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Teaching

Since 1995 I have taught art classes in schools, centres, as well as in my studio (for small groups or individuals). I am presently focussing on drawing, but in the past have facilitated workshops on puppetry, bookmaking, painting, sculpture, theatre design… I have taught children, teens, adults, and sometimes a mixture of ages.

With the private drawing workshops, my approach to teaching is personal, close to my own work. I try to extend what I have learned/am learning through my own work to others, and to respond to their individual interests and evolutions. I place emphasis on processes of discovery through personal expression and experimentation with materials. Techniques are incorporated, but not treated as something precious. I believe that becoming a good drawer comes through practice — just like learning to cook or swim or do a crossword puzzle. Why drawing? Because it is so direct, the materials are simple. The process is close to the body (low-tech) and therefore can be very expressive. For children, drawing is a natural activity, but as we grow up we tend to leave drawing behind or become scared of it. I hope to rekindle people's curiosity, and ideally, their sense of freedom.

The Seed of a Gesture

This winter I am offering a drawing workshop specifically for a small group of artists from all disciplines (visual arts, film, theatre, dance, music, writing…). Through my own experience I have found it to be very liberating and generative to explore forms that are less familiar to me, transposing ideas from one medium to another. This is an opportunity to develop a body of work in an open, process-based studio context. I will lead you through exercises to encourage in-depth exploration, and invite you to integrate source material from your own practice, so that the workshop is personally meaningful. The idea is for each person to bring something – a question/image/gesture/found object – to use as a seed for a body of work. This “theme” acts as a point of departure, and will of course evolve. My interest in working specifically with artists is that they are already involved in a creative practice, but aren't necessarily used to drawing. Because of its immediacy, drawing can be an incredibly expressive and sensuous way of opening up new areas in one’s work. My teaching approach extends from my own practice as an interdisciplinary artist whose work centres around drawing. When I teach small groups, I respond to individual interests, proposing different ways of drawing/perceiving, and providing challenges. Although drawing techniques will be introduced, it is an experiential, rather than technical approach.

If you are looking for a winter ritual to bring fresh energy to your work…

Mondays, 9:30 am-12:30, January 28-March 17 (8 weeks)
(tentative dates)
$450/person, including materials

The workshop will be held in a bright studio in Little Italy. Space is limited so please contact me soon to register ($50 deposit required). If you have questions I will happily provide more information. If you are interested in fewer classes, or in private sessions, please feel free to contact me.

(514) 271-4691  //  vidasimon@bellnet.ca