WINTER LIGHT | ACRYLIC PAINTING | WITH VERA KISSELEVA
2024-01-13 12:30 - 16:30 (America/Toronto) | Ontario
WINTER LIGHT | ACRYLIC PAINTING
| with Vera Kisseleva
Saturday, January 13, 2024 | 12:30 PM – 4:30 PM
AGES 16+ | MAX. 12
$120 plus hst | All materials provided
sold out
Join Artist Vera Kisseleva for a beginner-friendly workshop and discover the joy of painting shimmering winter landscapes filled with glowing colour and luminous light! www.VeraKissArt.com

In this 4-hour workshop, you’ll learn how to mix vibrant colors and use simple compositional rules to create stunning wooded landscapes. You will also learn how to work with reference photos, to easily translate real-world beauty onto the canvas.
Vera will share some of the techniques she uses in her own work. After a quick demonstration through the entire process of creating a forest painting full of light and shadow, you will have the opportunity to practice on a smaller canvas, explore the possibilities of acrylic paint, and refine your brushwork. You will then be encouraged to create your own 12″x12″ masterpiece receiving individualized guidance and feedback from the instructor.
This workshop is suitable for all levels. Beginners are welcome!
Source photos will be provided. Artists are also welcome to bring their own landscape photo if they have an image from which they would like to work. All materials are included.

Meet Vera!
Vera Kisseleva is an established award-wining artist best known for her paintings inspired by the Canadian landscape and nature’s dazzling colours that she believes are a great joy to experience and share with her collectors. Born in Russia, Vera studied fine arts in college and worked for years as a graphic designer and commercial artist. This Canadian painter is now based in rural Ontario where she is inspired by the visual splendor of her new home. Vera works mostly in acrylics and uses bold, vibrant colors in her work and thick brush strokes. Most of her pieces are done in her studio from a photograph and a memory of her recent nature encounters. Instagram @verakiss_art www.VeraKissArt.com

IF YOU CANCEL
Cancellations up to 14 days prior to start date will receive a full refund, less a $25 administrative fee. No refund of fees will apply to cancellations within 14 days of start date Fees may be applied/credited to an alternate workshop depending on availability.
IF WE CANCEL
To help ensure the course you’re interested in runs, we suggest you register no less than two weeks in advance. In the event of insufficient registrations ECFTA reserves the right to cancel workshops. You would be eligible for a full refund of fees, or credit for a future workshop, pending availability.

OPEN STUDIO | WITH EILEEN MACARTHUR
2024-01-18 19:00 - 2024-02-29 20:30 | Ontario
OPEN STUDIO | with Eileen MacArthur
6-WEEK THURSDAY EVENING STUDIO SERIES
Thursdays | January 18 – February 29, 2024
Last class Thurs. Feb. 29
7:00 pm-8:30 pm
AGES 14+ | MAX 12
$150 + hst for all 6 weeks ($25 per session)
sold out
Join artist Eileen MacArthur for an immersive 6 week open studio series designed for artists who have some experience and/or would like specific guidance to develop or resolve their work.
Class will focus on individual and group critiques, as well as affording the students to opportunity to experiment with various methods and materials. The working environment will be collaborative and specific exercises will be included for students to develop their critical thinking and studio practice.

Week one students will start with some warm-up exercises, make a material list and be asked to shop for their supplies for weeks 2-6. Materials will be provided for week one.

Eileen offers a welcoming and collaborative environment for all skill levels to learn from one another, while developing their own individual art practice.
Meet Eileen!
Eileen MacArthur is a practicing artist and arts educator with over 15 years of experience teaching art to adults and children at the Elora Centre for the Arts, the Guelph School of Art, Studiohere and the Art Gallery of Guelph. She holds a Master of Fine Art degree from the University of Guelph, and a Bachelor of Fine Art degree from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design University. Eileen is inspired by watching artist communities evolve and flourish! Eileen has been an ongoing Arts Educator at the Elora Centre for the Arts as part of our Supportive Arts program for adults with (dis)abilities. She is also our lead Arts Educator for our Youth Outreach program “Connecting to Community Through Art” that supports high school and elementary students in the Learning Resource Students and Life Skills programs, helping them feel connected to their community through art projects that spark conversation, awareness and belonging.
Eileen owns and operates the Arthur School of Art, an art school located in her studio at her home in Arthur Ontario.
https://www.eileenmacarthur.com/ https://www.arthurschoolofart.com/

IF YOU CANCEL
Cancellations up to 14 days prior to start date will receive a full refund, less a $25 administrative fee. No refund of fees will apply to cancellations within 14 days of start date. Fees may be applied/credited to an alternate workshop depending on availability.
IF WE CANCEL
To help ensure the course you’re interested in runs, we suggest you register no less than two weeks in advance. In the event of insufficient registrations ECFTA reserves the right to cancel workshops. You would be eligible for a full refund of fees, or credit for a future workshop, pending availability.

LOOSE STILL LIFE | WITH INGA GIRCYTE
2024-01-27 10:00 - 14:30 | Ontario
LOOSE STILL LIFE | ACRYLICS & MIXED MEDIA
WITH INGA GIRCYTE
Saturday, January 27, 2024 | 10 AM – 2:30 PM
AGES 16+ | MAX 12 | $120 + hst
sold out
In this workshop, artist INGA GIRCYTE will guide you in a free and relaxed approach to STILL LIFE using few techniques which will help you to loosen up and gain more confidence when approaching painting with acrylic.
Students will start with warm up exercises on paper, moving into mixed media applications, and then to the final canvas. Inga will show you how to combine different mediums together to achieve unique and expressive results!
At the end of the workshop, you will leave with drawings, one on archival paper with mixed media, and the finished canvas.
All experience levels are welcome!

Materials included:
acrylic, paint markers, archival paper, brushes etc.
Students are asked to please provide their own CANVAS or WOOD PANEL, or CANVAS PANEL. Your choice of level/quality.
Suggested size 16” x20” and up.
Please bring along a snack and drink for a break in the classroom. Tea is also available in the classroom.

Meet Inga!

Inga Gircyte is a multidisciplinary artist born and raised in Lithuania. Her journey began with a Bachelor’s degree in Theatre Directing before she relocated to Canada in 2011. In that same year, Inga embarked on the development of her painting and ceramics skills, eventually transitioning into a role as an art educator. In 2019, she completed her BFA in the Drawing and Painting program at OCAD University.
Inga’s work delves into both sculptural and painterly realms across various surfaces and mediums. Her creative process is influenced by her cultural heritage, drawing from her Lithuanian indigenous knowledge to explore connections between ecosystems and the spiritual reverence for them. This interplay between sculptural and two-dimensional work reflects the profound impact of her cross-cultural experiences and findings on foreign lands.
Recently, Inga made her home in Elora, where she operates a ceramic and painting studio within her residence.
Instagram @inga.gircyte

IF YOU CANCEL
Cancellations up to 14 days prior to start date will receive a full refund, less a $25 administrative fee. No refund of fees will apply to cancellations within 14 days of start date. Fees may be applied/credited to an alternate workshop depending on availability.
IF WE CANCEL
To help ensure the course you’re interested in runs, we suggest you register no less than two weeks in advance. In the event of insufficient registrations ECFTA reserves the right to cancel workshops. You would be eligible for a full refund of fees, or credit for a future workshop, pending availability.

WEAVING 201 | EXPRESS YOURSELF THROUGH TAPESTRY | WITH DIANNE KENNEDY CRUTTENDEN
2024-02-18 09:30 - 16:00 | Ontario
WEAVING 201 | EXPRESS YOURSELF THROUGH TAPESTRY
WITH DIANNE KENNEDY CRUTTENDEN
Sunday, February 18, 2024 | 9:30 am to 4 pm
AGES 14+ | MAX 10 | $110 + hst
$30 kit fee | All materials included in the kit fee.
sold out
Weaving 201 is designed for those with some weaving experience who wish to dive into designing and creating woven tapestry. To support weavers on this journey, Dianne will review techniques, answer your questions, and discuss a variety of designing techniques.
This workshop will give you the opportunity to experiment with various methods and materials. A great way to continue your weaving journey! Just bring your enthusiasm!

