Regular Group Sessions
WEEKLY SCHEDULE
Mondays: am - Life Drawing pm - Social Painters Botanical Art Group AAG Meetings - second Monday of every second month, from February - 12.30pm Tuesdays: AAG Plein Air Oils - mornings, fortnightly - venues vary Wednesdays: Pastels - morning and afternoon groups Fridays - Printmaking - fortnightly - various Workshops and teaching/interactive sessions - TBA. Saturdays - occasional tutored Workshops and Classes Sundays - Portraits from Life... (a.m. sessions) N.B: Visitors are encouraged to attend up to three AAG Group sessions before making the commitment to apply to join AAG. All indoor sessions are held in the Art Room, Vancouver Arts Centre. |
Life / Figure Drawing, Monday morning sessions, VAC
Albany Art Group artists are enthusiastically taking on the challenge of drawing the figure from life. Our Life Drawing Group has been in operation for over 20 years, and is still going strong!
Models provided are varied - male/female, old/young, clad/not, swimsuit or full costume - a varied activity program is now in operation, to suit all participants drawing requirements. Easels and other equipment is provided, and a supply of paper and charcoal - but attendees are welcome to bring their own materials, and to work in any medium. Instruction from the tutor, Marjan Bakhtiarikish, is given as required, and help from other experienced artists is also available. Artists of all abilities and experience levels are welcome, and we are always happy to hear from potential new models. The group is coordinated by Steve and Marjan - Mondays 10 - 12 noon For details contact: [email protected] |
AAG Botanical Art Group - Monday afternoons, VAC
Botanical Art is another new venture for AAG, started in June 2022. This has been primarily a teaching group, with instruction given to progress participants through learning the essential basic drawing skills, to creating their own fully developed botanical artworks. More advanced artists do work independently within the group, with help available on request.
The group is tutored by botanical and wildlife artist Abigail Parker. What is involved? Botanical Art is art whose goal is to depict whole plants or parts of plants in a manner that is both aesthetically pleasing and scientifically accurate. Botanical Art is basically a visual description of the plant - and in its purest form, Botanical Illustration, the artwork shows all stages of growth, from root structure through buds, flowers and seeds. Both Botanical Art and Botanical Illustration should be botanically and scientifically accurate, but Botanical Art can be more subjective and focused on aesthetics; it does not have to be a complete representation. Botanical Illustration, on the other hand, is for the purpose of showing all parts of a plant so that it can be scientifically identified. Our group will be focusing on Botanical Art. AAG Botanical Art sessions are held in the VAC Art Room from 12.30 to 2.30pm every Monday (except for the 2nd Monday each month, which is currently AAG Meeting day - this will be a 'home study' week). Cost: members, $5 a session. Non-members (first 3 sessions) $10 Teaching hours are 12.30 to 2.30, but session closes 3.30pm. For details contact: [email protected] or phone Abigail 0403 783 669 |
AAG Social Painters - Monday afternoons, VAC
Social Painters is a painters drop-in centre, where members can use the facilities and equipment provided to work on their own projects. Painting alongside other like-minded artists enables a free flow and exchange of ideas - and valuable feed-back on your artwork, if requested.
Many of our members are experienced and talented artists, who can offer advice on issues such as painting methods and problem solving, tools and equipment, preparing for exhibitions, pricing your work, etc. There is no cost to members for this session. Starts 12.30pm. For details contact: [email protected] |
AAG Plein Air Oil Painting Group
Our AAG Plein Air painters meet every second Tuesday morning. Venues are decided within the group, and vary according to weather conditions!
For details, or if you would be interested in working Plein Air in another medium, please contact: [email protected] |
AAG Pastel Group, Wednesday sessions, VAC
The AAG pastel group started in June 2021 with a group of enthusiastic artists wanting to try out this wonderful medium, improve their pastel work, and socialise with like minded pastel enthusiasts.
Attendees are welcome to bring their own projects, take advantage of the workshops and help given by experienced pastel artists, or just watch and learn how this medium works from others. The Pastel Group encourages the building of skills and sharing of ideas and techniques in a friendly relaxing setting. All levels are welcome, from beginners to experienced pastel artists. Sessions run every Wednesday from 12 to 3.30pm, at the VAC. Cost is $3 for members, $5 for non members (first 3 sessions). Coordinated by Zoe Butler and Mary Young for the Albany Art Group. For details contact: [email protected] |
AAG Printmaking Group - alternate Fridays, VAC
Printmaking is our latest venture, with a new group initiated by our talented AAG member, well-known Print artist Bev Doig.
This is a working group, focused on lino-cut techniques. Members are expected to have some experience with the medium, as it is not a teaching group as such - though of course, learning opportunities will occur throughout. The VAC printing press is available for members use. The Printmaking Group started early in 2023, and runs at the VAC, in the Art Room, from 10am - 3pm on alternate Fridays. Cost is $5 for members, $10 for non members (first 3 sessions). For details contact: [email protected] or phone Bev: 0438 587 717 |
AAG Friday & Saturday Workshops, & Tutored/Interactive Sessions
This is a new initiative, begun in May 2023 due to the increasing pressure on the use of our Art Room. Alternate Fridays and Saturdays are now earmarked for running various Workshops, organised by Workshops Coordinator Sue Giles.
On the Fridays/Saturdays when no formal Workshop is planned, members are being asked to come forward with their own tutorial sessions - these can be paid tutorials (from those who are suitably experienced), or simply an ideas exchange, experimental session, etc, proposed and organised by an individual member among like-minded artists. Cost varies... TBA For details and schedule, please contact: [email protected] |
'Portraits from Life', Sunday morning sessions, VAC
This group is run by award-winning international artist and excellent teacher Marjan Bakhtiarikish. The group has a relaxed and friendly ambience, and is open to all skill levels, with everyone having the freedom to work as they like.
Marjan works with 8/10 people each session, to make sure everyone gets a good angle to work from. Everyone can use whatever medium they like, though her recommendation would be graphite, charcoal or any other medium in monochrome. The group members are sometimes the models, so they sit for each other in turn. Actual models are increasingly being used, and Marjan is providing teaching as requested. Portrait painting and drawing is her passion, and she has studied portraiture in various schools in Florence, Italy. For details contact: [email protected] |