Free Community Programs

Date: Workshops take place between June, 2025 and March, 2026
Location: At the Centre
Free of Charge

This project is presented by three of Neilson Park Creative Centre’s Resident Groups: Calligraphic Arts Guild of Toronto, Humber Valley Arts Club and The Etobicoke Art Group.

We graciously acknowledge funding from the government of Canada’s New Horizon for Seniors Program (NHSP).

Community members are invited to participate in creative workshops, ranging from painting and drawing to calligraphy, printmaking and collage. The workshops are free of charge and all materials are included!

All workshops will be held at Neilson Park Creative Centre, located at 56 Neilson Drive, Toronto, ON M9C 1V7. Registration is required to participate in our workshops. For questions, please email amadeus@neilsonparkcreativecentre.com or call 416-622-5294. We’re here to help!

Spring Programs 2025

DateTimeInstructorProgramRegistration LinkDescription
Friday, June 6, 20256:00 PM – 9:00 PMCharlene Sam & CAGT TeamJune Open House: Clothesline Caps (Ages 16+, youth 15 and under must be accompanied by an adult)
S25ANHCAGT1		These delightful letters are meant to look like they are hanging from a clothesline. Capital letters, based on the ones we use every day, are tweaked and strategically ‘hung’ on lines. Pencils crayons are used to add colour between letters, as well as at the beginning and ending of lines. This style is great for short quotes, cards and name tags. This course is suitable for everyone! All materials and equipment are supplied.
Friday, June 6, 20256:00 PM – 9:00 PMMarilyn DonofrioJune Open House: Introduction to Watercolour
(Ages 18+)		S25ANHHVAC1This workshop is a brief introduction to watercolour. The emphasis will be on experimentation with paints, brushes and watercolour techniques. Touching on some basic composition rules, participants will practise these ideas on various subjects. References will be provided, but participants will be encouraged to bring their own images to work from. All materials and equipment are supplied.
Friday, June 6, 20256:00 PM – 9:00 PMDarlene KuligJune Open House: Painting – from Reference to Essence
(Ages 16+)		S25ANHEAG1Painting: “From Reference to Essence” explores design elements and colour theory to build the artist’s tool box and offers insights to open the heart of an artist to discover their “essence”. Students will work with drawing tools, thumbnail sketches and acrylic paints. We will reconnect with the divergent thinking of a child. Finding courage to be in the moment and make personal art is a liberating and life changing thing. Class will start with a fun short lecture and examples will be shown to illustrate the step by step process. All materials and equipment are supplied.

Fall Programs 2025

 