If you have ideas and images you wish to work with, bring them along!
We will be working on 13” x 17” frame looms and learn how to warp the loom and use ‘butterflies’ (yarn bundles). Dianne will offer a variety of beautiful yarns for your weaving pleasure including a selection of her hand dyed and hand spun yarn, unspun wool, and even some strips of fabric and ribbon yarns to play with. You should be well along the way of creating your masterpiece by the end of the day!
This workshop is ideal for those with basic weaving experience or those who have taken one of Dianne’s beginner workshops.
Bring your sense of adventure, willingness to play with design, colour and texture!
Please note: $30 kit fee to be paid to Dianne at the start of the workshop.
Meet Dianne!

Dianne has been creating woven art since the early 1970’s. Dianne first studied weaving at Sheridan School of Design, apprenticed with Robert L. Kidd in Michigan and in 2015 completed an internship with Master Tapestry artist Maximo Laura in his studio in Lima, Peru. A lifetime of weaving; Dianne’s work has been shown and collected throughout North America in venues such as The Detroit Institute of Art, Nuit Blanche in Ottawa, The Gore Bay Museum, the Textile Museum of Canada, The Queen Street Gallery in Niagara on the Lake, The Brick Room Gallery in St. Cathrines and the Sheepish Grin on Manitoulin Island, The Elora Fergus Studio Tour, and is a member of the Octarines Women’s Art Collective that has shown throughout the region. Dianne recently won an award for her piece in the recent ‘Insights’ show at the Wellington County Museum.

IF YOU CANCEL
Cancellations up to 14 days prior to start date will receive a full refund, less a $25 administrative fee. No refund of fees will apply to cancellations within 14 days of start date. Fees may be applied/credited to an alternate workshop depending on availability.
IF WE CANCEL
To help ensure the course you’re interested in runs, we suggest you register no less than two weeks in advance. In the event of insufficient registrations ECFTA reserves the right to cancel workshops. You would be eligible for a full refund of fees, or credit for a future workshop, pending availability.

GELLI PLATE PRINTMAKING! | WITH AHMRI VANDEBORNE
2024-02-25 13:00 - 15:00 | Ontario
GELLI PLATE PRINTMAKING!
WITH AHMRI VANDEBORNE
Sunday, February 25, 2024 | 1-3 pm
AGES 12+ | MAX 14 | $40 + hst
$10 kit fee payable to the instructor at the start of class.
Join Ahmri Vandeborne from Otherwise Studios to learn the art of monoprinting without a press, using a gel plate printing technique!
Learn how to compose interesting imagery using stencils, transfers, and various tools to create texture. Participants will also experiment with layering prints to create more detailed compositions.

All materials supplied in the kit fee.
No experience necessary!

Meet Ahmri!

Ahmri Vandeborne (she/her) is an interdisciplinary artist, curious-hearted collaborator, and community facilitator. Her passion for spacemaking is an essential tool in both her personal practice and her work as owner of Otherwise Studios, https://otherwisestudios.com/ an inclusive studio space for art-making and community building. Ahmri believes in the power of art as a vessel for community care and in the importance of accessibility in the arts sector. Her facilitation style is playful, experimentative and encouraging of anyone who wants to explore their creativity. Ahmri holds a BAH with Distinction in Studio Art, with minors in French and Art History, from the University of Guelph.

IF YOU CANCEL
Cancellations up to 14 days prior to start date will receive a full refund, less a $25 administrative fee. No refund of fees will apply to cancellations within 14 days of start date. Fees may be applied/credited to an alternate workshop depending on availability.
IF WE CANCEL
To help ensure the course you’re interested in runs, we suggest you register no less than two weeks in advance. In the event of insufficient registrations ECFTA reserves the right to cancel workshops. You would be eligible for a full refund of fees, or credit for a future workshop, pending availability.

ELORA NIGHT & DAY! | OIL PAINTING WITH RICK WORTHINGTON
2024-03-17 10:00 - 16:00 | Ontario
ELORA NIGHT & DAY | OIL PAINTING ON CANVAS
SUNDAY WORKSHOPS WITH RICK WORTHINGTON
DAY CANVAS!
SUNDAY, MARCH 17, 2024 | 10 AM-4 PM
Please register for workshops individually.
We encourage you to consider signing up for both Night & Day! Each workshop is priced individually. To view the March 24 NIGHT workshop, please scroll down on this page.
AGES 16+ | MAX 10 | $150 + hst per class
sold out
$10 Kit fee payable in cash to the instructor at the start of class.
Explore the art of oil painting with artist Rick Worthington in these beginner friendly workshops celebrating Elora at Night & Day!
In this workshop, create your own Elora DAY street scene. Rick will share techniques on composition, contrast, and depth, guiding you through the development of a precise value plan. Using a limited palette of warm and cool primary paints, participants will develop colour-mixing skills for paintings with depth and contrast.

Consider diving into both to Night & Day workshops to enhance your skills and capture the lush and mysterious beauty of a 24-hour Elora!
Join us for these bite-sized workshops designed to kickstart your journey into oil painting!
Source photos provided.
All materials are included in the kit fee, with the exception of your choice of 12″ x 12″ or 16 “x 16” canvas.
Meet Rick!
Rick Worthington, an accomplished full-time impressionist painter based in the charming village of Elora, Ontario. Rick secured his position as a notable artist by winning first place in the “Modern Impressionist Magazine” October/November salon of 2023. His vibrant oil paintings, depicting lively street scenes and cozy cafes, are highly sought after, masterfully capturing the interplay of light and shadow to create a captivating atmosphere.
To view more of Rick’s luminous paintings, please visit https://www.worthingtonpaintings.com/ @rick.worthington.art

IF YOU CANCEL
Cancellations up to 14 days prior to start date will receive a full refund, less a $25 administrative fee. No refund of fees will apply to cancellations within 14 days of start date. Fees may be applied/credited to an alternate workshop depending on availability.
IF WE CANCEL
To help ensure the course you’re interested in runs, we suggest you register no less than two weeks in advance. In the event of insufficient registrations ECFTA reserves the right to cancel workshops. You would be eligible for a full refund of fees, or credit for a future workshop, pending availability.

SUPPORTIVE ARTS WEDNESDAYS for Adults with Varying Abilities | Spring Wednesday Program
2024-03-20 10:00 - 2024-06-19 12:00 | Ontario
SPRING 2024 Wednesday Classes | 14-week series
WEDNESDAY mornings | March 20 – June 19, 2024 | 10 am – 12 pm
Weekly inclusive ART & mindfulness WEDNESDAY WORKSHOPS for adults with varying abilities.
sold out

Are you a Passport funding recipient? If so, please email programming@ecfta.ca if you would require special Passport receipts.
Max. 14 spaces | Ages 18+ | $252 + hst for all 14 weeks
Participants please register for the full season block. No charge for support workers or caregivers.
SUPPORTIVE ARTS is a unique program offering arts-based learning opportunities and compelling artistic experiences to individuals with varying abilities. We welcome adults and caregivers from Wellington County and the surrounding areas to our weekly program, led by ECFTA Arts Educators and Mindfulness Coach.
Join us for a guided 2-hour workshop designed to support adults of all abilities. Each session, we will embrace diversity and friendship through explorations in art making, movement, mindfulness and music. Every week is as unique as each of our participants!
OUR SPACE Our bright and cheerful ECFTA classroom is wheelchair accessible and accommodates up to 14 participants, with accompanying support workers and volunteers.
Supportive Arts is offered at a subsidized rate, thanks to the Centre Wellington 100 Women Who Care and our Spring Fundraising Gala!

REFUNDS please note, there is no refund for missed classes. If you are unable to attend for any reason, classes are transferrable to other participants.
PAYMENT can be made using a credit card by registering below.
Registration & payment via e-transfer or personal cheque are also accepted by contacting Judy at programming@ecfta.ca
Please contact us for more information about the program or for availability in our Supportive Arts program!
Visit our Facebook page for photos and updates!

SUPPORTIVE ARTS THURSDAYS for Adults with Varying Abilities | Spring Thursday Program
2024-03-21 10:00 - 2024-06-20 12:00 | Ontario
SPRING 2024 Thursday Classes | 14-week series
THURSDAY mornings | March 21 – June 20, 2024 | 10 am – 12 pm
Weekly inclusive ART & mindfulness THURSDAY WORKSHOPS for adults with varying abilities.
sold out

Are you a Passport funding recipient? If so, please email programming@ecfta.ca if you would require special Passport receipts.
Max. 14 spaces | Ages 18+ | $252 + hst for all 14 weeks
Participants please register for the full season block. No charge for support workers or caregivers.
SUPPORTIVE ARTS is a unique program offering arts-based learning opportunities and compelling artistic experiences to individuals with varying abilities. We welcome adults and caregivers from Wellington County and the surrounding areas to our weekly program, led by ECFTA Arts Educators and Mindfulness Coach.
Join us for a guided 2-hour workshop designed to support adults of all abilities. Each session, we will embrace diversity and friendship through explorations in art making, movement, mindfulness and music. Every week is as unique as each of our participants!
OUR SPACE Our bright and cheerful ECFTA classroom is wheelchair accessible and accommodates up to 14 participants, with accompanying support workers and volunteers.
Supportive Arts is offered at a subsidized rate, thanks to the Centre Wellington 100 Women Who Care and our Spring Fundraising Gala!

