Mixed Media Landscapes Workshop with Valerie Kent

Course Overview: Let the magic begin in this bold, hands-on three-day mixed media landscape workshop focused on experimentation, play and the creative process. Perfect for all creatives who love collage, texture, layered colour and expressive techniques, this workshop invites you to step outside the rules and create landscapes that feel original and uniquely your own. You will explore a wide range of materials and media, including acrylic, watercolour, and pastel, as well as gels, pastes and other texture-building media. Working on canvas of your choice, you will learn to build dynamic surfaces through layering and collage using both new and found materials, such as paper, photographs, fabric, gauze, cheesecloth and dried plant elements.

Using tools like palette knives, brushes, stamps, and unconventional mark-making tools, you will experiment with adding, subtracting, stamping, scraping and reworking areas of your piece to create depth, movement and impact. This workshop includes instructor demonstrations, shared techniques, creative exploration and optional supportive group critique. Come ready to take creative risks, discover new approaches and transform your landscape art into bold, captivating statements. Photocopies of landscape imagery will be provided as inspiration, or you are welcome to bring your own reference photos.

Skill Level:  All levels

Ages: 16+

Dates and Time:

• Two-day workshop
• Monday, July 6 – Tuesday, July 7
• 9:00 am – 4:00 pm

Important Notes:

• Workshop price: $200.00. HST is not included in the price.
• This course takes place at the Belleville Campus: 376 Wallbridge Loyalist Rd, Belleville, ON K8N 5B9.
• Campus information, including room number, parking, directions, etc., will be provided closer to the start date.
• A refund (less $20.00 administrative fee) will be issued if you withdraw from a class at least 14 days before the start date of the class. After this deadline, no refunds will be issued.
• If a course is cancelled by Loyalist College, registered students will be provided with a full refund. College decisions to cancel a course will be made one 14 days before the course start date.
• If you have any questions or issues, please reach out to art@loyalistcollege.com

Supply List:

Acrylic Paints

• Suggested colours: Cadmium Red Light, Turquoise, Sap Green, Leaf Green, Lemon Yellow, Burnt Sienna, Burnt Umber, Yellow Ochre, White, Black, Copper (optional)
• Any other colours as desired. Choose your favourites.

Materials

• Palettes: Foam trays, Sta-Wet Palette, or any other surface.
• Variety of brushes, palette knife, or popsicle stick, or coffee stir sticks.
• Canvases: 11” x 14”
• 2 water containers
• Pencil, sharpener, kneaded or soft eraser
• Ruler (optional)
• Scissors
• Hair Dryer
• Table Cover
• Paper Towel

Suggested Collage Items:

• Acrylic paint, watercolour paint, gels, pastes, ink, chalk and/or oil pastel
• String, found, and handmade papers, fabric, leather, cheesecloth
• Stamps: Anything that imprints, photos, and cutouts of insects, birds, animals, if desired.
• Photos, magazine pics

Meet Your Instructor: Valerie Kent

Known for her vibrant and evocative works exploring themes of identity, memory, and the human experience, Valerie achieved a BFA from Concordia University, followed by an MFA from the University of Iowa and a BEd from the University of Toronto. Innovative use of colour, texture, and form creates immersive environments that challenge perceptions and evoke emotional responses. She has exhibited in China, France, Italy, the US, Holland, Korea, Japan, and locally at Gallery Q, Gallery on the Lake, and the Parrott Gallery. Valerie has taught at various institutions and at artist retreats in France, Italy, and Canada. valeriekent.com