ART TALK
Saturday, August 14th from 11am to 12Noon

History of the Comox Air Force Base by Colonel (Retired) Jon Ambler CAFM

Admission is by donation, suggested $2 - $5

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Summer 2010 Art Workshops
at the COMOX VALLEY ART GALLERY

Comox Valley Art Gallery is pleased to offer exciting workshops for children, youth & adults this summer at our Lower Level Studio. Our fun and interesting classes will explore a variety of subject matter, materials, techniques and concepts.

Qualified artists/instructors teach all of our workshops.
To register for workshops call 250-338-6211

Workshops For Children & Youth (5 - 12 years)


UpGuys! Acrylic Painting & Functional Art Workshop

Ages: 6-12
Date: July 5th, 6th, 7th (Mon, Tue, Wed)
Time: 10am-12pm
Fee: $50

Students should also bring: “painting clothes”, a toy or interesting item that will serve as model, at least two paint brushes (different sizes), water cup and two rags

Instructor: Mary-Anne Moore received her Diploma in Fine Arts in 2003 after spending three years at the Victoria College of Art. Mary-Anne was born on the artists' island, Salt Spring and grew up on Vancouver Island .She always loved to draw, paint, and be creative in any way; Mary-Anne continues to create and show her work in galleries, shops, homes and on her websites: Miablends.com and UpGuys.etsy.com.

Description: Using salvaged wood blocks, children will make UpGuys! The wooden-window-holder-uppers! Children will use acrylic or tempera paints to create people, animals, landscape or abstract images on each side of the block. Each child can make one or more UpGuys! in this workshop. UpGuys! can be used to hold up old windows and can also be used in outside and inside décor.


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Creative Painting for Kids! Workshop

Ages: 5-8
Date: July 7th, 8th, 9th (Wed, Thr, Fri)
Time: 2pm-4pm
Fee: $50

Students should also bring: Aprons (or old shirts.)

Instructor: Teresa Knight is an artist in acrylic and oil paint with an extensive exhibition history and an impressive portfolio of works. She has been teaching art since 1993 and obtained her B.A. in Studio Arts and Bachelor of Education in Art from the University of British Columbia. She paints out of her Union Bay studio and exhibits her work at local and West Coast venues. Her work can be seen on her website  www.teresaknight.com

Description: Kids will have fun exploring the expressive qualities of paint. Each day will have two projects covering color mixing & color wheel, painting from memory, imagination and life, mixed media painting and texture in paint.


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Marbling on Paper Workshop

Ages: 5-12
Date: July 12th, 13th, 14th (Mon, Tue, Wed)
Time: 10am-12pm
Fee: $55

Students should also bring: Apron (or cover-up) and specialty papers for experimentation.

Instructor: Candace Holmes grew up in a large family in the outskirts of Pittsburgh , Pa.   Her mother
and grandfather were artists and the whole family spent a lot of time drawing and painting during her youth. Candace Homes attended art school in upstate New York until the Vietnam War instigated a move to Vancouver where she finished her studies at VCC and UBC. Candace spent twenty years as an elementary teacher, retiring in '94 to pursue her dreams as a full time artist.  Candace combines a love of painting with a strong design background which enables her work for the U.N. as a graphic artist.  Candace Holmes logo designs and paintings can be found in homes and businesses around the world.  One of her many joys includes hosting workshops for both adults and children.

Description: Students will create many marbled pieces over the course of thee days.* The first session will introduce the students to the medium through an instructor led demonstration. Each child will work at a bin filled with marbling solution, sodium alginate, dropping paint onto the surface of the medium, after which they will use the marbling tools to create traditional and not so traditional designs. Lots of time will be allotted for experimentation. On the third day, students will have the opportunity to create a special project using their marbling paper. Origami, note cards, booklets, mosaics or collage are some possibilities. * The marbled pieces take quite a while to dry and so the pieces completed on the first day will be ready the next day.


