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.

 

Fall Classes at Visual Arts Mississauga

Learn to Draw on your iPad using Procreate and SketchesPro. Discover all the fun stuff you can create on your iPad in this 10-week Online course at VAM.

Click here for more info.

I'll also be teaching Drawing Explorations - a fun course with an eclectic approach to drawing. Whether you're just learning how to draw, or want to try something completely different - there's lots on offer.

Click here for more info.

 

Digital Symmetry Drawings

Done in Procreate using the Symmetry tool. Same drawing - different Layer Modes.

 Mandala Variations

Done in Procreate, more Mandala variations. I played with Layer Modes - it's a great way to discover new colour combos - every layer mode changes everything - highlights different shapes with every mode. You get some very cool effects happening.

 Digital Symmetry

Symmetrical drawings done in Procreate using a limited palette. The drawings were done quickly and as soon as I started to hesitate over a move, I'd save the drawing and open a new canvas. I was on a roll - there's some similarities between pieces, but I tried several different brushes and had no agenda other than to keep moving as fast as I could. Very little erasing or backtracking.

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.

Life Drawing at PixieBlue Studio

Pixie Blue, in Port Credit, is running a monthly Figure Drawing Event. We went down to check it out a couple of weeks ago. A fun evening with some great people and a really good model. Couldn't believe this was the first time she'd modelled. These are done in Watercolour Pencil.

Contour Drawings

A variety of contour line drawings in which Etienne loses his head...

Haliburton School of Art and Design

I'm really looking forward to my classes in Haliburton this summer. I'm offering 3 courses in July - Life Drawing and Painting is almost full, but there's still space in my Artmaking: Drawing, Painting and Collage, as well as  Artist Retreat: Yoga, Meditation and Drawing (click on the links for more information).

The Artmaking Course is a lot of fun and great for those who want to work on their own projects under supervision - or to learn new skills and ways of thinking about their art process. We begin each day with a slideshow and talk about contemporary and traditional artists and their work - tailoring it to my students' interests. We warm up with art exercises designed to get you thinking about composition, process, subject-matter, etc. Then you can get busy on your project, or continue with more exercises and projects directed by the Instructor (me!). 

As an experienced Instructor and Artist, I bring enthusiasm, encouragement and know-how to my students to help them engage in and get more out of their own artist's journey.

 Artist Retreat is a wonderful week of Life/Art balance. Sheila Miller facilitates the Yoga and Meditation - she's an amazing instructor for all abilities - thoughtful and creative in her approach to Yoga and Meditation. The Drawing part of the program gets us outside (weather permitting) to be inspired by the natural beauty of the area. We'll be doing drawing exercises to promote 'seeing', trying some new techniques and using Drawing as an extension of the Meditation techniques you'll be learning. You'll find it a refreshing, mind-expanding week, full of new and wonderful experiences.

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. 

Gesture Drawings

Quick multiple gestures done in Derwent Inktense Watercolour Pencils. I put the washes on later when I had time and space to let them dry.

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.

ART MAKING: Drawing, Painting, and Collage    JULY 16-20

Join me at Haliburton School of Art and Design this summer for a week of making art in the medium of your choice. Whether you like to work in acrylics, pastels, watercolour or mixed media (sorry - no oils), you'll have the opportunity to work on your own projects with lots of guidance and instruction. We will get started with visual exercises designed to  engage with subject matter and media, and to open up creative channels and enhance ways of seeing and thinking about your art.

Composition, technique, and personal expression will be addressed and positive feedback provided. Enjoy the great summer vibe at HSAD while exploring new ideas and taking time to focus on your artistic vision. Click here for more information.

All levels of experience welcome!

DRAWING BASICS WORKSHOP

Saturday, May 5, 2018     9:00-5:00

Haliburton School of Art and Design at

Fleming College, Peterborough

Join me for a day of drawing at the Sutherland Campus in Peterborough. Whether you are an absolute beginner, or would like a refresher - instruction will provide the visual tools to get you started on the road to good drawing practices. 

Learn tried-and-true drawing techniques, explore a variety of media, and find new ways of seeing and thinking about drawing. Work with expressive line, blind drawing, tonal values, and learn to sight and measure for accuracy in angle and proportion. 

Instruction will include examples and demonstrations, and positive feedback in a supportive environment.

Check the link here.

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.

Recent Figure Work

This term I filled a sketchbook with figure work done in Derwent Inktense watercolour pencils. I like the way they feel when I draw - working a bit smaller than usual and trying to maintaing a loose, but accurate style. I put the water on at home, where I can lay the paper flat for a bit of control. These sketches are anywhere from a few minutes to 15 minute poses with a variety of models. Some of them are still waiting to be painted - I'll post them later.

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.

Life Drawing at Haliburton School of Art and Design

It has been a busy year for classes and a great year for Figure Drawing! It's hard to believe we are almost at the end of May - running full tilt into Summer. I am really looking forward to being back at Haliburton for the week of July 17-21 to teach a whole week of Life Drawing!

It's a fabulous way of immersing yourself in drawing from the figure  - a focussed and  intense time of growth and skill development. I'm always blown away by how much progress my students make by the end of the week - and they are too. We have some great models lined up and it's such a great art community - lots going on throughout the week. I hope you can join me!

Recent Works

I take every opportunity I can to draw from the figure. These are some recent works from my Friday Figure Drawing drop-in at Neilson Park Creative centre, as well as some from a workshop I took with John Leonard in April.