Hands-on workshops and demos at a local farm make for a popular event for artists, put on by the Fort Gallery.

This year's Art Farm will be held Sunday at the home of Langley artist Susan Falk.

"I was doing major gardening for Art Farm," noted Falk when contacted by the Langley Advance.

A full day affair, Art Farm offers a choice of five break-out session workshops where artists learn directly from local, experienced teachers.

"It's not just all talk, you're in there," said Falk of the classes.

"You're not just walking around watching, you're doing. And you can take a look at what others are doing in other workshops."

This marks the fifth year of the Fort Gallery-hosted event on Falk's farm in south Langley. Because of tents and numerous outbuildings, it is a rain or shine opportunity for artists to learn new skills.

"Part of it is the atmosphere," Falk said. "We have tents in the hayfield."

Workshops fill up quickly, so attendees are advised to choose their preferred workshop when they contact the Fort Gallery to register.

"They [interested participants] need to register beforehand. It's always challenging doing demos outdoors," Falk commented. "My workshop is in oil, but acrylics are welcome as well."

In addition to Falk's workshop entitled, Landscapes in Oil, Kristin Krimmel offers a pastel or watercolour workshop called Bring Zing to your Compositions; Kathleen Menges teaches Encaustic Introduction - Painting with Beeswax; Dorthe Eisenhardt will conduct Acrylic Explorations; and Shari Pratt will teach Mixed Media Techniques - the Art of Layering.

Both Pratt and Menges are new to conducting workshops in the Art Farm setting.

When asked why the concept of Art Farm might appeal to new and experienced artists, Falk noted, "You really get to see, in the workshops, the artists' whole process from beginning to end. You get to pull something out of the artist and have something tangible."

Falk's home is a working farm and she mentioned how hay had just come off the fields in time for Art Farm. She also discussed a few of the characters regularly on hand, like the resident muskrat and the turtle.

"The turtle has been with us for 15 years now," she noted. "He just walked up the driveway one day. When you live on a farm, there are animals."

The day begins with check-in registration, followed by the registrant's choice of workshop. Following the lunch break is an open life drawing session and a demo by Bette Laughy on using digital media as an artistic tool.

The day wraps up with time to work on the morning's projects or exploring other ideas.

Running from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., beverages are provided at the event and participants are asked to bring lunch. Registration can be done by contacting the Fort Galery at 604-888-7411 or www.fortgallery.ca.

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