fawn, Dianne Bersea photo dawn, Cortes Island, Dianne Bersea photo Desolation Sound View, Dianne Bersea photo Hollyhock lilies, Dianne Bersea photo Dianne painting, Doreen Guthrie photo

Art Workshops with Dianne Bersea cspwc, AFCA
New 2009 Season

Join Us on the Canadian West Coast among BC's coastal islands or interior ranch country
Watch for other workshops that may be added to the schedule. Scroll down.
Photo Album of previous workshops Dianne's artwork
Suggested Materials & Supplies More info:
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Participant Comments Article
Dianne's Story
Workshop Dates Workshop Descriptions
Contact

March 13 - 15, 2009
7 - 9 pm Friday evening,
9 - 4 pm Saturday,
9 - 1 pm Sunday

Firesign Art & Design Studio
Quadra Island
British Columbia

An Introduction to Watercolour.

This is an excellent opportunity to get the brushes moving or "brush up" on watercolour techniques! Ideal for those new to watercolour or those seeking a watercolour refresher. Participants will begin with simple exercises to build good brush skills, colour mixing and painting techniques. Learn the secrets of working wet-in-wet, layering colour and creating strong compositions. Easy step-by-step exercises build confidence while learning new skills, maintaining colour brilliance and experiencing the magic of watercolour. Join Dianne for this gentle introductory watercolour workshop with demonstrations and supportive reviews throughout each day.

Materials list provided or for additional fee all materials will be supplied.
delicious brush 1

info@firesignartanddesign.com
or firesignartanddesign.com

April 3 - 5, 2009

Quesnel Arts and Recreation Centre, Quesnel, BC

Transcend Detail, Paint with Shape
!
We live in a busy visual environment! Watercolour painters often struggle with all that detail, get bogged down in complexities. Here’s an ideal workshop to simplify the process, reduce the detail and create bold images that get attention! Learn to see the world in large areas of color and shape that translate easily to the painting. The secret of success… seeing the tree instead of the leaves, seeing the field instead of the grasses, knowing when to let go and when to stop. Each day will include several demonstrations, frequent reviews and a wrap-up gallery and discussion. This workshop is designed for the advanced beginner to intermediate watercolour artist.
northern painting by Dianne Bersea

Contact Dianne for information

April 7 - 10, 2009

Peace Gallery North
Fort Saint John, BC

Back by Popular Demand!

"Learn to see the world in large areas of color and shape that translate easily to the painting. Know when to let go and when to stop."

Water Colour On Stretched Paper

Join artist Dianne Bersea for a new workshop in watercolour that will take us the next step. Dianne will demonstrate a variety of paper stretching techniques in preparation for painting more complex watercolour images. On stretched paper participants will learn how to make clear, graduated and wild washes as a base for additional colour. We will also learn wet-in-wet techniques and layering washes (glazes), with an emphasis on large shapes for strong compositions. Dianne’s approach involves lots of fun, easy exercises and step-by-step projects preceded by carefully described demonstrations. Each day concludes with a gallery and encouraging discussion of our work.

watercolor by Dianne Bersea

Contact: Dianne for info

April 13, 2009
1 - 5pm

Blue Moon Bed & Breakfast,
Prince George,
BC

all media and skill levels welcome

Working with the Study to create strong Compositions

This will be an informal demonstration and project based afternoon for artists who want to learn quick but effective techniques to plan and create stronger work.

Contact: Dianne for info

April 14 -15, 2009

Two Rivers Art Gallery,
Prince George,
BC

for intermediate watercolour painters

Transcend Detail, Paint with Shape!
We live in a busy visual environment! Watercolour painters often struggle with all that detail and get bogged down in the complex nature of trees and rock formations. Here’s an ideal workshop to simplify the process, reduce the detail and create bold images that get attention! Learn to see the world in large areas of color and shape that translate easily to the painting. The secret of success… seeing the tree instead of the leaves, seeing the field instead of the grasses, seeing how light falls and defines the form of rocks and odd shaped objects. Each day will include several demonstrations, frequent reviews and a wrap-up gallery and discussion. This workshop is ideal for the intermediate watercolour artist who is ready for a new challenge.
Contact: Dianne for info
June 3 – June 7, 2009

Cranbrook & District Arts Council
Cranbrook, BC

How to Create Strong Plein Air Images in Water Media
Experience the powerful artistic tool called the "Study". This workshop is designed to help artists capture the essence of our inspiration, quickly and effectively, either as finished works in their own right or as a resource for more developed studio paintings. The study assists in moving easily between spontaneous and analytical work modes to: identify subject matter, simplfy the visual environment, consider compositional options. Dianne will also address how to work from photographs to take them beyond the surface reality.
water media study of hemlocks by Dianne BerseaMon-Fri 11am-5pm
Saturday 11-3pm
32A - ll Ave., S. Cranbrook, BC
ph: 250-426-4223 fax: 250-426-4223
info@theartscouncil.ca
June 29 – July 3, 2009

Hollyhock Centre
Cortes Island, BC

For the artist with a developed or developing art practice who is looking for new challenges.