REFUNDS please note, there is no refund for missed classes. If you are unable to attend for any reason, classes are transferrable to other participants.
PAYMENT can be made using a credit card by registering below.
Registration & payment via e-transfer or personal cheque are also accepted by contacting Judy at programming@ecfta.ca
Please contact us for more information about the program or for availability in our Supportive Arts program!
Visit our Facebook page for photos and updates!

INTRO TO SEWING FOR ALL! | WITH AHMRI VANDEBORNE
2024-03-23 13:00 - 15:00 | Ontario
INTRO TO SEWING FOR ALL!
WITH AHMRI VANDEBORNE
Saturday, March 23, 2024 | 1 pm-3 pm
AGES 12+ | MAX 20 | $35 + hst
$10 kit fee payable to the instructor at the start of class.
Join artist Ahmri Vandeborne from Otherwise Studios in this easy-going introduction to sewing!
Using ready-made stencils of a bird, tree, or flower, or designing your own template, learn basic sewing techniques to create a stuffed felt home decor piece! Participants will gain the knowledge of simple embroidery stitches to embellish their work and will go home with a unique, handcrafted piece to hang up at home for all to enjoy.

All materials supplied in the kit fee.
No experience necessary!

Meet Ahmri!

Ahmri Vandeborne (she/her) is an interdisciplinary artist, curious-hearted collaborator, and community facilitator. Her passion for spacemaking is an essential tool in both her personal practice and her work as owner of Otherwise Studios, https://otherwisestudios.com/ an inclusive studio space for art-making and community building. Ahmri believes in the power of art as a vessel for community care and in the importance of accessibility in the arts sector. Her facilitation style is playful, experimentative and encouraging of anyone who wants to explore their creativity. Ahmri holds a BAH with Distinction in Studio Art, with minors in French and Art History, from the University of Guelph.

IF YOU CANCEL
Cancellations up to 14 days prior to start date will receive a full refund, less a $25 administrative fee. No refund of fees will apply to cancellations within 14 days of start date. Fees may be applied/credited to an alternate workshop depending on availability.
IF WE CANCEL
To help ensure the course you’re interested in runs, we suggest you register no less than two weeks in advance. In the event of insufficient registrations ECFTA reserves the right to cancel workshops. You would be eligible for a full refund of fees, or credit for a future workshop, pending availability.

ELORA NIGHT & DAY! | OIL PAINTING WITH RICK WORTHINGTON
2024-03-24 10:00 - 16:00 | Ontario
ELORA NIGHT & DAY | OIL PAINTING ON CANVAS
SUNDAY WORKSHOPS WITH RICK WORTHINGTON
NIGHT CANVAS!
SUNDAY, MARCH 24, 2024 | 10 AM-4 PM
Please register for workshops individually.
We encourage you to consider signing up for both Night & Day! Each workshop is priced individually.
AGES 16+ | MAX 10 | $150 + hst per class
sold out
$15 Kit fee payable in cash to the instructor at the start of class.
Explore the art of oil painting with artist Rick Worthington in these beginner friendly workshops celebrating Elora at Night & Day!
In this workshop, create your own Elora NIGHT street scene. Rick will share techniques on composition, contrast, and depth, guiding you through the development of a precise value plan. Using a limited palette of warm and cool primary paints, participants will develop colour-mixing skills for paintings with depth and contrast.

Consider diving into both to Night & Day workshops to enhance your skills and capture the lush and mysterious beauty of a 24-hour Elora!
Join us for these bite-sized workshops designed to kickstart your journey into oil painting!
Source photos provided. All materials are included in the kit fee, including pre-drawn canvas.
Meet Rick!
Rick Worthington, an accomplished full-time impressionist painter based in the charming village of Elora, Ontario. Rick secured his position as a notable artist by winning first place in the “Modern Impressionist Magazine” October/November salon of 2023. His vibrant oil paintings, depicting lively street scenes and cozy cafes, are highly sought after, masterfully capturing the interplay of light and shadow to create a captivating atmosphere.
To view more of Rick’s luminous paintings, please visit https://www.worthingtonpaintings.com/ @rick.worthington.art

IF YOU CANCEL
Cancellations up to 14 days prior to start date will receive a full refund, less a $25 administrative fee. No refund of fees will apply to cancellations within 14 days of start date. Fees may be applied/credited to an alternate workshop depending on availability.
IF WE CANCEL
To help ensure the course you’re interested in runs, we suggest you register no less than two weeks in advance. In the event of insufficient registrations ECFTA reserves the right to cancel workshops. You would be eligible for a full refund of fees, or credit for a future workshop, pending availability.

OIL & COLD WAX ABSTRACT LANDSCAPES | WITH CAROLYN SHARP
2024-04-06 11:00 - 2024-04-07 15:00 | Ontario
OIL & COLD WAX ABSTRACT LANDSCAPES
WEEKEND WORKSHOP | WITH CAROLYN SHARP
SATURDAY, APRIL 6, 2024 | 11 am – 4 pm
SUNDAY, APRIL 7, 2024 | 11 am – 3 pm
AGES 16+ | MAX. 8 | $250 + hst
Unleash your creativity and make your own masterpiece using oil paint and cold wax medium. Carolyn will guide you towards creating atmospheric and colourful abstracted land & waterscape paintings on archival oil paper and cradled wood panels. You will also learn ways to find compelling compositions and create colour harmony in your paintings. Materials list will be emailed to students.
This workshop is suitable for all levels of experience!

EXPERIENCED OIL & COLD WAX PAINTERS (NO KIT FEE)
Please bring the following:

5 landscape images printed in black and white on 8-1/2” by 11” paper
Oil paints – a variety of colours, plus LOTS OF TITANIUM WHITE
Cold Wax Medium
Oil Sticks and/or oil pastels
Variety of mark making tools
Creative catalyst Wedge, straight edge
Silicone Bowl Scraper
Metal Palette knife, pointed tip
Disposable paint Palette or parchment paper
1” roll of Painter’s masking tape
2-3 cradled wood panels with 2 coats of gesso (tape off the sides before gessoing)

Panel sizes between 8×10 up to 16×20

1/2 sheet Arches Oil Paper (22” x 30”) cut lengthwise
Roll of blue “Shop” Paper Towels
Wax Paper (for transporting wet paintings)
Box or box lid for transporting wet panels

BEGINNER PAINTERS (**KIT FEE of $20 payable in cash to Carolyn at the start of class)
Please bring the following:

5 landscape images printed in black and white on 8-1/2” by 11” paper
Titanium White oil paint
2-3 cradled wood panels – Sizes 8” x10”
1” Painters Tape
Box or box lid for transporting wet panels home on Day 2

Your $20 Kit Fee will provide you with use of the following:
Cold Wax Medium, ½ sheet of Arches Oil Paper, a variety of oil paint colours, a variety of oil sticks & pastels, mark making tools including Palette Knife & silicone tools, Gesso (to seal your cradled panels), Parchment paper (to use as a palette), Wax paper (for transporting wet panels home), Shop paper towels

Meet Carolyn!
Carolyn Sharp is an award-winning full-time artist living & working in beautiful Elora. Her paintings are imaginary, intuitive, soulful expressions depicting the lands and waters of Ontario in an abstracted manner. Her background in Interior Design provides her with a keen eye for creating colourful and compelling paintings in both acrylic and oil & cold wax. She began studying art in 2003, and has trained with many highly regarded artists throughout North America. Carolyn exhibits her work through galleries, the annual Elora Fergus Studio Tour, and her private studio/gallery which is open to the public by appointment. She offers semi-private classes from her Elora studio, has taught at the Elora Mill, and now through the Elora Centre for the Arts. www.carolyn-sharp.com

IF YOU CANCEL
Cancellations up to 14 days prior to start date will receive a full refund, less a $25 administrative fee. No refund of fees will apply to cancellations within 14 days of start date. Fees may be applied/credited to an alternate workshop depending on availability.
IF WE CANCEL
To help ensure the course you’re interested in runs, we suggest you register no less than two weeks in advance. In the event of insufficient registrations ECFTA reserves the right to cancel workshops. You would be eligible for a full refund of fees, or credit for a future workshop, pending availability.

