photography by Kyle Topping
photography by Evan Nash

Spark Box Studio’s Artist Residency Program provides live/work space to accommodate both emerging and professional printmakers, photographers, painters, illustrators and writers. Artists-in-residence have access to our professional studio and resources. The Residency Program affords artists the space and time to support the advancement of their careers and to strengthen their practice. Our program also offers a variety of career building opportunities for artists including our Emerging Artist Guide, opportunities for business workshops with local professionals and consultations with local artists and curators.

Artists-in-residence stay with us, Chrissy and Kyle, in a charming century home located just outside the town of Picton in Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada. Interested artists may apply to live and work at Spark Box for a duration of one weekend to 2 months.

Spark Box Studio can facilitate up to three residents at any one time. Residents receive a bedroom and a dedicated studio space.

We love our residency program at Spark Box Studio. It has been an extremely rewarding experience to have artists stay with us from around the world. As the months go by the roster of alumni grows and we are very proud to have hosted so many great artists. Follow this link to a list of past residents

We strive to offer affordable accommodations and studio spaces for resident artists. Our fees have increased in order to continue our operations. The new prices are effective immediately (February 4, 2012). If you have already booked into the residency you do not have to pay the new price or the difference in price.

Weekend – $115.00 + tax
One week – $315.00 + tax
Two week – $500.00 + tax
Three week – $600.00 + tax
One month – $750.00 + tax
Two months – $1,300.00 + tax

* All prices are listed in Canada dollars (CAD)
** Ontario’s current tax percentage is 13%

Residents using the print studio or photography studio will be subject to equipment and supply fees. The material fees will cover in-house items such as inks, chemicals, rags, blades, scrappers, etc. We also carry materials for sale to print artists (ie. paper, plates, emulsion, waterless lithography plates, copper, etc.).

Please check the availability calendar before applying. We have space for three residents at any one time. Click below for a larger image.

Artists that are interested in the residency program should fill out the Application Form below. Please review the required documents and specifications located at the bottom of the Application Form.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS : Please send the following materials
1. Application Form (located below).
2. Artist Statement (1-2 paragraphs explaining your work).
3. Current CV.
4. Please send 10 images on CD or by email. Images should be MAC compatible in JPG, TIFF or PSD file formats. Images should be no smaller than 200 DPI. If sending through email, please compress files so that they are between 1-2.5 M.
5. Please send a list of all images which includes title, medium, dimension, year.
6. Writing samples should not exceed 12 pages and should be sent with cover page stating your name and title of work.
7. $15.00 application fee payable to Spark Box Studio (CAD dollars).

Note: You must remit the application fee before we will process your application. You can mail a cheque, or PAY ONLINE through PayPal.

photography by Evan Nash

Spark Box Studio’s Open Studio Program is a great opportunity for visual artists to have access to a communal studio space and printmaking or darkroom equipment. Access to the printmaking and darkroom equipment will be determined by the artists technical training and ability to work independently in the studio. Participants of the printmaking workshops are eligible to participate in the open studio program.

The Open Studio program is for independent work without supervision or guidance. You are excepted to be familiar with the technical processes and equipment. The studio technician is available for general trouble shooting, problem solving and other questions of a technical nature.

Open Studio members are granted independent access to the studio the studio between the hours of 9AM and 11PM.

The Open Studio price includes your use of the equipment, space and general studio materials (soaps, paper towel, rags, etc). Print making materials are not included within this price. See the next section about ‘Additional Fees’.

One Day – $25.00 + tax
One Week – $80.00 + tax
One Month – $200.00 + tax
Six Months – $650.00 + tax
One Year – $1000.00 + tax
10 Day Pass – $150.00 + tax

* All prices are listed in Canada dollars (CAD)
** Ontario’s current tax percentage is 13%

Your first day working at the studio is considered to be first calendar day of the studio pass. For example; “if had you purchased a ‘One Week’ pass on Tuesday and Friday was your first day working in the studio, your calendar pass would activate on that Friday and be valid until the end of the following Friday.”

The ’10 Day Pass’ may be used consecutively or intermittently meaning you can use all 10 days at once, or use the studio a few random days one month, and a few other days in the following months. The ’10 Day Pass’ has an expiration date of 4 months beginning on the first day you are working at the studio. For example; “your daughter has bought you a ’10 Day Studio Pass’ as lovely birthday present. The following week you come in Spark Box Studio to use your first day. It is from that first day working in the studio that the 4 month time period begins.”

Open Studio members using the print studio or photography studio will be subject to equipment and supply fees. You are excepted to either bring your own materials, or purchase materials from Spark Box Studio. These additional material fees cover in-house items such as inks, chemicals, emulsions, tarlatan, newsprint etc.

photography by Chrissy Poitras

A focus of Spark Box Studio is to assist regional youth to build their artist skills and become aware of career options within the arts. Spark Box Studio provides resources on such topics as fine art programs, applying to art school, and starting a small arts business. We are always looking for volunteers and interns. If you are interested please contact Chrissy via email.

Spark Box Studio is dedicated to assisting regional youth by offering a volunteer / mentoring program. These positions are intended for youth between 14 and 21 years of age. Volunteers will mentor under the studio director to assist in operating the studio, build on their artistic skills and learn about business management within the arts. This is a very unique opportunity for high school students to meet their community service hours.

