A Y Jackson in the Classroom

A.Y. Jackson still painting at 73

Around 1912 a loosely knit group of artists began to paint Canada as they saw it. Sketch boxes in tow, they journeyed all over the country to paint the wilderness with bold colours and a broad, decorative style. Despite the death of mentor Tom Thomson in 1917, these painters banded together as the Group of Seven in 1920 to forge a new Canadian expression. Their vision shaped how Canadians saw their own country and left a legacy that continues to provoke debate and discussion.

                     Video of A Y Jackson painting on location

A Y Jackson's Paintbox-

Fred Varley in the Classroom

A visit to Frederick Varley

Around 1912 a loosely knit group of artists began to paint Canada as they saw it. Sketch boxes in tow, they journeyed all over the country to paint the wilderness with bold colours and a broad, decorative style. Despite the death of mentor Tom Thomson in 1917, these painters banded together as the Group of Seven in 1920 to forge a new Canadian expression. Their vision shaped how Canadians saw their own country and left a legacy that continues to provoke debate and discussion.
                                             Video Interview with Fred Varley

Fred Varley process life and inspiration by the National Film Board

“Art is not merely recording surface life—incidents, emotions. The Artist [sic] divines the causes beneath which create the outward result.” Fred Varley

Here is the video of Fred Varley working and living in Toronto.
http://www.nfb.ca/film/varley




I have been teaching for the Fred Varley art gallery for over 12 years and have been teaching Fred's ideas and processes to thousands of students.
I have also been keeping alive his summer school of art that he held in Doon Ontario teaching plein air painting. My summer school held in the month of June in and around  Unionville called ArtVentures continues to teach the ideas and processes exspressed in the group of Seven's artwork.

I am constantly teaching and reworking the ideas and concepts expressed in my workshops of the "Group of seven in the Classroom".

Arthur Lismer teaching in the classroom

Group of Seven in the Classroom

Paint Like the Group of Seven in the Classroom

Here we see the group of Seven members sitting around a table at the Arts and Letters club in Toronto. This is where they talked,discussed and supported each others ideas and their mutual goal of creating a new artisitc vision of Canada,

Group of Seven in the Classroom

International instructor, Andrew Hamilton, will share the secrets of painting like the Group of Seven in this workshop. Back by popular demand, this course is suitable for all levels of artistic ability. Previous participants can continue to expand on the techniques previously learned. Participants will learn to see the world as the Group of Seven did by simplifying the world down into simple shapes and distinctive colours. Using a limited palette of red, yellow, blue and white, participants will learn to mix an infinite number of colours to create a unique work of art. Andrew is fresh from teaching his new courses paint like the group of seven in the classroom.