Programs

September 13 - November 1, 7-10pm

Ages 16+
 

Basic drawing materials (and easels) provided.

Registration:

$132 (Orillia Residents),
$165 (Non-residents)

+HST

Registration through the City of Orillia

Click here for SUN Registration with course code 10130

Saturdays 1:30-3:30pm , October 13, 20, 17 and November 3, 10, 27

 
**This course will be held at the Kerslake Pottery Studio on Line 10 North at Horseshoe Valley Road, Oro-Medonte

Participants will work with Heather Kerslake at her studio to learn various clay techniques in order to build creative clay forms. Working with slabs, coils and more, students will be introduced to how different tools can be used to shape and mark clay to create patterns, textures or narratives. After firing, Heather will teach the class how to use stains and glazes to alter the surface and colour to your work.

There is limited access to wheel work instruction. To see Heather’s sculptures and functional pottery, visit her website at  www.kerslakepottery.com

 
Bio:
Heather Driver Kerslake works mainly in terra cotta, producing pieces that are whimsical, often mythical, and sometimes humorous. Her work involves functional pottery and sculptural pieces, ranging in scale from majolica-decorated wine goblets to larger hand-built narrative sculptures. Heather graduated from Alfred University, New York. Her work is in numerous private collections and public galleries, and has been exhibited widely.

Registration:

Course runs October 13, 20, 17 and November 3, 10, 27

Tuesday, October 16, 23, 30, and November 6

Mondays, 6-8pm: November 5 - 26 + an additional Saturday of gallery-hopping in Toronto with the instructor

Artist, curator, and educator Frances Thomas will be instructing this five-part program that will teach participants integral skills to pursuing a career in the arts. This course centres on the artist, not only in terms of what and how they create, but the necessary professional skills needed to sustain a practice and reach desired goals.  Everything from the philosophical to the practical. Learn how to work through creative battles, resistance and fear in the studio as well as how to speak and write effectively about your work. Create a compelling Bio, CV and Artist Statement and learn about exhibition opportunities, artist/gallery relationships, funding and grant writing, online presence and creating a network, copyright, pricing your work, artist residencies, gallery ethics and more. In addition to the in-class sessions, participants will have the opportunity to accompany Frances around Toronto for a day, to visit galleries and network with professionals. If you’re looking for information, expertise, inspiration and resources for establishing a career as an artist, then this course is for you!

This program has been generously subsidized by the Community Foundation of Orillia and Area and TD Canada Trust

Registration:

If you are enrolled in or have completed a post-secondary arts-based program: Member: $100 + HST, Non-member: $120 + HST

If you are not enrolled or have not completed a post-secondary art-based program: Member: $125 + HST, Non-member: $145 + HST

Come in to OMAH to register or call 705-326-2159.

Program Schedule:

WEEK ONE – November 5

LIFE AS AN ARTIST: KEEPING YOUR SANITY AND DOING THE WORK

During this introductory week each participant will introduce themselves and their artwork. Topics covered include:

• Chasing the dream and paying the bills; 
• Resistance and breaking through inner creative battles;
• Artist as professional:
  • Studio life (personal space, collectives, creating a community with other makers);
  • Tracking artistic production and artwork inventory;
  • Is higher education necessary and the role of professional development

WEEK TWO – November 12

THE ARTIST TOOLS AND OPPORTUNITIES BEYOND THE STUDIO

Your professional image and creating opportunities.

• In class development of Bio, CV and Artist Statement

• Career Paths/Options
• Artist Residencies
• Social Media
• Website

WEEK THREE – November 19

GETTING PAID AND YOUR TAX RETURN

Stop working for free. This week focuses on ways to get paid and be valued!

• Pricing Your Work
• Can I write that lunch off?
• CARFAC and the evolution of the Artist Fee
• OAC
• Canada Council
• How to write a grant
• Art Auctions, the good, the bad and the ugly

WEEK FOUR – NOVEMBER 26

ARTIST AS ENTREPRENEUR AND HOW TO PLAY THE LONG GAME

• Inviting Professionals to Visit Your Studio
• The Artist-Gallery Relationship
• No Gallery No Problem
• Artist Run Centres, Public Galleries, Commercial Galleries
• Exhibition Opportunities: Calls to Artists, Galleries, Alternative Spaces, Online
• Goal Setting

DAY IN TORONTO (DATE TO BE SET)

Gallery hop! Getting out of the bubble and into the real world. Frances will lead an excursion to Toronto to network with arts professionals.