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.
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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. 
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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.

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!

In this course, you will learn how to paint realistic and expressive portraits. Develop your skills in mixing life-like skin tones, creating glowing light effects, and achieving accurate proportions of the face.

You’ll begin by learning how to draw the head with a brush, using a variety of measuring techniques, then moving on to simple methods for painting shadows, halftones and light. In working from both the live model and reference materials, you will create finished portrait paintings in the alla prima technique, using imprimatura, ‘tiling’ colour, and glazing techniques. Emphasis will be placed upon accuracy, and capturing the subtle nuances of skin by adjusting colour, edges, value and temperature.

By the end of the course, you'll have gained both technical expertise and a more intuitive understanding of portraiture.

In this course, you will develop the technical skills to create beautiful and convincing landscape paintings.

Choose to work from a wide selection of natural landscape photos, supplied by the teacher, or bring your own. Emphasis will be placed on composition, colour mixing, drawing, and painting various types of light and shadow. Learn about linear and atmospheric perspective, how to mix colours to create a harmonious effect of light, and how to paint impressionistic trees, rocks, clouds and more.

By the end of the course, you’ll have increased confidence to paint the most inspiring scenes from nature!

In this course, you will learn the foundations you need to create watercolour paintings grounded in good technique. Learn how to work on various specialty papers, maintain your brushes, use mediums, handle paint and more! 
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The instructor will demonstrate how to break this notoriously difficult medium down into manageable steps, applying clean washes and confident brushstrokes.
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Emphasis will be placed on achieving harmony in values, shapes and colour. You will experiment with methods and techniques to quickly suggest convincing details.

Upon completion of the course, you will leave with a range of new skills that add strength and realism to your watercolour paintings. This course is perfect for beginners or painters who want to get back to basics.

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 more force, feeling, and simplicity into your figure drawings? In this essential course, you will draw from the live model, exploring how gesture, structure and design come together to create powerful, dynamic and realistic drawings.

Each class begins with a focus on fast gestural drawings, utilizing line-of-action, simplified shapes, and expressive lines to capture the essence of the pose. In the longer poses, emphasis shifts toward accuracy, structure and proportion using sighting & measuring techniques, basic anatomy, and planar construction. Further exploration of compositional framing, linear perspective, and the tonal scale will bring a unique aesthetic appeal to your drawings.

While improving speed and accuracy, attendees of this course will experience heightened confidence, ease, and flow in their drawing!

In this exciting course, you’ll learn to create expressive figurative and portrait paintings that combine strong realism with dynamic brushwork.

You’ll begin each painting with an underpainting, quickly establishing the foundation before moving into bold colour and exploring both realistic and unconventional skin tones. Traditional and contemporary approaches come together as you work with glazing, texture, and mark-making – balancing structure with creative freedom. Working from the live model and photo references, you’ll move through a series of paintings – building momentum, taking risks, and developing a more intuitive approach.

Through guided instruction, demonstrations, and targeted exercises, you’ll develop a confident, intuitive approach and create work that feels fresh and alive.

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!

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.

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.
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This class is perfect for beginners, those switching from acrylics to oils, and experienced painters who want to get back to basics.

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. 
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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.
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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.