Making Art Work
Professional Development Series
January 21, February 18, April 1
Free + open to all
We’re excited to continue our fourth iteration of Making Art Work, a professional development series co-presented by Agnes Etherington Art Centre, Modern Fuel Artist-Run Centre, and Union Gallery
This series includes free workshops co-facilitated by local artists and arts professionals, geared towards emerging, mid-career and student artists and curators. Participants gain enhanced experiential learning opportunities, develop a toolkit of skills in preparing for a career in the arts and extend networks with Kingston’s contemporary art galleries.
How To Price Your Artwork with Chrissy Poitras and Kyle Topping
Tuesday, January 21, 2025, 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Virtual (Zoom)
Learn the essentials of setting fair prices for your artwork with Chrissy Poitras and Kyle Topping of Spark Box Studio. Pricing work can be challenging, yet understanding its nuances is key to building a successful and sustainable practice. Chrissy and Kyle will walk you through the components of their pricing approach and invite you to explore how this can apply to your own practice.
This program is made possible through the generous support of the Iva Speers Fund for Art Education.
Kyle Topping and Chrissy Poitras
MEET CHRISSY AND KYLE
Since 2009, Chrissy Poitras and Kyle Topping have been cultivating a vibrant hub for artists at Spark Box Studio, at their studio located in Prince Edward County, Ontario. Over the years, they’ve welcomed more than 450 artists from around the globe—painters, poets, musicians, filmmakers, and more—seeking a dedicated space to step away from the demands of daily life and immerse themselves in their practice.
At its heart, Spark Box Studio is a resource created by artists, for artists. It’s a space designed to inspire creativity, foster research, and encourage growth. Whether it’s through mentorship, workshops, or simply the quiet support of an open studio, Spark Box aims to equip artists with the tools, skills, and connections to confidently share their visions with the world.
Both Poitras and Topping are graduates of Queen’s University’s Bachelor of Fine Art Studio program and are practicing artists specializing in painting, installation art and printmaking. Their dedication to the arts extends beyond Spark Box, both teaching at Loyalist College and OCADU, they’ve also developed and led courses on studio arts and arts management, all while remaining deeply engaged with their local and national artistic communities.
Sustainability in the Studio: Eco-Conscious Practices for Painters with Emily Joyce
Tuesday, February 18, 2025, 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Virtual (Zoom)
This online workshop focuses on sustainable art practices for painters who want to reduce their environmental impact! During this workshop, we will cover safe disposal methods for acrylic and oil paints, ensuring your creative process stays eco-friendly. We will explore a range of non-toxic paints and studio materials, along with recycling and repurposing techniques. We'll also take a closer look at eco-conscious paint mediums and innovative products developed by forward-thinking art material companies. Join us to learn practical strategies for creating art that respects both your vision, and the planet.
Photo of Emily Joyce
MEET EMILY
Emily is a Toronto-based painter, art conservator and art instructor. Outside of her painting studio, she works as an art conservator at Toronto Art Restoration Inc., an art material science instructor at the Ontario College of Art and Design University (OCADU), and a painting teacher at the Toronto School of Art (TSA).
For her education, Emily completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours) with a minor in Art History from Queen’s University. specializing in oil painting. After her undergrad, Emily pursued a Master’s of Art Conservation, also from Queen’s University, specializing in painting conservation. In addition to these studies, Emily completed a certificate in Traditional Materials and Methods of Painting through San Gemini Preservation Studies.
Emily is always mixing her love of art and science in her work, through the detailed exploration of materials, layering and technique, as well as through her teaching endeavors; Emily developed a program called Studio Practice: Materials and Processes for Painters. The course provides students with the knowledge they need to take full advantage of painting material properties, increasing their artist material literacy and understanding how to improve their practice to better care for their paintings and themselves while in their studios.
Making Art Work: Finding Motivation and Connection for Artists with Melanie Gray
Tuesday, April 1, 2025, 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
In Person (Modern Fuel Artist-Run Centre, Kingston)
Join us for Making Art Work: Finding Motivation and Connection for Artists with Melanie Gray, a supportive workshop designed to foster creative dialogue and personal reflection. Through guided discussions and a welcoming environment, we’ll explore the motivations behind our art, share experiences and challenges, and offer encouragement and resources to help one another thrive creatively and in life.
MEET MELANIE
Melanie Gray graduated from Queen’s University in 2016 with a BAH in Art History and Indigenous Studies. She went on to do her graduate program at the Toronto Art Therapy Institute where she graduated in 2018. As an Indigenous Art Therapist, Melanie continues to be grounded in her Haudenosaunee culture and uses this understanding in her practice. She is also a practicing artist in many mediums, but is most notably the silversmith behind Little Owl Jewelry.