This drawing workshop takes inspiration from Jeff Wall’s work in MOCA’s current exhibition Jeff Wall Photographs 1984–2023.
You’ll explore the foundations of drawing—line, value, and space—and put them into practice to create a complete composition of your own. Working from a staged still-life scene set up in the museum and inspired by Wall’s compositions, you’ll move from quick exercises to a finished drawing of the arrangement.
Explore the expressive qualities of drawing materials such as charcoal, conte, and pastel, to learn how each material shapes atmosphere, form, and mood.
By observing Wall’s carefully constructed images, you’ll consider how framing, staging, and light create meaning, before translating these ideas into your own drawings—no experience required, all skill levels are welcome!
Registration is required for this programme.
About the Artist
Emily Joyce is a Toronto-based painter, art restorer, and instructor whose work explores the intersections of history and contemporary art. Her practice reimagines traditional imagery through a modern lens, often blending fragments of historical artworks with contemporary visual storytelling.
She is drawn to fleeting moments that emerge naturally in daily life—dappled light spilling across a wall, a bowl of fruit glowing in the afternoon sun, or dew-filled flowers spotted on a morning walk. By weaving these everyday impressions together with historical references, her paintings create layered narratives that connect past and present.
Alongside her studio practice, Joyce is deeply committed to teaching and community engagement. She leads classes and workshops across Toronto, including at OCAD University, the Toronto School of Art, and in her own midtown studio. Her teaching emphasizes technical foundations while encouraging experimentation, helping students develop confidence, creativity, and their own artistic voice.
December Community Weekend Schedule
Friday, December 5
5–9 pm: Free Friday Night
Saturday, December 6
12 pm and 2 pm: Drop-in Tours
1–4 pm: Artist-led Workshop*
*There is a fee of $50 per person. General Admission to the museum is included. MOCA Members at the Individual level and above are eligible for workshop discounts.
Sunday, December 7
10 am–5 pm: Free Museum Admission
10 am–3 pm: TD Community Sunday Workshop
