classes with lauren Have a question? Send an email.
Fall 2022 AGO classes are Live & in person! Hurray!
ADULT PROGRAMS with the AGO, 317 Dundas West, Toronto (downtown) http://ago.ca/learn/courses https://ago.ca/learn/courses
Wednesday 630-930pm –Intro to Painting , 10 weeks, using acrylics Sept 28 -Nov 30. We explore value, colour theory, still life, landscape, abstraction, portraiture and all sorts of techniques with each subject matter. https://ago.ca/learn/courses/introduction-painting-0
Thursday 10-1pm Intro to Painting, 10 weeks, acrylics Sept 29 – Dec 1 We explore value, colour theory, still life, landscape, abstraction, portraiture and all sorts of techniques with each subject matter. https://ago.ca/learn/courses/introduction-painting-0
Thursday 2-5pm Contemporary Painting, 5 weeks, acrylics with materials exploration Sept 29- Oct 27 learn about different substrates, the various ways to stretch, grommet and show your work. look at technicques with gesso, gel and crackle mediums. using materials fomr home form kitchen and from your garage to be in the now of painting.https://ago.ca/learn/courses/contemporary-painting
Thursday 2-5pm Painting Explorations inspired by Denyse Thomasos. 5 weeks, acrylics- Nov 3- Dec 1 we iwll look at using a paint stick to balenace, masking tape to create hard edges and how to convey architecture, spaces and pattern . we iwll look at how to achieve ideas through several ways to enlarge your work, working form a grid as well as from overhead projectors.https://ago.ca/learn/courses/painting-explorations-inspired-denyse-thomasos
Friday 2-5pm Intro to Printmaking, 5 weeks , Sept 29- Oct 27 work with mono print, collagraph, soft linoleum, drypoint into plexiglass as well as silkscreen. great intro to a few styles of printmaking https://ago.ca/learn/courses/introduction-printmaking
Friday 2-5pm AGO Highlights , drawing in the gallery 5 weeks, – Nov 4- Dec. 2 visit gallery spaces and walk in the shoes of many artists and art styles, from Indigenous mystical owls to Henry Moore Sculpture, to quiet paintings of rooms, to Impressionist landscapes. Explore the gallery learning about the how, the why, and the who of the art in the gallery learning nifty drawing techniques along the way !https://ago.ca/learn/courses/ago-highlights-drawing-galleries
Don’t have time for a 5 or 10 week committment ? No worries then join me for a 1 hour quick artmaking forray via zoom!
AGO senior social coming up One Tuesday a month. Join me- its free!
Tuesdays September 13, 11am-12pm https://ago.ca/events/seniors-social-betty-goodwin-and-armand-guillaume
Tuesday October 11, 11am-12pm, https://ago.ca/events/seniors-social-ed-pien
Tuesday November 8 11-12 in Person and with zoom it sall about printmaking!!!
Tuesday December 13, 11 am-12pm
To keep you art engaged!:
1 minute video of painting a sunset sky https://youtu.be/Q-3trhvt1dk 7minute video of the same sunset and sky as a tutorial https://youtu.be/SK3N9C00CgY 1 minute video of painting a sunset on water https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrCXLAgDzzk 9 minute video of the same sunset and water as a tutorial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbwB4tvCiIk&t=476s
View my sketchbooks and videos: Earth View https://youtu.be/2sdt31qM8yw Live in a Red House https://youtu.be/-LbBHWzqou0 Moon View https://youtu.be/gK_YUvWz2qA Nite For Rest https://youtu.be/MUJ9HVzVchI Texture https://youtu.be/PLbzFSnFqYE Yes https://youtu.be/PWmASQzGEa0 Music with visuals- Wonder Blessing https://youtu.be/3N4DQwQH4o0 People Ring https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huor7IasyRg Home & Studio Tour https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvEvkVCTv5o
SUMMER Sunday- Friday August 27- Sep 1, 2023. In person & outdoors… 5 DAY INTENSIVE ARTIST RETREAT North of Toronto course fee: $150, Accommodation/ food about $400 Unicamp Of Ontario, http://unicampofontario.ca/register
This is running, in 2020-2021 & 2022 we all did well, even with some COVID restrictions but there are meals in the dining hall, or outside and you can bring your own meals . Tenting and cooking on your camp site is also an option. Art making can easily be done with social distancing as we are on 60 acres.we had a full group of 14 people each year and a lot of fun painting!
