Read on for schedule, including dates, subjects, mediums, demonstration details and what to bring to class. If you are interested in joining these classes please read the main page here and send me an email.
18th Jan Birds in Graphite Pencil
We start the new year with a simple drawing subject. Please bring a selection of soft pencils and good quality cartridge paper. Paper is available to purchase.
Demonstrations: How to draw birds, shading techniques.
25th Jan Botanical Roses (2 week subject)
A detailed watercolour subject; working from photos we will be looking at building up petals and flowers with crisp edges and blended interiors. Please bring watercolours, watercolour pencils may be useful too. Paper is available to purchase.
Demonstrations: Drawing roses, flat wash individual areas.
1st Feb Botanical Roses (week two)
This week we continue working on our botanical roses.
Demonstrations: Blending techniques, watercolour pencils for details.
8th Feb Life Drawings in Charcoal & Chalk
Working from photos of male and female nudes we will be making life drawing studies. Please bring charcoal, white conte crayon and coloured cartridge or pastel paper. Paper is available to purchase, and a small amount of charcoal & conte to borrow.
Demonstrations: Drawing the human figure, shading and blending.
15th Feb Dramatic Landscapes in Watercolour, optional Brusho
Simple landscapes full of drama and colour are this week’s subject. Please bring your watercolours and if you have it - optional Brusho pigment powder (available to borrow). Paper is available to purchase.
Demonstrations: Wet into wet, cling film textures.
1st Mar Frida Kahlo paintings studies in Acrylics
This week we are going to make studies of Frida Kahlo self portraits and paintings. Please bring acrylics if you have them (a very limited amount available to borrow). Paint on watercolour paper or pick up a cheap canvas or board before class. Paper is available to purchase.
Demonstrations: Laying out your paintings, acrylic painting techniques.
8th March Chickens in Pen and Watercolour
This week a loose study of chickens. Please bring a waterproof liner pen or use dip pen and ink (available to borrow), plus your usual watercolours. Paper is available to purchase.
Demonstrations: Drawing chickens, loose watercolour painting.
15th Mar Trees at Sunset in Watercolour
Sunsets with tree skylines in vibrant colours. Please bring your usual watercolours. Paper is available to purchase.
Demonstrations: Painting sunset skies, interesting darks for trees.
5th Apr Dogs in Coloured Pencils
A great subject, bring your own photo if you have a canine friendor use mine. Please bring coloured pencils (a few available to borrow) at a push watercolour pencils will do. Please bring cartridge paper not watercolour. Paper is available to purchase.
Demonstrations: How to draw dogs, embossing for fur texture.
12th Apr Seasonal Flowers in Watercolour
Working from real flowers this week, please bring your watercolours, watercolour pencils may be helpful too. Paper is available to purchase.
Demonstrations: Drawing flowers, petal blending techniques.
26th Apr Lighthouses, Beach Huts in Watercolour & Collage
A beautiful early summer subject, beachy buildings decorated in patterned papers with a watercolour background. Bring your watercolours as well as paper scissors and pva glue or pritt stick. Tracing paper useful too. I have lots of papers for you to cut up, or bring some in. Watercolour paper is available to purchase.
Demonstrations: Cutting paper to exact shapes, contrasting tones.
3rd May Portraits in Graphite Pencil and Wash
This week we use pencil in a similar manner to pen and wash, leaving it on display in the finished painting. Bring graphite pencils and watercolours. Paper available to purchase.
Demonstrations: Portrait drawing, accurate skin tones.
10th May Abstract Nature texture and flat wash practice
Using close up photos of nature as a basis for abstract paintings we will work on playing off areas of texture with flat colour. Please bring watercolours, a craft knife, salt etc may be useful. Paper available to purchase.
Demonstrations: Perfect flat washes, texture techniques.
7th June Sharks in Soft Pastels
Amazing sharks are our subject and we will be using soft pastels to get blended areas and movement. Please bring soft pastels (a very limited amount available to borrow) and coloured pastel or sugar paper. Paper available to purchase.
Demonstrations: Drawing sharks, blending pastels.
