Fall Courses at Neilson Park Creative Centre

I'm looking forward to Fall Classes starting soon. I'll be teaching ONLINE classes only this term. It'll be good.

Into The Looking Glass: Self-Portraits

F20ATLG 

Online

Instructor: Helen McCusker

All levels

Monday, September 28 – Monday, November 9, 2020 (6 Mondays)

No class on Monday, October 12

9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

$198.00 (with HST $223.74)

 

Self-portraits have existed as long as artists have been able to see their own reflection. They are an important part of any artistic practice as we learn to see objectively and scrutinize carefully to record ourselves and develop our skills. As we continue to self-isolate and limit our social circles, self-portraits take on a new importance – without others to model for us, we can turn to the mirror and do what artists have done for centuries – draw and paint ourselves!Using both mirrors and ‘selfies’, we will work with drawing and painting mediums. The focus will be on skill development, learning to see and understand the structure of the head and face, and interpretation. Exercises will explore line, shape, planes, proportions, composition, media usage (both drawing mediums and paint) and concept. Join us for an adventure into the looking glass.

Drawing with Soft Pastels

F20ADSP 

Online 

Instructor: Helen McCusker

All levels

Tuesday, September 29 – Tuesday, November 24, 2020 (9 Tuesdays)

Online, except for two “at Centre” critiques on Tuesday, October 27 and November 24

1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

$297.00 (with HST $335.61)

 

Soft pastels are a versatile medium that have been used through the centuries by artists such as Carriera, Quentin de la Tour, Degas, Cassatt, Picasso and many others. They are portable, vibrant and easy to use. Through a variety of exercises, students will learn several different pastel techniques to create beautiful drawings. Subject matter for drawing will include drawing from Still Life and photo reference (supplied). We will cover colour theory, composition and design, personal style and expression, and the nitty gritty of what pastels and papers you need and where to find them. Class instruction includes demonstrations, examples of pastel work, one-on-one direction, and group critiques. Beat the Isolation Blues and join us for a fun, informative drawing class.

And a 2-day workshop:

Introduction to Drawing

F20AID 

Online

Instructor: Helen McCusker

Beginner

Saturday, October 3; Sunday, October 4, 2020 (2-day workshop)

10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

$78 (with HST $88.14)

 

Have you been thinking you’d like to finally learn how to draw or get back into it after a long hiatus? This two-day workshop is just what you need. Learn how to observe and to draw what you see. Explore a variety of observational tools to approach subject matter. Discover an intuitive approach and develop your personal style. The emphasis is on cognitive exercises and process. Different media are explored and experimenting is encouraged. Technical skill in these media will also be addressed. This course is designed for those who have never drawn before. Individual attention is given to each student in a supportive, positive environment.

Click for Neilson Park website here.

Portrait Class

I'm currently teaching a Portrait Drawing and Painting Class at Neilson Park Creative Centre. It was a small class last week, so I snagged a bit of time to do a couple of quick drawings of our model, Annike, between my rounds. Pastel on Canson Pastel Paper.

COLLAGRAPH WORKSHOP: Printmaking with a Press

Sat. & Sun., June 1 & 2 at Neilson Park Creative Centre

Join me for an Introduction to making Collagraphs - a fun way to learn Printmaking. All materials are included. Learn to make plates using cardboard cut-aways, found textures and carborundum textures. Then discover different ways to print your artwork using a printing press. 

Starting tomorrow, Thursday May 24 - There's still space and time. A great opportunity to learn how to draw animals!

Neilson Park Creative Centre presents:

Pet Pal Portraits with Helen McCusker 

S18APET  (click here for more information)    

   

Thursdays May 24 – Jun. 21, 2018     5 weeks

1:00pm - 4:00pm

$165.00 (HST $186.45)

We love our pets to bits and would love even more to be able to portray them artistically – capturing them as we see them. Not just for cat and dog lovers - we will explore a variety of approaches in portraying our pets (or favourite animals!) – from line to gesture drawings and understanding structure, to finished works in different techniques and media. We will work from photos that you have taken of your pet. Classroom instruction includes demonstrations, slideshows to introduce the work of artists who specialize in portraying animals, one-on-one instruction and class critiques in a supportive environment.

Trail Mix

Fresh off the easel - my piece for the Reassembled show at NPCC. This is a 'reassembly' culled together from many sources. Serendipity was employed overtime to bring together all the disparate, dissonant, and sometimes disconsolate elements to create something somewhat unified.....sort of like our country. Wresting order out of chaos.

Too Loose??

These conte drawings were done with my left hand - so yeah - a little loose but I'm happy with how they turned out. These are from our Friday drawing at Neilson Park. We get some brilliant models - they give us interesting and subtle poses and that great energy that fuels inspired drawing.

Spring Classes Coming Right Up!

The weather's not quite warm enough for the shirtless look, but it's getting there and Spring classes are just around the corner.

We are trying something new this term: A Field Trip to the Art Store: Art Supplies Demystified. 

The title says it all - an hour and a half of going through your materials list and explaining what everything is, why you need it and why you need the more expensive one. I'm looking forward to this workshop…you can never have enough beautiful art supplies!

