Artist Meetups Toronto

DIY Comics School Drawing Meet-Up

Use parallel working/body doubling to help focus on your project, art, trade critiques or zines, study reference books or just get inspired! Any focus or skill level welcome. Meet on the ground floor of the Toronto Reference Library! The organizer will be wearing a bright orange t-shirt.

Contour Opening Reception

Contour explores growth, change, and renewal through layered textures, shifting landscapes, and expressive abstract forms. FEATURING ARTIST: Yangyang Pan, Annette Mcarthur, Divyani Chandorkar, Steve Wilson, Irina Laskin, Daria Gavrilina, Lynden Cowan & Joanne Lomas. Step into an immersive visual experience where texture becomes story and time unfolds in cycles. Contour is a compelling exhibition of abstract and landscape works that explores growth, change, and renewal through layered forms and expressive techniques. From shifting horizons to textured surfaces that echo seasons passing, each piece reflects the rhythms of life—inviting viewers to pause, reflect, and connect with the ever-evolving nature of memory, place, and transformation. [ENROLL NOW](https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/contour-opening-reception-tickets-1989398741188?aff=ebdssbdestsearch)

The Toronto Artist's Way Meetup Monthly Meetup

The purpose of the group, based on the book The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron, is for people to meet and talk about their artistic challenges in any field (painting, writing, music etc.) and encourage each other to break their creative blocks and fulfill themselves in their art. If you find people who are sympathetic, you may want to form your own group, meeting regularly to explore the book and supporting each other in their artistic journeys. I have gone through 2 such clusters and can say that it is a very powerful experience. Why not come to a meeting and see for yourself?

AGO Talks: What is Impressionism? ($15)

We'll attend this PANEL talk on ***The Impressionist Revolution: Monet to Matisse*** Ticket for the **TALK** is $10-$15 (depending on your AGO membership level). If you're **NOT an AGO member**, then gallery admission is extra. FYI. \*\*\*Join Caroline Shields, Curator, European Art and Stephan Jost, Michael and Sonja Koerner Director, and CEO in **conversation about the Impressionist movement**. Take a fresh look at these familiar artists and the style that shocked the world. Since joining the AGO in 2017, Caroline Shields has curated the exhibitions *Impressionism in the Age of Industry* (2019) and *Cassatt—McNicoll: Impressionists Between Worlds* (2023). **Newly opened exhibition:** https://ago.ca/exhibitions/impressionist-revolution-monet-matisse-dallas-museum-art **Ticket link for the TALK-**- https://ago.ca/events/what-impressionism

ARC Ensemble: Artists of the Royal Conservatory ($40)

The **ARC Ensemble** and students of the **Glenn Gould School** explore ***Armenian works composed*** before the breakup of the Soviet Union and Armenian independence – captivating and evocative music unknown in the West. Included on the program are arrangements of Armenian folksongs for string quartet, a compelling Cello Sonata by Avet Terteryan, and seductive piano miniatures by Alexander Spendiarian and Arno Babadjanian. **Ticket link is below**\-\-\-and\-\-\-ANY seat is a great seat\. https://bit.ly/ARCConcertOct4 The multiple Grammy Award nominated ARC Ensemble comprises the senior faculty of The Royal Conservatory's Glenn Gould School, with special guests drawn from the organization's most accomplished students and alumni. **It is among Canada's most distinguished cultural ambassadors** with recent appearances in Los Angeles, New York and London’s Wigmore Hall. The research and recovery of music suppressed and marginalized under the 20th century's repressive regimes remains its focus and a growing number of works have now rejoined the repertoire. “As always with this ensemble, performances could hardly be bettered in terms of execution and commitment.” (*Gramophone*) **ARC Ensemble-** **(Artists of The Royal Conservatory)** **Erika Raum**, violin **Marie Bérard**, violin **Steven Dann**, viola **Thomas Wiebe**, cello **Kevin Ahfat**, piano with students of **The Glenn Gould School-** **Avery Tracy**, violin **Gina Lanzrein**, violin **Shyler Macaggi**, viola **Mira Kardan**, cello **TICKET Link here:** https://www.rcmusic.com/concert/arc-ensemble-453001?utm_source=meetup&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=453001_ARCconcert&utm_content=arts_events_listing

ROM: Weston International Award--Evening with Hanif Abdurraqib ($20)