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Beginner Drawing Techniques Workshop

Ages: 7-12
Date: July 26th, 27th, 28th (Mon, Tue, Wed)
Time: 10am-12pm
Fee: $65 (supply kit included)

Students should also bring: Students can bring their own art supplies as well.

Instructor: Grace Wolff is a graduate of Emily Carr Art and Design program at North Island College . Grace is an interdisciplinary artist who utilizes drawing, painting, sculpture, collage, photography and found objects to actualize projects. Grace has experience teaching in the Comox Valley and Alberta .

Description: In this workshop, students will explore various learning principles of drawing such as shading, line, texture, form and perspective while learning to draw. At the end of the workshop students will get to take home supplies and their new found appreciation for drawing!


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Painting Watercolour Faces Workshop

Ages: 5-12
Date: August 4th, 5th, 6th (Wed, Thr, Fri)
Time: 2pm-4pm
Fee: $50

Students should also bring: Students should bring photos of people in their lives they would like to paint. Also, please bring smocks or painting clothes.

Instructor: Jenja McIntyre was born near the Rocky Mountains in Southern Alberta . Since Jenja was very young, art has been her answer.  Jenja’s current art practice is very much about the experience of being human and our relationships between each other and the environment. Jenja works in many mediums: drawing, painting, photography, ceramics and piano are among her favorite forms of expression. Now that she has her BFA finished, Jenja hopes to continue to teach, take time to make art and travel to see art before she continues on to pursue her Masters degree.

Description: Students will bring in photos of friends & family and will learn to paint faces in watercolour. Students will also learn how to approach a portrait realistically as well as how to paint fun, abstract versions of their photographs. By the end of the workshop, students will have gained new watercolour techniques as well as a bundle of beautifully painting portraits of friends & family.


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Mixed Media: Painting with collage, texture, photos, & projection

Ages: 5-12
Date: August 23rd, 24th, 25th (Mon, Tue, Wed)
Time: 10am-12pm
Fee: $55

Students should also bring: Students can bring anything they’d like to collage with: string, paper, magazines, wood, wire, photographs (basically anything you’d like to work with!) (Junk drawers are great for finding hidden treasures.)
Instructor: Jenja McIntyre was born near the Rocky Mountains in Southern Alberta . Since Jenja was very young, art has been her answer. Jenja’s current art practice is very much about the experience of being human and our relationships between each other and the environment. Jenja works in many mediums: drawing, painting, photography, ceramics and piano are among her favorite forms of expression. Now that she has her BFA finished, Jenja hopes to continue to teach, take time to make art and travel to see art before she continues on to pursue her Masters degree.

Description: This workshop is for creative souls who don’t necessarily like to draw/paint realistically but whom crave to make art. This approach to making visual art can be more akin to the process of music with emphasis put on colour and texture over traditional methods of rendering. This workshop focuses on learning how to mix photographic work as well as learning the methods to make various textures with the aid of ‘medium products’ meant for mixing with acrylics that create a multitude of effects.


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Let’s Be Vikings! Workshop

Ages: 5-12
Date: August 25th, 26th, 27th (Wed, Thr, Fri)
Time: 2pm-4pm
Fee: $50

Students should also bring: Supply list will be provided upon registration; mainly house-hold items!
Instructor: Grace Wolff is a graduate of Emily Carr Art and Design program at North Island College . Grace is an interdisciplinary artist who utilizes drawing, painting, sculpture, collage, photography and found objects to actualize projects. Grace has experience teaching in the Comox Valley and Alberta .

Description: This exciting workshop will explore paper-maché, painting and decorating as a means to create Viking items such as swords, goblets, helmets and shields. On the last day students will put on a skit to show off their costumes and new Viking attitude!


