On Father’s Day I was joined by a friendly group of artists eager to learn how to draw landscapes.  The outdoor class took place in the stunning Black Oak Savannah located in High Park.

We spent the first part of the class talking about the savannah ecosystem and walking through all the steps in the creative process.  Oaks surpassing more than a century are the main feature of this setting; so much of the focus was on learning how to portray these ancient trees.

After the initial group lesson, we went for a walk through the savannah so that everyone could soak up the atmosphere and consider the many possibilities.  The group then selected spots along the trail to settle in and get on with the task of drawing.  As they were working, I went around checking on each person and had the pleasure of watching their drawings develop.

Thank you Mirella, Jen, Alicia, Kaliopi, Zachary, Jan, Deb, Jeff and Pramila for your enthusiasm which made for a wonderful Sunday afternoon.  The weather forecast was calling for record heat and humidity, but under the cooling shade of the black oaks, I think it was quite comfortable for everyone. 

I think everybody did exceptional work and I hope that you’ll continue to build on what you learned in class.  Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any drawing questions.

Special thanks to the awesome staff at the High Park Nature Centre for all the behind the scenes work that went into making this class possible.