The Figure In Landscape: A Painting Workshop

I will be teaching a 3 day workshop, on my farm, July 21st- 23rd. We will paint live models in a variety of landscape environments. On Friday July 21st I will demonstrate how to create an oil sketch of a model in a landscape and discuss colour, composition, atmospheric perspective, value and big form modeling. On Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd, participants will create their own oil sketches of models in landscapes, from 10am- 5pm.

The cost of the workshop is $380.00

The farm, nestled in the hills of Mulmur, 10 minutes south of Creemore, ON, offers a variety of landscape options, some of which you can see in the pictures below. A working farm, The Mitchell Family Farm ethically raises Berkshire pigs, Muscovy ducks, laying hens and broilers as well as organically grows garlic, strawberries, raspberries and potatoes. 

For more information about the workshop or local accommodations please email sara.sniderhan@gmail.com or call Sara at 416.559.6189.

Oil Painting Workshop.

I'm teaching a life painting workshop, in oils,  out of a fantastic space in Kensington Market, Toronto on June 17, 18 and 19th.

To start the workshop off I will do a live portrait sketch of a model on the Friday evening, from 6-9pm. During the demonstration students are encouraged to ask questions, take notes and photograph the materials, tools and process.

Over the following 2 days students will paint from models, from 11am- 5pm. We will focus on capturing a good likeness and well designed composition in the under-painting, mixing colours, big form modelling, treating edges, placing the figure in an environment and so much more.

Rates:

a) Student Rate- for students supplying their own paint: $250.00
b) Student Rate- for students to whom I am supplying paint: $270
*Secondary and post secondary students

c) General Rate- for students supplying their own paint: $300
d) General Rate- for students to whom I am supplying paint:$325

If you have any questions or would like to register please email me at sara.sniderhan@gmail.com or call 416.559.6189

A Room of Her Own

October 15th, 2015 marked the opening of my 3rd solo exhibition at Ingram Gallery. Over the past 2 years, since my last solo show, my husband and I moved with our kids from Toronto to a vacant piece of farm land just south of Creemore, Ontario. We designed and built a house and the beginnings of a farm. During that time we lived in a trailer, a rental log cabin and in the shell of the new house. We literally lived in our house as it went up around us, with no running water, kitchen or electricity for 10 months! It was an intense time and difficult for me to make much creative work. I'm a loner at heart and having no private space to think or create in was tricky for me to hold.
However, A Room of Her Own- inspired by Virginia Woolf's manifesto on what it takes for  woman to successfully create, exhibits the works I did make during those 2 home building years. Here are some of the works:

 A Room of Her Own
Oil on canvas
30 x 24"

Magic
Oil on canvas
 40 x 30"

 

Trailblazer

oil on canvas

20 x 16"

By the Studio Light ll

Oil on linen

20 x 16"

And a link to the exhibition page on the Ingram Gallery website.

OCAD U!

I am teaching at OCAD U!! Pretty amazing feeling and experience. I began teaching for the Illustration program in September. I teach Observational Drawing and Illustrative Painting. The students have been incredibly reception, engaged and inspiring. Such a good fit for me. Here are some in class demonstrations in oil and charcoal and a painting break down that I did for my students. Very happy to report that I will return in September 2016, with a full sessional course load.

The Village and I: Ten Life Stories

As a life long avid reader, I am so excited to announce that I published a book last year! The Village and I: Ten Life Stories is published by Curiosity House Books. I received the Robert G Kemp Award and an additional large grant from The Purple Hills Arts and Historical Society to fund the project and worked hand in hand, with my editor, Rina Barone to make it happen.

The book tells the life stories of 10 life long residents of the Creemore area. The short stories, based on interviews with the subjects, are written by published writers that live or weekend in the area. Each story is accompanied by a portrait of the subject created by a local, professional artist. The book is also filled with historic and family photos and a foreward by renowned writer Dan Needles.

A launch was held for the Village and I at the Avening Community Centre and it was packed to capacity. Folks lined up to grab the signatures of the elder subjects and of the artists and writers. It was hands down one of the most special nights of my life. The book is right now being printing for a 3rd run!

Here is a link to an excerpt published in In the Hills magazine.

Here is the book cover, with my portrait of sheep farmer Neil Metheral.

Ladies

I just can't get enough of the ladies in my life!

Here is a painting of the amazing fine and tattoo artist Camilla Rocha. I took reference photos of her in the life drawing studio of the New York Academy of Art, where Camilla was obtaining her Masters degree. She is a highly skilled artist, with a clear and deep passion for exploring meaning and humanity through her work.

