"The more I paint, the more I believe I can. My painting teacher, David Kearn, says that art begins where judgment ends. I think we could say the same thing of love and of life. Everything becomes more authentic, including ourselves, when we let go of self-criticism and judgment. Creativity is within all of us.” Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, Closer Together
“Art begins where judgment ends” and “as in art as in life” have been two resonating ideas since I welcomed art into my life….David
In her book Closer Together, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau expands “The more I paint, the more I believe I can. My painting teacher, David Kearn, says that art begins where judgment ends. I think we could say the same thing of love and of life. Everything becomes more authentic, including ourselves, when we let go of self-criticism and judgment. Creativity is within all of us.”
“David is so good at making art approachable and possible! Such a pleasure having him as a regular guest on the show!🔥” Derick Fage, host of RogersTV Daytime Ottawa
On the tour! – plein-air painting in Rockcliffe Park this summer
Plein-air outings this summer have been a roaring success: 28 artists participating – join us for the final session, tomorrow at Remic Rapids: https://www.davidkearn.com/workshops/
Resupplying for the Fall
Late summer is the time many of us get back to the studio, look around and say “time for a visit to the art store and get ready for some Fall creative projects and courses!” With most things in life, you get what you pay for, but not necessarily what you think you are paying for. Professional quality paints, pure cotton paper, silk canvases and the finest sable brushes all behave differently than cheaper alternatives and, in the biosphere of technique and application, they hold a clear advantage over less costly alternatives. But do better materials guarantee better art? Sometimes perhaps, sometimes not. Oftentimes the problem is not with the materials but with the mind. It’s easier to be carefree when you are not being precious and worrying: over-thinking can be the nemesis of creativity, at least with expressive styles. Away goes the sketch pad and out comes a single pristine support of the highest quality, never to then receive even a spark of the joy in the preliminaries. On the other hand, some cheap alternatives are not really alternatives at all, not acid free, not permanent, and not workable for even a quick sketch. I suggest mid-range materials, well stocked, are great for practice and equally fine when – surprise, surprise, your art works out splendidly!
“Art isn’t in the tools, material, equipment you use. It’s in the way you see the world” Dale Chihuly
Annual OSA Instructor’s Exhibition
The Ottawa School of Art is proud to present the annual Instructor’s Exhibition: a group show of recent works by 44 artists who have taught at the Ottawa School of Art, ByWard campus, within the last year.
Sep 03, 2026, 5:10 p.m. – Oct 04, 2026, 5:00 p.m. OSA Byward Campus, 35 George St, Ottawa, ON K1N 8W5. Vernissage will be held on Thursday September 3 from 5 to 8 p.m. Hope to see you there!
2026 OSAO Visual Art Fundamentals Program Exhibition
The OSA Orleans Gallery at the Shenkman Arts Centre is proud to present works by students and instructors of our Visual Art Fundamentals (VAF) program.
Sep 13, 2026, 1:00 p.m. – Nov 01, 2026, 1:00 p.m. OSA Orleans Gallery Shenkman Arts Centre, 245 Centrum Blvd, Orléans, ON K1E 3W8. Vernissage will be held on Sunday, September 13 from 1 to 3 p.m. Hope to see you there too!
Fall Registration in full swing at the OSA!
Our courses will be commencing early November this year, following some commitments earlier in the fall. We are looking forward to a range of short courses – online and downtown – as well as three weekend workshops at the Shenkman:
Weekend Workshops at the Shenkman Centre in Orleans:
To Brush or not to Brush? – Exploring painting techniques – 7 & 8 November, 9:30am – 4:30pm
The Life in Your Portraits – Emotion through Technique – 21 & 22 November, 9:30am – 4:30pm
