ARTS WORKSHOPS AND CLASSES
Kay has been a tutor for the past 25 years, first in the area of management training and development, and for the past decade in visual arts. The following are brief outlines of arts programmes she is running…..
DRAWING & SKETCHING
CAN'T DRAW A STRAIGHT LINE?
Can't even draw the curtains!
Whether it's to improve your preliminary sketch work, or to create beautiful pencil drawings complete in their own right, these workshop sessions will help you develop your skill and ability in drawing techniques.
Pencil drawings can capture the essence of a subject and help you work out a plan for painting it later if you so wish.
In simple forms, drawing is a language from which other written languages and visual communication have developed. For some people, drawing is a natural form of expression, while for others it is an acquired skill and the result of continual practice.
PASTEL PAINTING
Pastels, as a medium for artists, have been in use for centuries. Painters with experience in other mediums, or beginner painters, will enjoy the freedom and quickness of producing artwork to be proud of.
Working on a pastel picture can also be a good way to try out one's own design and colour ideas before painting a new piece with oils, watercolours or acrylics.
The pigments used in good quality (soft) pastels are exactly the same as are used in watercolour paints and can be worked on wet paper to achieve brilliant colour effects. They are entirely compatible with watercolour paints or acrylics in a mixed media artwork.
WATERCOLOUR PAINTING
Watercolour painting is popular for its exquisite effects of depth and transparency, texture and light.
Above all, it is simple to get started – all that is needed is a paint box, brush, paper and water.
Use of these materials dates back to the early 16th century, with the works of Albrecht Durer still favoured today.
ACRYLIC PAINTING
Traditional art styles have been practised and handed down through artistic families and art studios for centuries.
Still today, the techniques with brushes, paints and mediums have considerable relevance for fine arts and decorative painting, though today we can use the new acrylics (which are water based, and healthier to use for those painters who are allergic to oil based products).
Professional artists' quality acrylics can achieve the same effects as the use of oils, or watercolours, and are ideal for:
i) those who've never painted before
ii) those who've never painted with acrylics
iii) those who tried and didn't like the early acrylic products
iv) those who have used good acrylics and want an opportunity to paint in a fun environment.
PAINTING IN OILS
Using professional artists' quality oil paints and mediums, this programme is designed for:
- Those who've never painted with oils but want to do so
- Whose who tried and didn't like oils, or the smell of the products used
- Those who have used good oil paints and want an opportunity to get together with like minded painters
The workshop covers all aspects of painting, from design, composition, preparation of canvas, the actual painting, and finishing of the work for presentation.
Odourless and environmentally friendly mediums are recommended.
FOLK ART & DECORATIVE PAINTING
From beginners' programmes through to advanced decorative techniques, these are good programmes to get you started on a lifetime of painting. Traditional folk art techniques teach many valuable lessons for those who later wish to go on to fine arts.
Have fun discovering how the traditional decorative painting developed, and use it for your own arts and craft work.