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Workshops For Youth, Teens & Adults (12 - 18 years & Adults)


Diorama Set Design & Painting Workshop

Ages: 13-18
Date: July 19th, 20th, 21st (Mon, Tue, Wed)
Time: 10am-12pm
Fee: $50
Students should also bring: “Painting clothes” & apron, ideas & imagination, paint brushes

Instructor: Mary-Anne Moore received her Diploma in Fine Arts in 2003 after spending three years at the Victoria College of Art. Mary-Anne was born on the artists' island, Salt Spring and grew up on Vancouver Island .She always loved to draw, paint, and be creative in any way; Mary-Anne continues to create and show her work in galleries, shops, homes and on her websites: Miablends.com and UpGuys.etsy.com.

Description: In this workshop students will learn the art of crafting the stage! Participants will design and set up a life-like mini-stage play with scenes and scene changes, props, etc. If you enjoy building models and painting scenes this workshop is for you! The practical information received in this class will get you ready to work on real sets! Students should bring their imagination and love for drawing, painting and building to this class.


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Survey of Life Drawing Method (Part1)

Ages: 18+
Date: July 21st, 22nd, 23rd (Wed, Thr, Fri)
Time: 1:30pm-4pm
Fee: $60

Students should also bring: Drawing board to accommodate 18”x 24” papers, 18”x24” Newsprint pad, Soft black Conte crayon, kneaded eraser or white eraser.
Instructor: Clive Powsey paints watercolour landscapes and draws and sketches regularly, particularly from life models. He studied drawing, painting and printmaking at the Ontario College of Art, graduating in 1980 and has exhibited his work since 1981. He has exhibited at various Art Fairs, including The Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, The Toronto Indoor Art Expo, Circle Craft in Vancouver , and the Buckhorn Wildlife Art Exhibition.  In 1999 he received an award for Best Watercolour at the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, and won the D.L. Stevenson Award for watercolour excellence in 2009 at the annual Open Water group exhibition organized by the CSPWC. Clive is a member of the Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour. Visit Clive's website at: www.clivepowsey.com

Description: Drawing from male and female nude models in timed poses, this course will endeavor to put into practice a variety of life drawing exercises that will allow you to experience various ways of imaging and imagining the human form. Many of the exercises are old standards from art schools, and each exercise will help you to perceive and draw in various novel ways. Exercises will range from expressive gestures, to methodical contours, to the meticulous measuring of angles and proportion in a constructed drawing. Familiarization or re-familiarization with classic drawing exercises will be useful for participants who would like to visit drop-in uninstructed drawing sessions and continue their drawing practice. Some class time will be spent ‘free drawing’ and finding ways to integrate aspects of the exercises into the individual artists own drawing style. Classes will begin with a short visual presentation to illustrate techniques and ways of seeing and drawing.


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Contemporary Chinese Brush Painting

***THIS WORKSHOP HAS BEEN CANCELLED
DUE TO A FAMILY EMERGENCY OF THE INSTRUCTOR ***

Ages: 14+
Date: Saturday July 24th
Time: 10am-4pm
Fee: $65

Students should also bring: Students will be given a supply list upon registration. Supply list is approx. $50 and can be purchased from Andy Lou at the beginning of the workshop.
Instructor: Andy Lou was born and raised in China and received a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of North Texas .  Since his graduation, he has taught Chinese Brush Painting courses at the University of British Columbia ; Simon Fraser University , Malaspina College and the University of Victoria in British Columbia .  Since 2005, Andy has been teaching Chinese Brush Painting Workshop at Metchosin International Summer School in Victoria .  His mixed media cross-cultural paintings have been exhibited and collected widely in Canada , U.S.A. and China . Andy is also a co-author of three books on brush painting.

Description: This workshop is designed for people who are interested in the oriental painting medium.  Both traditional and contemporary techniques of Brush Painting will be introduced. You will learn about Chinese ink, rice paper, colour, texture, composition, and the aesthetic principles of Brush Painting. You also learn technical skills, such as loading the brush with ink and water, dry and wet brush stroke control through instructor's demonstrations, in class discussions and by hands-on practice. The workshop will focus on creative exploration of the brush painting medium and expanding your visual vocabulary. You will be encouraged to explore contemporary styles by using this ancient art medium. Some experience in painting will help, but not necessary.