By the Studio Light
Oil on linen
28x22"

And here is a painting of the lovely Gillian Harris, mom, social worker, fashionista and friend.
.

Waiting
Oil on linen
12 x 9"

One of my all time favorite humans, Kristi Green, is also a reoccurring subject in my work. Dear, friend, mother, writer, editor, lover of unicorns. Kristi and I have only known each other for 3 years, but we both went, alone, to the same Pantera concert when we were 16. Enough said.

The Editor
Oil on linen
12 x 9"

Here is Kristi again, with another of my favorite humans, Sass Dempsey. Sass is a teacher, yoga instructor and incessant caregiver to all around her. Her big heart is cherished by all but leaves little room or energy for herself at times. This painting was included in the Women Painting Women exhibition at Principle Gallery in Charleston, SC.

Mama Bear
Oil on canvas
18 x 24"

Inspired!

In 2014 I had the great honor of curating my first exhibition for the purple Hills Arts and Heritage Society (PHAHS) in Creemore, Ontario. The exhibition took place in the historic Station on the Green during the Creemore Festival of the Arts and the Small Halls festival, in October, 2014.

The  PHAHS was looking for a signature exhibition to show-case successful Canadian artists from outside of their direct community. I gave much thought to the kind of exhibition I wanted to hang. It was clear from the beginning that I wanted to display works from artists of a wide range of styles and medium with the common ground being their intense dedication to their craft and career alongside much industry, public and peer recognition for their work. I hung the works of artists whose work and career trajectory truly inspire me.

I chose to include works by Graham Roumieu, Sean Yelland, Peter Mitchell, Peter Rotter, Rachel Berman, Gosia, Gordon Wiebe, Marco Cibola, Shaun Downey and myself. Curating this show was an amazing experience for me and I reveled in talking with the hundreds of people who came to see it.

New workshops- June 2015!

What's more fun than workshops and painting from life? Not much, I say!
I am offering these 2 workshops in June:

CREEMORE, Ontario: June 12 (from 5:30- 9pm), 13 and 14 (from 10am-4pm)
TORONTO, Ontario: June 26 (from 5:30- 9pm), June 27 and 28 (from 10am- 4pm)

In both of these 3 day workshops I will do a live demo on the Friday evening, in which participants are encouraged to take photos and ask questions. Participants will paint from a 2-dimensional source on the Saturday and from a live model on the Sunday.

During the 3-day workshops I will demonstrate the stages of the painting, flesh colour mixing, how to capture a likeness, treat edges and so much more. The workshops are suitable for painters of all skill levels.

For more information or to register please email me sara.sniderhan@gmail.com or call 416.559.6189
Space is limited.

Following a full and fantastic workshop last weekend, I have decided to start a weekly class in January. The class will be on Fridays, from 12- 2:30, at the Dunedin Community Hall. Classes will run in 10 week sessions and the fee for a session is $325.

If you have never worked with me before, I  will start you on a few short projects that will teach fundamental skills in oil painting and colour mixing. Aside from those, however, I would like my students to work on paintings based on their own ideas and chosen subject matter. I will support you in creating your own work and within that process, teach valuable lessons in painting.

The class is limited to 12 students, so that I can give everyone ample one-on-one instruction. If you would like to register or if you have any questions please email or call me at 416.559.6189

Oil painting workshop in Creemore. November 28th-30th.

Come paint with me in Creemore! This weekend workshop kicks off with a 3 hour demo, in which I will paint a head study from life. During the demo students are encouraged to take notes, photograph the process and ask questions. In the following 2 days, students will paint 2 head studies from life, with plenty of one-on-one instruction. For more information or to register email sara.sniderhan@gmail.com or call Sara at 416.559.6189

June Workshop in Kensington Market

I had so much fun teaching at the Nook Collective last month I have to do it again!

This workshop will begin with an evening demo, on Friday June 20th, from 6-9pm. Students will watch as I paint a portrait sketch from life. I encourage students to take pictures and ask questions as I work from the model.

We will work from 10am-4pm on Saturday June 21st and Sunday the 22nd. Students will work on their own portraits from life, starting from the drawing stage to blocking in, big volume modeling through to rendering the features.

The Nook Collective is at 156 Augusta Avenue, in the heart of Kensington Market. This workshop is limited to 10 students, to ensure quality one-on-one instruction. The fee is $300 if you supply your own paint or $325 if I supply the paint.

