Courses

Date: Thursdays, starts 4 May 2023, 7:00-9:00pm
Course length: 10 weeks*
Price: £205
Tutor: Sebastian Aplin
Level: Beginner/Intermediate

Painting is harder than it looks! In fact, a whole new appraisal of how we see things, and translate this experience onto canvas is needed.

In this course you will learn the basic theory of how to relate colour and light, define objects through contrast and design a dramatic composition. By the end of this course you will have learned that there is a structure to figurative painting and also a reason why paintings are attractive. Many of these theories will surprise you and will make you approach the painting process in a new way.

In this course we will look at the mechanisms paintings of the last 400 years have used to make them great and we will be taking practical measures to build their discoveries into our painting practice. Every week we will have a new focus of paint application, theory and subject matter to challenge us.

By the end of the course you will see that the whole process of painting goes far beyond copying and you will now have the tools at your disposal to embark with confidence on your own painting projects.

What do students need to bring with them?
Students can choose whether they bring in oil or acrylic paints which need to be of a reputable make (Windsor and Newton, Rowney etc) but can be “student quality”. The basic colours needed are Red, Blue, Yellow, black and white (primary colours). If students want a fuller palette the following colours are recommended: Titanium white, lemon yellow, cadmium red, ultramarine blue, Payne’s grey, burnt umber.

Students need to bring in a range of medium and large brushes and a good size plastic or disposable palette. If using oil paint LOW ODOUR solvents are to be brought such as W & N “Sansodor” or “Zest it”. For oil painting hogs hair brushes are recommended over synthetic brushes.

Rags, small sealable pots, palette knives and A3 size (approx.) canvas boards will also be needed.

*Please note that there will be a break week on Thursday 1 June (Spring Bank Holiday week) and courses will resume the following week, meaning that the last session will take place Thursday 13 July.

Date: Fridays, starts 5 May 2023, 7:00-9:00pm
Course length: 10 weeks*
Price: £205
Tutor: Sebastian Aplin
Level: Intermediate/Advanced

By the end of this course you will feel comfortable painting a portrait from a photograph as well as painting the human figure from life.

We will look at the decisions that will allow you to paint convincing portraits and figure paintings, alternating between portraiture, using carefully chosen digital images, and life model figure painting. The challenges and advantages of painting from life and from flat images will increase your experience and understanding of controlling form while also extending your expressive capabilities.

We will look in depth at appropriate colour palettes to strengthen your composition and how to control colour and value contrast to make the model appear grounded “in space” as opposed to floating on the canvas. We will constantly refer to examples of how this has been achieved by great artists and investigate how to simplify and dramatize the outcome.

What do students need to bring with them?
Students can choose whether they bring in oil or acrylic paints which need to be of a reputable make (Windsor and Newton, Rowney etc) but can be “student quality”. Your palette will consist of titanium white, zinc white, ivory black, raw umber, cadmium red, yellow ochre and ultramarine blue. Paper will be provided but students are encouraged to bring in some recycled cardboard primed with PVA sealant. A3 canvas boards or oil/acrylic pads are a good alternative.

Students need to bring in a range of medium and large brushes and a good size palette or dish for mixing colours. If using oil paint LOW ODOUR solvents are to be brought such as W & N “Sansodor” or “Zest it”. For oil painting hogs hair brushes are recommended over synthetic brushes.

Rags and small sealable pots will also be needed.

*Please note that there will be a break week on Friday 2 June (Spring Bank Holiday week) and courses will resume the following week, meaning that the last session will take place Friday 14 July.

Date: Wednesdays, starts 3 May 2023, 7.00-9.00pm
Course length: 10 sessions
Price: £190
Tutor: Christopher Holloway
Level: Beginner/Intermediate

Develop your drawing skills within a studio setting by exploring a range of different methods and approaches to drawing, in a creative and supportive environment.

Working from observation, the course will cover a study of line, tone, shape, texture, scale and composition. Subject matter will include still life, the figure, interior space and a range of observational drawing scenarios. This course will focus on the principles of drawing and developing our skills in observation and ways of seeing.

