Winter-Spring 2026 Online Schedule

⚠️This page is still under some construction, such as adding images,

however dates and descriptions are accurate, and REGISTRATION IS OPEN!!!!

Beginning March 4

All Classes LIVE on Zoom in Pacific Time Zone and Prices in CAD

IN PERSON workshops are pending and will be posted separately


Gesture & Contour Drawing Practice - Weekly, Wednesday 7-8pm
Earlier times are possible for folks in eastern time zones… please contact me

Register

Gesture & Contour Drawing Practice

In this regular weekly 1h practice session, we will harness the power of two of the most fun, easy, & incredibly useful exercises for both improving the accuracy of your drawing and enjoying a mindfulness practice.

Gesture sketching is fast & loose, quickly capturing the whole.

Contour is slow & careful, finding edges and planes.

I will guide you through a series of timed exercises, sketching from photos, live “nest cam” or aquarium style video feeds, objects on my desk, and even from “life” in front of you (BYOS— Bring Your Own Subject). At least as useful as life drawing (in my opinion) but more accessible, discreet, and with less focus on perfection or a single final product.  These are skills that both beginners and pros can practice any time, any where, but they are often underrated and forgotten about. I often use them for a standalone warm up, or for beginning more polished and detailed renderings. Come away with the satisfaction of filling your sketchbook and committing to your wellbeing!

Wednesday Evenings, 7-8pm Pacific (earlier time zones possible by request with enough demand!)

March 4, 11, 18, 25 Sliding scale, $10 - $20 Drop in, $40 - $80 for all four sessions
April 1, 8, 15, 22 Sliding Scale, $10 - $20 Drop in, $40 - $80 for all four sessions

Please register below first. Then, please pay in my shop, or e-transfer me.

If you prefer e-transfer, please email me first!

Supplies: A ballpoint pen or 2B pencil, and a sketchbook! That’s it! (No erasers please!)
Feel free to also bring colour media if you like, to enhance your sketch.

Register


Gesture & Contour Practice - Outcomes

  • Learn to follow your intuition with guidance from a professional artist

  • Experience mindfulness, focusing on calming, cathartic, process-based learning

  • Let go of perfectionism while improving the accuracy of your drawings

  • Improve observational skills and hand-eye coordination

  • Engage your curiosity

  • Build and reinforce new creative habits

  • Develop a looser, more expressive, personal style to your work

  • Improve your confidence and courage

  • Let go of some previously held limitations and begin to embrace creative possibilities

  • Fill a sketchbook with your experiences

  • …and more!

What past students are saying...

  • “Jen provided a safe and nurturing space to make learning simple and fun; her knowledge of nature, art skills, paired with her upbeat personality were motivating and inspiring. Jen's office hour sessions supported me in kicking fear to the curb and the “right or wrong” way of doing things gave way to experimenting and having fun while sketching."

    —B.T.

  • “I really enjoyed the two watercolour classes I took with you this past year. I especially appreciated the invitation you offered each class to walk beside you during the creative process. Being there to “walk beside” students is a wonderful gift. Many thanks!”

    —M.K.

  • “Jen is an excellent instructor; her easy-going teaching style, skillful demonstrations and kind consideration of the learning experience make her classes so beneficial and enjoyable to attend…. I am bringing my sketch pad everywhere and creating images that I can be proud of.”

    —L.A.

  • “Your painting sessions were such fun. I really appreciated your bubbly enthusiasm, all the various examples and approaches you offered us, your very personal way of connecting, and your encouragement.”

    —I.W.

  • “Jen has led several courses I have taken with grace, patience, calmness & humour… She is a delight, experienced and professional.”

    —D.C.

  • “I have had the pleasure of working with Jen in my art journey and have found her to be an exceptional teacher. She has the rare gift of being able to support her students at whatever level they may be at in a meaningful and encouraging way. She is generous with her insights and information and has provided me with the type of feedback that allowed me to move forward as an artist.”

    —M.S.H.

  • “I want to let you know how much I enjoyed the watercolor and sketching classes with you. You are a skilled artist and a supportive, encouraging and patient teacher. It was clear that you put a tremendous amount of your heart and soul into each session and I felt privileged to be able to see some of your own inspiring artwork, including your fabulous nature journal. Your enthusiasm for art is truly contagious!"

    —D.H.

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Meet your instructor

I have been drawing since I could hold a pencil, though after high school I didn’t take my art seriously again until I was 29 when I studied for a year at Emily Carr University of Art & Design in 2011. After that I moved to the USA and studied scientific illustration at California State University Monterey Bay, graduating in 2015. I taught Nature Sketch classes for The Bateman Foundation in Victoria from 2019-2021 both in person and online, and received glowing testimonials from my students. I pour my heart and soul into my classes and I have every wish to see you succeed. I am right there with you understanding the fear of the blank page, perfectionism, the excitement of making marks on the page and seeing images take shape. I have been through it all and back again. In addition to all my formal art training, I am an analytical thinker with a science background—this combined with my years of teaching English helps me break apart and explain the processes involved in drawing and painting so anyone can do it. Really. I personally guarantee that if you put in the work you will see real observable change, not just to your technical abilities (although yes), but also in your confidence, mindset, and the ways you move through and interact with the world!

Someday I would really love to see you in one of my workshops or in a private lesson.

— Jen Burgess

Photo by Alena Ebeling-Schuld (@alenaesphoto)

Register

Registration is open!

Please read & take the time fill out this form in full! The more information you can provide me with, the better I can serve you. All responses will be kept strictly confidential. All the information you provide, including contact information, will not be used for any other purposes or shared with any additional parties. After you submit your registration form, you will be redirected to my online shop for payment.

Thank you and WELCOME!

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