Art Spark

About Peter John Reid

A Graduate of the Ontario College of Art, Peter studied Fine Art andIndustrial Design.  

He is a full time painter and author of the how-to book ‘Acrylics’ which is becoming a mainstay in the study of Acrylic painting.  Peter’s fun, effective teaching style has inspired students in his popular Acrylic painting classes at Blue Mountain School of Landscape Painting, Southampton Art School and others.

"Painting is a never-ending process of learning, exploring both the subject and the medium. There are times when painting seems magic: paint flows onto the canvas seemingly without thought, the hand moves in fluid motions, quickly the images take shape and come to life. The critical eye then comes into play, painting slows as final strokes approach the finished work. The first part is joy, the second part resembles work. The experience lies in knowing when to stop working."

About Ann Ziegler

Ann is a highly sought-after artist and teacher. Having graduated from Ontario College of Art in 1961, she taught painting and drawing at Sheridan College for 21 years.  "To have a passion and to be able to communicate it to others has been a joy."  Since moving to this area in 1994, Ann has taught numerous classes and workshops in figure drawing and intuitive drawing, as well as continuing her own work which is in many private and corporate collections.

About Barbara Hotson

A longtime wedding and portrait photographer, Barb has been painting exclusively in watercolours for over ten years now. "There is something magical about the interaction of pigments, water and paper- what we plan is not always what we get!  As in life - we start with an idea, design an expression of that idea and assemble our imagination, enthusiasm and energy and begin. Then- we have to let go! It is in the letting go that the magic happens - in Watercolours and in Life"
Barbara's watercolours have been called "luminous", "magical" and "glowing with colour". She exhibits and sells in Toronto, Collingwood and Florida and has a large following who love her work.

About Robert Burcher

Short Bio: Nice guy who takes good photos.

Longer Bio: Robert is a professional photographer and graduate of the Banff School of Fine Arts who works in the Collingwood-Blue Mountains area. As a commercial photographer, his work appears in magazines, on websites, and billboards.
Robert's personal work is in the realm of creative landscape photography.
His real strength though is in the sharing of his love for photography through dynamic and entertaining courses.

Fibre artist and certified Zentangle instructor Chari-Lynn Reithmeier, has taught and lectured extensively in addition to producing her own beautiful quilted, beaded, needle felted and embroidered works of art.

About Barb MacLeod

Barb is a multimedia artist who as partner in Baas Design for 30 years, created commissioned art works for private and corporate clients in Canada and internationally.  She has taught art at Sheridan College and Seneca College as well as elementary level and private classes. She has run galleries in Toronto and Collingwood and was the art director for the Collingwood Mural Project.  Barb brings a wide range of experience to her teaching and a love for sharing her knowledge and love of creating.