DateTimeInstructorProgramRegistration LinkDescription
Friday, September 26, 20259:30 AM – 12:30 PMPrintmaking TeamPrintmaking – Trace Monotypes (Beginner, ages 16+)F25ANHEAG2Monotypes are a single print of an image. There are many different ways of creating monotypes. We will be using a simple, yet effective, method of creating a printed image suitable for people who are new to printmaking. All materials and equipment are supplied, but bring an apron and your enthusiasm.
Friday, September 26, 20251:00 PM – 4:00 PMPrintmaking TeamPrintmaking – Shape Monotypes
(Beginner, ages 16+)
F25ANHEAG3   Monotypes are a single print of an image. There are many different ways of creating monotypes. We will be using another simple and effective method of creating a printed image suitable for people who are new to printmaking. All materials and equipment are supplied, but bring an apron and your enthusiasm.
Sunday, October 4, 20259:30 AM – 12:30 PMHelen McCuskerIntroduction to Drawing (Beginner, ages 16+)F25ANHEAG4The workshop will begin with examples of drawings by a variety of artists throughout history. Then, an introduction to the materials participants will use in the workshop – graphite pencils, conté, kneadable erasers and paper – the properties and usage of each tool. Next will be a series of simple drawing exercises using the elements of design – dot, line, shape, value/tone, contrast, etc, and a variety of techniques for expressive drawing: blind contour, intermittent line, varied line, contour, cross-contour, hatching, and so on. Each exercise will be demonstrated and explained, and participants will work from reference material which will be supplied. There will be support and guidance from the instructor and group critiques throughout the morning. This workshop is suitable to any skill level, including absolute beginner. All materials and equipment are supplied.
Saturday, October 4, 20251:00 PM – 4:00 PMPrintmaking TeamGelliprinting (Beginner, ages 16+)
F25ANHEAG5Gelliprinting is a fun and easy way to produce a unique piece of art, using acrylic paint and other materials on a gelli pad. All materials and equipment are supplied, but bring an apron and your enthusiasm.
Sunday, October 5, 20251:00 PM – 4:00 PMMarilyn DonofrioIntroduction to Watercolour (Ages 18+)F25ANHHVAC2Introduction to Watercolour takes place on October 5 & 26, 2025; November 2, 9 & 30, 2025; plus two Sundays in January, 2026, to be determined. This will be a fun series of classes to introduce participants to the beautiful luminosity of watercolour. The emphasis will be on experimentation with paints, brushes and watercolour techniques. Touching on some basic composition rules, participants will practise these ideas on various subjects such as landscapes, florals and still life. References will be provided, but participants are encouraged to bring their own images to work from. All other materials and equipment are supplied.
Sunday, October 19, 202510:00 AM – 4:00 PMMichele Nidenoff & CAGT TeamSmooth, Flowing – it’s the Uncial Alphabet
(Ages 16+, youth 15 and under must be accompanied by an adult)		F25ANHCAGT2Uncial is a rounded alphabet that consists of capital letters only – think Irish pub lettering! This versatile, easy to learn alphabet adapts well to contemporary use. In this workshop we will learn two versions of Uncial using markers, and move on to a square-edge calligraphy nib. This course is suitable for beginners. All levels welcome! All materials and equipment are supplied.
Saturday, November 29, 202510:00 AM – 4:00 PMRamona Matthews & CAGT TeamLevel Up Your Stationery
(Ages 16+, youth 15 and under must be accompanied by an adult)		F25ANHCAGT3Elevate your greeting cards, place cards, envelopes and more!  In this workshop, we will be working with three styles of monoline lettering, based on the letters we use every day.  Using these styles, along with some tips for decorating, we will level up your place cards and name tags. We will also create decorated greeting cards with coordinating envelopes. This workshop will provide opportunities to do some lettering practice. There will be plenty of examples for you to draw inspiration from, and time to explore your creativity. You’ll come away with new skills and lots of ideas for your own projects that would have Martha Stewart murmuring “this is a good thing” over your shoulder. All levels welcome! All materials and equipment are supplied.
Sunday, December 14, 20259:30 AM – 12:30 PMHelen McCuskerPop-Ups
(Beginner, ages 16+)		F25ANHEAG6Everyone loves Pop-Ups and in this workshop, participants will learn paper engineering techniques and use them to make seasonal pop up cards. Learn how to make basic parallel fold structures that can be used in a variety of ways, and embellish them with colourful papers or photographs. Participants will learn how to assemble and decorate end boards for a sturdy structure. The ‘cards’ can be decorated with paper collage techniques, paint markers, coloured pencils, etc. Lots of samples will be available to work from, and every step will be demonstrated. All materials and equipment are supplied.

Winter Programs 2026

DateTimeInstructorProgramRegistration LinkDescription
Sunday, January 18, 202610:00 AM – 4:00 PMLee Thureson & CAGT TeamIntroduction to the Italic Hand (Ages 16+, youth 15 and under must be accompanied by an adult)W26ANHCAGT4Participants will be introduced briefly to the history and artistic evolvement of the ‘Italic’ or Chancery lettering style. The slanting of script developed naturally for business, as it was quicker and more space efficient. Participants will be introduced to an easy-to-learn method of Italic lettering with a broad edged nib that will quickly reveal how the beauty of this style evolved. All materials and equipment are supplied.
Saturday, January 31, 20269:30 AM – 4:00 PMJohnming MarkSilkscreen Printmaking (Beginner, ages 16+)W26ANHEAG7Participants will learn how to print using silk screens. After a variety of techniques are demonstrated, students can then experiment with painting on the screens and transferring their art onto paper or cloth. In the afternoon, students will print their own artwork on T-shirts. All equipment and materials, including t-shirts, are supplied. Bring your lunch!
Sunday, February 1, 202612:30 PM – 3:30 PMMark Lurz & CAGT TeamCreate a Valentine’s Card (Ages 16+, youth 15 and under must be accompanied by an adult)W26ANHCAGT5This is a chance to create an eye-catching Valentine’s card. Choose your favourite of four designs of contemporary knotwork created by the instructor, Mark Lurz. Whether you are new to lettering or an accomplished lettering artist, you will be offered guidance to write a message. Some sample phrases will be made available, or you can create your own personal message.This course is suitable for everyone. All materials and equipment will be provided. (You may bring your own writing tools if desired.)

Spring Programs 2026

DateTimeInstructorProgramRegistration LinkDescription
Saturday, March 21, 20269:30 AM – 12:30 PMRosemary VanderBreggen

Collage (Beginner, ages 16+)

W26ANHEAG8With just some paper, scissors, and a glue stick, explore the wonderfully creative world of collage. Rosemary will take you through all of the basics, a bit of history and set you to work making your own creations. Along the way you will learn fundamental skills like cutting, tearing, and adhering paper, experiment with different types of paper, including fine art papers, found imagery, and text, and learn how to use concepts like composition, texture, and layering to create visually engaging collages. All materials and equipment are supplied.