August 2023
SUMMER RETREAT at UNICAMP, north of Shelburne
ARTIST’S OUTDOOR RETREAT: Connecting with Nature August 27-Sept 1, 2023 .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 watercolour paint or pencil , ink , chalks or pastels, with on location drawing and painting.( Lauren would like to work mostly in watercolour this year but don’t let that hinder you if you have the room for other supplies. Waterdcolour lightweight and is so easy to carry around. ) 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: $150, + Accommodation & you must bring your own food, about $350 Dates: August 30- Sept 4, 2020. Sunday 4pm- Friday 4pm Limited Space BOOK NOW!
photographs courtesy of Oliver Yang www.OliverYang.com
Supplies & Things to Bring I will be working in watercolour and demonstrating in that medium. You of course can use acrylic but it is harder to do work outside with . Less materials/choices are actually better than more, so pick one main medium and work in that.
Suggested Art Materials List Basics: * means optional Small Travel Sketchbook, along with a Canson Mixed Media Sketchbook 7 x9 , or 11 x 14 -heavier paper for wet studies – For sunrises and sunsets the view changes dramatically every few minutes so a few sketchbooks or surfaces is good so you can do very quick sketches.
2h,2b, 6b pencil, erasure, sharpener , paper stomp, erasing shield, *pilot fineliner or a waterbased ink pen , *watercolour pencils-derwent is lovely, reeves is economical and good too, *(digital) camera or phone with camera, water containers with lids, *foldable seat or bucket with towel to carry and sit on, blue painters masking tape to create borders on longer studies.ask for the Non stickier tape,
for watercolour water paints wet or dry, palette, talkon brushes round, flat sizes #2-8 , sponges, wax crayon or masking fluid*, plexiglass board 18″ x 24″ , masking tape, 140lb paper block pad or 200lb individual sheets of Waterford or Arches or Fabriano .
Other Things to know: Unicamp is an Unitarian Universalist Camp It follows the 7 UU principals that believe we should respect all life and the earth. Explore all 7 principals through art making and quiet reflection!
Accommodation: Unicamp has 3 types of accommodation 50 tent sites (up to 6 people), 6 rustic dorms with bunk beds, bathroom and meals in dining hall and private cottages (for 6 people) with shared kitchens. Cottages and dorms go fast, so book early. You can order tasty meals in the dining hall or cook your own food. Food is usually 60% vegetarian, and they can accommodate most special diets with notification.
Bedding:Bring sheets, pillows, quilts or sleeping bags- it can get to as low as 5 degrees at night this late in the season.
Clothing: Be prepared to Layer up and layer down. During the day the weather is sunny and hot, but once the sun sets temperatures do drop. Unicamp has a 3 acre spring fed pond with swimming and canoeing. Towels, bathing suits, sweaters, wet weather clothing, sun hats, sunscreen, bug juice are also recommended.
Directions: From Shelburne take County Rd. 124 north to Redickville, go east (right) on County Rd. 21 past Honeywood to Prince of Wales, go south to #638159. There is a large sign on the left. Please note that GPS and internet map programs tell you to take County Road 20. Please do not do this as it will bring you up from the poorly maintained bottom of Prince of Wales Rd. Please take County Road 21 (some maps show Side Road 25).For more detailed information including maps please visit website: http://unicampofontario.ca/directions-to-unicamp/
Paint in Tuscany with Lauren from September 16-30,2020. Sign up for one or two weeks. Space is limited to 12 participants! Registration and Information: mckinleyrenzetti@gmail.com This won’t happen due to Covid for 2020–2022 but check in for 2023!
September 2023?
When– From Sept 16 to Sept 30, 2020. 1 or 2 week options , leaving Toronto Sept 16/222 overnight, arrive in Rome morning of Sept 16 or the 22, 2020 . This is cancelled this year due to covid 19 but will return ( hopefully ) at a similar time in 2021.