Coming up in the first week of April at VISUAL ARTS MISSISSAUGA, I'll be teaching 

Figure Drawing and Mixed Media, Monday evenings 7-10,

Introduction to Drawing, Tuesday mornings, 9-12

and Drawing With Pastels, Tuesday afternoons, 1-4

Saturday, June 10, 9-3: ON THE SPOT DRAWING workshop

Monday and Tuesday, June 19 & 20:  BEYOND THE DRAWING: MIXED MEDIA AND THE FIGURE - 2 Day Figure Drawing workshop

At Neilson Park Creative Centre, Spring Classes begin April 13 with 

Introduction to Figure Drawing

 Drawing Explorations in Media and Technique

Click on the links for more information.

I'm thrilled to be teaching at Haliburton School of Art and Design again this summer.

Join me for an exciting and intense week of drawing from the figure:

Life Drawing: Basics and Beyond

Spring is Almost Sprung...

...and Pop Up Workshops are popping up all over!

I'm very excited to see my workshops happening all over the GTA and beyond.

Sat. & Sun. April 22 & 23, I will be at Neilson Park Creative Centre in Etobicoke for a 2-day Artful PopUp Workshop.
For more information click here.

Sat. & Sun. June 3 & 4, CBBAG will be hosting a 2-Day PopUp Workshop at the Bindery in Toronto.
Click here for more information.

Saturday, June 24, I am pleased to be teaching a one-day workshop with the fabulous Meta4 Gallery in Port Perry. They feature beautiful fine arts and crafts by Ontario artists and artisans, and are a hub for art education and community involvement. I'm really looking forward to working with these enthusiastic people.

Saturday, July 15,  Paper Engineering: Pop-Up Workshop at Haliburton School of Art and Design - a full day workshop. See the PDF file for HSAD Summer programs here.

My Artful PopUp Workshops are suitable for all skill levels. I work closely with my students to ensure a successful outcome for everyone! The emphasis is on learning Paper Engineering techniques that can be adapted to your artistic vision. We use painted and decorative papers, decorative punches and other embellishments to bring your pieces to life. If you've taken one of my workshops before, you'll know that I'm flexible in my approach and open to requests. If you like working with paper (origami, making books, collage, scrapbooking) you'll love making your own Pop Up pieces.

Figure Drawing Workshop

It's been a busy Fall session. Some of my classes didn't run, so I took advantage of the time and took a few classes myself. These drawings are from a happy weekend in Studio B at Neilson Park in a Figure Drawing workshop with John Leonard. Two full days of nothing but drawing from the model. It was so great!

Memory Drawing - First we did a quick gesture (grey pastel). We spent a couple of minutes just gazing at the model. Then we closed our eyes and did a contour drawing, trying to keep the second drawing as close to the first as we could.

                          

Two-handed Drawing.   

Cross-Contour.

Two-handed Drawing

10-30 second gestures

Two-handed contour drawing

Fast gestures.

Pastel Workshop

Join me for a 4-day Pastel Workshop at Neilson Park Creative Centre. Thursdays, starting November 24 to December 15, all day, 9:30-4:00. Learn new techniques, hone your drawing skills and enjoy the versatility of this very exciting medium.

Homage: Figurative and Portrait Works

I'm happy to announce a group show at Neilson Park Creative Centre. Giving tribute to the models who inspire us. May 16-June 5, Reception: Sunday, May 29, 2-4 p.m.

Hope to see you there!

Pop Up Workshop in April

This has been a great year for Pop Ups! 

I just finished a 4-day gig at the Cawthra Park Secondary School, with Grades 9 and 10 Visual Arts Students. They did some amazing work with painted paper pop ups. 

And now I'm looking forward to my upcoming workshop 

over two Sundays in April (10 & 17). 

Join me at Neilson Park Creative Centre to learn some cool moves in Paper Engineering.

April Pop-Up Workshop!

Join me for two days in April ( Sunday, April 10 & 17) for a Pop-Up Art Workshop at

Neilson Park Creative Centre

and learn some cool Paper Engineering moves. Whether you're a book artist, love paper, origami buff or just want to try something new - I teach a versatile and creative workshop designed to meet you at your level of expertise, whether you're just beginning or you've had some experience with pop ups. 

POP UP Workshop

Coming up this Sunday, November; a one-day Pop-Up Workshop at Neilson Park Creative Centre. 

Learn to make nested Parallel folds, off-center folds, spinners and other great little 3-D moves. 

Then - on Monday, November 2, I will be doing another Magic Monday at Visual Arts Mississauga, the theme: PopUp!

Hope to see you there.

Altogether Pink

A new pop-up piece which featured in the recent 'In Collage' exhibit at Neilson Park Creative Centre. 

For the many people who tell me they'd love to learn how to do pop-up - I will be teaching an 'Artful Pop-Up' workshop  on July 9 & 10 at Neilson Park. Here's the link - scroll down on the link to Summer Workshops. 

Fast Poses

My latest drawings from the Friday Figure Drawing at Neilson Park Creative Centre. I have been working with this wonderful model for many years now. She keeps getting better at her craft and she's always a pleasure to draw from. Very inventive with her poses and knows how to use the light. These are two-minute gestures done in Derwent fat charcoal, except for the third drawing which is a ten-minute pose using NuPastel.

The Artful Pop-Up Workshop

2 Days - Thurs. July 9 & Friday July 10, 2015 at Neilson Park Creative Centre.

A lot of people have been asking me when I'm going to do another Pop-Up Workshop - so here it is, folks! All levels of experience welcome. Participants will learn basic paper engineering techniques and, as always in my workshops, an emphasis on individual instruction to address each student's skill level and artistic vision. 

Two whole days of playing with paper!

Registration opens in early May at neilsonparkcreativecentre.com (416-622-5294)