Landscapes Workshop with Gaye Adams, SFCA

Nov 30th - Dec 1st, 2024 

10:00 AM - 4:00 PM (PST) 

Suitable for Beginner & Intermediate Level

Federation Academy on Granville Island,  1310 Johnston St, Vancouver, BC V6H 3S1 

Medium: Acrylic/Oil

Workshop Overview

This two day workshop is designed for representational landscape painters. Getting light and atmosphere to read will be discussed and demonstrated, along with ideas for editing down the landscape to its essential values colors and shapes in order to make the process simpler and more approachable.  

Gaye will be demonstrating in oils as it is her primary medium, so she would suggest using oils if you have them, but the lesson material is also completely transferable to other mediums, so bring what you are comfortable working with.

About the Instructor - Gaye Adams, SFCA

Gaye has been privileged to work as a painter for most of her adult life. She started drawing and painting as a child, and never really stopped. Her journey as a painter started in the medium of soft pastel, having fallen in love with the work of Degas and Mary Cassatt. From there she did a foray into acrylics for a number of years and these days her primary medium is oil paint.

Although Gaye works with a number of commercial galleries, her greatest joy is going out in the landscape and painting field studies – she loves being in nature and working from life hones her skills and informs her larger studio paintings. It also furnishes her with some wonderful painting adventures, taking her to places she may have never otherwise experienced.

What engages her most as a painter is rendering the effects of light and atmosphere as it is always challenging and deeply satisfying. She is ever the learner and pushes herself to paint in situations that put her into the deep end of the swimming pool. Her favorite saying is “Sell your cleverness and buy bewilderment”, an eastern saying that best describes her as she stands before her easel with a question around what will work, what won't work, and what might be possible. Her goal at the easel is to recreate the glorious light in whatever subject matter she currently finds most inspiring with the hope she can transport the viewer in the process.

In 2003 she became a signature member of the Federation of Canadian Artists and served many years as Standards Chair. Shortly after that she earned her Master Pastellist designation with the Pastel Artists of Canada. She is currently represented by Canada House in Banff, AB and Avenue Gallery in Victoria. She is also a member of the Oil Painters of America and Artists for Conservation. 

It is her joy to also work as an instructor of studio and plein air workshops both locally and abroad. 

Instructing gives her the opportunity to meet some wonderful people, and adds a balance to the solitude of her painting practice.

Website: gayeadams.com

Student Testimonials:

• "Gaye is a fabulous teacher and mentor!  I feel extremely fortunate to have found her when I first started oils as she was instrumental in guiding me through each step of the way from beginner to recently attaining my Signature Status with the FCA.  She is one of the best:  knowledgeable, respectful, encouraging, and supportive. "   - Leslie Lendvoy, Vancouver, BC

• "Dedicated and talented with a wealth of experience, Gaye is truly master artist and teacher. Through her workshops, she was able to demystify plein air for me, breaking it down into very do-able steps, that I still follow. I’m no longer intimidated by getting out and painting outdoors. It was through my very fortunate opportunity to work in a mentorship with Gaye that I credit my most significant leap of improvement. "    - Kate Tooke, Vernon BC