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.