about
I am drawn to nature, the slow opening of a seed, a lizard’s skin, the human eye up close and personal, our planet from space, molecules under a microscope. I am interested in where art comes from, the tools , the materials, and the stepping stones made by other artists before me.
Unlikely Spoon Collection
Unlikely Spoon Collection
I am part of the Group classified as the 1% or the people of the Haves. I have shelter, food ,clothes, family, a job, health and wealth. The Syrian crisis led me to thinking about the two main classes: the HAVES and the HAVENOTS. Spoon Collections reside in many homes collecting dust, always unused. This is a testament to being a Haves. If this is spoon collection never gets used, then why not make it out of very unlikely materials; hair, nails, volcanoes, the moon, toxic waste, and concrete etc. This is the beginning thought process for these works. They are conceptual, silly, dark and commenting on what us Capitalist Haves spend our hard earned money on. -August 2016
Sacred Dot Paintings
Sacred Dot Painting
I have always been intrigued with Australian Aboriginal Dot Paintings. The tools they use are round dowels of various sizes. The way of painting takes a lot of guess work out of how to paint but also is an interesting problem. with pattern and design. This is a meditative practise as much as an art form. I started out painting objects that were sacred to me as an artist. Then I branched off to things that I thought were sacred through time, religion, daily life and nation. August 2016
classes with lauren
classes with lauren
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ADULT PROGRAMS with the AGO, 317 Dundas West, Toronto (downtown) http://ago.ca/learn/courses
Tuesday
Summer Intro to Drawing April 11 – June 13 , 2018. 6-9pm , 8 weeks, Members Price $405 Public Price $470
This 8 week course will introduce students to a range of media and techniques in drawing, with a focus on the fundamental concepts of line, volume, composition and mark-making. Working with conte, graphite, ink and charcoal, students will explore various tools as they develop their skills in both observational drawing and abstract compositions. Additionally we will examine the AGO’s collections to illuminate both the historic and contemporary relevance of drawing in art. This course will prepare students for intermediate and advanced drawing classes at the AGO. Students are responsible for the purchase of their own materials. A material list is provided below. Please note that this syllabus is a guideline only, and is subject to change depending on course progression and student focus.
MATERIALS LIST All of the below items can be purchased at Curry’s or Aboveground art store, show your student card/or AGO course receipt get 10% off . Please bring all paint materials/tools each day to class.
(*bring all items each week unless otherwise stated)
*HB, 2B and 6B graphite pencil , *1 piece of compressed charcoal, 1white conte, 1 brown conte, 1 black conte , all soft 2B, *1 pad 18 x 24 cartridge paper – every week, *1 pad 18 x 24 brown kraft paper-every week, *1 sketchbook possibly 9 x 12 or size that suites you best (5 x 7 is a popular size as it is very portable) You will do homework in this, drawing every day will improve your skills. I would love to see what you do!
1 piece of Canson pastel paper –with texture in it red with some tooth for week 5 and 6 only Mungo chalk pastels set of 24 preferred, this brand is not costly and great quality
Wednesday
Fall: Intro to Painting TBD 7-10pm , 10 weeks, Members Price $450 Public Price $520 ish
This course introduces students to a variety of techniques in painting, ranging from different paint application methods to developing an awareness of volume and form. This foundation-level course draws upon the AGO’s painting collections as inspiration for painting projects. Students will complete a variety of projects using acrylic paint, due to its rapid drying properties.
Materials for the first class are provided. Acrylic paints are required. Students will receive a list of required materials for the following classes.
Thursday
Summer: Landscape Painting, AGO, July 5-26, 4 weeks 6-9pm
Learn all about Landscape Painting through technique and visiting the gallery . As this course is a workshop, it is possible 2 pieces will be finished . Good paintings usually take 6-12 hours. Images: Please have 2-3 images that interest you that include, sky, clouds, water, rocks, trees in one and possibly also simple architecture and close up of sand, trunks, bricks, plants or trees would work best for this course. The more variety the more you will get to use all techniques shown.
