This immersive two-day workshop invites you to loosen your hand and sharpen your eye, while you explore a bold, expressive approach to mark-making and colour through painting and collage.
Designed to deepen confidence and expand creative freedom, this experience encourages playful experimentation while building strong visual structure and design awareness. Working with acrylic paint, participants will explore gesture and colour using improvised and unconventional tools that help demystify the painting process and expand you mark-making vocabulary. With an accessible overview of colour theory and the guidance of a purposeful working palette, you will create a rich collection of painted papers full of movement, texture, and surprise. These papers become the foundation for vibrant floral collages.
Collage offers a low-risk, highly effective way to train the eye to simplify complexity through colour massing and design. By layering bold gesture with thoughtful composition, participants discover how expressive marks can lead to elegant, resolved imagery. Participants will complete one to two large floral collage pieces and leave with a deeper understanding of colour, gesture, and simplification that can be carried forward into their painting practice.
This is a beginner-friendly workshop, ideal for artists who are comfortable using acrylic paint and basic painting tools and are ready to explore more expressive, confident approaches to mark-making and design. No prior collage experience is required. The workshop is taught through a thoughtful balance of demonstrations, guided hands-on practice, one-on-one mentoring, and group discussion. Participants are supported in developing their own visual language while gaining practical skills and confidence.
Class Size: Minimum 5 and maximum 8 participants
Daily Lunches: A delicious, family-style, locally sourced lunch served in the historic 1860s Manor dining room, designed to nourish creativity and foster connection. Snack Breaks: Thoughtful, locally sourced snacks to keep you refreshed throughout the day
Setting: Stone Manor Studios is located on the ground of Newboro Manor, an Italianate style house built in the 1860s, located in Newboro Ontario in the beautiful Rideau Lakes area. The Studios in the renovated carriage house are large, light-filled art teaching studios designed for maximum learning and offer an inspired setting. The upper level (stair-only access) is where art and craft workshops are held and the lower level will house the upcoming secondary Studio and Gallery space. The Manor and Studios are set on the corner of 2.5 acres of lawn, gardens, and forest for the use of participants. Take lunch in the gazebo or on the grounds; or, enjoy a mindful forest walk.
For more info and to register visit stonemanorstudios.ca.