Willowdale Group of Artists

DOORS OPEN - TORONTO
2024-05-25 08:00 - 2024-05-26 17:00 (America/Toronto)
Doors Open is a 2 day event in all of Toronto; and the WGA has once again been asked to participate at the John McKenzie House. We will be showcasing WGA paintings in the Coach House. It will be a 12″ Square Painting show & all paintings will be a fixed price of $150.00.

We would like to have all paintings in any medium be unframed 12 inch squares. They can be gallery canvas/wood/boards. If a painting is framed it should be within the 12 inch square. If the medium is watercolour, mix media, or pastel the work should be mounted on a 12 inch square mount of some sturdy substance.

Glenda Wood will be setting up a Registration platform for this upcoming event. We will let WGA members know more about drop off and pick-up and Volunteers for this 2 day event… we will need approximately 8 volunteers.

MORE INFORMATION TO FOLLOW

WGA OPEN HOUSE - In person
2024-09-10 18:30 - 20:30 | at John McKenzie House – 34 Parkview Ave., Willowdale
Come join us for tons of fun and creativity, prizes, refreshments and all-round merry-making. Celebrated artist Kat Honey will lead us in various collage exercises to allow you to try your hand or learn some new tricks. No experience necessary. A fun time guaranteed. Art loving friends and family welcome.

Please bring scissors, glue stick, craft knife, and a cutting mat if you have one. We will supply collage materials and paper.

Please bring a sweet or savory item to share and eat

Located at the John McKenzie House, 34 Parkview Ave., North York.

Free Parking on street after 6:00 pm

Portrait Night - Zoom
2024-09-17 18:30 - 20:30 | Zoom meeting
This evening will be our first evening of Portrait Drawing this year.

We will take turns drawing/sketch/painting each other in a timed sessions. Use your choice of drawing materials. Charcoal, conte, graphite, or pastels, water color paint/pencils. and bring a variety of papers

Life Drawing - In Person at NYSC
2024-09-24 18:00 - 20:30 | North York Seniors Centre, 21 Hendon Ave, Toronto, Ontario, M2M 4G8, Canada
Arrive at 6 pm to assist with set-up & to begin drawing at 6:15pm

Bring lightweight portable easel; gator board & clip; & Lots of newsprint paper/pad-or paper you like; conte/graphite/charcoal and eraser

Location: North York Senior Center, 21 Hendon Ave.

DEMO -Helen McCusker- Intro to the Procreate App-Zoom
2024-10-01 18:30 - 20:30 | Zoom meeting
The Procreate App – currently for iPads and iPhones – is a user-friendly, alternative to more costly and complicated graphics programs and is quickly becoming the program of choice for artists. Sketch, paint and edit your own digital art, or use the app to help compose, select a colour scheme or identify the colours in your photo reference , or edit your painting on the app without messing up your original art. Helen will begin with a short slideshow featuring samples of her work done with Procreate and discuss techniques and features. Similar programs exist even if you don’t have an Apple product.

Helen has worked as an Art Instructor for over 25 years, specializing in Drawing and Painting – particularly Portraits and Figurative work

Demo - Paint in the Style of John Singer Sargent - Robyn Asquini
2024-10-08 18:30 - 20:30 | North York Seniors Centre, 21 Hendon Ave, Toronto, Ontario, M2M 4G8, Canada
Join artist Robyn Asquini for a live painting demonstration and talk focused on the techniques of 19th-century master John Singer Sargent, renowned for his exquisite portraiture and figurative work. During this session, you’ll explore how to emulate Sargent’s dynamic brushwork, mix luminous skin tones, and effectively capture movement and light in your own portraits. Whether you’re aiming to refine your technique or gain deeper insight into Sargent’s artistry, this event will provide valuable inspiration and practical guidance for artists at all levels.

Location: North York Seniors Centre

Interactive Demo - Nora MacPhail - Charcoal portrait
2024-10-15 18:00 - 20:30 | John McKenzie House, 34 Parkview Ave., North York
Arrive at 6 pm to set up and we will start at 6:30 pm.

Charcoal is a beautiful medium which creates lovely silvery-greys. Willow charcoal will suit us perfectly as we draw together during our portrait workshop. A kneaded eraser will allow us to create light values, giving our drawings structure. Working this way, with dry mediums, is almost like sculpting! The finer lines and subtle details can be found with charcoal pencils. Finally, optional touches of soft pastel create sparkles of light, making the highlights pop!

Paint along with amazing artist and teacher Nora MacPhail. She will demonstrate and we will do our best to repeat. Don’t worry – she will go in slow, small steps, until ultimately we’ve each produced our own masterpiece. Nora will provide colour photos for everyone to work from and will bring a few soft pastels to add a hint of colour if you wish.