MATERIALS LIST: Students are required to bring the following materials for this class
Paint: Rheotec- Triart – Golden: TITANIUM white, black, light and medium yellow, red, magenta , ultramarine/pthalo blue at least – other colours hookers green, sap green, dioxonine purple , ochre, burnt sienna, burnt umber (the more colours you have, the more variety and less mixing you do but more disharmony in painting,) pick colours you like Variety of brushes: –round synthetic short handle called talkyon no 4 or 6 and 10, flat hogs hair long handle 6,8, 10 or 12 (the larger the work, the larger the brush needed), -1-2 palette knives plastic or metal Other items: -masking tape, palette, pencil, images to paint from Surfaces: 1- 2 stretched canvases the bigger the surface the bigger the brush and more paint you will use. size: larger is better to fully explore surface, 12 x 18 at least
Summer: Cityscape Painting, AGO,August 2-23 6-9pm 4 weeks
For centuries, artists have found inspiration in the cityscape – its buildings, crowds, and more intimate spaces. In this four week workshop, students will create several paintings inspired by the urban landscape and notions of the “everyday”. The AGO’s collections will frame discussions relating to the history, formal innovations, related conceptual and ideological positions of the cityscape, and its potential for both representational and abstract painterly approaches. A basic knowledge of painting techniques is highly recommended. Students are responsible for the purchase of their own materials. A materials list will be provided on the first day of class.
MATERIALS LIST Paint: good brands: Golden- Rheotec- Triart –big tube of TITANIUM white , black, light and medium yellow, red, magenta , ultramarine, pthalo blue at least , you can buy secondary /other colours if you don’t like mixing. The more colours you have, the more variety and less mixing you do but more disharmony in painting, pick colours you like Brushes : -minimum 3 brushes round short handle, synthetic talkyon no 4, 6 & 10, and three flatlong handle hogs hair 8, 10 , 12. Other items: – roll for paint brushes, bag for supplies Surfaces: 2-canvases tend to be rectangles for this subject matter, when it is abstract a square is better. You pick the size – shapes is based on the photo you are working from.
Fall : Art & Ideas: Breakfast Club Thursdays, TBD. 1030-1230pm, 5 weeks, Members Price $275 Public Price $355
This course takes the shape of a weekly social club. Using the AGO as a cultural hub, we will meet over coffee and a small pastry to view art and draw. Keeping a sketchbook is a fantastic way to share stories and ideas with new friends and family. Start your day off right with conversation, coffee, and sketching and drawing exercises in the AGO. Students are asked to bring a sketchbook, a set of soft pencils, a kneadable eraser and a white vinyl eraser, a paper stomp, a set of 24 watercolour pencils and a self-contained pencil sharpener.
Students are asked to print out a copy of their receipt and gather in the Community Gallery located in the WFLC for start of class. Receipt must be presented at the start of each class. Please check any oversized bags and outerwear. Coffee/tea and scone in Galleria Italia are included.
Friday
Fall: Intro to Painting, TBD. 6-9pm , 10 weeks, Members Price $450 Public Price $520 ish
This course introduces students to a variety of techniques in painting, ranging from different paint application methods to developing an awareness of volume and form. This foundation-level course draws upon the AGO’s painting collections as inspiration for painting projects. Students will complete a variety of projects using acrylic paint, due to its rapid drying properties.
Materials for the first class are provided. Acrylic paints are required. Students will receive a list of required materials for the following classes.
ADULT PROGRAMS with ARTiculations 2928 Dundas St West , Toronto ON (west end) http://articulations.ca/
Monday
Monday Sept 17, 2018 A Walk through the Principals of Design, 6:30-10pm $62.15 Materials & HST included -ARTiculations
Monday Oct 15,2018 Landscape Techniques, 6:30-10pm, $62.15 Materials& HST included -ARTiculations
Monday Nov. 12, 2018 Composition through Collage, 6:30-10pm, $62.15 Materials& HST included -ARTiculations
Monday Dec. 10, 2018 Realism to Abstraction , 6:30-10pm, $62.15 Materials& HST included -ARTiculations
Friday
Friday Sept. 28-Oct. 19 Acrylic Exploration 1230-330pm,4wks. $220.35 includes first day Materials & HST -ARTiculations
Friday Oct. 26-Nov. 16 Landscape Painting, 1230-330pm, 4wks. $220.35 includes first day Materials & HST -ARTiculations
Friday Nov. 23-Dec. 14 Composition through Collage, 1230-330pm, 4wks. $220.35 includes first day Materials & HST -ARTiculations
Friday Jan. TBD Abstract Painting, 1230-330pm, 4wks. $220.35 includes first day Materials & HST -ARTiculations
Saturday Workshops & Colour Theory Intensives
Colour Theory for the Practicing Artist Part 1
Nov3, 2018, Feb 2 or May 4 2019 . from 11-5 pm ( bring your lunch and all materials) Fee $124.30 (includes Taxes and surfaces only) Limited Space Please book Now! Location: ARTiculations 2928 Dundas Street west www.articulations.ca
Colour Theory for the Practicing Artist Part 2
Nov 10, 2018, Feb 9 or May 11 2019 . from 11-4 pm ( bring your lunch and all materials) Fee $107.35 (includes Taxes and surfaces only) Limited Space Please book Now! Location: ARTiculations 2928 Dundas Street west www.articulations.ca
IN Part 1: In this full day workshop students will explore how colour works in relation to its neighbours on the colour wheel. We will paint our way through true primary , secondary and tertiary colours along with homologous, analogous and complementary colours. Along the way we will gain some language about colour from hue, warm , cool, tint, tone, intensity , simultaneous contrast, luminosity and what each colours value is on the grey scale. We will also look at Colour Theorists, Itten, Munsell, and Goethe. This is a hands on workshop where you may use the paint you already have to create useful colour wheels and value scales that help you further understand what your chosen palette can do .