Package includes: -Pick up and drop off at the Rome airport and transport to Villa which is about 2 hours from Rome. -7 or 14 nights shared accommodation with own bathroom in an authentic Tuscan farmhouse -6 or 12 days of painting classes- plein air mostly (4-5 hours per day) with Lauren Renzetti -3 meals per day, with wine included with dinner prepared by inhouse gourmet chef -A Visit to Cetona and a visit to Orvieto- nearby Tuscan towns.
Cost for 1 week double occupancy/sharing a room $1600 each or $2000single private for one week- single private room/bathroom
Cost for 2 weeks $ 2750each, sharing a room or $3500single private room and bathroom for 2 weeks
Note price does not include flight cost (estimated at $1000)
Art Making Schedule:
Sunrise drawing /painting -1hr.- Optional
8:30-9:30am Continental Breakfast
Possible Technique building -1hr.
Painting session outside 1-3 hr.
1-2pmLunch
Painting session outside 1- 3 hr.
7:00 Dinner
Here is a sample itinerary that was shared with the 2017 tourist and painting program. I may include the opportunity to paint/draw the sunrise and sunset depending on the views available to us. They will always be optional.
| All |
Painting workshop |
| Day 1 wedensday- Arrival |
|
| 1-1:30 Transferred from airport in Rome to our villa (2.5hours) |
|
| 5:30 Meet and Greet at Villa Alari |
|
| 7:00 Welcome Dinner |
|
| Day 2-thursday |
|
| 8:30-9:30am Continental Breakfast |
|
|
9:30-11:00Grounds-Local Tour (identifying painting spots) |
|
11-1pm Intro-Painting in studio |
| 1-2pm lunch |
|
|
2-3:30 painting outside |
|
3:30-6:00pm visit Cetona |
| 7:00 Dinner |
|
| Day 3- Friday |
|
| 8:30-9:30am Continental Breakfast |
|
|
10-1pm painting outside |
| 1-2pm lunch |
|
|
2-4 painting |
| 7:00 Dinner |
|
| Day 4- Saturday |
|
| 8:30-9:30am Continental Breakfast |
|
|
10-1pmvisit Chiusi’s marketor Painting Outside |
| 1-2pm Lunch |
|
|
2-4:30 painting |
|
|
| 7pm Dinner |
|
| Day 5- Sunday |
|
| 8:30-9:30am Continental Breakfast |
|
| Visit Florence |
explore mixed media etc. |
| 7pm Dinner |
|
| Day 6- Monday |
|
| 8:30-9:30am Continental Breakfast |
|
|
10-1pm Paint |
| 1-2pm Lunch |
|
|
2-5 Paint |
| 7pm dinner |
|
| Day 7- Tuesday |
|
| 8:30-9:30am Continental Breakfast |
|
|
10-1pm Paint |
| 1-2pm Lunch |
|
|
2-5 paint |
| 7:00 Farewell Dinner |
|
| Day 8- Wednesday Departure |
|
| 8:30am- Depart for aiport |
9AM Visit market in Cetona |
| 8:30-9:30am Continental Breakfast |
|
| 1-2pm Lunch |
|
|
2-5pm Paint |
| 5:30 Meet and Greet arrivals at Villa |
|
| 7:00 Welcome Dinner |
|
some reviews from students :
5/5Lauren is a colour master and great teacher! Her course gave new insights into how colour theory and provided practical tips on application to painting and printmaking. Highly recommended!- DG
5/5The balance of content with hands on painting was effective. It was a fun day, but we sure worked hard. Lauren is amazing at keeping a fast pace and yet continually touching base with each student. I look forward to taking other courses with her.- PS
5/5Lauren was excellent, well prepared and her teaching method was first rate. The only thing for me was that by 2-2:30 my brain was fried, have no idea how this could be dealt with.-DM
5/5Lauren is awesome! She is patient and approachable. The course design is amazing. I learned so much in one day. Loved that we were put to “work” right away. Lots of great exercises and learning activities. Thank you so much Lauren!! -LS
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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.
