Featherkind Field Studies: The Mary Blair Sessions

FEATHERKIND FIELD STUDIES

A plein air tribute — from death to rebirth

🗓 Saturdays, July 26 – October 21🕚 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM📍 TTC-accessible park in Toronto (exact location provided upon registration)

Featherkind Studio is a slow art sanctuary rooted in ritual and beauty. Our online presence is gently unfolding — follow us on Instagram @featherkindstudio

Field Studies: Mary Blair

A plein air painting workshop series for all levels inspired by the legendary Disney artist.

Step into the sun-dappled world of Mary Blair — the visionary behind the iconic color palettes of Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, and Cinderella. In this gentle outdoor session, we’ll gather in a circle on the grass, open our palettes, and explore gouache painting through the lens of Blair’s bold, whimsical style.

Whether you’re a lifelong Disney fan or new to her legacy, this workshop offers a creative pause from everyday life. Each week, we’ll study one of Blair’s artworks as a group, learning to see through her eyes — playful, rhythmic, and unafraid of color.

Each week, we’ll explore some of Mary Blair’s most iconic works — from Fantasia to Cinderella to It’s a Small World. You’ll be invited to create a small 5x8" (A5) gouache study inspired by the theme of the week — but always through your own lens.

These sessions aren’t about copying. They’re about translating Blair’s spirit — bold colour, playful composition, and emotional storytelling — into your own visual language.

A cartooning student and lifelong Disney devotee, Adeela’s workshops are both a tribute and a practice. Expect quiet joy, shared curiosity, and a curated space for slow-making in community.

All materials provided. Beginners are more than welcome.Come as you are — leave with art you didn’t know you could make.

The series begins on July 26, the anniversary of Mary Blair’s passing, and ends with a gallery showcase on October 21, the day she was born. This is more than a workshop — it’s a symbolic arc of artistic rebirth. Each Saturday we gather is a small act of remembering, honoring, and reimagining her legacy — not in a museum, but in motion, in nature, and in creative company.

Mary Blair (b. Oct 21, 1911– d. Jul. 26,1978) was a groundbreaking American artist, writer and designer, best known for her bold color styling and concept art at Walt Disney Studios. Her work shaped the visual identity of Disney classics like Cinderella, Peter Pan, and Alice in Wonderland.

With a style that was whimsical, modern, and emotionally rich, Blair became one of the most influential figures in animation history — though her contributions went unrecognized for decades. Today, she’s celebrated as a pioneer of colour, imagination, and visual storytelling.

• Gentle yoga and grounding circle to begin

• Guided painting session with a featured Blair technique

• Individual coaching and colour support

• Premium art supplies (brushes, paints, paper) provided

• Shared reference materials and inspiration

• A5 take-home paintings each week — building your own Mary Blair field journal

This series is for adults who love art, history, and colour — no drawing skills required. Whether you’re a beginner with an eye for design or an experienced artist seeking fresh inspiration, you’ll be met and supported in your own creative rhythm.

We’ll be working in mixed media throughout the session, with the final study created in gouache on thick, premium watercolor paper (300 gsm). Gouache is preferable for its rich pigment, blendability, and velvety matte finish, but it takes some getting used to. All materials are provided, including curated reference images, custom palettes, and high-quality brushes.

We intentionally avoid cheap or student-grade supplies, because they can erode confidence and create false feedback loops — making you think the problem is you, when it's really the material. Using professional tools helps you see your true skill more clearly, and builds trust in your hand.

Prefer another medium for your final study? You’re welcome to use it. This space is yours to explore.

We’ll be sitting on a picnic blanket. Each participant will receive a supportive cushion, a backrest, and an oversized clipboard as your painting surface. We’ll be nestled in the grass, surrounded by trees and sky — a gentle return to childhood wonder, with grown-up art supplies.

If sitting on the ground isn’t an option for you, limited picnic table seating is available and can be reserved in advance. Please indicate your preference during registration.

Adeela is a lifelong Disney devotee and current cartooning student whose creative mission centers on celebrating the unsung names behind the stories we love. Her teaching style is warm, inclusive, and rooted in deep curiosity.

She has led virtual storytelling workshops for children’s programming and facilitated multiple paint nights — including a plein air session at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection, and most recently, a watercolor session with toddlers aboard a sailing cruise through the lakes of Muskoka.

This Field Studies workshop is valued at $100, but as part of the Founder’s Circle, you’re invited to join the first of this limited series at a special rate:

• 🎟 Early Bird: $60 (June 26 – July 10)

• 🎟 Regular Admission: $70 (July 11 – July 26)

100% refund with 48 hours’ notice. After that, you’re welcome to transfer your ticket to a friend or reschedule for a future session.

Space is limited to maintain an intimate circle.

Also check out other Arts events in Torrejón de Ardoz, Fine Arts events in Torrejón de Ardoz, Workshops in Torrejón de Ardoz.