MATERIALS LIST – Drawing Board, Charcoal Pencil, Willow Charcoal – Medium sticks, Kneaded Eraser, Newsprint Paper, Paper Towel

Be sure to check the label on the box of your Willow Sticks, the Small are too small and the Large are too big. I recommend Medium.

Location is the John McKenzie House, 34 Parkview Avenue, North York

Zoom will be available for out-of-town members

More Information to follow

LIFE DRAWING - In person at NYSC
2024-10-22 18:00 - 20:30
Arrive at 6pm to assist in set-up and we will start drawing at 6:15pm.

Bring a portable light weight easel, gator board & clip to hold lots of newsprint pad/paper and drawing tools

Location: North York Senior Center, 21 Hendon Ave.

Portrait Night
2024-10-29 18:30 - 20:30 | Zoom meeting
We will take turns drawing/sketch/painting each other in a timed sessions. Use your choice of drawing materials. Charcoal, conte, graphite, or pastels, water color paint/pencils. and bring a variety of papers

Demo Kat Honey - In person NYSC
2024-11-05 18:00 - 20:30 | North York Seniors Centre, 21 Hendon Ave, Toronto, Ontario, M2M 4G8, Canada
You may be familiar with collage, but have you heard of decollage? Highly in demand artist, Kat Honey, will demonstrate her unique method of collaging and stripping away materials that she used to create her sell-out pieces at the Artist Project 2024.

Paint Night on Zoom
2024-11-12 18:30 - 20:30 | Zoom meeting
The WGA will send out a Landscape Photo that can be downloaded & printed by WGA members. The photo will be copy right free from a WGA member. We will start signing on at 6pm and then begin painting the photo in whatever media you wish. We will stop painting at 8pm and then share what we have accomplished. Bring your artistic imagination, precision & favourite drink to fun social Zoomy evening.

ART PRESENTATION & SELF CRITIQUE- in person & zoom
2024-11-19 18:00 - 20:30 | at John McKenzie House – 34 Parkview Ave., Willowdale
Arrive at John McKenzie to assist in set-up.

Critiquing art is no easy task, especially when it’s your own. We’re either far too critical or far too generous. But it’s a valuable skill that allows you to identify areas for improvement and to give yourself a pat on the back when you do something well. Also, you will often be your own best judge. So you may as well be a good one.

You will be provided in advance of the meeting with a list of key things to consider when evaluating your paintings. You will prepare a critique for two paintings and present them to the group. Following each one, all participants will have the opportunity to add their constructive comments.

Coffee & tea with cookies

Life Drawing - In Person at NYSC
2024-11-26 18:00 - 20:30 | North York Seniors Centre, 21 Hendon Ave, Toronto, Ontario, M2M 4G8, Canada
Life Drawing is In-Person at the John McKenzie House. Arrive at 6pm to assist in set-up and start drawing at 6:30pm.

Location: North York Senior Center, 21 Hendon Ave.

WGA WINTER PARTY-in Person
2024-12-03 18:00 - 20:30 | at John McKenzie House – 34 Parkview Ave., Willowdale
Please bring a Sweet or Savory treat to share with fellow members.

Non Alcohol punch

DEMO - VIA ZOOM- Margaret Ferraro
2025-01-14 18:30 - 20:30 | Zoom meeting
You’re invited to the Pastel Party! Many colours: many personalities.

Pastellist Margaret Ferraro is having a party, and she’s inviting many colours. Come and watch and listen to Margaret as she explains her take on the wonder of colour, and how to create vibrancy in your work, at the dullest time of the year.

You’ll learn about choice of ground colours, choosing a palette, and layering colours to create the rich textures of pastel while watching her paint a pastel painting.

We will start signing in just after 6:30pm to meet and greet each other. The demo will start at 7pm

More information to follow

PORTRAIT DRAWING -via Zoom
2025-01-21 18:30 - 20:30
Sign on after 6:30pm to meet and chat, and at 7pm we will start sketch/draw/painting each other.

We will take turns drawing each other for a timed period. Shortly after 8:15, we will take time to view each other’s work

Life Drawing - In Person at NYSC
2025-01-28 18:00 - 20:30 | North York Seniors Centre, 21 Hendon Ave, Toronto, Ontario, M2M 4G8, Canada
Arrive at 6pm to assist in set-up and we will begin drawing at 6:15pm

Bring a lightweight portable easel & gator board with clip, large newsprint pad & a variety of drawing tools

Neurographic Art- via Zoom
2025-02-04 18:30 - 20:30 | Zoom meeting
Neurographic art is a meditative and fun style of artwork that will have you relaxing and playing with your materials. Join Dianne Hunter as she leads us through this interesting new approach – part art-part psychology.

Materials you will need: Watercolour or another paper that can take water; waterproof black marker or pen; some type of colour: i.e. watercolour, markers, inktense blocks, coloured pencils; circular item;i.e. penny, bottle top, etc.

