Workshops
We welcome creative beginners to artistic professionals and everyone in between! Connect with us!
At Listen Studios, we strive to ensure that you enjoy the experiences offered at the workshops! Below are some tips to be prepared about the space!
Arrive 20 minutes early: Settle in, get comfortable, and interact with other participants! Snacks and refreshments will be available at no additional cost. Thank you to Bow Valley Food Alliance for your support in providing the snacks and refreshments!
If supplies are not provided, be sure to bring necessary materials: Check beforehand if you need to bring specific materials or tools. Having everything you need on hand will make your workshop experience smoother and more enjoyable.
What to wear - Please do not wear your favourite clothes.
Parking is available in front of the building as well as on the street.
Accessibility: The space is located on the second floor, with no access to an elevator - it is not wheelchair accessible.
Engaging with instructors and peers: Don't hesitate to ask questions or share your thoughts. Please be respectful and open to new ideas and techniques.
Stay open-minded: Workshops offer diverse perspectives and techniques.
Connecting: Networking with fellow participants can lead to lasting connections and collaborative opportunities. Fee free to share your experiences with one another.
Do you have an idea for a workshop? Send me a message! Be sure to include: Your contact info, dates to book the space, description about the workshop, and images. Contact me for a quote to advertise your workshop on the LISTEN website and social media handles!
Refunds & Cancellations: Refunds and transfers will not be issued for non-attendance. All refunds are paid back using the same method of payment. In the event that a workshop needs to be cancelled, I will give you as much notice as possible with alternative dates or a full refund.
INDIGENOUS WORKSHOPS
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Stoney Drum (Gamubi) Making Workshops
Iethka (Stoney) Artists Kyle Kaquitts and Jarron Poucette share their culture, along with their unique sense of humour in this workshop.
Hides provided are traditionally hunted. There are 12 spots available for each workshop, we require 5 participants for the workshops to run - please share! Light snacks and refreshments included. GIANT thank you to Bow Valley Food Alliance for their support!
Please contact us for team building and corporate bookings. Please note: only 10” or 12” drums AND only deer, elk , bison hides are available for group bookings.
We are taking a summer break!
Sunday September 27 from 1-5pm
Sunday October 26 from 1-5pm
COSTS are per participant:
Deer Hide
8” -$150 10”- $175 12”- $275 15’ - $425
Elk Hide
8” -$175 10”- $225 12”- $325 15” - $475
Moose Hide
8”- $200 10”- $275 12”- $375 15” - $525
Bison Hide
8” -$225 10”- $300 12”- $400 15” - $550
Would you like to purchase a pre-made Drum? Contact Us!
Professional Development Workshops
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Artist Tax Workshops
Everything you want to know about Artist Taxes! The classes are open to any self employed business owner or creative entrepreneur.
Three classes will be offered for FREE!! Sylvia Shank has provided expertise to a number of large arts organizations in Edmonton and is the owner of the Blue Chair Restaurant.
Sylvia will provide resources to get you started and on your way to understanding your art business expenses and revenues! Learn how to organize and record revenue and expenses to file your taxes.
DATES:
NEW Dates COMING SOON!
COST: FREE!!
Registration is required, please email to reserve your spot today!
About Sylvia: She has been self-employed for over 30 years, working with individuals, companies and nonprofits preparing financial statements, budgets and business plans. For many years Sylvia worked with the Edmonton Arts Council and Edmonton Heritage Council reviewing financial documents, training artists and companies how to manage their books and understand their accountability to the provincial and federal government.
Seasonal Workshops
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Plein Air Events
Join us for the 5th Annual Come Paint Alberta Plein Air Arts Festival Circuit in 2026!!
From May through September 2026, our incredible partner organizations across Central and Southern Alberta will be hosting paint outs and multi-day plein air festivals in some of our province’s most inspiring locations.
Whether you join one stop or follow the full circuit, there’s sure to be something for every artist.
LISTEN STUDIOS / CANMORE ART GUILD DATES: July 4-5
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Plein Air Events
Join us! July 4-5 in partnership with the Canmore Art Guild
REGISTER at the canmore art guild
july 3 from 5-7pm
july 4 from 830-10:30 am
WET PAINT SALE at Listen Studios
July 5 from 3:00- 5:00pm
Don’t forget to follow @comepaintalberta for any updates, announcements, and behind-the-scenes moments throughout the season and be sure to tag us when posting about your incredible plein air adventures! Also, follow us on Facebook @comepaintalberta and stay connected!
Start planning your 2026 plein air adventure, Alberta is waiting...
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Nature Journaling Workshops
Nature Journaling invites you to slow down and build a personal connection with the environment. These workshops offer a fresh perspective on the world. Whether you want to sharpen your observation skills or simply find a creative way to explore, Dawn Saunders Dahl of Listen Studios will guide you through Canmore’s beautiful landscapes.
What to Expect:
A guided walk through Canmore’s natural paths.
Creative prompts focused on observing, questioning, and connecting.
