About
Creative work can sometimes feel stalled by perfectionism, the pressure to produce finished outcomes, or uncertainty around materials. This course is designed as a process-led, supportive re-entry into making, focusing on intuition, experimentation, and reflection rather than finished pieces.
For the New Year, we’re bringing you this course inspired by Mahsa Farzi’s signature sketch books, bringing her methods directly into the classroom.
Led by Emily Carr instructor and UBC MFA artist Mahsa Farzi, this four-week course draws on her experience teaching figurative drawing, painting, and foundation level studio courses. Mahsa works with students to build confidence with materials, develop a personal approach, and get comfortable with iterative, hands on creative processes, skills that form the foundation of this course.
Participants will make and work in a handmade book, guided by Mahsa’s step-by-step approach. The book is a flexible, portable space for drawing, painting, writing, layering, and experimenting. Instead of focusing on finished artworks, the course emphasizes movement through making, so ideas and visual language grow naturally over time.
Working mostly with ink, watercolour, pencil, and acrylic, participants will explore materials through short demonstrations and simple prompts. These exercises, central to Mahsa’s teaching practice, encourage playful experimentation without feeling overwhelming. Over the weeks, participants can layer materials, combine approaches, and bring in items like tracing paper, collage, tape, wax, found images, and text.
The course is set up to create a supportive environment where trying, revising, and responding to what emerges is part of the process.
What to Expect
- Make a simple, functional handmade book
- Short demonstrations and weekly prompts for exploring materials
- Work with ink, watercolour, pencil, acrylic, collage, and text
- A supportive, inclusive environment for experimentation
Who This Course Is For
- Artists and creatives feeling stuck or blocked
- People seeking a low-pressure, weekly creative practice
- Anyone curious about mixed media or sketchbooks
- No prior experience required
What You’ll Gain
- Confidence working intuitively with mixed media
- Material fluency across drawing, painting, and collage
- A personalized process book to continue using after the course.
- Tools and habits for maintaining a creative practice.
What You need to bring
- All materials are provided. You’re also welcome to bring your own supplies or sketchbook, including ink, watercolour, pencil, acrylic, collage materials, or text from home.
Registration closes at midnight on the Wednesday before the first session begins.
15% discount for North Van Arts Members.
Become a member and unlock a world of benefits! As part of your membership, you’ll enjoy a 15% discount on select Arts Education Adult & Youth classes and workshops.
Here’s how to get started:
- Membership: Become a member of North Van Arts to access exclusive perks.
- Discount Code: Call us at 604-988-6844 to receive your unique discount code.
- Redeem Discount: Remember, you must be a member before receiving the discount. Once you have your code, simply follow these steps to apply the 15% off:
- Browse the available Adult & Youth classes and workshops.
- During the checkout process, you’ll find a field to enter your coupon code. Enter the code and apply it.
- Your 15% discount will be automatically calculated and reflected in your total purchase amount.
Ready to enhance your artistic journey? Join today and take advantage of this incredible offer.