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Theatre Make-up Workshop

Ages: 12-18
Date: July 28th, 29th, 30th (Wed, Thr, Fri)
Time: 2pm-4pm
Fee: $50

Students should also bring: Clothes that can get dirty (for the last day only) *Please advise if you have any latex sensitivities.
Instructor: Ria Ambrose is a make-up artist and founder of COLOUR FX, a specialty make-up company. Ria has relocated from Vancouver where she studied and worked to hone her skills in Make-up (film, beauty, stage and SFX including prosthetics.) In addition to her make-up experience she has many years of experience in the artistic community, in film and video, theatre and dance. Her education includes Vancouver Film School , Kryolan Make-up, Healy FX and MAC cosmetics. For more information and to see some examples of her work visit www.colourfx.ca

Description: Students will learn about types of make-up and brushes, as well as how to care for them properly. They will learn how to apply basic stage make-up for male and female, how to choose colors etc… The second class will be about different shading techniques to change facial appearance and character as well as old age make-up techniques. The last day will be about special effects, how to properly apply a prosthetics and the types of prosthetics available. Also, students will learn how to make simple wounds with wax or latex.


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Advanced Life Drawing Techniques (Part 2)

Ages: 18+
Date: August 3rd, 4th & 5th (Tue, Wed, Thur)
Time: 10am-12:30pm
Fee: $60

Students should also bring: Drawing board to accommodate 18”x24” papers, newsprint pad, charcoal or pastel paper, soft Conte crayon, charcoal, charcoal pencil, kneaded eraser and white eraser. For a more detailed look at the general content in both these courses visit a drawing course blog for students at: http://toshlifedrawingcourse.blogspot.com.
Instructor: Clive Powsey paints watercolour landscapes and draws and sketches regularly, particularly from life models. He studied drawing, painting and printmaking at the Ontario College of Art, graduating in 1980 and has exhibited his work since 1981. He has exhibited at various Art Fairs, including The Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, The Toronto Indoor Art Expo, Circle Craft in Vancouver , and the Buckhorn Wildlife Art Exhibition.  In 1999 he received an award for Best Watercolour at the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, and won the D.L. Stevenson Award for watercolour excellence in 2009 at the annual Open Water group exhibition organized by the CSPWC. Clive is a member of the Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour. Visit Clive's website at: www.clivepowsey.com

Description: This course will be most useful if familiar with the exercises in ‘A Survey of Life Drawing Method’ (Part 1), and focuses on sustained drawing of the model, accuracy of proportion and angles, the rendering of light and shade on form, and also surface landmarks that reveal anatomy. Drawings will be made from male and female models while referring to a life size model of the skeleton. After a brief visual presentation to illustrate techniques and concepts there will be several short warm up exercises and then a long pose for the balance of the session. As well as surveying structural concepts based on anatomy you will also work with advanced shading and rendering techniques such as cross hatching.


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Special Effects Make-Up Workshop

Ages: 12-18
Date: August 9th, 10th, 11th (Mon, Tue, Wed)
Time: 10am-12pm
Fee: $80

Students should also bring: Old clothing and willingness to get your hands dirty!
Instructor: Ria Ambrose is a make-up artist and founder of COLOUR FX, a specialty make-up company. Ria has relocated from Vancouver where she studied and worked to hone her skills in Make-up (film, beauty, stage and SFX including prosthetics.) In addition to her make-up experience she has many years of experience in the artistic community, in film and video, theatre and dance. Her education includes Vancouver Film School , Kryolan Make-up, Healy FX and MAC cosmetics. For more information and to see some examples of her work visit www.colourfx.ca

Description: Students will learn detailed steps in the creation of gelatin plate molds and gelatin prosthetics casting. Participants will sculpt one small-scale wound such as a scar, cut, bullet hole, abrasion, burn, zombie flesh or diseased tissue. After creating the prosthetic, students will learn how to apply and paint the final piece. All participants will take home the small mold and prosthetics they have created. Gelatin prosthetics are commonly used for special effects in the Film Industry.


