classes with lauren Have a question? Send an email.
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
Spring 2024
wednesday nights 7-10pm Intro to Printmaking- 5 weeks March 20-April 17
Learn about monoprinting, dry point intaglio, lino relief and silkscreen stencil printmaking in this 5 week course.
SUMMER
June 7-9- Tapping Into Your Creative Spirit with Anne Bokma & Lauren Renzetti
Unicamp artist-in-residence Lauren Renzetti and award-winning author and memoir instructor Anne Bokma will return to co-facilitate a weekend retreat designed to help you nurture and explore your creativity with the intention of connecting more deeply with yourself, with others and with nature. Lauren and Anne are experienced leaders in guiding participants in imaginative and meaningful exercises focussed on both visual art and writing. This workshop is inspired by the words of poet Maya Angelou who wrote, “You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” Come get creative with us! No experience necessary! Bring a sketchbook or notebook, & favourite mark making tools for a variety of exercises. Maximum participants: 15 more information needed mckinleyrenzetti@gmail.com or annebokmawriter@gmail.com Retreat fee: $184 (50 % due upon registration)
August 25- 30, 2024 Sunday- Friday . In person & outdoors… 5 DAY INTENSIVE ARTIST RETREAT North of Toronto course fee: $160, Accommodation/ food about $400 Unicamp Of Ontario, http://unicampofontario.ca/register
August 2024
SUMMER RETREAT at UNICAMP, north of Shelburne
ARTIST’S OUTDOOR RETREAT: Connecting with Nature August 25-30, 2024 .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: $160, + Accommodation & you must bring your own food, about $350 Dates: August 25-30, 2025. Sunday 5pm- 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/
Tuscany Retreat
Paint in Tuscany with Lauren . Sign up for one or two weeks. Space is limited to 12 participants! Registration and Information: mckinleyrenzetti@gmail.com
hopefully we can do this in 2025!
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 | |