WEEKENDS

Save the Date!
REGISTER ONLINE HERE.

PAST WEEKENDS

ECOAA Painting Retreat
SPRING WEEKEND
April 14-16, 2023
 
Sandy Lane Resort
17952 ON-35, Algonquin Highlands, ON K0M 1J2
 
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Scott Rubie will be doing the demo. He is a self-taught artist working primarily in acrylic. Most recently he has been focusing on landscapes often with water features. Light and colour are principle elements he looks for to capture the beauty and intimacy of the moment while at the same time trying to be true to the scene.
 
Scott sees himself in a period of exploration and growth both with the medium as well as style. His work is constantly evolving as he experiments with technique and subject. He is always searching for that emotional equation that ties the viewer to the scene through his painting.
 
Now retired from teaching, Scott is able to devote more time to his painting. He has a studio in his home outside Renfrew. Scott has shown his paintings at a number of events and more recently participated in the McMichael Gallery Annual Plein Air competition Exhibition.
 
Sandy Lane Resort The family friendly resort is located in Algonquin Highlands, Ontario just 24 km north of Minden (2.5 hours north of Toronto).  Sandy Lane Resort is located on the beautiful sandy shores of crystal clear Halls Lake.  The resort is 40 minutes south of Algonquin Park. 
The cottages at the resort are like mini homes that have basically all the amenities of home such as fully-equipped kitchens, satellite television, wood burning fireplaces, air conditioning, queen size beds, large sun decks, propane BBQs, wifi, etc.  All cottages have a view of the private beach that walks out gradually into Halls Lake
 
Included in your registration:
  • 2 NTS accommodation with shared bathroom and kitchen in either 2 or 3-bedroom cabins Each single person can get their own bedroom
  • Happy Hour snacks Friday and Saturday
  • Coffee, tea and treats
  • Catered dinner on Saturday night

​ECOAA Bark Lake Leadership Center
WINTER WEEKEND  January 24, 25, 26 2020

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Demo Artist John Maurer - Painting under the influence.
 I believe we are all influenced and inspired to develop our own style or representation through the imitation of others work. Other artists have presented their own interpretation of what they saw and what they could express through their imagery and imagination. Mimicking or following the actions of others is quite frankly the only way we learn and develop not only as artists but as a species. My interpretations are expressed through my own eyes but very much influenced by following others examples. I feel I have developed as a painter over the years by constant learning and challenging myself to grow. The goal has always been about the journey itself, the enjoyment of
new experiences and being able to share my interpretations with others

ECOAA Bark Lake Leadership Center
FALL WEEKEND  November 15,16 & 17 2019
Bark Lake Leadership Centre – Leading the way for 65 years!

Ecoaa art demonstration By Wendy Bermingham
 Bark Lake Weekend, November 15.16 &17 2019
 
Wendy Bermingham is a graduate of the Ontario College of Art and Design and for many years enjoyed a successful career as a graphic designer in Toronto. Primarily self –taught, Wendy now paints full time in her studio or outside on location and has never looked back. Wendy has traveled throughout Canada, Europe and the USA to paint, including Italy, California and Arizona but it is the Canadian landscape where her true passion lies.
Painting exclusively in oil, Wendy uses both brush and palette knife, utilizing their unique marks to create movement and light in her paintings. 
Wendy is an elected member of the Ontario Society of Artists and the Society of Canadian Artists along with many other local art groups.
Wendy will demonstrate her painting process from underpainting to final layers, discussing how she composes a painting, mixes colour and how she creates movement and texture using brush/palette knife. 
www.wendyberminghamart.ca 

​ECOAA  Bark Lake Leadership Center
SPRING WEEKEND May 3-5 2019 
Bark Lake Leadership Centre – Leading the way for 65 years!