Hands-on practice filling sketchbook pages with pencils, pens and watercolors.
No experience required: You don’t need to be an artist or a naturalist to join!
Nature Journaling involves the collection of observing and recording your is collecting and organizing your observations, questions, connections, and explanations on the pages of a notebook using words pictures, and numbers. You do not need to be an artist or a naturalist to begin.
DATES: COMING SOON!
COST: $75
Includes: your own sketchbook, pencil case, pen, pencil, sharpener and eraser!
Instruction with Dawn Saunders Dahl
Individual or Group Classes
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Expressive Portraits
Individual or Group Booking options are available. Beginners are welcome. No previous experience required… just the desire to paint, learn a new skill and have a great time!
GROUP Workshop
You will paint 2 portraits in this 3 hour workshop! To loosen you up, we will start with 30 minute painting portrait exercise to loosen you up! (image to paint from will be provided).
For the second canvas, bring a photo to paint, preferably one you took. You'll learn how to prepare a canvas and sketch your portrait step by step, along with basic color mixing.
Please bring your own painting / drawing supplies. Oils / Acrylics / Watercolor / Drawing materials are welcome! Any size of canvas or paper is also welcome.
PLEASE send me a message if you do not have your own supplies, and include the materials you would prefer to use. I will provide basic materials at an additional fee.
DATES: CONTACT ME TO BOOK
COST: Quote depends on the number of people booking.
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One-day personalized artistic training schedule tailored to your needs, featuring one-on-one attention and guidance from Dawn for a focused learning experience.
Email me to book a day and confirm costs based on materials and subject matter.
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Mixed Media Collages
Individual or Group Booking options are available. Beginners are welcome. No previous experience required.. just the desite to learn a new skill and have a great time!
GROUP Workshop
In this mixed media class, we will create and capture fanciful moments as we delve into the possibilities of the art of collage. We will start with simple techniques to create dreamy backgrounds with acrylic, watercolour paint or inks on paper/canvas.
Then incorporate photography, magazines, paper textures and stencils. Eclectic finishing touches with doodles, line work, marks and indulgent touches of sparkly paints an also be incorporated.
DATES:
COST:
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One-day personalized artistic training schedule tailored to your needs, featuring one-on-one attention and guidance from Dawn for a focused learning experience.
DATES: CONTACT ME TO BOOK
COST: Quote depends on the number of people booking
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Expressive Landscapes
Individual or Group Booking options are available. Beginners are welcome. No previous experience required… just the desire to paint, learn a new skill and have a great time!
GROUP Workshop
You will paint 2 landscapes in this 3 hour workshop! To loosen you up, we will start with 30 minute painting landscape exercise to loosen you up! (image to paint from will be provided).
For the second canvas, bring a photo to paint, preferably one you took. You'll learn how to prepare a canvas and sketch your landscape step by step, along with basic color mixing.
Please bring your own painting / drawing supplies. Oils / Acrylics / Watercolor / Drawing materials are welcome! Any size of canvas or paper is also welcome.
PLEASE send me a message if you do not have your own supplies, and include the materials you would prefer to use. I will provide basic materials at an additional fee.
DATES: CONTACT ME TO BOOK
COST: Quote depends on the number of people booking
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One-day personalized artistic training schedule tailored to your needs, featuring one-on-one attention and guidance from Dawn for a focused learning experience.
Email me to book a day and confirm costs based on materials and subject matter.
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Expressive Still Lifes
Individual or Group Booking options are available. Beginners are welcome. No previous experience required… just the desire to paint and draw, learn a new skill and have a great time!
GROUP Workshop
You will sketch with the option to create one final canvas in this 3 hour workshop! To loosen you up, we will start with 30 minute sketching exercises to loosen you up! A fun still life will be set up in the studio and you can sketch from multiple vantage points!
Please bring your own painting / drawing supplies. Oils / Acrylics / Watercolor / Drawing materials are welcome! Any size of canvas or paper is also welcome.
PLEASE send me a message if you do not have your own supplies, and include the materials you would prefer to use. I will provide basic materials at an additional fee.
DATES: Contact me to book
COST: Quote depends on number of people booking.
________________________________________________________
One-day personalized artistic training schedule tailored to your needs, featuring one-on-one attention and guidance from Dawn for a focused learning experience.
Email me to book a day and confirm costs based on materials and subject matter.
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Card Making Workshops
For those interested in creating basic watercolor cards for different seasons or cards using a variety of different materials such as collage, this class is for you!
The workshop will review art technique basics such as drawing, washes, wet-on-wet, wet-on-dry, and dry-on-dry watercolour painting techniques.
Various materials will be available for a variety of approaches to the creation of holiday / seasonal cards featuring trees, animals, mountains, plants and as well as shapes, holiday ornaments, presents and abstract inspirations. Through small studies you will practice basic techniques, and graduate with a collection of cards for the seasons!
This workshop is for artists of all levels.
DATES: CONTACT ME TO BOOK
COST: Quote depends on number of people booking
