WINTER IN THE CITY

Winter can make the city feel quieter, slower, and a little more reflective. In this January visual arts series for Belonging Older Adults , Mariana Hernandez invites participants to paint winter scenes and winter selves while thinking about self-care and the comfort we build for ourselves and each other. We’ll work with both watercolour and acrylic paint, and leave space for conversation, shared memories, and a calm creative routine in the middle of the week.

Over four sessions, participants will create a set of paintings inspired by winter in Toronto and personal winter moments. Two sessions focus on watercolour and two sessions focus on acrylic paint. Each week offers a guided prompt, plus time to make it your own:

• January 6: Self-portrait in winter (watercolour). Paint yourself bundled in a favourite hat and scarf, holding a warm drink.

• January 13: Winter memories (acrylic). Paint a winter memory, like skating at a rink, tobogganing, a snowy cottage, or a mountain scene.

• January 20: The snowy owl (acrylic). Paint the Canadian snowy owl, a symbol of resilience and adaptation.

• January 27: Winter scene at the Distillery District (watercolour). Paint a festive streetscape with brick buildings, lights, and the beauty of community in winter.

These workshops are part of Jamii’s Belonging Older Adults program for older adults in downtown Toronto. Participants register for the program, then can drop in to any Tuesday session that works for them.

Support free community arts

Jamii’s workshops are free so that cost is never a barrier to participation. If you’re able, you can help pay it forward by donating through Jamii’s website. Your support helps keep community arts accessible and welcoming for everyone.

These workshops are open to people of all experience levels. No background in visual arts is required. Participants are encouraged to take part in a way that feels comfortable and meaningful to them.

Workshops are free for participants. Registration is required, and space is limited.

Jamii's Belonging Older Adults workshops are sponsored by Government of Canada - New Horizons for Seniors Program, Canada Council for the Arts, Government of Ontario, and St Lawrence Neighbourhood Association.