Students should bring with them: One box of willow charcoal, some drawing pencils and an eraser for the first session, A1 white cartridge paper will be available at the class. Tuition will be provided with regard to materials, so it is advisable not to purchase unnecessarily before the course commences.

Date: Tuesdays, starts 2 May 2023, 7:00-9:00pm
Course length: 10 sessions
Price: £205
Tutor: Christopher Holloway
Level: All levels

Life drawing offers the opportunity to draw and study the human form over ten focused classes. This is an open to all class, which will appeal to all levels including beginners.

The classes are structured to give a diverse range of poses to draw from, both short and extended. The course will include set exercises which will give you the opportunity to experiment and engage in a range of approaches to drawing. Each session will give you the opportunity to develop and refine your own response to drawing the figure.

This is a taught class within a studio environment, whereby experimentation is encouraged and where you can learn through drawing itself. One to one tuition and feedback will be provided throughout.

Students should bring with them: One box of willow charcoal, some drawing pencils and an eraser for the first session, A1 white cartridge paper will be available at the class. Tuition will be provided with regard to materials, so it is advisable not to purchase unnecessarily before the course commences.

Date: Mondays, starting 15 May 2023, 6:30-8:30pm
Course length: 10 sessions*
Price: £195
Tutor: Rory Buckland
Level: All welcome

Get off Auto and onto manual settings for your photography.

This course is aimed at beginners who having been using auto mode on their camera but would now like to start using the manual functions for better control of their picture taking. This course will teach students introductory theory and practice of manual photography, and instruct students how to create better photographs, giving them an understanding of lens and camera combinations.

The course will teach students how to set a manual camera to take competent pictures in a range of situations and environments, as they gain an understanding of the effects of light, colour and temperature on the picture taking process.

By the end of the course, students will have obtained the knowledge and confidence to develop their craft through their own initiative and will have the skills to take pictures the way we visualise them.

Students should ideally have access to a camera / camera phone (film or digital, but preferably digital) which allows at least some manual override and preferably the instruction manual for that camera.

Students should bring with them: A camera / camera phone (film or digital – preferably digital) and ideally its instruction manual, a notebook.

*Please note that there will be a break week on Monday 29 May (Bank Holiday) and courses will resume the following week, meaning that the last session will take place Monday 24 July.

Date: Mondays, starting 15 May 2023, 7:00-9:00pm
Course length: 10 sessions*
Price: £205
Tutor: Karen O’Shea
Level: All welcome

Learn to sew from the very basics of hand sewing and embroidery right through to fashionable visible mending, darning and garment alterations to putting in a zip and using a machine for applique and art textiles techniques using dissolvable fabric. This course has everything for the complete beginner!

The course is designed for complete beginners who have always wanted to learn to sew, or who would like to know how to repair or make garments, and even those with an artistic streak who fancy learning art textiles techniques. No prior sewing experience is necessary, and all skillsets are welcome.

The course offers an introduction to hand and machine sewing and embroidery, for functional creation and repairs and for decorative techniques used in art textiles. By the end of the course students should be able to:

• Operate a sewing machine and other stitch related tools safely
• Perform a range of functional hand sewing stitches to decorative hand embroidery stitches
• Make repairs and adjustments to garments, including blind stitch hemming, attaching buttons and darning
• Use a simple pattern and insert a zip to create a lined 3D item using a sewing machine
• Perform applique and freestyle machine embroidery for art textiles
• Use dissolvable fabric to create a 3D item for the home

Students should bring with them:

• A notebook and pencil
• A simple sewing kit comprising pins, a household hand sewing needle, a size 1 and size 3 embroidery needle
• A pair of small sharp embroidery scissors (nail scissors will do)

*Please note that the course will commence on 15 May and will contain 10 sessions in total. No session will be taught on the week commencing 29 May (due to the Bank Holiday) and the last session will take place on Thursday 20 July (to ensure completion ahead of the school holidays).