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​FRIDAY EVENING DEMO BY: 
IAN BODNARYK
If you want to learn how to paint in the hyperrealism style this demonstration is for you. Ian will show you several techniques at different stages of the painting process by using both photographic process shots and live demonstration.
These demonstrations will walk you step by step through the hyperrealism painting techniques that he uses to create realistic textures, colour and dimension for much of his artwork.
http://www.ianbodnaryk.com 
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ibodnaryk/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ianbodnaryk/

​ECOAA  Bark Lake Leadership Center​
​WINTER WEEKEND JANUARY 2019

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Demo Artist Andrew Cheddie Sookrah
Abstracting Your
Favourite Subject in Acrylic
With Andrew Cheddie Sookrah
http://www.sookrah.ca/

Each scene, object, form (human or otherwise)
has an abstract, graphic presence at its core.
In this workshop, go beyond the obvious and truly
explore movement, texture, colour to bring out the
drama in abstracted shapes.
Basic design elements, composition, colour,
texture and use of acrylic media will be covered..
BACK ROW: Wendy Bruckert, Harvey Walker, Georgia Dawbon, Cynthia Blair, Sheila Davis, Tess Moffat, Jane Hall, Teresa Romain, Judi Myers, Olga Nienhuys
3 RD ROW:  Peggy Stoddart, Andrew Sookrah, Lori Robinson, Shelley Prior, Sabine Scanlon, Deb Grise, Monica Ironside, Diane St. Amant, Lee Mitz, Marilyn Martin, Cynthia Soloman, Rhonda Laursen, Jane Shivrattan, Kate Segriff, Joanne Baker, 
2ND ROW:  Diane Daigle, Rita Clement, Janice Amell, Evengeline Munns, Lucy Manley, Carolyne Pascoe, Olga Szaranski, Jean Finlayson, Jennie Reid
Floor: Lynda Hammon, Japey, Leigh Thompson

​ECOAA  Bark Lake Leadership Center
FALL WEEKEND AT BARK LAKE ​​2018 

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Grant Lounsbury is a classically trained 2d animator and  professional oil painter.
Originally from Goderich, Ontario Canada, he now lives in Geneva, NY. He has been an ECOAA member for a few years and participates when he can (it is a drive J ).
Grant completed his Bachelor of Arts in Animation in 1989 from Sheridan College of Applied Arts and Technologies in Oakville, Ontario.  Since that time, he has worked on multiple animated feature films (such as Anastasia, Titan AE, and Werner) and a variety of television projects from Cartoon Network to Disney TV.
Grant is inspired by the art of the Canadian Group of Seven, Jackson Pollack, and Walt Disney artists John Lounsberry & Mary Blair; and draws on their energy and creativity while working on his own personal works of art.
Grant's oil paintings are being exhibited in multiple galleries and businesses throughout Upstate NY and Canada.
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ECOAA painting presentation to Bark Lake to celebrate over 20 years of partnership in the Arts

​ECOAA  Bark Lake Leadership Center
SPRING WEEKEND MAY 4 – 6 2018

Demo Artist LINDA BANFALVI  info: www.lindabanfalvi.com

Linda is originally from Ottawa, Ontario and now lives near Carleton Place, Ontario. Primarily a studio artist, Linda works in various watermedia including acrylic, watercolour, ink, collage and enjoys using a mixed media approach in her stylized treatment of form, colour and design. Linda also enjoys en plein air painting on location in the beautiful countryside that she travels to.

Linda has graduated from the Fine Arts Program at St. Lawrence College, in Brockville, Ontario. Linda has also completed courses at Haliburton School of Fine Arts. She has attended numerous workshops over the years and finds that the creative process is a continual learning experience. She is influenced by the Abstract Expressionist Movement. Linda has worked as a registered nurse, since 1982.

Linda is inspired by the pure process of painting, and loves to create textures and contrasts in colour, transparent and opaque passages, and interesting designs. The ultimate satisfaction for her is to just play with the paint and see what happens. “I believe that if an artist can fall in love with the act of painting and not worry about the end results, wonderfully spontaneous images happen. After the magic happens, then you can balance the design and make the composition work.”, says the artist.
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Linda is a Fellow of the Ottawa Watercolour Society. Her paintings are in private collections in Canada, the United States and Europe. She also has a painting in the permanent collection of the Conference Board of Canada
​Bark Lake Leadership Centre – Leading the way for 65 years!
Bark Lake Leadership Centre began as the Ontario Camp Leadership facility at Bark Lake in 1948. We have been forerunners in Outdoor Education and Leadership experiences in North America since that time, for staff and students, corporate leaders and organizational groups!
We are passionate about making leaders, building character, nature and adventure based experiences, and creating an environment for excellence in group interaction in this beautiful, wild place!
This weekend will include a Wine and Cheese Meet and Greet Friday at 4.30pm
Dinner Friday& Saturday. Breakfast Saturday & Sunday Lunch Saturday & Sunday
PLACE:    Bark Lake Leadership Center, Haliburton Highlands, ON
Any Changes will be posted on ecoaa.ca and ECOAA Face book page    
DATE: May 4 - 6 2018
COST: $350.00 Double           $410.00 Single
CHECK IN TIME: starting at   2 pm Friday at the office building
CHECK OUT TIME:    11am, Sunday
DEADLINE TO REGISTER:    April 15, 2018 ecoaa.ca/weekends to pay by credit card
Or Mail Cheque made out to ECOAA
Lynda Hammond   P.O Box 661 Lakefield ON   K0L 2H0
Questions: Email or call 705 927-0918  lamhammond@hotmail.com