{ This Author EVENT is Sold-Out } Always a HOT ticket--an important (international) AUTHOR Talk. At the ROM. ($15-$20 only!!) American author **Hanif Abdurraqib has won the 2026 Weston International Award. $75,000** **Overview--** The evening will feature **Hanif Abdurraquib** delivering a talk and having an in-depth conversation with **CBC ARTS.** \*\*\*Join us on Monday, September 14 at the Royal Ontario Museum, for an evening with the 2026 Weston International Award winner, hosted by Ali Hassan of CBC’s Canada Reads. **Hanif Abdurraqib is an American memoirist and poet known for his distinctive style of cultural and artistic criticism through the lens of music,** **sport, and contemporary American issues**. In a creative and wide-ranging talk, he will bring his unique and rare intellect to the role of nonfiction in our society, and his relationship to it as someone from an unconventional background. He’ll then sit down for wide-ranging and free-wheeling conversation with a member of the award jury and author Tessa McWatt. Jurors said his “work sings and stings and brings truths, both personal and communal, as he voices culture and its complexities with bold, compassionate lyricism and a real sense of love,” and that is what he will bring to the stage. ***The $75,000 prize is a companion to the existing Hilary Weston Writers' Trust Prize for Nonfiction, which is awarded annually to a Canadian author for a single work of nonfiction.*** The Weston International Award recognizes the career achievement of an international author for a body of nonfiction work. Eligible international authors must have published at least three books of outstanding literary merit, in the genre of nonfiction, that are written in English or else widely available in translation. **Ticket link here:** https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/the-weston-international-award-presents-an-evening-with-hanif-abdurraqib-tickets-1983560042483?aff=oddtdtcreator **Recent interview on CBC:** https://www.cbc.ca/books/american-author-hanif-abdurraqib-wins-75k-weston-international-award-for-career-achievement-in-nonfiction-9.7235796 SEE you there.

Indoor Draw & Sketch Hangout - MaRS Discovery District

Hi everyone! We're doing an afternoon sketching hangout at the MaRS Building food court tables- Enter MaRS from Collage Street where the statue of two men are sitting by the glass doors. Turn left and head down the escalator. Turn left at the bottom of the escalator and head down the hall past another escalator and Foosball table the event will be held at the far end of the food court. **First time meeting us and still not sure about the vibe?** Check out photos from **[past in-person events of 2023](https://www.meetup.com/artsrecto/photos/34212927/)** Please bring your art supplies. Digital tablet, dry mediums, watercolour set, really anything that doesn't smell and is non toxic and easy to clean up. Please be considerate and leave the space as clean as it was before. Feel free to grab a drink or snack if you'd like. *Note the food court is closed but there are a couple of coffee shops in the area at street level. **Where to meet exactly?** MaRS Discovery District at 2pm **How to get there?** \- Public transit \- get off at Queens Park subway station\, walk East along Collage you should see glass doors with a statue of two men sitting at a table outside\. Instructions stated above Looking forward to meeting you all :) ================ **Support This Group 🥰🤩** We hope you're enjoying the Arts & Rec events! If you'd like to give support, please consider making a small Ko-fi donation of $5-10 USD at [https://www.ko-fi.com/artsnrectoronto](https://www.ko-fi.com/artsnrectoronto.) . This helps cover meetup and miscellaneous expenses with hosting events! For more inquiries, please PM me for more info! Thank you all so much!

Creative Code Toronto meetup at InterAccess

Join us for a Toronto meetup of creative coders! This will be a venue to get to know each other and see what's going on in the community. We'll have a space downtown and some food available. We're partnering with [InterAccess](https://interaccess.org), a gallery, educational facility, production studio, festival, and registered charity dedicated to new media and emerging practices in art and technology! * If you've got a project you've worked on in the past that you're proud of, we'd love to see it and for you to walk us through what went into it. * If you're currently working on something or investigating some new ideas and feel like sharing, this would be a great time discuss your process so far! * If you haven't done anything yet but are interested in creative coding, we'd love to see what works have inspired you. Sign up here if you're interested in speaking! [https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1MsbtdvTGMNT75lqq4lnxydY4TczStAOZE1Ap8mQJKeM](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1MsbtdvTGMNT75lqq4lnxydY4TczStAOZE1Ap8mQJKeM) **What is creative code?** *Creative coding* refers to anything with an artistic component that uses code as a medium. We welcome artists who use code (for visuals, audio, poetry, or whatever else), designers, animators, toolmakers, researchers, or just enjoyers and people looking to learn more! **Location:** InterAccess, at 32 Lisgar St. **Join our discord** if you want to talk to everyone before/after the event, or have any suggestions for things you'd like to see or do! [https://discord.gg/ux9txXPsdJ](https://discord.gg/ux9txXPsdJ)

Watercolour Painting Meetup

Join us for relaxing watercolour painting meetups at a local cafe. Whether you’re a complete beginner or an experienced painter, all skill levels are welcome. Each session will begin with brief introductions, a short overview of watercolour techniques, and ideas to spark inspiration. From there, we'll settle in to paint, chitchat, and enjoy some cafe drinks together. We’ll wrap up each meetup with a show-and-tell, where anyone who’d like can share their work and see what others have created. The meetup is free if you bring your own supplies. If you need materials, $5 cash will cover basic watercolour supplies. To keep things chill, each meetup is limited to 10 attendees. Come unwind, experiment, and connect with others through art.

