Canadian Impressionism: From the Group of Seven to Contemporary Practice

Canadian Impressionism: From the Group of Seven to Contemporary Practice

6 Week Class | Registration opens 2026-04-14 12:00 PM

Adult: Introduction to Intermediate
2026-07-09-2026-08-13
2:00 PM-5:00 PM on Th
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$338.00 CAD

Canadian Impressionism: From the Group of Seven to Contemporary Practice

6 Week Class | Registration opens 2026-04-14 12:00 PM

Celebrate the uniquely Canadian way of painting "in the moment." This course dives into the luminous world of our own Impressionist masters, from the sun-dappled scenes of Helen McNicoll to the rugged, iconic spirit of Tom Thomson. We’ll explore how these painters laid the groundwork for a national style, and trace that evolution through to the expressive, vibrant practices of Canadian artists today.

Following the tradition of the Group of Seven, we will focus on the relationship between the "sketch" and the "masterpiece." You’ll spend the first few weeks creating a series of small, fast-paced studies—capturing the fleeting magic of landscapes, still lives, and daily scenes. You’ll then learn how to translate those energetic sketches into one refined, larger work.

The goal of this course is to help you paint with newfound confidence. By focusing on bold brushwork, intentional colour, and capturing your subject with as few strokes as possible, you’ll learn to say more with less!

Base Tuition: $338 Total
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  • What You Will Learn:
    - Techniques for capturing light, colour, and atmosphere through expressive brushwork
    - The evolution of Canadian Impressionism
    - How to approach smaller, quicker studies to capture a fleeting moment
    - How to build compositions inspired by outdoor observation and spontaneous mark-making
    - Methods for developing a personal Impressionist-inspired painting style
  • Please keep all purchase receipts in case items need to be returned.

    - Oil or acrylic paints (titanium white, ultramarine blue, phthalo blue, cadmium yellow light / lemon yellow, yellow ochre, cadmium red light, alizarin crimson, quinacridone violet, burnt sienna, burnt umber and viridian)
    - Assorted brushes (rounds and filberts, sizes 2–10)
    - Palette and small palette knife
    - 1 tube of Burnt Sienna acrylic paint (whether working in oil or acrylic, this is a great paint to tone your base).
    - Gesso-primed wood panels, masonite boards or stretched canvases (3–4, between 9" x 12" and 11" x 14").
    - GAMSOL Solvent if using oils
    - 1 glass jar with a lid
    - Rags or paper towels
    - Reference photos of impressionist paintings you wish to study

Joyce, Emily
Emily Joyce

Emily is a Toronto-based painter and paintings conservator. She specializes in the study of paint materials, from traditional egg tempera and oil paints to contemporary acrylics and mediums. The crossover of art and science in her profession has allowed her an in-depth exploration of the history and techniques of painters from a range of historical time periods such as the Renaissance, Impressionism and Pop Art. These studies have inspired her classes and workshops at the TSA. Emily has a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours) with a minor in art History and a Master's of Art Conservation (Queen’s University), as well as a certificate in Traditional Materials, Methods of Painting and Restoration techniques through San Gemini Preservation Studies in Italy. Outside of the TSA, Emily works at Toronto Art Restoration in the west end, conserving a range of artworks from Tom Thomson landscapes to Michael Snow's Eaton Centre’s Geese.