Adult Programs

Presented in partnership with the Markham Group of Artists, this weekly evening program offers a non-instructional life drawing session featuring a live model. Open to artists of all skill levels, the program provides a relaxed and supportive environment for exploring portraiture and life drawing. Participants are required to bring their own art materials. Space is limited.

This workshop is designed for anyone who has taken a beginner-level brush pen calligraphy program. Students will practice uppercase letters and learn how to use these in combination with lowercase letters and words. The workshop will also enhance their calligraphy by experimenting with style variations and simple flourishes. Students will receive a set of take-home worksheets to continue their practice. 
Artist/Instructor: Erica Pinto

Discover the beauty of painting snow covered landscapes in this hands-on workshop for oil and acrylic painters. Learn about layering paint in loose impressionistic brush strokes, capturing the beauty of pearly white snow and snow shadows in luminous paint. With step-by-step instructor guidance and critiques, this course is suitable for both beginner and seasoned landscape painters. Demonstrations will be in oil paint.
Artist/Instructor: Linda Kalianteris

Custom ornaments make a wonderful gift for friends and family! In this two-hour workshop, students will learn how to draw beautiful script letters and use them to decorate their own acrylic ornaments. Students will leave the workshop with their finished ornaments as well as a set of worksheets to continue their hand lettering practice at home. All materials will be provided. A supply fee of $15 must be paid to the instructor at the start of the workshop.
Artist/Instructor: Erica Pinto

Discover the magic of acrylic pouring and create your own vibrant, flowing masterpieces! In this hands-on workshop, you’ll experiment with colors, techniques, and textures to produce unique abstract artworks. Perfect for beginners and experienced artists alike. Let your creativity flow and take home a one-of-a-kind painting.

Artist/instructor: Olivana Tonon

Discover the bold and expressive art of linocut printmaking in this hands-on four-week course. Learn every step of the process—from designing and carving your image to inking and printing your own limited edition. Guided by an experienced instructor, you’ll explore techniques for creating texture, contrast, and composition, experiment with colour, and gain confidence using professional tools and materials. Perfect for beginners.

Artist/Instructor: Sydney Hanson

Join us for a one-day acrylic pouring workshop where you’ll explore the fundamentals of abstract art, including colour and composition. Create unique art on canvas in a supportive studio environment, surrounded by like-minded peers. Perfect for all skill levels, this workshops offers hands-on experience to unleash your creativity!

Learn the basics of watercolour painting while having fun with distinctive techniques. Through artist’s demonstrations, exercises, and lots of time painting, you’ll build an understanding of colour theory, layering techniques, and composition. No experience required.

Artist/Instructor: Lori Spendiff

Painting in watercolours is both exciting and rewarding. Further your knowledge of basic techniques with colour, value, and design theories by painting flowers and still life’s from reference photos. Participants should have completed an introductory level program, or have some experience with watercolours before signing up for this intermediate level class.

Artist/Instructor: Lori Spendiff

Co-presented with the Markham Group of Artists, this weekly program offers non-instructional life drawing sessions featuring a live model. Open to artists of all skill levels, it provides a relaxed and supportive environment for exploring portraiture and figure drawing. Please bring your own materials including easels.

Register or drop in. Space is limited.

Note: No drop-in life drawing session on Wednesday, March 18 due to March Break Camps.

Brush pen calligraphy is a beautiful art form that can be used to add a personal touch to everything from greeting cards to event signage. Students will learn the fundamentals of modern brush pen calligraphy, including how to hold a brush pen, form basic strokes, and connect these strokes to form lowercase letters and words. Students will receive a set of take-home worksheets to continue their practice. No experience required. 

Artist/Instructor: Erica Pinto

Join us for a one-day acrylic pouring workshop where you’ll explore the fundamentals of abstract art, including colour and composition. Create unique art on canvas in a supportive studio environment, surrounded by like-minded peers. Perfect for all skill levels, this workshops offers hands-on experience to unleash your creativity!

