I'm starting a new venue......

My Thursday art classes are getting really popular, so much so that I can't fit everyone in. So I'm starting a new venue at Fairkytes Art Centre in Hornchurch on Tuesday mornings. So my art class that I teach on a Thursday morning which covers a wide range of media will be repeated on a Tuesday morning.

I'm excited to start a new venue and at Fairkytes which has been an art and cultural hub in Havering for years now. We'll be based in the art room overlooking the garden. Plus I've just bought a new toy, a projector, so I can show everyone inspiring artists along with step by step instructions for anything we're working on. So if you're interested in joining us get in touch and pop along.

I'm running them on a pay as you go basis, which everyone is loving as you only pay for the sessions you can make. 

Here's a little outline of what we'll be covering.....

Palette Knife.....

I love learning new things and going to different classes. I recently signed up to do a class with the  watercolour artist William Newton. I was really disappointed to find out it was cancelled due to personal reasons so I decided to paint myself a painting instead and worked on this little one....

I love it so much I'm going to work on another. I used my palette knife for the flowers which is really fun to use. I did a couple of classes recently showing how to paint with palette knives, it was so therapeutic and fun I recommend it to anyone. 

West Horndon Art Group.....

A couple of my students belong to West Horndon Art Group and invited me along to run a session. So at the beginning of the summer I went along to teach a session on Skylines.

They're a really lovely group and the work they produced was incredibly varied and talented. 

Here's my skyline of London, painted in a traditional style, starting with the darks then adding highlights and then the mid tones. 

I had such a great time with them and was delighted when they asked me back to do another session last Saturday, this time on Street Scenes with People. 

I wanted to paint a really quick painting as the session is just for the morning so I went for a more modern Impressionist style using a flat brush. So in preparation I painted this landscape with sun bathers first which I really enjoyed painting in oils. I couldn't believe how quick it was either, less is more!

Then I wanted to prepare a street scene and having just come back from France I wanted a French scene and started on this portrait one. There's far more detail so it was taking me longer and it was feeling a bit too busy so I zoomed in....

and had a go in acrylics. Which is working better as a composition. I painted this super quick as well but it turned out in a more traditional style than expected. That's the great thing with painting and art you just never know how it's going to come out!

West Horndon Art Group are based in the Village Hall and meet every Wednesday and Saturday mornings. For more info check out their website:
http://www.westhorndonartgroup.org.uk/

If you belong to an art group and would like me to come and teach a session just get in touch at kirsten@iaminspired.co.uk. I teach a wide range of media and subjects including drawing, pastels, oils, acrylic, and watercolour. 

Exhibition at Hornchurch Country Park Visitors Centre.....

On Sunday we had our exhibition at Hornchurch Country Park Visitors Centre, Ingrebourne Valley. This was a chance for all the learners from my Drawing class, Watercolour class and Painting and Drawing class to display their work in their first exhibition. 

I have to say I was so proud of them all as it looked absolutely fantastic. They've all worked incredibly hard and the results were amazing. Most of the learners are all complete beginners and haven't picked up a paintbrush or pencil since leaving school, which make their achievements even more applaudible.  
 

Some close ups of all their pieces..... It was really nice seeing the learners develop their own style during the courses and I love the wide range which you can see here

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It was always great to see their work in class but then to see the pieces framed or mounted for the exhibition was even more special.

My little section including the robin we did in one watercolour class....

It really was a lovely day especially as all the learners brought their friends and family to share the day too. The work is now going to be used for the Student Achievement night at Havering Adult College too, another great opportunity to celebrate their hard work. 

I cant wait for September to see their work develop further and meet some new students too. 

Still some places on this one too....

If you want to come along to draw and paint in a wide range of mediums then this is the class for you. I break down everything we do, showing you how to build up an image with specific techniques and mediums.