WEAVING 201 | EXPRESS YOURSELF THROUGH TAPESTRY | WITH DIANNE KENNEDY CRUTTENDEN
2024-04-14 09:30 - 16:00 | Ontario
WEAVING 201 | EXPRESS YOURSELF THROUGH TAPESTRY
WITH DIANNE KENNEDY CRUTTENDEN
Sunday, April 14, 2024 | 9:30 am to 4 pm
AGES 14+ | MAX 10 | $110 + hst
$30 kit fee | All materials included in the kit fee.
sold out
Weaving 201 is designed for those with some weaving experience who wish to dive into designing and creating woven tapestry. To support weavers on this journey, Dianne will review techniques, answer your questions, and discuss a variety of designing techniques.
This workshop will give you the opportunity to experiment with various methods and materials. A great way to continue your weaving journey! Just bring your enthusiasm!
If you have ideas and images you wish to work with, bring them along!
We will be working on 13” x 17” frame looms and learn how to warp the loom and use ‘butterflies’ (yarn bundles). Dianne will offer a variety of beautiful yarns for your weaving pleasure including a selection of her hand dyed and hand spun yarn, unspun wool, and even some strips of fabric and ribbon yarns to play with. You should be well along the way of creating your masterpiece by the end of the day!
This workshop is ideal for those with basic weaving experience or those who have taken one of Dianne’s beginner workshops.
Bring your sense of adventure, willingness to play with design, colour and texture!
Please note: $30 kit fee to be paid to Dianne at the start of the workshop.
Meet Dianne!

Dianne has been creating woven art since the early 1970’s. Dianne first studied weaving at Sheridan School of Design, apprenticed with Robert L. Kidd in Michigan and in 2015 completed an internship with Master Tapestry artist Maximo Laura in his studio in Lima, Peru. A lifetime of weaving; Dianne’s work has been shown and collected throughout North America in venues such as The Detroit Institute of Art, Nuit Blanche in Ottawa, The Gore Bay Museum, the Textile Museum of Canada, The Queen Street Gallery in Niagara on the Lake, The Brick Room Gallery in St. Cathrines and the Sheepish Grin on Manitoulin Island, The Elora Fergus Studio Tour, and is a member of the Octarines Women’s Art Collective that has shown throughout the region. Dianne recently won an award for her piece in the recent ‘Insights’ show at the Wellington County Museum.

IF YOU CANCEL
Cancellations up to 14 days prior to start date will receive a full refund, less a $25 administrative fee. No refund of fees will apply to cancellations within 14 days of start date. Fees may be applied/credited to an alternate workshop depending on availability.
IF WE CANCEL
To help ensure the course you’re interested in runs, we suggest you register no less than two weeks in advance. In the event of insufficient registrations ECFTA reserves the right to cancel workshops. You would be eligible for a full refund of fees, or credit for a future workshop, pending availability.

BRACELET & EARRINGS | SCALE-MAILLE WORKSHOP
2024-04-18 18:00 - 21:00 | Ontario
BRACELET & EARRING | SCALE-MAILLE WORKSHOP
WITH ARTISAN MAILLE
Thursday, April 18, 2024 | 6:00-9:00 PM
Ages 16+ | Max. 20 | $75 + hst | All materials included.
Unleash your creativity and dive into the mesmerizing world of scalemaille with this Thursday evening workshop, designed for both beginners and seasoned crafters.
In this hands-on session, you’ll create your very own scalemaille bracelet and earrings, blending the ancient art of maille with the shimmering beauty of scales!

Join us and transform simple materials into stunning pieces that capture the light! Rachel and Brad of Artisan Maille will guide you through the process of selecting scales, linking rings, and assembling them into wearable art. Whether you’re looking to make a statement piece or add a unique touch to your jewelry collection, this workshop offers the skills and inspiration you need to craft your own scalemaille accessories.
This 3 hour class is a perfect introduction to the how-to’s of creating aluminum scale-maille patterns. A great way to keep the creativity flowing this spring!

Meet Artisan Maille!

Brad and Rachel of Artisan Maille have been creating chainmaille for almost 10 years. They love to demonstrate their creativity by giving this medieval armor crafting a modern twist.
Instagram: @Artisan.Maille
Facebook: @ArtisanMaille
Tiktok: @Artisan.Maille
Etsy: ArtisanMailleShop.etsy.com

IF YOU CANCEL
Cancellations up to 14 days prior to start date will receive a full refund, less a $25 administrative fee. No refund of fees will apply to cancellations within 14 days of start date Fees may be applied/credited to an alternate workshop depending on availability.
IF WE CANCEL
To help ensure the course you’re interested in runs, we suggest you register no less than two weeks in advance. In the event of insufficient registrations ECFTA reserves the right to cancel workshops. You would be eligible for a full refund of fees, or credit for a future workshop, pending availability.

RADIANT FORESTS | EXPLORING LIGHT & COLOUR IN ACRYLIC | WITH VERA KISSELEVA
2024-05-04 10:00 - 2024-05-05 15:00 | Ontario
RADIANT FORESTS | EXPLORING LIGHT & COLOUR IN ACRYLIC
2-Day Workshop with VERA KISSELEVA
Saturday & Sunday, May 4 & 5, 2024
10 AM – 3 PM both days
AGES 16+ | MAX 10 | $250 + hst
sold out
In this two-day workshop, artist Vera Kisseleva will guide you in the creation of your own radiant canvas! Artists will learn how to mix vibrant colors and use simple compositional rules to create stunning wooded landscapes.

Vera will share some of the techniques she uses in her own work. After a quick demonstration through Vera’s process of developing a painting full of light and shadow, you will learn how to work with reference photos to easily translate real-world beauty onto your canvas.
Artists will then have the opportunity to practice with a few value/colour studies, explore the possibilities of acrylic paint, and refine your brushwork before starting your own larger canvas. Each participant will receive individualized guidance and feedback from Vera.
This workshop is ideal for painters with some experience, but beginners are welcome!
Source photos will be provided. Artists are also welcome to bring their own landscape photo if they have an image from which they would like to work.
Materials:
Students are asked to provide their own canvas and bring any favourite brushes.
Recommended canvas sizes: 18”x24”, 24”x24”, 24”x30”, 24”x36, 30”x30”
Recommended brushes: 3 Flat acrylic brushes, 1″ or larger, size 8 and size 4
Paint, pallets and other supplies for the workshop will be provided.
Brushes will also available in the classroom.
24”x24” canvases will be available for purchase from the instructor if needed.

Meet Vera!
Vera Kisseleva is an established award-wining artist best known for her paintings inspired by the Canadian landscape and nature’s dazzling colours that she believes are a great joy to experience and share with her collectors. Born in Russia, Vera studied fine arts in college and worked for years as a graphic designer and commercial artist. This Canadian painter is now based in rural Ontario where she is inspired by the visual splendor of her new home. Vera works mostly in acrylics and uses bold, vibrant colors in her work and thick brush strokes. Most of her pieces are done in her studio from a photograph and a memory of her recent nature encounters. Instagram @verakiss_art www.VeraKissArt.com

IF YOU CANCEL
Cancellations up to 14 days prior to start date will receive a full refund, less a $25 administrative fee. No refund of fees will apply to cancellations within 14 days of start date. Fees may be applied/credited to an alternate workshop depending on availability.
IF WE CANCEL
To help ensure the course you’re interested in runs, we suggest you register no less than two weeks in advance. In the event of insufficient registrations ECFTA reserves the right to cancel workshops. You would be eligible for a full refund of fees, or credit for a future workshop, pending availability.

Radiant Forests | Exploring Light & Color in Acrylic | WITH VERA KISSELEVA
2024-05-25 10:00 - 2024-05-26 15:00 | Ontario
RADIANT FORESTS | EXPLORING LIGHT & COLOUR IN ACRYLIC
2-Day Workshop with VERA KISSELEVA
Saturday & Sunday, May 25 & 26, 2024
10 AM – 3 PM both days
AGES 16+ | MAX 10 | $250 + hst
sold out
In this two-day workshop, artist Vera Kisseleva will guide you in the creation of your own radiant canvas! Artists will learn how to mix vibrant colors and use simple compositional rules to create stunning wooded landscapes.

