Happy new year! I'm a little late getting out my winter update, partially because of a couple of short notice exhibitions in January, but here it is finally!

Exhibitions
I'm very pleased to say I have 3 exhibitions scheduled this year so far, including a group one that opens this Friday Jan 9 in Hamilton (You Me Gallery, 330 James St North, Hamilton, reception starts at 7pm).

'WORK SPACE' at the LIVING ARTS CENTRE
January 24 – March 1, 2015
Reception: Thursday, January 29, 7 to 9pm
A three-person show, curated by Megan Press, on the relationship between work and workspaces, including the experience of confinement whether from the physical or psychological “spaces" (or limitations!) of our work roles. Personally I have long  experience of working from home, which can lead to rarely seeing the outside world and cabin fever! Those of you familiar with my work will probably see the connection between this theme and my interest in barriers and limitations. 
I’d love to see you at the opening if you can make it!

‘CHAINS UNLINKED' at the ART GALLERY OF MISSISSAUGA
June 25 – August 16, 2015
Reception: Thursday, June 25, 6pm
For this show I’ll be in the XIT-RM space for emerging artists. Working with Kendra Ainsworth, the Assistant Curator, I am developing a sculpture installation (first conceived for the Offence/Defence show in 2013 but never completed), video and the largest drawing – by far! – that I have ever done: roughly 11ft x 9 or 10ft! Between now and then I’ll be in training to do that drawing as it will be a temporary installation directly on the gallery wall. Suitably physical for the main space work which relates to the Pan Am Games taking place in the GTA this summer. Hope you can make it!

Courses & Workshops

I will be teaching two courses for the Digital Image Design certificate at Haliburton School of the Arts this winter, making my winter term in Toronto a little shorter than usual at 6 weeks. Please don't let that deter you from registering for one of these courses though – we can still get lots done! 

I haven’t been able to work out a workshop that’s more central in Toronto, or in the eastern GTA, for those of you who need those locations, but I will keep you posted.

THURSDAYS (Jan 29 through Mar 5)
My weekly Figurative Art classes are now on Thursdays and 
in a bigger studio at Neilson Park Creative Centre in Etobicoke!
Registration is now open. Click here for more information. 

FRIDAYS (Jan 30 through Mar 6)
Acrylic & Mixed Media Studio with Kim Lee Kho.
Continuing on from last term, Fridays for the Etobicoke Art Group are an opportunity to engage with something new or interesting and also work on your own work with one-on-one consultations with me. 
Register early, register often! Click here for more information.

VAM WORKSHOP WILL RETURN IN SPRING
My first workshop at Visual Arts Mississauga went really well with a mixture of familiar students and new ones. Stay tuned for information on the spring Photo-Based Mixed Media workshop.

HALIBURTON SCHOOL OF THE ARTS
The summer program preview is out! Click here to take a look. 
Both of my courses from last summer are being repeated, and are suitable for returning students:
• Gallery Walks to Studio Work (a gallery visit every day plus studio time to work and process what you’ve seen)
• Acrylics: Explore, Express & Experiment, which is an up-to-your-elbows investigation of the acrylic medium, very materials and process oriented; a combination of technical knowledge with plenty of creative exploration.

As well, I am part of the faculty team for the Studio Process Advancement graduate certificate – kind of like a 14-week mini-MFA (i.e. Master of Fine Arts degree). Applications are now being accepted for the 2015 program which runs May through early August. Click here for more information.

SUGGESTIONS
I am always interested in hearing suggestions for courses you would like me to teach or repeat (with variations naturally). I can’t promise I can deliver on all of the suggestions but they do influence what I offer, particularly when there is serious interest from a number of people.
     Here’s a suggestion that was made and I’d like to hear if any of you would be interested in a workshop on this: portraits painted using an expressive approach to acrylic glazing. Click here and here to see examples of what I mean.

Online Portals
I will be updating my blog soon. I usually try to update it more or less weekly, but the holidays were an interruption. Please check it out sometime, as well as my Facebook artist page and Twitter feed where in addition to other mostly art-related content (on Facebook, more general on Twitter) I feature some sneak peeks at what I’m working on and will likely show some teasers leading up to the AGM show in particular. 

Join in the conversation: please like, comment, share and suggest topics!

BLOG
NEWS
FACEBOOK ARTIST PAGE
TWITTER
FLICKR (for a more extensive collection of artworks)

Fall is sneaking up on us even as I write this, so it's not too early to get registered! I have a new day (in a larger studio!) for my popular Wednesday figure courses at Neilson, a new offering for Fridays at EAG, and my first workshop offering at Visual Arts Mississauga. 

NEW DAY! NEW STUDIO!
Thursdays, October 2 – December 4 (10 weeks)
Morning and afternoon classes
Figurative Art
Neilson Park Creative Centre [click here to view link]
Working with a model, we will use the human form to explore a broad range of artistic and technical issues. Beginning with the foundation of drawing — central to the art of seeing, and a simple, versatile way to broaden our scope — supported by weekly examination and discussion of artworks by historical and contemporary artists. Model fee included.
Artwork: Femi, drawing from life, 2005 or 2006, charcoal on manila paper, 24" x 18"

Fridays, October 3 – December 12 (10 weeks)
Acrylic & Mixed Media Studio with Kim Lee Kho
(Note: it's listed as "Our Weekly Recipe" on the EAG website)
Morning and afternoon classes, 9:30–12:30 and 1:00–4:00
Etobicoke Art Group at (Neilson Park C.C.)  [click here to view link]
OUR WEEKLY "RECIPE":
• Start with one helping of an artist, idea, medium, technique or process (presented by Kim).
• Gently add in a related exercise and mix well with the first ingredient until it sticks well.
• Follow with generous quantities of open working time and one-on-one consultations with Kim.
Suitable for those working in acrylic paints, drawing, mixed media, photo-based mixed media and other compatible approaches.
If you’ve been looking for more input and mentoring by Kim on your personal work, this is the class to take! Not suitable for absolute beginners.

My first workshop at VAM!
Sundays, November 16–30, 1:00–4:00
Photo-based Mixed Media workshop: 
Incorporating photographs into mixed media artwork
Visual Arts Mississauga [click here to view link]
Would you like to find ways to work with all the photographs you have and keep taking? This course is an introduction to some non-digital ways of working with your digital photos and/or old-fashioned film prints, (if you have the skills, feel free to alter the digital shots in advance as much as you like).
      You'll be introduced to a variety of ways of working with photographs in mixed media artwork, both by working into the photographs themselves (drawing, painting, and a few removal methods) and by applying them – via collage or an image transfer process – to paintings/drawings/mixed media.
      A printer/copier along with various media suitable for different processes and ways of working will be available in class. Cost includes some prints and additional prints can be purchased in class.
      Dig out your photos and bring a sense of adventure! Suited to most levels, including advanced, but some previous art-making experience is required.