Art Factory

10/17/2026

Welcome back for another ARTIST SPOTLIGHT from the Morbid Curiosity Group Show

Today’s artist is David Ferguson.

David Otis Ferguson works as a commercial photographer from his Toronto Studio. Environmentalism shapes his life and practice; he has been building an alternative energy powered house near Bancroft that incorporates many environmentally advanced features.

Ferguson’s “The Conquest of Tahiti” series features dystopian industrialist still life images representing Greek deities. Tahiti is use as a metaphor for that unspoiled and natural state that is supposed to have existed when the human race and the world were in harmony.

His photograph “Morpheus” is part of the Morbid Curiosity Exhibit at Art Factory in Renfrew.

“Morpheus is the god of sleep, typically shown with wings. He appears in dreams and offers insights to sleepers.” - David Ferguson

To find out more about David Ferguson’s work, visit his website dferguson.ca, where his full biography and portfolio is posted.

Don’t miss your chance to see his art in person! Morbid Curiosity will be up for 2 more weeks and then we will be preparing for the Let’s Make Love show, opening November 14th!

Have we captured your curiosity yet? Come see the show while you still can, Wednesday to Saturday, 10am-5pm at 11 Bridge Street in Renfrew.

Live Love Art!

10/17/2026

LET'S TALK ART

Patrick John Mills — Owl Series, 2026 - Ongoing

The owl entered Patrick John Mills’s work not as the result of a preconceived subject or a conscious decision to develop a series, but almost incidentally. One night, unable to sleep, he found himself at the dining room table in the early hours, looking through his social media feed. He encountered a film about owls by the wildlife artist and filmmaker Robert E. Fuller. The encounter provided the initial stimulus, but what followed was less an act of illustration than an extended investigation.

Feeling himself to be, in that moment, a nocturnal creature, Mills went into his studio and began to paint.

The consequence was a proliferation of images: dozens of owls, each recognisable as an owl and yet increasingly removed from the descriptive conventions of wildlife painting. This may be the central tension of the series: between the material fact of painting and the psychological fact of seeing. The owl provides an especially productive subject for this tension because so much personality is contained in the texture of the plumage, the tilt of the head, and the shared regard between creature and viewer. The owl gives him a form that can be repeatedly approached, disrupted and reconstructed without losing its fundamental identity.

In this sense, Mills’s Owl Series is not really about owls.

It is about the peculiar moment when looking ceases to be one-directional, when the painted image stops behaving like an object and begins to behave like a presence, or like a reflection of the sleepless artist: awake, inquisitive, and present.

To learn more about Patrick's Owl Series drop by Art Factory Renfrew, located at 11 Bridge Street. You can also reach him via email at [email protected] or by calling 613.299.1873

10/17/2026

10/17/2026

❤️ The Art Loft - White Pine Books
📍 152 John St., Arnprior, ON
☎️ 613 623 8800
⏰ OPEN Monday through Saturday, 9:30am to 5pm & Sunday 11am to 3pm
📧 [email protected]

10/16/2026

🎨 ART CLASSES FOR ADULTS AT ART FACTORY! ❤️

Explore. Experiment. Create. Learn to see art in a whole new way!

Whether you’re picking up a paintbrush for the first time or have years of experience, these classes are designed to help you grow as an artist in a welcoming, playful, and practical environment.

Join Patrick John Mills at Art Factory for four unique Saturday art classes exploring master painters, colour theory, pigments, mixed media, and painting techniques.

With 30 years of love, experience, and passion for art, Patrick wants to share that passion with you. No intimidation. No pressure. Just a wonderful opportunity to learn, experiment, ask questions, and discover your own artistic vision!

📅 CLASS SCHEDULE

Every Saturday | October 31 – November 21, 2026

⏰ 12:00 noon – 2:00 PM
🎨 Ages 16–100 | All skill levels welcome
💰 $50 per person, per class
👥 ONLY 10 SPOTS AVAILABLE PER CLASS!

Each Saturday is a new opportunity to create. Register for one class or join us for all four — there’s no commitment to the entire series.

🎨 WHAT WE’LL EXPLORE

WEEK 1 — OCTOBER 31
🖼️ Inside Van Gogh’s Night Café

What makes a painting a masterpiece? Explore Vincent van Gogh’s The Night Café through drawing activities, colour palette analysis, composition, and a closer look at the decisions that give this painting its extraordinary depth and emotional power.

