Grand River Floating Art Classroom… One Hour West of Toronto

The Painter’s Drift is for the artist in everyone. It combines a rafting trip on Southern Ontario’s Grand River with instructional art classes. The rafts are used to float to selected outdoor sites. Here art students can enjoy a full day of learning techniques with watercolour, acrylic or oil.

The drifts are guided trips using safe and stable 14ft rafts that require no skills to paddle. Participants park their vehicle at the exit point and then are shuttled upstream. As the art class leisurely floats down the river to a designated landscape, an orientation time occurs. The rafting guide gives a brief on the history and wilderness of the Grand River Valley. Then the instructional artist takes the time to learn about everyone’s skills and experience.

Upon arriving at the landscape the group spends 4-5 hours painting with their selected medium with instruction upon request. Shore lunches or barbeque are included with the day. At the end of the course the group drifts to the exit point where the vehicles are parked. The total drift times to the landscapes vary from 30 minutes to 1.5 hours.

Presently six different landscape classrooms are offered on various Saturdays between May and September along the Grand & Nith River.

The inspiring "Devil’s Cave" landscape is a favorite for many. This is a fascinating limestone rockery on the Nith River with conglomerate rock. This isolated site has fresh cool springs gushing from the opposite banks which you can drink, plus a narrow sand spit beach and swimming. This site is visited during May from 9am to 4pm and includes a shore lunch.

The "Cliff" landscape is on the Nith River and is a 100ft high boulder cliff face with precarious hanging trees. This is a beautiful quiet spot. As you sit on the shores there is an excellent swimming spot to enjoy a timeout. This is a day course during June starting at 9am and finishing around 4pm with a shore lunch.

Another choice is the "Cascading Springs". Choose to spend the day along the Grand River on a small isolated island painting the rockery of the springs. Enjoy the taste of the cool spring water or take a refreshing body surf in the gentle current of the Grand. Spending the day on this island site is a gift in itself. This is a 9am to 4pm day course during July with shore lunch.

"Sarah’s Island" is a tranquil setting on an island in the middle of the Grand River. The soft evening colours around the island are an inspiration to capture. This spot allows views of the depth and breadth of the valley through which the Grand flows. This is a 4pm to 9pm evening class in July with a barbeque.

The "Fallen" is a landscape of conglomerate rock and towering cedars on the edge of the Grand River. This spot again captures the openness and the closeness of the Grand Valley. Just below this landscape is an abandoned gypsum mine from the 1830’s and fresh drinking water. Again you can take a swim time out here. This is a day session in August from 9am to 4pm with a shore lunch.

The "Old German Mill" is a favorite autumn or fall colours site on the Grand River. The three storey ruins of the stone walls draped with vines cascade with colour and contrast. As you paint you have the Grand River to your back and its past history before you. This is a September day course starting at 9am and ending at 4pm with shore lunch included.

The Painter’s Drift Class size is 7-10 people. Attending students bring their own art materials & medium. The classes are designed for all ages from the novice to the skilled. Art students can choose from a full day course to a half day course between May and September. The rafting drifts are selected to address different settings, lighting conditions and seasons. The Painter’s Drift prices range from $75 to $100 per person with lunch or barbeque provided. For current dates visit the learning adventures offered on the Grand River Rafting website in Ontario.

The instructional artist is Jeanette Obbink from Paris, Ontario. Jeanette specializes in oil and watercolour work. "Jeanette's works are figurative with compositions, shapes and colours that reflect her love for nature and the environment". Her work can be viewed by visiting her on-line studio

For small groups wishing to have their own private "Painter’s Drift" class on different dates or landscape sites along the Grand River or Nith River, please contact the Grand River Rafting Company

For those traveling from afar… overnight accommodations can be found at the serene countryside inn setting of the River Ridge Bed & Breakfast. The River Ridge B&B can accommodate up to twelve people and offers a relaxing outdoor hot tub overlooking the Grand River Valley. Or if wishing a town experience, visit the coble-stone town of Paris to stay at the elegant 19th century Arlington Hotel.

The Painter’s Drift is a new approach to landscape art lessons… combining art, the outdoors and leisure rafting. Painters seeking something a bit different will enjoy experiencing this one of a kind floating art classroom.