21st Jan 10–3pm
Create a Portrait

We’ll start by looking at a variety of paintings to see how other artists approach making a portrait. Use yourself as a model or bring along a photograph to work from. Whatever your style, or if you’re still to discover it, come along and have fun making a painting or drawing.

You’ll receive advice and guidance-to help you develop your techniques and ideas for looking, measuring, mixing and applying colour and getting that likeness.

All materials provided.

4th Feb 10–3pm
Make a Modernist painting

A day to make small, colourful paintings focussing on simplified shapes, strong contours and evocative colours. 

Making Modernism at The Royal Academy of Arts showcases the trailblazing women hidden from the history of 20th-century Modernism. The exhibition –  full of colour, simplified contours and beautiful compositions will provide our inspiration. We’ll start with a short informative illustrated talk talking a brief look at some of these artists; their subject-matter and techniques.

Whether you have lots of experience, or are just starting out, you’ll receive individual advice and guidance. All materials provided.

25th Feb
Matisse, Cut-outs and Collage

A day to make collages and cut-outs. A short presentation exploring Matisse’s cut-outs and Dada collage will start our creative day. Collage and cut-outs are a great way to work quickly and freely and to explore new compositions and ideas, and to break the rules! You can refresh your drawing and painting through collage, experimenting with new ways of working. You’ll receive advice and guidance-to help you develop your techniques and ideas.

All materials provided.

11th March
2D into 3D

This workshop will enable you to take your ideas off the page and into 3 dimensions. Bring along your drawings/photographs and discover some processes for getting into 3 dimensions. We’ll start by looking at other artist work-for some inspiration. You’ll receive advice and guidance-to help you develop techniques for making a drawing, photograph of painting work as a small-scale sculpture.

All materials provided.

25th March 10–3pm
Into Abstraction… 

How do you take a figurative image and make it abstract? It can be tricky extracting those essential elements to create an abstract image.. I’ll share some examples from other artists, and there’s lots of guidance and advice for techniques to explore ways to get off the page.  Perhaps you work in 2D and want to move into sculpture, or just want to give it a go.

Feel free to bring along any images you might want to use as a starting point…

All materials provided.

15 April 10–3pm
Found Objects Sculpture

Artists such as Henry Moore, Damien Hirst and Cornelia Parker use found objects in their work. Dada, Surrealist and Pop artists all used objet trouvé as a way of making sculpture in a novel way.

We’ll take a look at some interesting and inspiring examples, and then you’ll make your own small piece. Bring along anything you want to use, (including sketchbooks, photos, materials/objects). You’ll receive advice and guidance to help you develop your techniques and ideas and create bricolage, Take an idea, word, picture or phrase as a starting point, or simply respond to the materials, and see what happens...

All materials provided.

 29th April 10–3pm
Create an Artist’s Book

Create an artist’s book. Take an old book as starting point, or make your own from scratch. We’ll take a look at other examples, and then get to work combining different papers, collage, painting, drawing and simple printing techniques. It might be all about textures and colours, it might form a kind of portrait, or it might be a narrative that includes some text. You’ll receive advice and guidance, developing your techniques and ideas into your own unique art object.

All materials provided.

TALKS

Can’t get to London to see an exhibition?  Or just want the lowdown before you go?

Come along for a friendly evening and learn all about the show. Enjoy a PowerPoint presentation and a glass of wine or a coffee. Learn about the artist and their work, their ideas and techniques, and the way the exhibition is curated. Plenty of time for questions and conversation.

Talk - Making Modernism at the RA
20th Jan 7–9pm

Talk - Cezanne at Tate Modern
3rd Feb 7–9pm

Talk - Spain and the Hispanic world at the RA
17th Feb 7–9pm

13th May 10–3pm
Still Life Drawing and Painting

Some of the greatest artists have used still life as a way to hone their looking and making techniques. Still Life is not just about looking-it’s about celebrating life’s pleasures. We’ll take a look at some examples of artists making memento mori and Vanitas paintings

You’ll receive advice and guidance-to help you develop your techniques and ideas.

All materials provided.

3rd June 10–3pm
Figure Drawing

Drawing humans; their contours, positions and movements.

Come along and work from a model. We’ll look at the way other artists have tackled the figure, and then use simple techniques for looking, measuring and shading. Whether you have lots or a little experience-everyone is welcome. 

You’ll receive advice and guidance-to help you develop useful techniques, using short and long sittings.

All materials provided.