Discover the magic of monoprinting! In this four-week program, you’ll experiment with gel plates and acrylic paint to create dynamic prints. Learn layering, masking, image transfers, and painting directly on the plate to produce textured, vibrant works. Perfect for anyone curious about printmaking.

Artist/instructor: Sarka Buchl Stephenson

Discover the magic of acrylic pouring and create your own vibrant, flowing masterpieces! In this hands-on workshop, you’ll experiment with colors, techniques, and textures to produce unique abstract artworks. Perfect for beginners and experienced artists alike. Let your creativity flow and take home a one-of-a-kind painting.

Artist/instructor: Olivana Tonon

Build your creative skill set with the class that puts the “fun” in the fundamentals of drawing! Learn how to use a variety of drawing tools while exploring topics such as: line, form, value , light, shadow and perspective. Each week we will cover a new drawing theme with a series of still life’s to sharpen our drawing skills! Suitable for all skill levels.

Artist/Instructor: Linda Kalianteris

Note: No class on Thursday, March 19 due to March Break Camps.

Discover the art of portraiture! This program will focus on the fundamentals of portraiture to understand the construction of the face and head by using a simple step-by-step drawing method. Next, we will use shading to create value and form. Together we will work towards capturing a likeness while drawing a professional model. Suitable for all skill levels.

Artist/Instructor: Linda Kalianteris

Note: No class on Thursday, March 19 due to March Break Camps.

Discover the art of transforming simple materials into beautiful, handmade paper. Participants will learn the step-by-step process of traditional papermaking, from pulping and forming sheets to pressing, drying, and finishing. Each week introduces new techniques, including adding texture, colour, and inclusions such as dried flowers or threads. By the end of the program, students will create a collection of unique papers that can be used for drawing, printmaking, book arts, or personal projects. No experience required. Some materials provided.

Artist/Instructor: Sydney Hanson

Discover the art of portraiture in this introductory class designed to simplify the portrait painting process. Beginning with one colour, learn how to accurately place the features, and bring your painting to life, by adding value and shading. Next, explore the “Zorn” palette, a simple and effective system for mixing realistic skin tones. Using just three colours plus white, you’ll learn how to create a range of warm and cool flesh tones to paint quickly and accurately in either oil or acrylic paint. Perfect for anyone looking to simplify their portrait painting process when capturing a model’s likeness.

Artist/Instructor: Linda Kalianteris

Note: No class on Friday, March 20 due to March Break Camps, and Friday, April 3 due to Good Friday.

Discover the beauty of painting landscapes in this hands-on program designed to introduce you to the fundamentals of landscape painting. Explore topics such as: oil painting safety, composition, value, and design, as well as focused lessons on how to paint sky, trees, clouds, buildings, shrubs, flowers and more. With step-by-step instructor guidance and critiques, this program is suitable for both beginner and seasoned landscape painters.

Artist/Instructor: Linda Kalianteris

Note: No class on Friday, March 20 due to March Break Camps, and Friday, April 3 due to Good Friday.

In this two-hour workshop, students will learn how to draw beautiful script letters and use them to create their own one-of-a-kind Valentine’s Day cards. Students will leave the workshop with their finished greeting cards and a set of take-home worksheets to continue their practice. No experience needed.

Artist/instructor: Erica Pinto

Have you always wanted to paint with oils? Learn the technique of oil painting, and the art of still life painting while exploring topics such as: studio safety and clean up, composition, colour mixing and energetic brush strokes! This program is perfect for beginner and experienced artists who would like to add oil painting to their skill set.

Artist/Instructor: Linda Kalianteris

Discover the art of felting. Create a one-of-a-kind artwork using soft merino wool and the traditional techniques of needle and wet felting. Perfect for beginners and inspiring for those with experience, this workshop guides you step by step through “painting” with wool. Using a landscape image as reference, you’ll learn to layer colours, build texture, and add decorative embellishments for a personal touch.

