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.
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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