This is the fifth of a series of workshops hosted by Carole & John Rudderham in association with Leading Edge Art Workshops of Calgary.

Master Artist

JOHN LIGHTFOOT

October 3-5, 2025

Novar Community Hall—(Huntsville, Ontario)

 BIOGRAPHY

John Lightfoot’s formal training began at Sheridan College where he studied as an Illustrator and Graphic Designer. He ultimately opened a boutique studio Lightfoot Art and Design Inc in the GTA catering to an extensive list of corporate clients. During this time John taught full time students Graphic Design at Sheridan College. After moving to the shores of Lake Huron in 2018, he immersed himself in fine art painting. John brings over 40 years of art experience to the easel. His paintings can be found in collections across Canada, United Stated and Europe. 

WORKSHOP OVERVIEW

“EXPLORING MOVEMENT IN THE LANDSCAPE ”

 Inspired by the colours and textures of the beautiful Muskoka woodlands participants will be encouraged to create an acrylic landscape painting on canvas.  While John’s teaching approach is to provide students with guidance and technical support the aim is to foster development of their own style as an artist. The focus of this workshop will be to explore movement in the landscape using different painting methods while developing our own design, conception and execution as it relates to our own technique.  John will share his processes through lectures and demos.  Individual instruction and critique will be included to help us expand and grow as artists.

John Lightfoot paints in a way to emphasize the contrast of shadows and light. He starts each painting with a base coat of red orange to give a pleasant warm glow.

This workshop series will explore:   

• Choosing an image - looking for brightest whites and darkest darks,

• Simple shapes and arresting images

• Composition and design considerations,

• Manipulating image for texture and bolder colour,

• Prepping your canvas - effective use of base colours,

• Working dark to light in acrylics

• Preparing underpainting - mono-colour rendering of image, all over darkness

• Application of paint, starting with the darkest colours and moving to 

•  White as final highlight

• Back painting technique

•  Paint mixing and brush strokes