WEEK 2 — NOVEMBER 7
🌈 Mixed Media: Experiment, Explore, Create!

Get hands-on with art materials and discover how different pigments and mediums can transform your work. What’s the difference between Titanium White and Zinc White? When might you choose a watercolour crayon over a dry pastel? Let’s experiment and discover how materials can expand your creative expression!

WEEK 3 — NOVEMBER 14
🎨 The Masters of Colour

Explore how Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh, Paul Gauguin, and Chaïm Soutine used colour to create powerful paintings. Discover colour theory, pigment properties, palette selection, and the techniques that helped these artists become masters of their craft.

WEEK 4 — NOVEMBER 21
🖌️ Building a Painting: Layers, Glazes & Depth

A painting is like building a house — each layer contributes to the final result. Building on the previous classes, we’ll explore colour theory, layering, glazing, and practical techniques for creating depth. We’ll also look at the methods of Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Velázquez and explore how these ideas can be applied to your own paintings.

🕛 HOW EACH CLASS WORKS

12:00–12:45 PM | Guided Instruction

The first 45 minutes are dedicated to group instruction, demonstrations, and hands-on learning. Specific materials for these instructional activities are included in your $50 class fee.

12:45–2:00 PM | Your Art, Your Vision

The second portion of the class is dedicated to your individual project. Patrick will circulate through the studio, offering guidance, answering questions, and helping you develop your own ideas and artistic direction.

Please bring your own materials for your individual painting or project. Materials for this second portion are not included in the class fee.

✨ A FEW EXTRA DETAILS

• Maximum 10 participants per class.
• Tables, chairs, and easels are provided.
• You’re welcome to arrive at 11:30 AM to set up.
• Participants may continue using the studio space until 5:00 PM.
• Classes begin promptly at 12:00 noon, so please arrive ready to start!

📝 HOW TO REGISTER

Advance registration and payment are required. Your spot is confirmed once payment is received.

OPTION 1 — E-TRANSFER

Send $50 per class to:

📧 [email protected]

Please include the artist’s full name and preferred class date in the message.

OPTION 2 — REGISTER IN PERSON

Visit the Art Factory Art Supply Store to register and pay by cash or credit card. Please provide your full name and preferred class date.

⚠️ ONLY 10 SPOTS PER CLASS — REGISTER EARLY!

❤️ Come as you are. Learn something new. Make something wonderful.

Art is for everyone, at every age and every stage of the journey. Patrick’s goal is to make the technical side of art approachable, understandable, practical, and fun — while helping every artist discover what is possible.

We can’t wait to create with you!

❤️ ART FACTORY
📍 11 Bridge Street, Renfrew, Ontario
🌐 www.liveloveartfactory.com

Live Love Art

Patrick John Mills

10/15/2026

🎨 SATURDAY MORNING KIDS ART CLASSES!

Let's get creative at Art Factory! Join artist and instructor Patrick John Mills for a fun, inspiring morning of art and imagination.

📅 Every Saturday | October 17- December 12
⏰ 9:30–10:30 AM
👧 Ages 9–14
💰 $25 per child, per class
🎨 All art materials included

ONLY 10 SPOTS PER CLASS.

Each Saturday is a new opportunity to create! Register for one class or come back for more — no commitment to the full series.

📝 HOW TO REGISTER:

Advance registration and payment are required to secure your child's spot. Two easy options:

• By e-transfer: Send $25 to [email protected]. Please include your child's full name AND preferred class date in the e-transfer message.

• In person: Visit the Art Factory Art Supply Store to register and pay by cash or credit card. Please provide your child's full name and preferred class date when registering.

Spaces are limited and confirmed upon receipt of payment.

📍 Location:
Art Factory Warehouse
11 Bridge Street, Renfrew, ON

👨‍🎨 Instructor: Patrick John Mills

Come explore your creativity, experiment with art materials and have fun making something uniquely yours!

Live Love Art ❤️
Patrick

10/15/2026

🇨🇦 EPIC MEGA SALE 🇨🇦
$12 for 12x12” Gallery Apollon Panel

Live Love Art
Patrick John Mills

❤️ ART FACTORY
📍 11 Bridge Street, Renfrew, ON
☎️ 613 698 1933
🔗 www.liveloveartfactory.com
⏰ OPEN Wednesday through Saturday, 10am to 5pm