Susan Staniforth - Contemporary Canadian Artist

Workshops

Art Instructor

Susan’s philosophy as an art instructor is simple. “Teaching art should  not be about me and my work. It should be about the learners and  their work. My job is to nurture artistic growth and personal expression in the learner.” Susan offers workshops, private lessons, group courses, and art college preparation coaching. Workshops can be customized upon request. Pre-designed workshops include:

Gourdgeous
Learn about hard shell gourd craft and how to create lovely functional and non-functional gourd craft such as bowls, vases, instruments or sculpture.

Doing It Naturally
The focus for this workshop is to create mixed media works that feature natural materials. Recycled or found objects may be incorporated.

The Essence of Semi-Abstraction
Exploring the concept of semi-abstraction defined as “the creation of meaningful, expressive images inspired by / derived from actual subjects”.

Getting Personal
Through the process of creating a visual diary, participants develop  self-expression and creative thinking skills. Preparatory work is required.

Expressive Life Drawing
Workshop participants are encouraged to explore approaches that  expand their ability to creatively express the “essence” of the model.

Expressive Colour Exploration
Colour exercises are followed by creation of at least one finished artwork that applies concepts learned. Emphasis is on expressive use of colour.

From past participants.

"Donna" Peterborough, Ontario

"Thank you Susan for your words of encouragement. It was a relaxing workshop that allowed one to feel safe in the process of exploration and fun. Thank you for helping to make it happen! You taught "a way" which enabled individuals to step beyond "our comfortable way".

"Sandy" Lindsay, Ontario.

"Well, it's the "morning after" and on reviewing my painting from yesterday, I am entirely pleased with myself. This is exactly the kind of thing I have always wanted to do - the kind of thing I am attracted to in other paintings and have never managed to produce. I credit you for much of it. I think you are a great teacher, so thank you, thank you - I know I have a long way to go and much work to do if I want to pursue this, but at least I feel that I have an idea of how to go about it."