Course Overview: Explore Port Hope in the Fall as both subject and inspiration, from its historic downtown to nearby river paths and natural spaces. Stepping outside the classroom, you'll be guided by local Port Hope artist and instructor Luke Despatie as you learn how to recognize strong scenes for painting, with a focus on composition, visual interest, thoughtful framing and capturing the character of place.

Back in the classroom, you'll explore the fundamentals of landscape painting, including composition, value, colour and brushwork, while also developing more advanced approaches to capturing light and mood. Through demonstrations, guided exercises and personalized feedback, you'll learn how to translate both built and natural landscapes into expressive, confident paintings. The workshop also includes discussions of materials and techniques to support both studio practice and future plein-air work, helping you continue to develop your own painting voice beyond the course.

Medium: Acrylic

Skill Level: Beginner & Intermediate

Dates:

Two-day workshop
Saturday, October 17: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Saturday, October 24: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm

Important Notes

HST is not included in the price.
This course takes place at the Port Hope Campus: 10 Pine St S, Port Hope, ON L1A 3E7.
Campus information, including room number, parking, directions, etc., will be provided closer to the start date.
A refund (less a $20.00 administrative fee) will be issued if you withdraw from a class at least seven days before the start date of the class. After this deadline, no refunds will be issued.
If a course is cancelled by Loyalist College, registered students will be provided with a full refund. College decisions to cancel a course will be made seven days before the start date of the class.
If you have any questions or issues, please reach out to art@loyalistcollege.com

Supply List:

Recommended Store: Gwartzmans.com

Acrylic Paint
Student or artist quality (artist quality recommended for the best experience) * Heavy-bodied preferred
Recommended brands: Tri-Art, Golden

Cadmium Yellow Medium
Cadmium Yellow Light
Primary Magenta
Alizarin Crimson
Ultramarine Blue
Cerulean Blue
Burnt Umber
Titanium White

Gesso
500 mL (Tri-Art or Golden recommended)

Brushes

Bristle brushes: Rounds – sizes #2, #4, #6
Bristle brushes: Flats – sizes #4, #8, #12
Large nylon brush for gesso – 1″

Painting Surfaces

Canvas paper pad or watercolour paper pad (8″×10″ or 9″×12″)
Several small canvases or panels (optional; e.g., 8″×8″)

Other Essentials

Disposable palette pad
Drawing pencils (2B and 6B; Staedtler recommended)
Sketchbook (approx. 8″×10″)
Vessel for water (disposable coffee cups work well)
Masking tape
Ruler
Glue stick
Scissors or X-acto knife

Painting Port Hope in the Fall with Luke Despatie