We will start signing onto Zoom just after 6:30pm to greet and chat with each other; . We will start our painting at 7 to 8 pm and then we will show and talk. Offering each other advice and support.

PORTRAIT NIGHT VIA ZOOM
2025-02-11 18:30 - 20:30
We will start signing in after 6:30pm to meet & greet each other. We will start portraiture drawing at 7pm. At 8:15pm we will share our sketches.

ART DEMO -Andrew Sookrah
2025-02-18 18:30 - 20:30 | Zoom meeting
Noted Artist Andrew Sookrah will paint a cityscape in oil.

Start signing on after 6:30 pm and demonstration will begin at7:00 pm..

Life Drawing in person at NYSC
2025-02-25 18:00 - 20:30 | North York Seniors Centre, 21 Hendon Ave, Toronto, Ontario, M2M 4G8, Canada
Arrive at 6pm to assist in set-up. We will start drawing at 6:15pm

Bring a portable light weight easel with gator board & clip & lots of newsprint paper/pad & drawing tools

Nora McPhail - Watercolour FLORALS- In Person
2025-03-04 18:30 - 20:30 | at John McKenzie House – 34 Parkview Ave., Willowdale
Join Nora MacPhail for a fun and informative watercolour demo and workshop and paint along. We’ll create a beautiful daisy garden full of colour. You’ll learn the important basics of watercolour as Nora takes you step-by-step through the painting process. There will be flower demonstrations as well as individual feedback. So, set aside those winter shovels and paint spring flowers with Nora. Beginner Friendly.

Materials

Bring the watercolour supplies you have and enjoy- watercolour paint and palette, flat and round brush, water container, paper towel, w/c paper (8″ by 10″ suggested). Nora will be using Hot-Pressed Watercolour Paper by Fluid, but any professional watercolour paper will work.

Demo -Andrew Judd - ZOOM
2025-03-11 18:30 - 20:30
Watch amazing artist Andrew Judd paint a landscape of India. He will paint over an old painting for added texture. sign in after 6:30 and the demo will begin sharp at 7:00 pm.

Location: ON ZOOM

Demo - Paint in the Style of Tom Thompson
2025-03-18 19:00 - 21:00 | Zoom meeting
Painting With Zest and Colour in the Style of Tom Thompson

Artist Janine Marson will do an acrylic painting demo in the style of Tom Thompson, a master colourist. Janine will demonstrate his painterly style and discuss how his productive en plein air “boards” helped to inspire and influence her own 2017 Project “Through Tom’s Eyes, creating 100 original oil paintings on board. Through her painting demo she will address Thompson’s choice of colours, gestural brushwork, painting process, and how he captured the essence of the scene.

Life Drawing - In Person at NYSC
2025-03-25 18:00 - 20:30 | North York Seniors Centre, 21 Hendon Ave, Toronto, Ontario, M2M 4G8, Canada
Arrive at 6 pm to assist in set up and we will begin to draw at 6:15pm

I suggest participants bring a lightweight portable easel and gator board with clip. Plus lots of large newsprint pad/paper & drawing essentials.

NO ZOOM

Portrait Night - TBD
2025-04-01 18:30 - 20:30
MORE INFORMATION TO FOLLOW

Location:TBD

Photography - Improve your Photos for Better Paintings - In Person.
2025-04-08 06:30 - 20:30 | North York Seniors Centre , 21 Hendon Avenue, North York ON M2M 4G8
Photographer Blake Chorley will offer a powerpoint presentation on using your camera and discuss ways to approach your subject matter with the intention of it becoming a painting.

Location: North York Seniors Centre –

Critique Night - In Person
2025-04-15 18:30 - 20:30 | at John McKenzie House – 34 Parkview Ave., Willowdale
The extremely versatile, talented and profusive Andrew Hamilton will offer constructive feedback on two of your paintings. Not only will your paintings improve, but you will learn a ton by listening to the critiques of your colleagues as well.

Location: The John McKenzie House, 34 Parkview Ave., North York

Life Drawing - In Person at NYSC
2025-04-22 18:00 - 20:30 | North York Seniors Centre, 21 Hendon Ave, Toronto, Ontario, M2M 4G8, Canada
Arrive at 6:00 pm to assist in set-up and start drawing at 6:15pm

Bring a portable lightweight easel gator board & clip, lots of newsprint paper/pad and drawing tools.

AGM - Annual General Meeting
2025-04-29 18:00 - 20:30
This meeting will be at the John McKenzie House, 34 Parkview Ave., North York in person and on zoom, Members who unable to attend may arrange for another WGA member to … their vote

Please arrive around 6pm to assist in set-up and to chat. We will start the meeting at 6:30 pm/
