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.....

Classes at Hornchurch Country Park...

We had some great last sessions to the Winter course. I finished off the morning in the park, we were very lucky as the sun came out to make a glorious morning painting for us. Everybody did fantastically adding their own unique style into their work from colours to brush strokes. I think everyone is always surprised when they see everyone else's work because we all have the same view but the work is so different from each other. That's one of the great things I love as an art teacher, everyone putting their own personality into their work without even realising.

Then for the afternoon class we had to stay inside as it was cold, wet and miserable to paint outside but we soon brightened things up with our colourful honesty paintings inspired by Jane Betteridge. I got everyone to chose colours they were drawn to on the day and the results were amazing. Again the colours people chose definitely reflect their personalities.

I've just finished the outline for the next course and it sounds exciting and challenging. I've tried to put a mixture of subjects including ones that need no drawing and others a little more challenging. If you've been watching the Big Painting Challenging on BBC you can see what happens when artists are challenged it helps them to progress.

So come and get creative in a fun and friendly art class at Hornchurch Country Park, Thursday afternoons 12.45- 14.45pm, £10 per session.

Plein Air Painting.....

I took full advantage of this unusally warm weather and last Thursday we went out into Hornchurch Country Park to paint the landscape. There's a lovely spot just past the visitor centre, which was luckuily out of the wind, where you find yourself underneath a large sky. It really is beautiful. 

Just like a typical English day it was lovely and sunny and then we got some gorgeous moody clouds move over above us. Luckily the weather held out for us all to finish our paintings. 

If you've never experienced it, painting outside is a great experience especially with a great group of learners.

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. 

Blooming marvelous.....

One of my learners in the watercolour class had a request from a family member to paint flowers in glass which as you can imagine is a hard subject matter. 

So I found and produced some easier examples for them to follow with these 2 images......

  

And for anyone who wanted a harder challenge I photographed some flowers and painted this one. It doesn't quite show in the picture but this one was quite a long and detailed picture.

 

Here is what they produced which are amazing. I particularly love seeing their own styles starting to come through.....

Some then chose to attempt the harder challenge at home so I'm glad I didn't put them off : )

Watercolour class.....

Last year I was lucky enough to teach some art classes for Havering Adult College which I am absolutely loving. I have a Tuesday morning watercolour class at the Bower Park Centre and we started off experimenting with Brusho. 

I loved playing with all the colours and here some of the results. If you've never experimented with Brusho it is great fun as you literally watch the colours explode on your paper, however because of this you can't really control them and you never know what you're going to end up with. This can either be exciting if you go with the flow or a little frustrating if you had an idea in your head of how you wanted it to go.

We also did a simple seascape image, this was taken at Holywell Bay in Cornwall where we had an amazing holiday in the summer. It definitely brings back happy memories when I see this.....

We also attempted a country landscape image....

And to finish the course, just in time for Christmas we painted a festive little robin. The other students finished theirs with backgrounds and the snowy log he was stood on which completed the picture so when I get the chance I shall take inspiration from the students and try to finish him maybe in time for next Christmas!

When teaching art it's amazing to see the creativity in the classroom and the fact that everybody's work looks completely different as they add their own styles and interpretations. I was really proud of what they achieved especially as most had not picked up a paintbrush since they were a child. I'll try to get some pictures of their amazing work to share.

Vintage illustrated cards......

I've finally put my popular vintage cards on Etsy. Lots of people love the ladies at the hairdressers which bring back fond memories of their mothers. So for a little bit of nostalgia here are the cards....

Pop over to our Etsy shop if you want one to bring back a little nostalgia every day.

Still feeling the joys of spring......

has put me in the mood to do some spring / summer sketches.

I'm going to print them out and add some watercolour in lovely uplifting colours too whilst the sun is still shining!