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Painting on Silk Workshop

Ages: 18+
Min 8/Max 8Date: August 11th, 12th,13th (Wed, Thr, Fri
Time: 2pm-4pm
Fee: $100 (most supplies included)

Students should also bring: Iron & ironing board, Japanese bamboo brushes (Candace will have some extras), design ideas.
Instructor: Candace Holmes grew up in a large family in the outskirts of Pittsburgh , Pa.   Her mother
and grandfather were artists and the whole family spent a lot of time drawing and painting during her youth. Candace Homes attended art school in upstate New York until the Vietnam War instigated a move to Vancouver where she finished her studies at VCC and UBC. Candace spent twenty years as an elementary teacher, retiring in '94 to pursue her dreams as a full time artist.  Candace combines a love of painting with a strong design background which enables her work for the U.N. as a graphic artist.  Candace Holmes logo designs and paintings can be found in homes and businesses around the world.  One of her many joys includes hosting workshops for both adults and children.

Description: Over the course of three days, the students will prepare various pieces of silk for painting with the gutta resist method of silk painting. Each student will produce at least two pieces which can either be hung as a painting or worn as a scarf. Day one will be devoted to demonstration and experimentation with the materials as well as preparing the silk for stretching onto frames. Day two will be devoted to working on the pieces; ideas for subject matter will be provided by the instructor but students are encouraged to bring their own design ideas. Day three will be left for steam setting the silk pieces. Each student will produce small experimental pieces, one 30x30in. silk scarf and their choice of either 8x54in. or 12x60in. oblong scarves.


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Creative Painting Workshop

Ages: 15+
Date: August 16th, 17th, 18th (Mon, Tue, Wed)
Time: 10am-12pm
Fee: $55

Students should also bring: Themselves!
Instructor: Teresa Knight is an artist in acrylic and oil paint with an extensive exhibition history and an impressive portfolio of works. She has been teaching art since 1993 and obtained her B.A. in Studio Arts and Bachelor of Education in Art from the University of British Columbia. She paints out of her Union Bay studio and exhibits her work at local and West Coast venues. Her work can be seen on her website  www.teresaknight.com

Description: Students will explore self-expression through the use of color, texture and subject. Participants will create a new painting each day; by the end of the 3rd day students will feel more comfortable in using the medium of paint to express their thoughts, feelings and ideas.


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Graffiti Art Workshop

Ages: 13-18
Date: August 18th (Wed)
Time: 10am-4:30pm
Fee: $60

Students should also bring: Painting clothes
Instructor: Jeremy Hook is a local freelance artist and self proclaimed "Funk Soul Brother", trained in illustration and graphic design. He has a Degree in illustration and graphic design from the Art institute of Seattle , and a Bachelors of Science from P.S.U. His art can be described as surreal impressionistic and realistic with rural-urban cultural influences. Jeremy feels that all forms of creativity and personal expression should be embraced by our society to better understand our connection to our culture. Jeremy has worked as a freelance mural artist on and off for the past 6 years. His graffiti is a personal, cultural and environmental statement that reflects his connection to our planet. Graffiti is an art form that he is fascinated with. His goal for this workshop is to provide an outlet for students to explore and express their creativity.

Description: Students will explore the culture and craft of modern street art. Students will also explore the skills related to this art form and mediums used, as well as discuss the origin and cultural implications of graffiti art. The students will take part in an urban beautification project and create a unique graffiti piece in the city of Courtenay . Through this process students will learn basic skills used to create attractive “graffiti murals” or rather, art works, which beautify their surroundings.


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Comox Valley Art Gallery • 580 Duncan Ave, Courtenay, BC V9N 2M7 • Phone 250-338-6211