Art in the Wilderness
Art is an Expression of the Human Experience - Cheryl-Ann Hills
You’re Invited!!
A Visual Story of the creation of Lake Superior told through the geological forms and rocks witnessed along its shorelines. Presented by Cheryl-Ann Hills at St James Gallery during the month of April 2026. Join us for the Opening Reception on April 12th, 2026 and listen to Cheryl speak about her experiences and discoveries while exploring and painting Lake Superior over the past 3 years. RSVP not required but appreciated.
Superior Rocks
April Workshops at Cheryl’s Cozy & Bright Home Studio
Learn painting, colour mixing, and mixed media techniques that can improve your confidence and your artwork. Create beautiful paintings this April!!
Workshop Location: Cheryl’s Home Studio, west mountain Hamilton
Learn how to create the colours of your dreams in this hands-on workshop designed for both beginner and experienced oil painters.
This is a supportive, non-judgmental space focused on exploration — not perfection.
📅 April 11th | noon–4 PM
📍 66 Elora Drive Hamilton
🎟 Limited spots available
What You’ll Experience
Students will learn how to use the information on their oil painting tubes to help them mix paints accurately
Discussion and practice of mixing paints to achieve the desired hue and temperature in your colours
We will develop a palette swatch of warm and cool hues that students will take home and use as a guide in future paintings
Students will receive quality one-to-one instruction from Cheryl during each class
You Will Leave With
a solid understanding of how to mix colour successfully using oil paints.
An appreciation of the importance of colour mixing
A completed palette swatch and notes for use in future paintings
Who This Is For
beginners and experienced oil painters
Artists who seek a greater understanding of colour mixing
Anyone drawn to improving the quality of their artwork
No prior experience required.
What are Traditional Oil Paints?
We will be using oil based oil paints (such as linseed oil and walnut oil) NOT water-mixable oil paints. We will NOT be using any solvents nor mediums. Art in the Wilderness Studio is a solvent-free studio focused on protecting you and the environment.
Why This Workshop Is Different
This is a small, intimate group designed to allow for individual guidance, conversation, and creative freedom — not a crowded, step-by-step class.
Pre-registration Required. Payment accepted via etransfer, debit or credit.
SOME supplies will be provided by your instructor, Cheryl, along with snacks. Students will receive a materials list upon registration.
Class size is limited to 6 students allow for maximum one on one time with your instructor, Cheryl.
This workshop is for Adults 18+ with or without previous experience. Beginners welcome!
Learn how to create paintings with exciting movement using line work as a basis of your composition in this fun hands-on workshop for beginners and experienced painters.
This is a supportive, non-judgmental space focused on exploration — not perfection.
📅 April 18th | noon–4 PM
📍 66 Elora Drive Hamilton
🎟 Limited spots available
What You’ll Experience
Students will learn the importance of linework in a painting
Discussion and practice of lines to develop a strong composition that keeps the viewer engaged
Students will receive quality one-to-one instruction from Cheryl during each class
You Will Leave With
Several preliminary line drawings used to create a landscape painting
An understanding of the power of line in a painting and how it contributes to a successful painting
A completed landscape painting
Who This Is For
beginners and experienced oil painters
Artists who seek a greater understanding of the importance of linework in a painting
Anyone drawn to improving the quality of their artwork
No prior experience required.
Why This Workshop Is Different
This is a small, intimate group designed to allow for individual guidance, conversation, and creative freedom — not a crowded, step-by-step class.
Pre-registration Required. Payment accepted via etransfer, debit or credit.
SOME supplies will be provided by your instructor, Cheryl, along with snacks. Students will receive a materials list upon registration.
Class size is limited to 6 students allow for maximum one on one time with your instructor, Cheryl.
This workshop is for Adults 18+ with or without previous experience. Beginners welcome!
Learn how to create mixed media paintings using both a waterbased medium and oil paints in this fun and highly creative 2-day hands-on workshop for beginners and experienced painters.
This is a supportive, non-judgmental space focused on exploration — not perfection.
📅 April 25th 2026 and April 26th | noon–3 PM
📍 66 Elora Drive Hamilton
🎟 Limited spots available
What You’ll Experience
Day One: using waterbased inks we will lay down initial layers for our abstract landscape painting.
