Workshops and Art Instruction
Mahshid provides art instruction in a variety of venues for different skill levels. Private one-on-one instruction can be arranged subject to availability.
Ottawa School of Art and Clark Centre for the Arts Through City of Toronto
Be sure to join the studio to be notified of new artwork releases, special events, exhibitions, workshops and upcoming courses.
August Fall 2026 Courses & Workshops
S26SWS5: Portraiture Intensive: Drawing, Painting, or Both!
Ottawa School of Art | Orleans Campus Location: Orleans | 245 Centrum Blvd, Ottawa
Duration: 5 days intensive
Explore the fundamentals of portrait drawing and painting in this intensive 5-day workshop. Working with graphite, charcoal, acrylic, or oil, students will study proportion, facial features, and colour mixing for diverse skin tones while practicing from photo references and live models. All levels welcome.
August 24–28
Monday-Friday 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Resource person: info.osao@artottawa.ca
Registration link: https://app.amilia.com/store/en/artottawa/shop/activities/6945336
F26S003B: Timeless Techniques: Portrait Drawing (6-Sessions | All Levels | VAF*)
Ottawa School of Art | Orleans Campus Location: Orleans | 245 Centrum Blvd, Ottawa
Duration: 6 Weeks
Learn to draw accurate portraits using classical head proportions and structure. In this 6-session course, students begin with two sessions working from references, focusing on step-by-step methods to achieve likeness and strong feature structure. The remaining four sessions are with a live model, completing two projects while exploring charcoal techniques, including reductive drawing and black-and-white charcoal on toned paper, supported by handouts. Includes 4 sessions with a live model (draped).
September 14, until October 26/26
Mondays, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Resource person: info.osao@artottawa.ca
Registration link: https://app.amilia.com/store/en/artottawa/shop/activities/7090066
F26S014A: Timeless Techniques: Portrait Painting (6-Sessions / All Levels / VAF*)
Ottawa School of Art | Orleans Campus Location: Orleans | 245 Centrum Blvd, Ottawa
Duration: 6 Weeks
This 6-session course bridges portrait drawing and painting, focusing on strengthening drawing skills while introducing colour and paint. The first two sessions explore skin tone mixing, materials, and a small portrait study from 19th-century and or contemporary realist painters. The remaining four sessions are with a live model, beginning with sustained charcoal studies and progressing to acrylic or oil painting, using a limited palette to develop accurate skin tones. Includes 4 sessions with a live model (draped).
November 2, until December 7/26
Mondays, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Resource person: info.osao@artottawa.ca
Registration link: https://app.amilia.com/store/en/artottawa/shop/activities/7090092
A Day with the Figure: Drawing Workshop (Adults)
Ottawa School of Art | Orleans Campus Location: Orleans | 245 Centrum Blvd, Ottawa
Duration: One Full Day ( 6 Hours )
Working from a live nude model, this 1-day workshop explores the essential principles of figure drawing, including proportion, gesture, volume, and chiaroscuro. The morning focuses on a sustained pose using charcoal and Conté to develop observation and form. In the afternoon, students will work from a series of shorter poses in pen and ink, charcoal, and Conté, emphasizing expressive mark-making, movement, and light. Suitable for beginner and intermediate students.
Saturday Oct 3rd 2026
9:30 – 4:30 pm
Resource person: info.osao@artottawa.ca
Registration link: https://app.amilia.com/store/en/artottawa/shop/activities/7098095
F26ST03: Teen Portfolio: Drawing Focus | Ages 16-19 | 8 Sessions
Ottawa School of Art | Orleans Campus Location: Orleans | 245 Centrum Blvd, Ottawa
Duration: 8 Weeks
Build your art portfolio like a pro. In this class, you will develop drawing basics using graphite, charcoal, and pen and ink. From still life to portraits, and sketches each week, students will practice creating impressive pieces for their portfolio. Plus, they’ll take home their very own portfolio ready to showcase their talents for an art-based program. Perfect for students wanting to study arts in post-secondary school. Beginner and intermediate teen artists are welcome.
Mondays Sept 21, until Nov 30, 2026 Note: No classes Oct 12, Nov 9 or Nov 16.
5:00 – 8:00 pm
Resource person: info.osao@artottawa.ca
Registration link: https://app.amilia.com/store/en/artottawa/shop/activities/7090111
F26D004C – Portrait Drawing Essentials | Intro
Ottawa School of Art | Downtown Campus: Location: 35 George Steet
Duration: 12 Weeks
Explore the foundations of portraiture through observation, proportion, head structure, and facial feature placement. Working from reference images and live models, students will learn how light and shadow bring form and expression to life. Through lectures, demonstrations, and guided studio practice, participants will experiment with graphite and charcoal on a variety of papers while developing confidence in capturing likeness and character.
Wednesdays Sep 16, until Dec 2, 2026
9:00 – 12:00 pm
Resource person: info@artottawa.ca
Registration link: https://app.amilia.com/store/en/artottawa/shop/activities/7055143
F26D003B – Figure Drawing Essentials | Intro
Ottawa School of Art | Downtown Campus: Location: 35 George Steet
Duration: 12 Weeks
This course invites artists of all levels to study human form through classical drawing methods and direct observation of the nude model. Through demonstrations, guided practice, and personalized feedback, students will develop a strong foundation in proportion, structure, and observational drawing. The first half of the course focuses on linear techniques for accurate figure construction, while the second half introduces tonal rendering to create depth and volume. By the end of the course, students will gain greater confidence and skill in drawing the standing human figure.
Wednesdays Sep 16, until Dec 2, 2026
1:00 – 4:00 pm
Resource person: info@artottawa.ca
Registration link: https://app.amilia.com/store/en/artottawa/shop/activities/7055039
F26SWS07: A Journey from Acrylic to Water Mixable Oils / Intro
Ottawa School of Art | Orleans Campus Location: Orleans | 245 Centrum Blvd, Ottawa
Duration: One Full Day ( 6 Hours )
This 1-day workshop is for beginners and experienced painters who want to explore oil painting using water-mixable oils. Often seen as intimidating or toxic, oil painting becomes safe and accessible in this class. Students will learn layering, glazing, and composition while building confidence and personal expression.
Saturday, October 24 2026
Resource person: info.osao@artottawa.ca
Registration link: https://app.amilia.com/store/en/artottawa/shop/activities/7098208