The register or inquire please email sara.sniderhan@gmail.com or call Sara at 416.559.6189

Spring Workshops!

I am pleased to announce that I will be teaching 2 workshops this spring, one in Creemore and one in Toronto! In these 2 day workshops I will demonstrate how to paint a realistic portrait sketch from life. Through a series of demos and one on one critiques, students will learn how to mix a naturalistic flesh palette, stages of painting, how to capture a likeness and how to paint light on flesh. The workshop is suitable for all skill levels.

The workshops run from 10am -4pm, Saturday and Sunday. The fee is $280.00

The Creemore workshop, March 29th and 30th, is located at The Mill Street Studio, 148A Mill Street.

The Toronto workshop, April 12th and 13th, is located at the Nook Collective, 156 Augusta Ave, in Kensington Market.

If you have any questions or would like to register please email sara.sniderhan@gmail.com or call me at 416.559.6189

Pages from my Moleskin

I've taken many bus and train rides lately...

Awards!

Algonquin Bride

oil on panel

60x46

Its been an amazing month for this painting! Algonquin Bride won Best in Show in the BoldBrush Competition for the month of February. If you are an artist, check out this online, monthly, competition.  It is very inexpensive to submit and the prizes are pretty great.

A few weeks later, Algonquin Bride was awarded a Certificate of Excellence from the Portrait Society of America, in their 2013 International Portrait Competition. This is a huge honour. This year there were nearly 2000 submissions. The top 20 portraits are finalists for the grand prize. 20 other paintings were awarded Certificates of Excellence. Although I am not a finalist, it is so exciting to be in the top 40 in a competition of this calibre.

Yey!!

Spring oil painting workshop!

I am excited for my next oil painting workshop, May 31st- June 2nd. I love teaching workshops and doing demos- there's just so much to say about painting! A description of my next 3 day workshop is below. If you are interested in registering or have any questions please email me at sara.sniderhan@gmail.com

OIL PAINTING WITH SARA SNIDERHAN

Friday May 31st, 5:30pm- 9pm: I will do a 3 hour demonstration on painting a head study from life. Participants are welcome to ask questions, take notes and photographs or video throughout the demo. The demo will take place at the beautiful Ralph Thornton Centre, 765 Queen Street East (Queen and Broadview)

Saturday June 1st, 10am-5pm: Participants will paint a portrait or clothed figure study from a model. I will begin the day by demonstrating how to mix flesh/portrait palette and a brief discussion on composition. Each participant will have ample one-on-one instruction. This session will also take place at the Ralph Thornton Centre.

Sunday June 2nd, 11am- 5:30pm: We will spent this day painting a model outdoors. The focus will be on composition, landscape colour, creating a solid oil sketch of an entire scene and dealing with changing light. I am still scouting the location- however, I will make sure it is TTC accessible, has ample parking and a covered space in the chance of rain.

The cost of the workshop is $325.00 if you bring your own paint or $350.00 if I supply your paint. You are responsible for brushes and panels. I have 4 spare easels that are available to the first 4 participants who ask me for one.

The Art School Project

Peter Mitchell and I are thrilled to be working with St.Stephen's Community House on a free of fee art school for kids and teens who have barriers to accessing extra curricular art classes. The first classes of our pilot project begin this week. Peter is teaching an illustration program and I am teaching drawing and painting. Both programs run after school, in Kensington Market. Registration for the program was incredible. We accepted far more students than we intended. Our registration is now closed and we have a waiting list.
The 14 week pilot project will inform and act as a foundation for a permanent not-for-profit, top notch art school at St.Stephen's. I have been working on this school for a couple of years now and am over the moon now that we are starting! We have an all star advisory committee, including the good folks at Ingram Gallery, that will help insure the sustainability and future of the school. If you have interested in donating to the school please send me an email at sara.sniderhan@gmail.com

Drawing David Leffel

Leffel watching Lipking

carbon on watercolour paper

14"x12"

Just finished this little drawing of the great David Leffel. I drew from a photo that I took of David while he was watching Jeremy Lipking paint during the Weekend with the Masters.

...get back home. Solo exhibition, November 2012

My second solo show at Ingram Gallery has come and gone (November 15th-30th, 2012) but its not too late to share some pictures right!?

Here are some pics and an interview from opening night, some of the work and a few installation shots. The interview explains my intention behind the work- so I won't bother repeating myself in type!

Here is a short Art Sync interview with me on opening night.

To see all of the works from ...get back home and titles and descriptions of the above paintings please visit my other blog- http://bestofsniderhan.blogspot.ca/