​​ECOAA  Bark Lake Leadership Center
WINTER WEEKEND January 26-28 2018

​​Ron Murdoch
Spruce Bog Studio
3132 Brunel Road
Huntsville, ON, P1H 2J3
705-788-9064
sprucebogstudio@gmail.com

Ron Murdoch’s art is a reflection of his love of the outdoors – hiker, hunter, fisherman, and canoeist. He has seen nature’s hidden places, misty lakes, waterfalls, and wildlife up close where he notes the details and temperaments of the scene to capture it as a work of art. After almost four decades of painting Algonquin and Muskoka, Ron’s works portray wisdom from his observations, and his experience as an artist produces a tangible memory of these places. Ron paints in watercolour, acrylic and oil; these varied mediums give him a full control of the moods in nature to choose the right one for the work at hand.
Mostly self-taught, with some formal training in his youth at the Glasgow School of Art and classes at Haliburton School of The Arts, Ron has also painted with some talented fellow artists – all of which has molded his unique style. Over the years, Ron’s paintings have won awards in various Ontario art associations and many belong to collectors in Canada and abroad.
The practical side of Ron’s nature led him to be a Director and Chairperson of the Agnes Jamieson Gallery in Minden and in 1993 to open North Art Supplies, an art supply and framing store in Huntsville. Ron is also a proud member of five Ontario art clubs which have contributed greatly to his place in the art world.
Book now online!  pay pal fees are included

​ECOAA  Bark Lake Leadership Center
​Fall Weekend

Demo By Kate Segriff  
​
Technology Tools and how to use them to your advantage!
Kate will demo the latest apps available to artists on the new big screen TV in the lounge Friday night after dinner, and then show how she transfers the work on to a canvas, in oils, taking advantage of artists mixing apps as well. Lucy Manley to do the critique Saturday evening!

Kate gave a spectacular and well organized slide presentation of Apps that can be used to edit and improve your artwork and reference images. 
The slide show is available for download on the members only page. 

​ECOAA  Bark Lake Leadership Center
SPRING Weekend 2017

Demo Artist Marissa Sweet
Marissa is an award winning artist and an elected member of the Society of Canadian Artists. Primarily a landscape painter, Marissa integrates the principles of Feng Shui into her artwork. Her practise in this ancient form of metaphysics has inspired her to create landscapes that brings awareness to our interconnectivity to nature.   The beauty of nature captivates this artist, the magic of a morning mist, the quiet sunsets and gentle wind on the lake. 

With a BA Economics degree and years in various corporate roles, Marissa currently facilitates art workshops in the Durham area and at her home studio.   She has attended various courses at the Toronto School of Art and is a member of numerous art associations.

​Marissa Sweet has exhibited in Canada and the Philippines and her work can be found in private and public collections.

​ECOAA  Bark Lake Leadership Center
WINTER WEEKEND 2017

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Demo Artist : Sam Paonessa www.sampaonessa.com
Sam Paonessa was born in Niagara Falls, Canada and graduated from the Ontario College of Art in Toronto. Showing early promise, Sam was awarded a studio scholarship upon graduation, which enabled him to further develop his talents in commercial art. He was then hired by an advertising studio for the next two and a half years. In 1983 Sam was offered employment at Hallmark Canada and has been on staff creating paintings and artwork for a variety of products over the past 27 years.
For many years Sam has traveled and painted plein air landscapes in North America and Italy. He is a founding member of Plein Air Canada and recently became a member of the Ontario Society of Artists.
Over the past seven years he has been sharing his talent by conducting demonstrations and teaching oil painting workshops in the GTA. His pursuit of excellence is being rewarded, as he has gained the attention of fine art collectors, both corporate and private across North America.