(SOLD OUT SESSION) Art and Form intermediate lighting workshop w Ciara

## LINK to purchase tickets for event- [https://www.wtpg.ngo/event-details/wtpg-signature-series-art-and-form-intermediate-level-lighting-with-ciara](https://www.wtpg.ngo/event-details/wtpg-signature-series-art-and-form-intermediate-level-lighting-with-ciara) ## About the event # Light, Art & Form — Intermediate Art Nude Photography Workshop  ## About the Event **10:00 AM – 12:00 PM** We are excited to present **Light, Art & Form**, an intermediate-level studio photography workshop exploring the creative possibilities of **art nude photography, light and form**, featuring the talented model **Ciara Antoski**. This hands-on workshop is designed for photographers who want to develop their understanding of studio lighting while creating dramatic, artistic and carefully composed images for their portfolios. Working in a small, intimate group, we'll explore several professional lighting setups and discuss how the **position, direction, quality and shape of light** can transform the appearance of the human form.  ## Workshop Details Are you passionate about art nude photography? Do you want to better understand how professional photographers create dramatic and beautiful lighting? This workshop is focused on **learning through doing**. Phil Sutherland will guide participants through each setup, explaining the lighting choices, modifiers, angles and techniques used to create the desired look. Participants will have opportunities to photograph each setup while receiving guidance and feedback throughout the session.  ### Framing & Composition During the workshop, we'll explore several approaches to photographing the figure, including: * **2/3-body compositions** * **Floor-level compositions featuring lingerie** * **Full-body compositions** * Exploring how framing, negative space and perspective affect the final image * Using light and shadow to emphasize form and create mood ## Workshop Team **Instructor:** Phil Sutherland **Model:** Ciara Antoski **Assistant:** Volunteer to be announced Ciara brings considerable experience and professionalism to the workshop, and we're thrilled to have her working with us for this session. ### Small Group — Maximum 6 Photographers To provide a better learning and shooting experience, we are limiting this workshop to **a maximum of six participants**. Keeping the group small allows for more individual attention, more opportunities to ask questions and meaningful shooting time with each lighting setup. ## About West Toronto Photography Group As an **Indigenous-run, not-for-profit arts organization**, West Toronto Photography Group is committed to supporting photographers, sharing knowledge and making arts programming accessible to the community. Our workshops are designed to create a welcoming and professional environment where photographers can learn, experiment, meet other artists and—most importantly—have fun making photographs. ## Workshop Information **Maximum Participants:** 6 **Workshop Fee:** CAD $125 + HST and applicable vendor fee ## What Should I Bring? Please bring: * DSLR, mirrorless or medium-format camera * Your preferred lenses * Fully charged batteries * Freshly formatted memory card(s) * A general-purpose lens * Pen and paper if you'd like to take notes **Tripods and camera supports are not required** for this workshop. ### Wireless Triggers We provide wireless triggers for most mainstream camera systems. If you're unsure whether your camera is compatible, please contact us before the workshop and we'll be happy to confirm. ## Model Release A **West Toronto Photography Group model release** will be provided to each participant. The release covers **non-commercial use and photography created for educational and training purposes**. The model will sign the releases, and printed copies will be provided to participating photographers. ## Cancellation & Transfer Policy If we, as organizers, need to postpone or cancel the workshop, refunds will be issued within **72 hours**. We understand that sometimes circumstances prevent participants from attending. If you can no longer attend, please contact us as soon as possible. We will do our best to help you **resell your workshop spot to another member of the group**. If we are able to resell your spot, you will be reimbursed for the ticket price. If the spot cannot be resold, you may transfer your registration to another person to attend in your place; unfortunately, **no refund will be available if the spot remains unsold**. ## Join Us Come explore the relationship between **light, shadow and the human form** in this focused intermediate photography workshop. Whether you're looking to strengthen your studio lighting skills, expand your portfolio or explore new approaches to art nude photography, **Light, Art & Form** offers an opportunity to learn, experiment and create in a supportive professional environment. We look forward to welcoming you to the studio!

Alliance Francaise: Duo Perse-Inca ($20)

We'll kick off our season with **Alliance Francaise**--with a wonderful concert on a Saturday night!! We've been very fortunate to see **Duo Perse-Inca** 2X before. Once in Toronto. Once in Montreal. Sounds from Iran, mixed with sounds from Peru. Instruments and artists--they communicate with each other so well! ***Ticket link is below***: $20 (general admission) We love the **Alliance Francaise** space (music, theatre, film, art) **A World Music Concert--** **Duo Perse-Inca returns** to Alliance Française Toronto nearly four years after their acclaimed Spadina Theatre performance. **Showan Tavakol and Federico Tarazona - rooted respectively in the musical traditions of Iran and Peru** \- have built a repertoire that moves seamlessly between improvisation and co\-composition\, setting the Iranian kamancheh and the Andean charango in genuine dialogue\. Their album *Echoes of the Mountains* charts a journey across continents and through the ages, delivered with mastery and warmth. **More info and sounds:** https://centredesmusiciensdumonde.com/en/portfolio/duo-perse-inca_en/ **TICKET link for September 26th**--(will SELL-OUT) https://www.alliance-francaise.ca/en/art/cultural-season/concerts/311-duo-perse-inca

Light & Ink w/ Hien