Vera will share some of the techniques she uses in her own work. After a quick demonstration through Vera’s process of developing a painting full of light and shadow, you will learn how to work with reference photos to easily translate real-world beauty onto your canvas.
Artists will then have the opportunity to practice with a few value/colour studies, explore the possibilities of acrylic paint, and refine your brushwork before starting your own larger canvas. Each participant will receive individualized guidance and feedback from Vera.
This workshop is ideal for painters with some experience, but beginners are welcome!
Source photos will be provided. Artists are also welcome to bring their own landscape photo if they have an image from which they would like to work.
Materials:
Students are asked to provide their own canvas and bring any favourite brushes.
Recommended canvas sizes: 18”x24”, 24”x24”, 24”x30”, 24”x36, 30”x30”
Recommended brushes: 3 Flat acrylic brushes, 1″ or larger, size 8 and size 4
Paint, pallets and other supplies for the workshop will be provided.
Brushes will also available in the classroom.
24”x24” canvases will be available for purchase from the instructor if needed.

Meet Vera!
Vera Kisseleva is an established award-wining artist best known for her paintings inspired by the Canadian landscape and nature’s dazzling colours that she believes are a great joy to experience and share with her collectors. Born in Russia, Vera studied fine arts in college and worked for years as a graphic designer and commercial artist. This Canadian painter is now based in rural Ontario where she is inspired by the visual splendor of her new home. Vera works mostly in acrylics and uses bold, vibrant colors in her work and thick brush strokes. Most of her pieces are done in her studio from a photograph and a memory of her recent nature encounters. Instagram @verakiss_art www.VeraKissArt.com

IF YOU CANCEL
Cancellations up to 14 days prior to start date will receive a full refund, less a $25 administrative fee. No refund of fees will apply to cancellations within 14 days of start date. Fees may be applied/credited to an alternate workshop depending on availability.
IF WE CANCEL
To help ensure the course you’re interested in runs, we suggest you register no less than two weeks in advance. In the event of insufficient registrations ECFTA reserves the right to cancel workshops. You would be eligible for a full refund of fees, or credit for a future workshop, pending availability.

AFTER MONET | INTRO TO OIL PAINTING WITH RICK WORTHINGTON
2024-06-02 10:00 - 16:00 | Ontario
AFTER MONET | INTRO TO OIL PAINTING
with RICK WORTHINGTON
Sunday, June 2, 2024 | 10 am-4 pm
AGES 16+ | MAX 12
$150 + hst | $15 kit fee
Explore the art of oil painting with Elora artist Rick Worthington in this introduction to oil painting as we look to Monet for inspiration. Artists will be guided in how to create the atmospheric qualities of light in Claude Monet’s 1903 painting The Houses of Parliament. Join us for this bite-sized workshop designed to inspire your journey into impressionistic oil painting!

Rick will share techniques on composition, contrast, depth, and guide you through the development of precise values. Using a limited palette of warm and cool primary colours, artists will learn colour-mixing skills to develop their own paintings with depth and contrast. Great for all skill levels.
$15 kit fee is payable in cash to the instructor at the start of class.
Kit fee includes oil paint, odourless solvent, reference image, brushes etc
Students are asked to provide their choice of canvas, any level. Suggested sizes: 12×14, 12×16, 14×18, 16×20

Meet Rick!
Rick Worthington, an accomplished full-time impressionist painter based in the charming village of Elora, Ontario. Rick secured his position as a notable artist by winning first place in the “Modern Impressionist Magazine” October/November salon of 2023. His vibrant oil paintings, depicting lively street scenes and cozy cafes, are highly sought after, masterfully capturing the interplay of light and shadow to create a captivating atmosphere.
To view more of Rick’s luminous paintings, please visit https://www.worthingtonpaintings.com/ @rick.worthington.art

IF YOU CANCEL
Cancellations up to 14 days prior to start date will receive a full refund, less a $25 administrative fee. No refund of fees will apply to cancellations within 14 days of start date. Fees may be applied/credited to an alternate workshop depending on availability.
IF WE CANCEL
To help ensure the course you’re interested in runs, we suggest you register no less than two weeks in advance. In the event of insufficient registrations ECFTA reserves the right to cancel workshops. You would be eligible for a full refund of fees, or credit for a future workshop, pending availability.

WEAVING TECHNIQUES | TAPESTRY WITH DIANNE KENNEDY CRUTTENDEN
2024-06-08 10:00 - 16:00 | Ontario
WEAVING TECHNIQUES |
TAPESTRY WITH DIANNE KENNEDY CRUTTENDEN
SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 2024 | 10 AM – 4 PM
AGES 14+ | MAX 10 | $110 + hst
Join textile artist Dianne Kennedy Cruttenden for a full day of learning a variety of tapestry techniques! This workshop is for those weavers who want a review and for new weavers to get started on your tapestry weaving adventure!
Dianne brings her wealth of knowledge and spirit of adventure to this immersive 6-hour workshop. In this playful class you will explore weaving through a variety of tapestry techniques such as: plain weave, rya knots, soumack, eccentric weave and irregular hatching. Participants will learn weaving techniques and some of Dianne’s favourite stitches and tips to create designs while exploring form, colour and texture. Dianne will have a variety of small looms to show you, so you may continue your adventure in weaving by building a small loom yourself or purchase from a number of companies a finished loom.
The joys of tapestry weaving awaits!
Please note there is a $30 kit fee, payable in cash to Dianne at the start of class.
Your kit will have a large selection of beautiful yarns to choose from and a simple frame loom, tapestry bobbins and everything you will need to continue/start your tapestry weaving adventure.

Meet Dianne!

Dianne has been creating woven art since the early 1970’s. Dianne first studied weaving at Sheridan School of Design, apprenticed with Robert L. Kidd in Michigan and in 2015 completed an internship with Master Tapestry artist Maximo Laura in his studio in Lima, Peru. A lifetime of weaving; Dianne’s work has been shown and collected throughout North America in venues such as The Detroit Institute of Art, Nuit Blanche in Ottawa, The Gore Bay Museum, the Textile Museum of Canada, The Queen Street Gallery in Niagara on the Lake, The Brick Room Gallery in St. Cathrines and the Sheepish Grin on Manitoulin Island, The Elora Fergus Studio Tour, and is a member of the Octarines Women’s Art Collective that has shown throughout the area. Dianne shows at the Craig Gallery in Meaford, Ontario and recently won an award for her piece in the recent ‘Insights’ show at the Wellington County Museum and will be participating in the Pelham Art Show in Fonthill over this coming Mothers Day Weekend.

WILD GARDEN | OIL PAINTING WEEKEND WORKSHOP | WITH RICK WORTHINGTON
2024-06-15 10:00 - 2024-06-16 16:00 | Ontario
WILD GARDEN | OIL PAINTING
WEEKEND WORKSHOP | with RICK WORTHINGTON
Saturday & Sunday, June 15 & 16, 2024
10 am-4 pm both days
AGES 16+ | MAX 10 (min. 6 students required)
$250 + hst | $20 kit fee
Spaces available!
Explore the art of oil painting with Elora artist Rick Worthington in this two-day workshop as we look to the wildflower garden for inspiration! Learn how to find your way to clear design in your painting and how to lay down clean colour notes, akin to the techniques of the Impressionists.

Rick will share techniques on composition, contrast, depth, and guide you through the development of precise values. Using a limited palette of warm and cool primary colours, artists will learn colour-mixing skills to develop their own paintings with depth and contrast. The workshop kicks off with a painting demonstration by Rick on the first morning, followed by dedicated time for students to work on their own wild garden-inspired masterpieces.
This workshop is designed for students seeking to refine their skills. Beginners are warmly welcomed!
$20 kit fee is payable to the instructor at the start of class for those who wish to purchase supplies. Kit fee includes oil paint, odourless solvent, reference image, brushes etc
Artists with their own oils and brushes are welcome to bring their own kit.
Students are asked to provide their own canvas, their choice of level. 12×12, 12×16, 16×20, 20×20, or 24×24
Standing easels will be available for those that would like to use them.
Reference photos will be provided. Artists are also welcome to also bring their own source photo.