​ECOAA  Bark Lake Leadership Center
FALL WEEKEND October 21 to 23 2016
Bark Lake Leadership Centre – Leading the way for 65 years!

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Bark Lake Leadership Centre began as the Ontario Camp Leadership facility at Bark Lake in 1948. We have been forerunners in Outdoor Education and Leadership experiences in North America since that time, for staff and students, corporate leaders and organizational groups!
We are passionate about making leaders, building character, nature and adventure based experiences, and creating an environment for excellence in group interaction in this beautiful, wild place!

ECOAA
​SPRING WORKSHOP​ 2016

Date May 27 - 29 2016

PLACE Chippawaresort.com
Chippawa Cottage Resort

Located in the beautiful Madawaska Valley on Lake Kamaniskeg, Chippawa Resort boasts a private half-mile white sand beach, over 200 acres of forest, access to the Madawaska River and Green Lake, and endless opportunities to spend quality time with your family.
Our property has endless woodland trails that let you re-discover nature as you explore our lakes and wilderness.


835 Chippawa Road
Township of Madawaska Valley
K0J 1B0
1-800-267-8507 or 613-756-2703
Email us at: chippawa@igs.net
Demo by Joan Holben www.joanholben.com

Demo Artist: Joan Holben

Joan Holben was born in Ottawa. Until 1963, she resided in Eastern Ontario. Joan's world travels eventually took her to India, where she remained for four years and established a technical training program in the state of Punjab. Upon returning to Canada in 1967, she set up her first studio in Eastern Ontario while she attended Queen's University and later Sheridan College, to further her painting career. She set up art programs and taught in elementary and secondary schools until accepting a position of coordinator of Visual Arts at St. Lawrence College in Brockville. Joan also at the time set up functional art programs for teachers at Danforth Technical School in Toronto. She has traveled extensively across Canada, residing for a time in British Columbia, where she established herself as a major new talent. Holben moved to Toronto in 1979 where she operated a studio gallery for two years on Bloor Street. She is currently the Resident Artist for Democo Inc./ Montreal and a Working Artist for Golden, U.S.A. She has conducted a number of solo exhibitions and is represented in many personal collections in Canada, the United States, Mexico, Asia and Eastern Europe.

​ECOAA  Bark Lake Leadership Center
WINTER WEEKEND WORKSHOP 2016
Bark Lake Leadership Centre – Leading the way for 65 years!

Bark Lake Leadership Centre began as the Ontario Camp Leadership facility at Bark Lake in 1948. We have been forerunners in Outdoor Education and Leadership experiences in North America since that time, for staff and students, corporate leaders and organizational groups!
We are passionate about making leaders, building character, nature and adventure based experiences, and creating an environment for excellence in group interaction in this beautiful, wild place!

ECOAA YMCA WANAKITA 
FALL WEEKEND ʻWORKSHOPʼ ​2015

A wonderful oil demonstration by Wendy Bermingham!​

ECOAA BARK LAKE
WINTER WEEKEND ‘WORKSHOP’ ​2015 

INSTRUCTOR:     CAROLYNE PASCOE IN WATERCOLOUR    
                                                                                                                                                                                                             Friday’s “Happy Hour” was held in the OAK CENTRE Lounge at 5:00 p.m. Old friends chatted and caught each other up on the happenings in their life.

We all squeezed into the smaller studio for Carolyne Pascoe's watercolour demonstration. Ever the teacher, she came prepared with handouts on design and composition. She gave a brief history of her work and some stories of former members brought back some old memories. While painting she pointed out the importance of timing and colour mixing. Thank you to Carolyne for  giving us your time and knowledge.

The Weather held up well for the brave to head out side for some plein air. Those in the studio had a productive day sharing stories and giving advice.
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Saturday evening the usual critique went smoothly with some good advice  to all , from all.  The later evening was made complete with board games and some fabulous entertainment from Tracey, Bob Murrell and Bob Culbertson. Some quick touch ups Sunday morning completed another fabulous ECOAA weekend.