Unleash your inner artist, fuel your inspiration with new skills and energy, travel to Manitoulin Island, a truly magical and beautiful destination for a wide variety of art workshops that will challenge, stimulate and inspire. Perivale Gallery's workshop instructors are professional artists, leaders in the field, who have extraordinary skill and a passion to introduce and share their knowledge of new materials and methods and, with encouragement and supportive collaboration, invite you to develop your abilities and enjoy a transformative creative experience.

Our 3 day weekend workshops run from 9:30 – 3:30 and are mostly held at the Spring Bay Community Centre 92 Hwy 542 in Spring Bay, right in the centre of Manitoulin Island. To register, first email your intention to reserve a spot to ensure availability & then send an e-transfer to Perivale Gallery, perivalegallery@gmail.com or a cheque to Perivale Gallery, Box 58, Spring Bay, ON, P0P 2B0 .

Putting what you see onto the canvas/board/paper is always a challenge. We’ll work together on your project and really 'see' the subject/scene and interpret the impact of sunlight and local colour. There are special effects that impact what you actually see and I will show how they can be incorporated into your project.  Recognizing these subtle effects adds a new dimension to your work and enhances the final outcome. Bring ideas for a project or one that you have in progress and I will work with you to develop it further.  All levels and media are welcome.  

Open the doors to Light and Magic. It’s in you, and this workshop will help you find it. 
Ruth paints imaginative watercolours full of luscious colour and beautiful light. During this workshop you will learn how to see opportunities for magic, make your paintings glow, and how to add the mystery that draws one in. Using transparent watercolours and acrylic inks, Ruth will show you how to first set the stage with a light filled background, then develop your subject. No matter what you paint, working with light and magic always makes it stand out! All levels welcome…bring your magic heart and fresh eyes!

Discover new approaches to using fibre, fabric and stitch (machine & hand) to create your own magnificent landscape.  You will interpret your own photo or picture, build it, stitch it using different techniques and a variety of materials. Choose to create one 15” x 20” picture or several (4 or5) 6” x 8” small scenes. Bring your imagination and be prepared to break the rules and colour outside the lines.  You will need a working sewing machine or your kit for hand stitching. All levels welcome.

Learn the art of painting landscapes in a LARGE format with the power of shadows and highlights.  Working from photo references, we’ll use exaggeration of highlights, shadows & powerful colours on larger canvasses(ie. 36x36, 30x40..) to create a dynamic landscape painting. You’ll work towards the development of your own style while gaining a better understanding of the foundations of strong landscape painting. We’ll also look at using large brush strokes, and base tones. Acrylic or oils focused, but all levels and media welcome.

Tom Thomson & the Group of Seven had a unique view of the Canadian landscape. Learn vital tools like editing and simplifying compositions for strong painting statements. Understand colour & value to paint with passion. See shapes not things to help develop your own unique creative voice.  Oils or acrylics focused, but all levels and media welcome.

Who doesn’t love a landscape dotted with trees? Windswept pines on Georgian Bay, showy silver, birches, or stately Canadian maples? Let’s try our hand at all of them! We will practise how to draw them first, then we will work with your preferred painting medium to do a tree portrait or a tree scape. Emphasis will be on painting, using unexpected colours and a variety of techniques. Let’s grow a forest together, one tree at a time! Oils or acrylics focused, but all levels and media welcome.

Let’s get up close and personal with both wild and domesticated flowers and grasses. Explore with new eyes to re-discover these delicate or hardy, shy or erotic, brilliant or subdued, but always beautiful Nature’s gifts. We will review such techniques as: using a limited palette, transparent glazing, negative painting, applying textures, and colour theory.  Painting from your own photos or still life set-ups, you will become truly inspired by the flora waiting for you in your garden and roadsides. Watercolour focused, but all levels and media are welcome.

Under the guidance of this iconic artist and teacher, explore the creative process: how we see what is and what may be. We will discuss art and working out its problems, colour and breaking its barriers and field work sketches and their birth. Bring ideas, reference materials and an open mind to discover and create all things bright and beautiful. All levels and media welcome.

A weekend of painting and learning to mix beautiful new colour palettes that enhance your compositions, uplift your mood and deepen your understanding of how bold or very subtle colours can make your paintings pop. We will focus on the drama of sunrises and sunsets. Oils or acrylics focused, but all levels and media welcome.

Painting outdoors is an important skill any painter should have in their toolbox. Young or ‘old’, beginner or advanced, everyone benefits from fresh air and painting outdoors. It offers unique challenges that, with the right preparation, provide immeasurable rewards. We will learn about the tools, tricks, shortcuts, and preparations that make the en plein air experience fun and exciting. We visit several easily accessible locations on the island that offer exciting paint opportunities. Oils or acrylics focused, but all levels and media welcome.

Perivale Gallery named Northern Ontario Tourism Innovator of the Year at NOTS annual summit

 Perivale Gallery received the Travelers' Choice designation from TripAdvisor which is awarded to the best activities around the world, according to travellers who have done them—and loved every minute.

We are very proud to announce that Perivale Gallery's very talented contemporary artist, Cathy Boyd is featured in the Winter 2017 edition of Arabella Magazine - Canadian Art, Architecture & Design.

We are very proud to announce that Perivale Gallery's very talented contemporary artist, Jay Favot is featured in the Spring/Summer 2017 edition of Arabella Magazine - Canadian Art, Architecture & Design, "Energy and Vigour" celebrates Jay's approach to his art. "When I am in my studio I feel a calmness and tranquility. I am single-minded in trying to get all the elements of a painting just right." He certainly knows how to do that!

We are very proud to announce that Perivale Gallery's very talented contemporary artist, Lisa Free is featured in the Summer Harvest 2016 edition of Arabella Magazine - Canadian Art, Architecture & Design, "It's All about the Light" celebrates Lisa's journey and evolution as an outstanding artist. "Paint what gets you excited!" Lisa certainly does that with gusto!

We are so proud to announce that Perivale Gallery's outstanding stained glass artist, Hadyn Butler is featured in the current edition of Arabella Magazine - Canadian Art, Architecture & Design, Canada's foremost art magazine. This excellent article, "Hadyn Butler, Artist to Collect: enLIGHTened Portraits", written by Sudburian Hugh Kruzel, celebrates the unique talent and kaleidoscopic playfulness of the work of Hadyn Butler. Plan a visit to us to view Hadyn's magic!

We are so proud to announce that Manitoulin and Perivale Gallery artist, Ivan Wheale is featured in the current edition of Arabella magazine.  Arabella Magazine - Canadian Art, Architecture & Design, Canada's foremost art magazine, is featuring an article, "Artist to Collect", celebrating Perivale Gallery 's prolific Manitoulin artist, Ivan Wheale. Given Ivan Wheale's iconic status in the North as an award winning landscape painter, this excellent article, written by Sudburian Hugh Kruzel, is certain to generate a lot of interest beyond the obviously artistic, and extend perhaps, to an increased touristic interest in our magical and inspiring Manitoulin and Georgian Bay vistas.
Arabella magazine will be available in bookstores across Canada and beyond, beginning this weekend.