IF YOU CANCEL
Cancellations up to 14 days prior to start date will receive a full refund, less a $25 administrative fee. No refund of fees will apply to cancellations within 14 days of start date. Fees may be applied/credited to an alternate workshop depending on availability.
IF WE CANCEL
To help ensure the course you’re interested in runs, we suggest you register no less than two weeks in advance. In the event of insufficient registrations ECFTA reserves the right to cancel workshops. You would be eligible for a full refund of fees, or credit for a future workshop, pending availability.

FALL OPEN STUDIO SERIES | WITH EILEEN MACARTHUR (6 weeks)
2024-10-10 18:30 - 2024-11-14 20:30 | Elora Centre for the Arts, 75 Melville Street, Elora, Ontario, N0B 1S0, Canada
6-WEEK EVENING OPEN STUDIO
Thursdays | October 10, 17, 24, Wednesday 30, November 7, 14, 2024 | 6:30 -8:30 pm (Please note, no class Thursday, Oct 31. Week 4 will be held on Wednesday, Oct 30.)
AGES 14+ | MAX 12 $180 + hst for all 6 weeks
OPEN STUDIO with artist Eileen MacArthur is designed for artists who have some experience and would like specific guidance to develop or resolve their artwork. All mediums are welcome in this collaborative and friendly Thursday evening series!

Class will focus on individual and group critiques, as well as affording the students to opportunity to experiment with various methods and materials if they choose. The working environment will be collaborative and specific exercises will be included for students to develop their critical thinking and studio practice.
Week one, students will start with some warm-up exercises, make a material list and be asked to shop for their supplies for weeks 2-6. Materials will be provided for week one.
Eileen offers a welcoming and collaborative environment for all skill levels to learn from one another, while developing their own individual art practice.
Meet Eileen!
Eileen MacArthur is a practicing artist and arts educator with over 15 years of experience teaching art to adults and children at the Elora Centre for the Arts, the Guelph School of Art, Studiohere and the Art Gallery of Guelph. She holds a Master of Fine Art degree from the University of Guelph, and a Bachelor of Fine Art degree from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design University. Eileen is inspired by watching artist communities evolve and flourish! Eileen has been an ongoing Arts Educator at the Elora Centre for the Arts as part of our Supportive Arts program for adults with (dis)abilities. She is also our lead Arts Educator for our Youth Outreach program “Connecting to Community Through Art” that supports high school and elementary students in the Learning Resource Students and Life Skills programs, helping them feel connected to their community through art projects that spark conversation, awareness and belonging. Eileen owns and operates the Arthur School of Art, an art school located in her studio at her home in Arthur Ontario. Find out more about Eileen.

IF YOU CANCEL
Cancellations up to 14 days prior to start date will receive a full refund, less a $25 administrative fee. No refund of fees will apply to cancellations within 14 days of start date. Fees may be applied/credited to an alternate workshop depending on availability.
IF WE CANCEL
To help ensure the course you’re interested in runs, we suggest you register no less than two weeks in advance. In the event of insufficient registrations ECFTA reserves the right to cancel workshops. You would be eligible for a full refund of fees, or credit for a future workshop, pending availability.

AFTER CASSON | OIL PAINTING WITH RICK WORTHINGTON
2024-10-19 10:00 - 16:00 | Elora Centre for the Arts, 75 Melville Street, Elora, Ontario, N0B 1S0, Canada
AGES 16+ | MAX 12
$150 + hst | + $25 kit fee | All materials included in the kit fee
Join artist Rick Worthington for this beginner to intermediate oil painting workshop! Rick will guide you in creating a master copy of A.J. Casson’s 1929 oil painting, The Elora Mill. A member of the Group of Seven, Casson found endless inspiration within the villages of Elora and Salem, and so will we!

Copying a master’s work was, and still is, one of the best ways to learn. You will explore essential techniques such as composition, value, colour, edges, along with paint and surface manipulation. With solid individual guidance and demonstrations provided, you’ll gain valuable skills to enhance your painting practice.
Please note, $25 kit fee payable in cash to Rick at the start of class. All materials are included in the kit fee. Kit fee includes oil paint, a canvas, odourless solvent, reference image, laminated grey scale, brushes etc.
Meet Rick!
Rick Worthington is an accomplished full-time impressionist painter based in the charming village of Elora, Ontario. Rick secured his position as a notable artist by winning first place in the “Modern Impressionist Magazine” October/November salon of 2023. His vibrant oil paintings, depicting lively street scenes and cozy cafes, are highly sought after, masterfully capturing the interplay of light and shadow to create a captivating atmosphere.
To view more of Rick’s luminous paintings, please visit https://www.worthingtonpaintings.com/ or @rick.worthington.art

IF YOU CANCEL
Cancellations up to 14 days prior to start date will receive a full refund, less a $25 administrative fee. No refund of fees will apply to cancellations within 14 days of start date. Fees may be applied/credited to an alternate workshop depending on availability.
IF WE CANCEL
To help ensure the course you’re interested in runs, we suggest you register no less than two weeks in advance. In the event of insufficient registrations ECFTA reserves the right to cancel workshops. You would be eligible for a full refund of fees, or credit for a future workshop, pending availability.

PLAYFUL PORTRAITS | Loose Pastels | with Peter Skoggard
2024-10-26 10:00 - 13:00 | Elora Centre for the Arts, 75 Melville Street, Elora, Ontario, N0B 1S0, Canada
AGES 14+ | MAX 12
$65 per person + HST | All materials provided
Join multi-disciplinary artist and Elora-good-egg Peter Skoggard for a playful introduction to chalk pastel!
Peter has drawn over a thousand pastel self-portraits, and a further two hundred portraits of local characters over the past 4 years, so he has learned how to take the fear out of one of the most difficult subjects: the human face!

Peter will begin the class with an introduction to materials with a light-hearted exercise; Draw a zucchini! Draw two marbles! Add cherry tomato cheeks or a red chili pepper mouth, all on an oval plate! Voila! A face!
The remainder of the class, students will be working from their own source photo using chalk pastels on toned pastel paper to create their own loose and lively portrait or self-portrait.

Students are asked to bring a source photo for their portrait.
Mirrors are available in the classroom for those who wish to tackle a self-portrait.

All materials are included and all levels of ability are welcome.

Meet Peter!

Peter is a composer, poet, and visual artist living in Elora since 1985. His music has been performed in Elora, Guelph, Toronto, Oshawa, Cleveland, and New York.
He recently was part of a group portrait show at the Wyndham Arts 3rd Floor Gallery.

IF YOU CANCEL
Cancellations up to 14 days prior to start date will receive a full refund, less a $25 administrative fee. No refund of fees will apply to cancellations within 14 days of start date. Fees may be applied/credited to an alternate workshop depending on availability.
IF WE CANCEL
To help ensure the course you’re interested in runs, we suggest you register no less than two weeks in advance. In the event of insufficient registrations ECFTA reserves the right to cancel workshops. You would be eligible for a full refund of fees, or credit for a future workshop, pending availability.

Writing With Fire | Intro to Pyrography With Heather Martin
2024-11-02 13:00 - 16:00 | Elora Centre for the Arts, 75 Melville Street, Elora, Ontario, N0B 1S0, Canada
AGES 14+ | MAX 12
$75 + hst | + kit fee
Join artist Heather Martin for a relaxed afternoon and explore the beautiful and unique art of Pyrography. Create your own wood-burned Charcuterie board, incorporating intuitive marks, textures and depth and learn about the tools and techniques of Writing with Fire!

Walnut Hallow brass tip burners and templates will be available for use. Or alternatively, bring your own woodburning tools.
No experience necessary. Suitable for any level.
Kit fee is based on materials, payable to Heather in cash, debit or credit at the start of class. Included in the kit fee:
Your choice of Charcuterie board in Maple or Cherry and a 1 oz container of food safe board cream.
Approx 8×12″ for $30
Approx 8×16″ for $35
Approx 8×20″ for $40
Additional items available:
Ornament rounds $2 | Coaster $5 | Cotton Tote Bag $5

photo credit Nancy Ariss
Meet Heather!

Heather Martin of FireWork Designs is a Pyrography Artist based in Fergus Ontario. Heather has been woodburning for almost a decade and her passion for creating shows in her unique wood-burned designs using a mix of locally sourced woods and on paper. Working with the lines and patterns inherent to wood and the slow, immersive process of woodburning, Heather is drawn to the extensive depth and texture attainable within a medium that is almost sculptural.
Heather completed her Bachelor of Arts at University of Toronto and Sheridan Institute in Art and Art History where she specialized in Sculpture, Print Media and Photography. The accumulation of her interests is quite apparent in her work. Her burnings are available in a variety of forms from wall art to functional items such as charcuterie boards, spoons, ornaments and more. Heather sells her work at Local Pieces Gallery in Downtown Fergus and local markets where she often demonstrates her woodburning practice. Heather enjoys sharing her passion for woodburning in classes and workshops of up to 25 people. You can connect with Heather through her social media or website.

