with an emphasis on value and colour.

This class is perfect for beginners or experienced acrylic painters who want to get back to basics.

Are you ready to bring colour, feeling, and depth into your figure drawings? In this exciting course, you will learn how to play with colour and create convincing skin tones using pastels on mid-toned paper. 

Working from the live model, emphasis will be placed upon creating 3-dimensional form using light and shadow, layering colour, and exploring various techniques in pastel application. Whether focusing on the full figure or portrait, you will learn about gesture, structure, proportion, basic anatomy, value and colour temperature.

Attendees of this course will enjoy a heightened sense of confidence and play with colour in their figure drawings!

In this course, you will learn how to create powerful, dynamic and lifelike portrait paintings by exploring ‘tiling’ techniques using professional photo reference.

By placing colours next to each other in a mosaic-like manner, you will learn to isolate specific skin tones and match them. Emphasis will be placed on matching the colour, value, saturation, and temperature of skin tones. By refining edges without over-blending, you’ll depict lifelike 3-dimensional form with expressive brushwork.

By the end of the course, you will have a finished portrait and newfound confidence in adjusting colour while applying paint, all in one stroke!

In this course, you will learn the foundations needed to create oil paintings grounded in good technique. Learn how to prepare surfaces, maintain your brushes, use mediums, handle paint and more!

Students will develop compositions with a strong foundational drawing layer before approaching the painting with an emphasis on value and colour.
‍
This class is perfect for beginners, those switching from acrylics to oils, and experienced painters who want to get back to basics.

In this course, you’ll gain the critical skills necessary to convey the beauty of the natural world. Working from photos, you’ll develop strong compositional drawings and translate them into rich and complete paintings. 
‍
Learn some general rules for painting evergreen and deciduous trees, rocks, mountains, clouds and more. Emphasis will be placed on harnessing the power of composition as a foundation within your paintings. Through colour choices that create harmonious scenes, and being attentive to the effects of light and atmospheric perspective on a landscape, you’ll develop an eye-catching masterpiece!

Work from photos provided by the instructor, or bring your own. By the end of the course, you’ll have increased confidence to paint the most inspiring scenes from nature!

Is it time to bring more depth, nuance, and precision into your portraits? In this course, you will learn how to paint realistic portraits, one feature at a time. 

Develop your skills in capturing the unique shapes of each feature and mixing life-like skin tones. You will learn about the power of light and shadow on eyes, noses, mouths and ears. Each class begins with a brief anatomy lecture, followed by painting from professional, high-resolution reference photos. You will examine the facial features from various angles and create detailed studies of each.Emphasis will be placed upon form, value, and creating nuanced skin tones.

Attendees of this course will leave with a comprehensive understanding of each feature and enjoy greater realism in their portraiture!

In this course, you will learn how to paint realistic watercolour landscapes and seascapes that capture the light and atmosphere of the natural environment.

James will demonstrate how to break this notoriously difficult medium down into manageable steps, applying clean washes and confident brushstrokes. Using a photo reference as a starting point, you will form your strategy to translate your vision into a convincing watercolour interpretation. Emphasis will be on developing your observational and compositional skills to achieve an effective arrangement of dark and light values.  

Attendees of this course will leave with fresh ideas and skills that will add strength and realism to their watercolour landscape paintings.

Learn how to paint realistic and dynamic still-life paintings from start to finish. You will develop a deep understanding of traditional techniques, as well as explore contemporary approaches in paint application.

Students may choose to paint two small paintings or work on one larger arrangement for the entire course. Topics including drawing, composition, value organization, colour, edges, design and paint application will be addressed.

You will leave the class with a new set of skills to set up and create your own still-life masterpieces.

In this course, you will learn how to create quick, expressive figure and portrait paintings that capture energy, movement, and personality. 

Working from models and professional photo references, you’ll explore loose, gestural brushwork techniques that emphasize spontaneity and visual impact. The instructor will guide you in balancing freedom with structure—showing how to block in forms, establish strong compositions, and suggest key details efficiently without overworking your painting. Through demonstrations and practice, you’ll build confidence in making bold marks, simplifying complex subjects, and completing dynamic studies that feel fresh, alive, and intentional.

By the end of the course, you’ll leave with a collection of expressive studies and a stronger, more intuitive approach to painting.

Designed for artists committed to deepening their practice, this program centres on sustained engagement with the human figure and portraiture. Over the course of the program you will develop a self-directed project by identifying ideas that matter to you, learning how to bring paintings to completion, and shaping these into a cohesive body of work. 
‍
Technical mastery, creative experimentation, and conceptual development are integrated into the program for the ongoing cultivation of an authentic, personal practice. Classes combine feedback, demonstrations, guided exercises, and assigned work within both traditional & contemporary approaches. Brushwork, edge control, colour relationships, palette organization, composition, glazing, and human anatomy are addressed in direct relation to your ongoing project.

The program also addresses professional practices, including the preparation of an artist statement, CV, website, and online presence.
‍
The program is structured as six full-day sessions: four consecutive classes to build momentum, followed by two bi-weekly sessions allowing time for independent work. 

In this essential course, you will learn how to paint dynamic, realistic still-life paintings from start to finish. You will develop a deep understanding of traditional techniques, as well as explore contemporary approaches in paint application.

Still life arrangements are set up in class so that you may work from direct observation and capture the subtle nuances of light falling on form. Learn how to depict a variety of surfaces (drapery, glass, fruit, metal, porcelain, etc) with efficient and exciting brushwork. Topics including drawing, composition, value organization, colour, edges, design and paint application will be addressed

.The instructor will demonstrate techniques throughout each class and spend plenty of time with each student one-on-one. Attendees of this course will experience newfound confidence with realism, brushwork and composition!

In this course, you will learn the foundations needed to create oil paintings grounded in good technique.

Learn how to prepare surfaces, maintain your brushes, use mediums, handle paint and more! Students will develop compositions with a strong foundational drawing layer before approaching the painting with an emphasis on value and colour.
‍
This class is perfect for beginners, those switching from acrylics to oils, and experienced painters who want to get back to basics.

In this course, you will learn to create realistic floral and still-life paintings in watercolour, capturing convincing three-dimensional form, light, and texture.

Explore techniques to simplify this medium, applying clean washes and confident brushstrokes. Using photo references as a guide, you will develop a strong strategy to translate your vision into a compelling watercolour interpretation. Emphasis will be placed on capturing the delicate structure of florals, and effective dark and light values to convey the form of still-life objects.

The instructor will demonstrate techniques throughout each class and provide individual guidance. By the end of the course, you will have gained new skills to enhance the strength and realism of both your still-life and floral paintings.

Whether you are a beginner or a professional artist, mastery of the fundamentals is a lifelong pursuit. In this course, you will learn how to create convincing realism in charcoal, step-by-step.

Whether working from simple objects, still life arrangements, or photo reference emphasis will be placed upon solidifying structure and proportion, achieving a likeness, and utilizing shading techniques to create convincing, 3-dimensional drawings.

The instructor will demonstrate techniques throughout each class, and spend plenty of time with each student one-on-one. Attendees of this course will be able to confidently take on any subject matter with their new set of skills!