Artist/Instructor: Rumy Glogova

*A materials kit ($25) is payable directly to the instructor (cash accepted). Additional specialty fibres will be available based on individual project needs.

Painting in watercolours is both exciting and rewarding. Further your knowledge of basic techniques with colour, value, and design theories by painting flowers and still life’s from reference photos. Participants should have completed an introductory level program, or have some experience with watercolours before signing up for this intermediate level class.

Artist/Instructor: Lori Spendiff

Brush pen calligraphy can be used to add a personal touch to everything from greeting cards to event signage. In this workshop, students will learn the fundamentals of modern brush pen calligraphy, including how to hold a brush pen, form basic strokes, and connect these strokes to form lowercase letters and words. Students will receive a set of take-home worksheets to continue their practice. No experience required. 

Discover the magic of transforming soft wool fibres into stunning, sculptural vessels in this hands-on wet felting workshop. Using water, soap, and friction, you’ll explore the traditional flat resist method to create a unique 3D vase or bowl. Perfect for both beginners and experienced felters, this workshop guides you step-by-step through shaping, texturing, and decorating your piece. Learn how to form dimensional shapes, build structure, and add personal flair with specialty fibres and embellishments.

Artist/Instructor: Rumy Glogova

*A materials kit ($25) is payable directly to the instructor (cash accepted). Additional specialty fibres will be available based on individual project needs.

This workshop is designed for anyone who has taken a beginner-level brush pen calligraphy program. Students will practice uppercase letters and learn how to use these in combination with lowercase letters and words. The workshop will also enhance their calligraphy by experimenting with style variations and simple flourishes. Students will receive a set of take-home worksheets to continue their practice. 

Artist/Instructor: Erica Pinto

The Varley Art Gallery is exited to invite you to participate in a free, two-hour art-making workshop, plus a 30 minute guided tour of our current exhibitions, designed especially for seniors. This workshop offers a wonderful opportunity for you to explore your imagination, learn new techniques, meet like-minded individuals and enjoy a relaxing creative experience. All materials provided.

Our venue is fully accessible. If your require accommodations or have special needs, please e-mail us at varley@markham.ca before your visit.

This opportunity is generously supported by the Government of Ontario, Seniors Community Grant Program.

The Varley Art Gallery is exited to invite you to participate in a free, two-hour art-making workshop, plus a 30 minute guided tour of our current exhibitions, designed especially for seniors. This workshop offers a wonderful opportunity for you to explore your imagination, learn new techniques, meet like-minded individuals and enjoy a relaxing creative experience. All materials provided.

Our venue is fully accessible. If your require accommodations or have special needs, please e-mail us at varley@markham.ca before your visit.

This opportunity is generously supported by the Government of Ontario, Seniors Community Grant Program.

Learn the fundamentals of landscape painting while exploring its beauty. Explore topics such as: oil painting safety, composition, value, and design, as well as focused lessons on how to paint sky, trees, clouds, buildings, shrubs, flowers, and more. This course is suitable for both beginner and seasoned landscape painters.
Artist/Instructor: Linda Kalianteris

Discover the magic of acrylic pouring in this dynamic class designed for all skill levels. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your technique, this course will guide you through the fundamentals and explore more advanced methods like the chain pull, bloom, and Dutch pour. Learn about colour theory, composition, mixing mediums, and how to create stunning abstract artworks with movement and depth.
Artist/Instructor: Olivana Tonon

Whether you are new to painting or returning to your practice, this program is a great way to relax and enjoy the painting process. Work in acrylics on paper and canvas along side the instructor as she guides you through beginner techniques to create landscapes, portraits, and still-life paintings from reference images. No experience required.
Artist/Instructor: Bernadette Lau

Do you wish you had more opportunities to write by hand? In this three-hour workshop, we’ll celebrate all things handwritten. The workshop will provide students with an overview of different styles and applications, as well as key considerations for improving your handwriting. Students will have the opportunity to refresh their cursive handwriting and apply their skills to a creative project.