At times it may be hard to gain that experience you need to land that job that you’ve always wanted. Spark Box Studio offers an internship program that will help you gain work experience within the art field. The scope of of the internship ranges from technical skill building in the print studio to arts administration and business planning. Interns will have the opportunity to be involved in many aspects of our business.

photography by Chrissy Poitras

Each month Spark Box Studio offers art and craft workshops. Our workshops offer an open and friendly environment where you will learn different art making processes and have opportunities for experimentation. We understand that these workshops may not meet your current interests so we also offer private art lessons.

Please e-mail or call to register for a workshop or fill in the appropriate form below. If there is not enough interest the workshop may be canceled.

You may contact Chrissy or Kyle through phone or email
info@sparkboxstudio.com
tele: 613.476.0337

This introductory course requires no previous experience with printmaking. Students will begin the lesson with fresh copper plates and learn how to transform them into a small edition of prints. This workshop will teach students a non-toxic form of etching and will include hard ground techniques, aquatinting and soft ground techniques. By the end of the course students will have an understanding of the basic principles of printmaking including the above etching processes along with working with printing inks and using a traditional etching press.

Weekend workshop
January 21 & 22
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
$200.00 non-member
$185.00 member
*materials included

Come and experience the painterly printing method of monotype printing. This comprehensive workshop will introduce you to basic printmaking techniques and processes, as well as, the history of monotype. You will be encouraged to experiment and explore colour mixing, chine colle, stencilling and painting in positive and negative space. You will learn to use our printing press and printing inks in order to create several one-of-a-kind prints.

Weekend workshop
February 18 & 19
12:00 AM – 4:00 PM
$150.00
*materials included

Start your March Break off with some fun. In this two day workshop kids will learn a number of art practices and little bit of art history too.

Weekend kids workshop
March 10 & 11
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
$120.00
*materials included

This drop-in class and is great for kids of all ages. Students will create a unique and personal Mother’s day card with our letterpress and silkscreen printing equipment. The designs will all be pre-made so students need not worry about their artistic skill level. After completing the printing process participants will be given the chance to personalize their card. Each process will be explained allowing all participants to get familiar with techniques.

Drop-in anytime,
April 14 between
10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
$20.00
*materials included

Spark Box Studio offers to teach private art lessons. These lessons are structured on individual needs, abilities and schedules. Are you interested in creating your own prints or learning to draw from life? Have you been interested in signing up for our classes but the dates just don’t work for you? Lessons can focus on etching, silkscreen, linocut, monoprint, figure drawing, still life drawing, art fundamentals or any thing else you want to learn.

2 hour lesson – $45.00 + tax

* price applies per person
** All prices are listed in Canada dollars (CAD)
*** Ontario’s current tax percentage is 13%

To book a lesson, receive more information, or inquire about art lessons:
Please contact Chrissy or Kyle

info@sparkboxstudio.com
Tele: 613.476.0337

photography by Kyle Topping
photography by Chrissy Poitras

Beginning your career as an emerging artist can be tough, which is why Spark Box Studio is offering FREE RESIDENCIES to fine art students and emerging artists. This residency opportunity is a unique way for young and emerging artists to cultivate new ideas, access a rich library of arts resources, learn about career-building opportunities, and develop an understanding of the art world from a business perspective.

Six emerging artists will receive a one-week (7 days) residency at our Open Studio in Prince Edward County. The selected applicants will be given a private studio space and given access to the Spark Box Studio equipment and resources, as well, winners will be provided with living accommodations for their weeklong stay. They will also have access to career guidance from owners Chrissy Poitras and Kyle Topping, along with, local community members.

The Fall Residency Award runs from August 1, 2012 to October 31, 2012. Please be advised that the award is for 7 consecutive days.

Applying for the Residency Award gives artists the opportunity to practice an essential business skill in the art world: the application process.

When you come to stay at Spark Box Studio, you receive a bedroom, a dedicated studio space and access to our facilities. At Spark Box Studio we have the facilities to do relief printing, intaglio, silkscreen, black and white photography, and of course we always have space for painters, drawers, and installation artists.

• Sturges etching press, 48″ x 28″, used for intaglio.
• Parks Press, 48″ x 28″, used for relief.
• Excelsior Letter Press, 5″ x 3″ chase.
• Vacuum exposure unit, 30″ x 26″ used for silkscreen and photoplates.
• Silkscreen frames measuring 20″ x 24″, 235-250 mesh count.
• Omega Pro-lab B66 enlarger for black and white photography.

Any emerging artist living in Ontario, between the ages of 19-29, is invited to apply for the Spark Box Studio Residency Award.

Apply by May 31, 2012 to be considered for the Award.

Awards will be made based on the quality and completeness of the applications.

There is a $15.00 entry fee which can be paid through the paypal. This fee contributes to the cost of processing your application.

The Fall Residency Awards are valid between August and October 2012.

You can apply online through this web page. Continue below, carefully fill out the online application form and submit the $15.00 entry fee. There is a checklist of the required materials directly below. Pay Online Through Paypal Click Here Note: you must pay your application fee in order for your application to be processed.