Students will learn how to create a first layer with waterbased inks with a focus on establishing composition and values
Day Two: using traditional oil paints without additives/mediums students will complete their paintings by layering in oil paints over the dried ink layer while allowing some of the first layer to show through the work.
Students will receive quality one-to-one instruction from Cheryl during each class
You Will Leave With
a solid understanding of how to work successfully with two opposing mediums.
An appreciation of the importance of building composition and value work in a painting
A completed abstract landscape painting
Who This Is For
beginners and experienced painters/makers
Artists who seek a challenge
Anyone drawn to abstract landscape paintings
No prior experience required.
Why This Workshop Is Different
This is a small, intimate group designed to allow for individual guidance, conversation, and creative freedom — not a crowded, step-by-step class.
Pre-registration Required. Payment accepted via etransfer, debit or credit.
SOME supplies will be provided by your instructor, Cheryl, along with snacks. Students will receive a materials list upon registration.
Class size is limited to 6 students to allow for maximum one on one time with your instructor, Cheryl.
This workshop is for Adults 18+ with or without previous experience. Beginners welcome!
Bonus: Participants receive exclusive access to original artwork discounts for 48 hours after the workshop.
Pre-Registration Required - Reserve your spot now — spaces are limited!!
“ Cheryl-Ann's workshop was truly enjoyable. We began with a short meditation to help open our minds and set the tone for the session. While the main focus was on creating a dreamscape landscape, Cheryl also shared thoughtful insights about leading a sustainable lifestyle. The class was small, which meant everyone had plenty of one-on-one time and support from Cheryl. I absolutely loved my finished piece and would happily take more workshops with her.
Thanks again for a fun afternoon, Jan Griese” — Previous Participant
Testimonials
"You are right about the positive impact your work has on people. I can't tell you how many times I look at the River Rock Rapids painting in our living room and it just draws me in, always bringing back memories of canoe trips up north and the beauty of the Canadian shield.
It's the perspective and colour combination of that painting that keeps drawing me to it. Hard to explain but River Rock Rapids felt like the perfect composition with an incredible harmony in design and colours and a certain dynamic within the shapes of the rocks that just made it outstanding in my view. I guess it's that combination of static, simplified shapes paired with perspective and dynamic, almost movement-like imprints of your brush strokes in the rocks that creates that dynamic tension in that particular painting that makes it stand out so much for me.
I feel exactly the same about your BC mountain painting. There again, I feel like there is a certain non-static, movement-like dynamic in the otherwise static mountains and a vantage point that just draws me into the actual scene. Your use of yellow throughout to represent the sun light just creates that sense of warmth from the sun on an otherwise cold winter day represented through the "cold" green tones.
It's an instant emotional attachment I feel to this piece of art of yours. Being able to create that emotional response in people through your work is something you rightly feel happy and proud about."
— Ulli, Ontario Canada
"Hi Cheryl-Ann, I hope you are enjoying the beautiful autumn weather we are having. I was wondering if the Tiffany Falls piece was available for purchase. If so, could you please let me know the details? I absolutely love this one . You make it difficult to choose!"
— Esther, Ontario Canada
"We have been looking for something to hold a space in our front entrance for a while. We stopped by Studio101 in Southampton today and just knew this was it. We have been looking for something that spoke to us, a feeling so to speak for the last year. This painting spoke to us and the colors as well. We wanted an Ontario artist. So happy to have this beauty in our home. Brought joy and love today. We thank Michael Cannon for his thoughts and wonderful chats as well. Anyway just wanted you to know it now has its rightful place in our very loved home in Port Elgin. Magic was afoot."
— Julia and Richard, Ontario Canada
Land Acknowledgement
"As an artist who paints and writes for the land, I recognize that the landscapes I love are part of the traditional territories of the Anishinabewaki ᐊᓂᔑᓈᐯᐗᑭ and Cree peoples. My commitment to these waters, forests, and wildlife is intertwined with their enduring stewardship. Through my work, I will continue to honour their teachings by inspiring care for this land—not as a resource, but as a relative."
Book a Studio Visit
Art is best experienced in person. Up-close. With all senses.
As a recent (2020-2025) grant recipient I would like to thank the Ontario Arts Council and the Government of Ontario for their support. The funding and support from these organizations help Ontario artists to continue their arts practice.