The Artists Muse: Diving Deep

Limited to six participants this workshop is for the committed artist who is looking for a deeper connection with their creative muse and open to exploration of media, form and the environment, natural and imaginative. Deepen your powers of awareness, observation and application in this gutsy approach to artistic expression and the taking of artistic risks. Work directly with artist Dianne Bersea to expand, deepen, grow and challenge your artistic powers on all levels. Working in a variety of water media for speed, spontaneity and expressive possibilities participants will play with the complexities of abandon and serious intent. Naturalistic, abstract, collage, rubbings and any approach we can think of will be addressed with brushes, crayons, hands and art tools of our making. Fearlessly, joyously we will go into the work. For the artist with a developed or developing art practice who needs / wants to push their limits in a joyful, safe, supportive, guided setting. One on one consultation with Dianne and a tour of her studio is included. All materials supplied.

Contact: hollyhock.ca

finger painted flowers by Dianne Bersea
August 24 -28, 2009
Monday thru Friday

Firesign Art & Design Studio
Quadra Island
British Columbia

Some drawing or watermedia experience recommended

The Artistic Study in Watercolour Media

The 'study' frees us from expectation. We can dive in and have fun. Studies in watercolour media quickly identify the essence and energy of the image. Working outside (en plein air) as much as possible, we'll practice developing our artistic eye. This is an ideal workshop for breaking through the anxiety of putting brush to paper, for building confidence in an outdoor setting, and developing some solid painting technique using wet washes and a variety of water media, such as watercolour paint, watercolour pencils and watercolour crayons.

for info or registration... info@firesignartanddesign.com
or firesignartanddesign.com

Additional workshops are in the process of being scheduled

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Do you have an idea for a workshop? I'm always interested in new ideas and new challenges. Send me an e-mail. Additional workshop ideas below.
Book a Workshop!
Sample workshop

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How to Develop and Evolve the plein air Study for Strong Images in Any Medium

Work with the “study”, a powerful artistic tool designed to help you capture the essence of your inspiration, quickly and effectively, either as finished works or as a resource for more developed studio paintings, moving you easily between spontaneous and analytic modes.

In a vigorous atmosphere of demos and hands-on, create quick, loose sketches (en plein air if possible), in a variety of water media while keeping in mind further development in the studio. From your studies, additional small works will be created to explore composition, impact, energy flow and colour options.

Russet Trees by Dianne Bersea
Sample Workshop

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Putting Your Creativity to Work

With humour, enthusiasm and practical good sense, professional artist Dianne Bersea will demonstrate how to put your creativity to work. Using her own career and those of other artists, Dianne will weave a pastiche of success stories, resources and surprising career options --- with a opportunity to identify your creative strengths, accomplishments and skills -- to enhance your creativity or turn a talent into an income.

Dianne Bersea presenting workshop

Talk to me about your workshop idea.
I enjoy facilitating and sharing the joy of the creative process
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Throughout the Year

In-Studio Mentoring

Small Groups or Private Sessions, by the hour, day or week

Manzanita Muse Studio
Cortes Island,
British Columbia

It's your call. Tell me what techniques or topics interest you and join me in the studio on Cortes Island. I can accommodate up to four people, although one-on-one is the ideal situation. Suggested schedule: Three hours of direct instruction in the morning, free time in the afternoon to work on your projects with opportunities for questions, critiques and mentoring throughout.

Stay with us in our cozy self-contained, self-catered Island Rest Bed & Breakfast suite and immerse yourself in the creative process! Design your own Art Retreat with access to studio space and/or private classes in watercolour, acrylic, landscape, plein air sketching, developing an image from a study with Dianne, or work in local natural materials with Jodi Forster

Painting the Hollyhock Garden, July 08

For more information on fee schedule, mentoring or in-studio workshops,

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Dianne Bersea portrait

Dianne Bersea cspwc, AFCA

elected member
Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour

signature member
Federation of Canadian Artists

click photo for bio and exhibition record


studio view, August 07
Click on photo to see Dianne's artwork

Dianne is an accomplished watercolour artist, an elected member of the Canadian Society of Painters in Water Colour (cspwc) and signature member of the Federation of Canadian Artists. Bright colours and strongly drawn images rendered in a distinctive style have marked Dianne’s watercolours since she began painting in the northern Gulf Islands in 1996.  A solo show at the Campbell River Public Gallery in 1999 confirmed her originality. A workshop instructor for ten years, Dianne has developed a supportive, effective teaching style. She has conducted workshops at numberous locations including seven seasons at Hollyhock retreat centre on Cortes Island, three seasons at the Malibu Arts Retreat on the Sunshine Coast, four seasons at Firesign Art & Design on Quadra Island. 


Dianne and workshop participants
Dianne is known for her supportive approach. She shares her skill and encourages the most subtle creative spark with warmth, clear direction and open communication. Her knowledge of the creative process, her joyful enthusiasm and spontaneous humor creates a lively learning environment.

What participants are saying.

accommodations
For workshops - Hollyhock and Cortes Island

Photo Album of previous workshops