The Pearl Ellis Art Gallery (PEG) is offering two workshops in February.
The first is “Watercolour Seascapes for Beginners,” a two-day watercolour course focusing on painting seascapes, taught by Alora Griffin.
A recently retired architect and former art teacher, Griffin has been focusing exclusively on watercolour painting for the past decade. She feels watercolour is an ideal medium to explore how water and land interact along shorelines. Using transparent primary paint colours, students will learn about colour theory: how to mix and layer colours, how to apply ‘wet in wet,’ ‘wet on dry,’ ‘dry on wet,’ and ‘dry-brush’ techniques, how to paint both solid and gradated washes, and will learn to paint a simple seascape featuring water, land, and clouds. This two-day beginners watercolour workshop will be held on Sunday, Feb. 4 and 11, from 1-5 p.m. The cost is $100 for PEG members and $130 for non-members. There will be a follow-up two-day watercolour workshop for intermediates on Sunday, March 3 and 10, from 1-5 p.m.
The second workshop for February is “Paint Night with Kelsie Gibson.”
Gibson has been passionate about art from a very young age and has been honing her skills ever since. Growing up on Vancouver Island, she was captivated by the stunning natural scenery and wildlife surrounding her. Gibson teaches the group how to complete a beginner-friendly painting over the course of a couple of hours. If you have always wanted to try painting, this is the class for you. She works with acrylic paint and everything is provided - paint, canvas, easel, apron, everything. She teaches basic techniques like mixing colours, blending, and how to use brushes to your advantage. The project for this event is called “Arbutus by the Sea.” This fun afternoon will take place on Sunday, Feb. 25, from 2-4 p.m. The cost is $45 for members and $75 for non-members.
The public can sign up for one or both workshops by phoning 250-339-2822 or dropping by the gallery, located at 1729 Comox Ave. The gallery is open Tuesday to Saturday from noon to 4 p.m.
The Pearl Ellis Gallery is a nonprofit society established in 1977 to support the arts in Comox.