IN Part 2: In this second workshop the use of colour in practical exercises will help hone the skills of what colours to use when . We will look at creating depth, space, lustre , luminosity as well as the theory of extension and Simultaneous contrast.
If you are wanting to explore colour theory in its truest sense then using gouache** is the best medium to be working in as it dries quickly, matte (with no sheen) , is opaque, and does not flake. Turner and Pebeo are great brands. Reeves is inexpensive but may flake. We want paint to be ideally opaque and matte so the hue won’t be influenced by the surface or by the shininess of the paint. **Colour theory can be done in any paint medium; watercolour, oil, tempera, and acrylic; however all of them have their own challenges. Watercolour should not have the use of white as the paper acts as the white and paint is transparent but does dry quickly. Oil paint takes a long time to dry and can act quite transparently with a sheen and turns muddy quickly. Also more brushes are needed as clean up is challenging . Acrylic comes in many brands that varies in sheen, transparency and opacity along with “open paints” that are sticky and take a really long time to dry. Tempera of a low quality will mix unevenly with a gritty nature and can flake off after it dries.
Materials list:
2H or HB pencil
Palette that can hold many colours at once (several plastic yogurt lids are great )
#2, #4, talkyon round tipped brush and or #4, #6 talkyon flat tipped brush – it makes a smoother surface than hogs hair brushes
2-3 Water containers, paper towels
The colours needed for this workshop are: (titanium) white, (ivory) black , primary yellow, primary red and or magenta, primary blue or cyan. If true primaries are unavailable then owning cadmium red medium, magenta, lemon yellow, cadmium yellow medium, ultramarine blue, pthalo blue( green shade) or cyan are your best options .Exploring other yellows, reds and blues are great ways to further what your personal palette does.
Meditative Dot Painting Workshop will return in the fall 2018. . 1230-430pm Adult- 4hrs- Fee: $62.15
Learn about the Australian Aboriginal dot painting technique. Using small sticks and dowels of various sizes to create an intricately patterned tile. No painting experience is necessary. This is a great technique for those interested in pattern, rhythm and colour mixing. The state of being is altered through music and the simple action of painting dots to become a meditative state.
SUMMER RETREAT at UNICAMP, north of Shelburne
August 2018
ARTIST’S OUTDOOR RETREAT: Connecting with Nature August 26- 31 2018.
Unicamp Of Ontario, 638159 PRINCE OF WALES RD, MULMUR ON L9V 0C5
Registration: 519-925-6432 or http://unicampofontario.ca/register
Connecting with Nature with Lauren McKinley Renzetti. Using Unicamp and environs as our inspiration with its picturesque vistas, mossy craggy caves, dappled ponds, rolling hills, fantastic forests and expansive skies. We will explore the perfect location and capture the light of morning, afternoon, dusk and sunset. In three or four sessions a day create a series of studies in your media of choice with on location drawing and painting.These studies can be small and detailed and can then be a spring board for larger works back in your studio or be finished works in their own right. Go off on your own, or stick with the camaraderie of the group. Be introduced to a variety of techniques and strategies to create interesting composition. This retreat is for all abilities, whether you are a practicing artist or just starting out, you set your own pace. Bring your own materials. Unicamp Of Ontario Registration: 519-925-6432 http://unicampofontario.ca
Program Fee: sliding scale $150, + Accommodation & Food about $350
Dates: August 26-31- 2018 Sunday 5pm- Friday 4pm Limited Space BOOK NOW!
