Capturing the Golden Light

Golden hour is a special time for plein air artists, when the landscape is bathed in a beautiful, warm glow. We will be discussing the special challenges of painting at this time of day, while observing the effect light has on the landscape. This class will be held from 4:00 to 7:00 pm. Please bring a picnic lunch/dinner.

This workshop will be taught by A.S. Helwig, who has been painting plein air since she was a young girl. She is an experienced art educator, who divides her art time between her studio and work on location. The demonstrations will be done in acrylic, but all mediums are welcome.

Audience:  Adult, beginner to intermediate

Weather: In case of rain, activities will be performed inside the museum or one of the art studios of the Leighton Art Centre. Extremely poor weather may result in cancellation. For our cancellation & refund policy, please see below.

Supplies:  The instructor works in acrylic paint, however, if you are more familiar with another medium such as watercolour or oil, you are welcome to bring your regular supplies. Should you have any questions regarding supplies for this workshop, please give us a call at (403)-931-3633.

Supplies students need to bring:

• PAINT: We will be working with limited palettes. At the least amount you can bring the paints you have. Bring white, a yellow, blue and red. My recommendations are to use (acrylic paint colours) Titanium White, Hansa Yellow Light, Quinacridone Magenta and Ultramarine Blue. If you want to supplement this you can add Diarylide Yellow, Pyrrole Red, Phthalo Blue (green shade), Quinacridone Gold.

• SUPPORTS: something to paint on. Can be heavy watercolour paper taped to board, Gessoed board, canvas, canvas board. Should be 8 x 10 at least but no bigger than 11 x 14.

• SKETCHBOOK along with B grade pencils

• Please also wear weather appropriate clothing, bring along your bug spray and sunscreen, a water bottle, a lunch/dinner and any snacks you would like for the day!

Supplies provided by the Leighton Art Centre: note – if you have any of these items and wish to use your own, please feel free to bring it!

• MEDIUM: glazing medium (This is medium that has retarder already added to it)

• PALETTE: We have 8×10″ plastic pallettes available to use. If you prefer a larger palette or a strippable palette, please bring your own!

• WATER and container (for brushes)

• EASEL: A must-have for outdoor painting!

• BRUSHES: We have a variety of flats, egberts, filberts, rounds. Both soft and stiff bristles.
• RAGS and BAGS for garbage

Registration cost:  $65 plus GST & Eventbrite Fees* 

* or register by phone: 403-931-3633, Mon-Fri, 10 am – 4 pm to avoid Eventbrite fees  

Did you know that Members of the Leighton Art Centre get 10% off the registration cost of all workshops and kids’ summer camps? Please visit  https://leightoncentre.org/join-us/become-a-member/.

All participants must sign our Covid-19 Liability waiver prior to their participation in a workshop. You can view our Covid-19 liability waiver here: https://leightoncentre.org/workshop-covid-19-liability-release-waiver/

Cancellation and Refund Policy: Please note there is a NO REFUND policy on all Leighton Art Centre workshops. A refund will be only be issued to participants if the workshop is canceled by the workshop coordinator due to insufficient enrollment, extreme weather conditions, or Covid-19 restrictions. Workshops may be canceled prior to the start date and participants will be notified via email and/or phone, and a full refund will be processed.

Withdrawal from workshops for medical reasons must be accompanied by a doctor’s medical note and must be received by the Leighton workshop coordinator prior to the workshop start date to be qualified for a full refund.

Artist/Instructor/Guide

A. S. Helwig was born in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. From an early age, she drew and painted. In fact, she has painted in acrylics since she was 14 years old in the coulee hills close to her family home. Helwig took a two-year commercial art program at the Medicine Hat College and then a Bachelor of Education Degree (with Distinction) from the University of Lethbridge. Looking for adventure Helwig moved to Fox Lake, a small remote Indigenous village in Northern Alberta. There she taught English and art while maintaining a studio in her home.

Presently residing in Calgary, Helwig remains an art educator and studio artist. Bluerock Gallery in Black Diamond, Mountain Galleries in Banff and Jasper, and Rouge in Saskatoon represent her work.

Helwig’s award-winning paintings are also in many private and public art collections.

See more of her work at www.helwigart.com