There can be no better way to learn about the world and the creative self than painting out in the open air, enveloped in the natural splendor of Prince Edward County under the supervision of a skilled artist like multidisciplinary PEC artist Tim Snyder. Watercolour in the Woods was a comprehensive, four-part interdisciplinary art program delivered in collaboration with the South Shore Joint Initiative (SSJI), made possible through Arts Education funding from the Quinte Arts Council.
Snyder recently guided over twenty students as they set out to the woods with painting supplies and a desire to learn about the convergence of art and nature. By blending artistic practice with environmental science, the program challenged students to explore the National Wildlife Area through a “creative lens,” ultimately fostering a deeper understanding of conservation, biodiversity, and local history.
The program bridged multiple curricular areas, providing a holistic learning experience. From the application of the creative process and gallery preparation to the study of biodiversity, fragile ecosystems, and land formation. The project included reflective writing and exploring the history of human impact on the environment.
The initiative was designed to take students from foundational skill-building to public advocacy through four distinct phases:
Part 1: Technical Foundation
An in-class intensive focused on the fundamentals of watercolour. Students practiced with the tools and techniques specific to landscape painting to prepare for outdoor application.
Part 2: Plein Air Exploration
Students travelled to the Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area to paint en plein air. This immersion allowed them to document local flora and fauna while studying the geological forces, human impacts, and fragile ecosystems of the South Shore. Students also participated in lessons and activities related to indigenous topics.
Part 3: Reflection & Curation
Students synthesized their outdoor experiences. They paired their paintings with written reflections to articulate the beauty and ecological importance of the region.
Part 4: Public Exhibition
The program culminated in professional gallery showings, turning student artwork into a tool for community outreach and environmental advocacy. This exhibition celebrates youth creativity, combining visual art and writing into a collaborative publication that reflects imagination, learning, and artistic expression.
The core objective was to use art as a medium for communicating the vital importance of protecting Prince Edward County’s South Shore biodiversity to a wider audience. The culminating event for The Watercolour in the Woods was the thoughtful assembly of students’ visual artworks and original literary pieces into a beautiful 12” x 12” album, now on public display as part of the South Joint Initiative’s Square Foot Art Show and Sale in the Backroom Gallery at Arts On Main (223 Main Street, Picton).
The exhibition will be on display until Wednesday, February 18 from 11:00am to 4:00pm.
Artist Tim Snyder will be in the gallery on Family Day (February 16) from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm.
Photo credit: Photo provided by Tim Snyder