IF YOU CANCEL
Cancellations up to 14 days prior to start date will receive a full refund, less a $25 administrative fee. No refund of fees will apply to cancellations within 14 days of start date. Fees may be applied/credited to an alternate workshop depending on availability.
IF WE CANCEL
To help ensure the course you’re interested in runs, we suggest you register no less than two weeks in advance. In the event of insufficient registrations ECFTA reserves the right to cancel workshops. You would be eligible for a full refund of fees, or credit for a future workshop, pending availability.

BASQUIAT-INSPIRED PET PORTRAITS | WITH EILEEN MACARTHUR
2024-11-09 12:00 - 17:00 | Elora Centre for the Arts, 75 Melville Street, Elora, Ontario, N0B 1S0, Canada
AGES 16+ | MAX 12
$75 + hst | All materials included
Share some art-love with our furry friends in this playful afternoon of mixed media exploration and collage with artist Eileen MacArthur! Inspired by the Neo-Expressionist work of American pop-culture icon Jean-Michel Basquiat, we will be using a variety of materials and approaches to explore how artists convey emotions and ideas. This workshop is all about using an abstract painting approach and getting a little messy! No experience necessary!

Eileen will guide students in techniques for mark-making and image transfers onto an 8”x10” canvas (provided), as well as composition, and layering.
Please bring along colour and/or black and white photocopies of your pets, in a range of sizes. We will be using these to trace or collage directly onto the 8”x10” canvas, so please don’t bring originals that you wish to keep.
Meet Eileen!
Eileen MacArthur is a practicing artist and arts educator with over 20 years of experience teaching art to adults and children at the Guelph School of Art, Studiohere and the Art Gallery of Guelph. She holds a Master of Fine Art degree from the University of Guelph, and a Bachelor of Fine Art degree from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design University. Eileen is inspired by watching artist communities evolve and flourish! Eileen owns and operated the Arthur School of Art, an art school located in her studio at her home in Arthur Ontario.

IF YOU CANCEL
Cancellations up to 14 days prior to start date will receive a full refund, less a $25 administrative fee. No refund of fees will apply to cancellations within 14 days of start date. Fees may be applied/credited to an alternate workshop depending on availability.
IF WE CANCEL
To help ensure the course you’re interested in runs, we suggest you register no less than two weeks in advance. In the event of insufficient registrations ECFTA reserves the right to cancel workshops. You would be eligible for a full refund of fees, or credit for a future workshop, pending availability.

Designing for Tapestry | WEAVING WITH Dianne Kennedy Cruttenden
2024-11-10 09:30 - 16:00 | Elora Centre for the Arts, 75 Melville Street, Elora, Ontario, N0B 1S0, Canada
AGES 14 + | MAX 12
$130 +hst | + 40 kit fee | All materials included in kit fee

Join Tapestry Artist Dianne Kennedy Cruttenden for a full day of tapestry weaving in the our sunlight studio classroom at the Elora Centre for the Arts!

Artists will start the morning setting up their loom and then move onto some basic techniques. The kit will provide you with a simple loom and all you will need to create a handwoven tapestry. For those who have had some weaving experience please come with your questions and ideas. Dianne will give everyone time to ask questions and explore new techniques.
It is always so much fun to learn! Whether it’s new techniques, helpful hints, or exploring design… you will leave feeling inspired and equipped with new skills and ready to continue your adventure into the world of tapestry weaving.
Bring your sense of adventure and meet some new fibre loving friends!
This full day workshop is suitable for ALL Levels.
$40 kit fee payable in cash to the instructor at the start of class. Your kit will include a colourful variety of yarn, including Dianne’s own hand spun and hand dyed yarn, and a simple loom to get you started.
All materials will be included in your kit fee, including a simple frame loom and a beautiful selection of yarn including a variety of textures and fibres hand dyed by Dianne.

Meet Dianne!

Dianne Kennedy Cruttenden has been creating woven art since the early 1970’s. Dianne first studied weaving at Sheridan School of Design, apprenticed with Robert L. Kidd in Michigan and in 2015 completed an internship with Master Tapestry artist Maximo Laura in his studio in Lima, Peru. A lifetime of weaving; Dianne’s work has been shown and collected throughout North America in venues such as The Detroit Institute of Art, Nuit Blanche in Ottawa, The Gore Bay Museum, the Textile Museum of Canada, The Queen Street Gallery in Niagara on the Lake, The Brick Room Gallery in St. Cathrines and the Sheepish Grin on Manitoulin Island, The Elora Fergus Studio Tour, and is a member of the Octarines Women’s Art Collective that has shown throughout the area and will be having a show at the Wellington County Museum starting on October 5. Dianne won a 2023 and 2024 award for her piece in ‘Insights’ at the Wellington County Museum.

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IF YOU CANCEL
Cancellations up to 14 days prior to start date will receive a full refund, less a $25 administrative fee. No refund of fees will apply to cancellations within 14 days of start date. Fees may be applied/credited to an alternate workshop depending on availability.
IF WE CANCEL
To help ensure the course you’re interested in runs, we suggest you register no less than two weeks in advance. In the event of insufficient registrations ECFTA reserves the right to cancel workshops. You would be eligible for a full refund of fees, or credit for a future workshop, pending availability.

Inspiring Your Creativity at Any Stage of Life: 'Bloom' with artist Janice Mason Steeves
2024-11-17 13:00 - 15:00 | Elora Centre for the Arts, 75 Melville Street, Elora, Ontario, N0B 1S0, Canada
Are you looking to be inspired for the next stage of your life? Wondering where to begin as you re-imagine where your creative opportunities and life changes may take you? Join artist and author Janice Mason Steeves as she talks about how an insistent dream she had while she was at an artist residency in Sweden, led to writing ‘Bloom: On Becoming An Artist Later in Life’. Interspersed with stories of the 138 artists she interviewed, Janice shares her own journey to become an artist as well as the research she did into art and aging. While written with older artists in mind, this is an inspiring book about creativity for all ages and all mediums, whether music, writing, painting, or poetry.

Find out more! Join us in the gallery to share, learn and be inspired. Guests will also be able to purchase an autographed copy of ‘Bloom’, and carry home further inspiration to continue at home.
Cost: $10 ($8.85 + HST)
Tickets and registration below.

Meet Janice
Born in Saskatchewan, Janice Mason Steeves graduated with an M.A. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Manitoba. She held School Psychology positions before leaving the field to focus on painting. Further studies were completed at the Ontario College of Art and Design. Janice is represented by galleries in Canada and has work in public, corporate, and private collections in North America and internationally. She has been awarded artist residencies in Spain, Ireland, Sweden, Iceland and the U.S.
Janice is passionate about helping artists form a deeper connection to the earth and to that end, she has developed an art teaching initiative called Workshops in Wild Places. In these unique workshops, we travel to remote locations throughout the world to experience the beauty, energy and power of the wild landscape, to deeply connect with it and then, through a contemplative and creative process, translate that response into abstract paintings.
Janice’s book Bloom: On Becoming an Artist Later in Life is an inspirational look at how our older years are a time of inner soul work and continued growth through our creativity.
Author Kathy Stinson writes, [This book is ] “A wonderful mix of anecdotes about the author’s own personal journey as a visual artist, the stories of the men and women she interviewed, and her research into creativity and aging. An inspiring read for anyone thinking it’s too late to indulge their long-ignored creative impulses, as an artist in any field.”
For more information on the artist, please visit janicemasonsteeves.com or workshopsinwildplaces.com

DUTCH FLORAL STILL LIFE | Learning from The Masters | with EILEEN MACARTHUR
2024-11-30 12:00 - 17:00 | Elora Centre for the Arts, 75 Melville Street, Elora, Ontario, N0B 1S0, Canada
AGES 16+ | MAX 12
$75 + hst | All materials included
Join artist Eileen MacArthur for an introduction to painting a botanical still life using acrylics. Looking at the works of Dutch masters for inspiration, students will learn about paint handling, value, composition, colour mixing, and creating shape and drama.
Eileen will also discuss glazing and how to unify paintings and create strong focal points. Students will go home with an 8×10 painting detail of a Dutch Still Life botanical.
Everyone welcome! No experience required.

Meet Eileen!
Eileen MacArthur is a practicing artist and arts educator with over 20 years of experience teaching art to adults and children at the Guelph School of Art, Studiohere and the Art Gallery of Guelph. She holds a Master of Fine Art degree from the University of Guelph, and a Bachelor of Fine Art degree from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design University. Eileen is inspired by watching artist communities evolve and flourish! Eileen owns and operated the Arthur School of Art, an art school located in her studio at her home in Arthur Ontario.

IF YOU CANCEL
Cancellations up to 14 days prior to start date will receive a full refund, less a $25 administrative fee. No refund of fees will apply to cancellations within 14 days of start date. Fees may be applied/credited to an alternate workshop depending on availability.
IF WE CANCEL
To help ensure the course you’re interested in runs, we suggest you register no less than two weeks in advance. In the event of insufficient registrations ECFTA reserves the right to cancel workshops. You would be eligible for a full refund of fees, or credit for a future workshop, pending availability.

TEENY TINY BAKERY PRESENTS HOLIDAY COOKIE DECORATING!
2024-12-05 18:30 - 21:00 | Elora Centre for the Arts, 75 Melville Street, Elora, Ontario, N0B 1S0, Canada
At last! Teeny Tiny Bakery joins us to share the love of mini decorated-cookie masterpieces! Join cookie artist Jackie Long for a fun and playful evening workshop to learn the art of decorating cookie-tops, themed to the Holidays!
In this beginner decorating class we will create 10-12 Holiday themed cookies, in varying sizes. All materials are included in your kit fee, so just relax and create! We will cover topics of baking, royal icing, piping bags, flooding, wet-on-wet decorating, and storage.
We have 12 spaces available. Grab a friend or family member and have fun creating edible art, (almost) too pretty to eat!
Please note: $25 kit fee payable in cash or Square to the instructor at start of class.

MEET JACKIE!

I have always loved baking. I love the activity of it, the scents of sugar in the air, and I especially love the reaction when someone enjoys the treats. Decorating sugar cookies with royal icing began in 2012, for my twins’ first birthday party. I stumbled into a world that is full of creativity, kindness, and hard work. I love to talk about cookies and techniques and I’m very excited to help others find joy in decorating as well.

IF YOU CANCEL
Cancellations up to 14 days prior to start date will receive a full refund, less a $25 administrative fee. No refund of fees will apply to cancellations within 14 days of start date. Fees may be applied/credited to an alternate workshop depending on availability.
IF WE CANCEL
To help ensure the course you’re interested in runs, we suggest you register no less than two weeks in advance. In the event of insufficient registrations ECFTA reserves the right to cancel workshops. You would be eligible for a full refund of fees, or credit for a future workshop, pending availability.

INTIMATE INTERIORS | ACRYLICS WITH RICK WORTHINGTON
2024-12-07 10:00 - 16:00 | Elora Centre for the Arts, 75 Melville Street, Elora, Ontario, N0B 1S0, Canada
AGES 16+ | MAX 12
$150 + hst | + $15 kit fee
Join artist Rick Worthington to learn the fundamentals of creating interior paintings and discover the essentials of acrylic painting in this foundational course. Interior scenes offer some of the most intimate, inviting, and captivating subjects to paint! Join us for this immersive day of intimate interiors!

Learn to select the right materials and tools and master the basics of paint application. Through engaging exercises, students will explore key concepts of colour and composition, glazing with acrylics, and develop your confidence with acrylics. This focussed day will include class demonstrations and personalized instruction to support your individual progress.

Please note, $15 kit fee payable in cash to Rick at the start of class.
Materials included in the kit fee: acrylics, reference image, laminated grey scale, brushes etc
Students are asked to provide their own canvas, any level. Suggested 12″x 16″ maximum.
12″ x 16″ canvases will be available for purchase if needed.
Reference material will be provided.
You are also welcome to bring your own interior photograph to work from!

Meet Rick!
Rick Worthington, an accomplished full-time impressionist painter based in the charming village of Elora, Ontario. Rick secured his position as a notable artist by winning first place in the “Modern Impressionist Magazine” October/November salon of 2023. His vibrant oil paintings, depicting lively street scenes and cozy cafes, are highly sought after, masterfully capturing the interplay of light and shadow to create a captivating atmosphere.

IF YOU CANCEL
Cancellations up to 14 days prior to start date will receive a full refund, less a $25 administrative fee. No refund of fees will apply to cancellations within 14 days of start date. Fees may be applied/credited to an alternate workshop depending on availability.
IF WE CANCEL
To help ensure the course you’re interested in runs, we suggest you register no less than two weeks in advance. In the event of insufficient registrations ECFTA reserves the right to cancel workshops. You would be eligible for a full refund of fees, or credit for a future workshop, pending availability.

HOLIDAY CHARCUTERIE & MORE | WOOD BURNING WITH HEATHER MARTIN
2024-12-08 13:00 - 16:00 | Elora Centre for the Arts, 75 Melville Street, Elora, Ontario, N0B 1S0, Canada
AGES 14+ | MAX 12
$75 + hst | + $30 kit fee
Handcraft your own seasonally inspired charcuterie board to take home or gift for the holidays! , guided Join Pyrography artist Heather Martin in a relaxed afternoon creating your own wood burned, textured design. Learn various Pyrography techniques to create texture, line, and tonal value. Inspired by your own intuitive exploration, students will go home with a charcuterie board as unique as you!

No experience required. Suitable for all levels of experience.
Walnut Hallow brass tip burners and templates will be available for use. Or alternatively, bring your own woodburning tools.
Kit fee based on materials, payable to Heather in cash, debit or credit at the start of class.
Included in the kit fee:
Your choice of Charcuterie board in Maple or Cherry and a 1 oz container of food safe board cream. Charcuterie size options starting 8”x12” at $30
Additional items available:
Coaster $5 or Coaster set of 4 $20 | Ornament rounds $2 | 3″ ornament ball $15 | Cotton Tote Bags $5

Meet Heather!
Heather Martin of FireWork Designs is a Pyrography Artist based in Fergus Ontario. Heather has been woodburning for almost a decade and her passion for creating shows in her unique wood-burned designs using a mix of locally sourced woods and on paper. Working with the lines and patterns inherent to wood and the slow, immersive process of woodburning, Heather is drawn to the extensive depth and texture attainable within a medium that is almost sculptural.
Heather completed her Bachelor of Arts at University of Toronto and Sheridan Institute in Art and Art History where she specialized in Sculpture, Print Media and Photography. The accumulation of her interests is quite apparent in her work. Her burnings are available in a variety of forms from wall art to functional items such as charcuterie boards, spoons, ornaments and more. Heather sells her work at Local Pieces Gallery in Downtown Fergus and local markets where she often demonstrates her woodburning practice. Heather enjoys sharing her passion for woodburning in classes and workshops of up to 25 people. You can connect with Heather through her social media or website.

IF YOU CANCEL
Cancellations up to 14 days prior to start date will receive a full refund, less a $25 administrative fee. No refund of fees will apply to cancellations within 14 days of start date. Fees may be applied/credited to an alternate workshop depending on availability.
IF WE CANCEL
To help ensure the course you’re interested in runs, we suggest you register no less than two weeks in advance. In the event of insufficient registrations ECFTA reserves the right to cancel workshops. You would be eligible for a full refund of fees, or credit for a future workshop, pending availability.

OPEN STUDIO MONDAYS WITH EILEEN MACARTHUR
2025-01-13 12:30 - 2025-03-03 15:00 | Elora Centre for the Arts, 75 Melville Street, Elora, Ontario, N0B 1S0, Canada
MONDAY AFTERNOON 7-WEEK SERIES
Join us Mondays 12:30-3:00 pm this winter! Open Studio is designed as open-flow studio time, loosely guided by artist Eileen MacArthur.

This series is for artists who have some experience and would like specific guidance to develop or resolve their work. Classes will offer both individual and group critiques, as well as affording the students to opportunity to experiment with various methods and materials if they choose. The working environment will be collaborative and relaxed.
Each week will start with a guided exercise for students to develop their critical thinking and studio practice. Week one students will start with some warm-up exercises, make a material list and be asked to shop for their supplies for weeks 2-7. Materials will be provided for week one.
All methods and mediums welcome.
All levels of ability and experience are encouraged!
Contact us for more info!