14th June Fruit still life in Watercolour and Wax resist
A colourful still life of real fruit. Please bring your watercolours and oil pastels if you have them (available to borrow). Paper available to purchase.
Demonstrations: layout and scale, wax resist.
21st June Collaged Landscapes using Map Papers
No paint this week we are just using papers, including map papers to make interesting landscapes. Bring a sheet of watercolour paper as well as paper scissors and pva glue or pritt stick, tracing paper useful too. I have lots of papers for you to cut up, or bring some in. Watercolour paper is available to purchase.
Demonstrations: Cutting paper to show form, contrasting tones.
Fri 5th July Birch Trees using Masking Tape & Watercolour
Using a really effective masking technique I will show you how to make beautiful Birch tree paintings. Please bring your watercolours, plus masking tape and scissors if you have them (available to borrow). Paper available to purchase.
Demonstrations: Loose backgrounds, masking tape resist.
Fri 19th July Still life Metal Objects in Watercolour
For this class we learn how to make objects look like metal in your paintings – without metallic paint, to make beautiful birch tree paintings. Please bring your watercolours, plus masking fluid if you have it (available to borrow). Paper available to purchase.
Demonstrations: Masking fluid highlights, colour mixing silver and gold.
16th Aug Churches in Watercolour (2 week subject)
A chance to work on a more complex subject in watercolours. Please bring your usual watercolour kit. Paper available to purchase.
Demonstrations: Drawing and four point perspective, sky painting.
23rd Aug Churches in Watercolour (week two)
This week we continue working on our church paintings.
Demonstrations: Colour mixing neutrals, brick/stone texture.
6th September Classic Ships in Sepia Ink
A lovely subject which we will be painting in sepia ink and water with dip pen and brush. Paper available to purchase.
Demonstrations: Drawing ships to scale, ink techniques.
20th Sept Pencils Botanical Study found objects Coloured Pencils
Small is beautiful this week, seed pods, shells, feathers, pine cones, bring your own objects along or use mine. Please bring coloured pencils (a few available to borrow) at a push watercolour pencils will do. Please bring cartridge paper not watercolour. Paper is available to purchase.
Demonstrations: Pencil techniques, embossing for highlights.
27th Sept Art Materials Still Life in Pen & Watercolour
This week the materials are the subject! Please bring a waterproof liner pen or use dip pen and ink (available to borrow), plus your usual watercolours. Paper is available to purchase.
Demonstrations: Constructing a successful still life, soft edged shadows.
4th Oct Dancers using the Watercolour Straw drips method
This week we are going to blow paint around. Old clothes or aprons are advisable. Bring watercolours and a straw if you have one, a water spray may be useful too. Paper is available to purchase.
Demonstrations: Drawing figures with movement, straw paint drips.
11th Oct Old buildings, single colour tonal study
If you only had one colour, how would you make everything in your painting clear to the viewer? Bring watercolours and learn to show everything via tone. Paper is available to purchase.
Demonstrations: Blotting and salt for texture, tonal gradation sample.
18th Oct Christmas Stockings in Coloured Pencil
Working from photos, a lovely subject for your Christmas cards or just for fun. Please bring coloured pencils (a few available to borrow) at a push watercolour pencils will do. Please bring cartridge paper not watercolour. Paper is available to purchase.
Demonstrations: Pencil techniques, blending for softness.
1st Nov Seasonal Foliage in Watercolour Pencil & Paint
Lovely leaves and foliage this week, please bring watercolour pencils if you have them (a few available to borrow) and your usual watercolour stuff. Paper is available to purchase.
Demonstrations: Drawing foliage, combining watercolour pencils & paint.
8th Nov Winter Tree Branch Silhouettes in Watercolour
Looking at trees more closely and using the branch silhouettes as a starting point for pattern and contrast. Paper is available to purchase.
Demonstrations: Drawing realistic trees, Sgraffito for tree bark.
6th Dec Still Life in Soft or Oil Pastels, Wardrobe Items
Using soft pastels to produce a still life of shoes, scarves, belts and jewellery. Please bring soft pastels (a very limited amount available to borrow) and coloured pastel or sugar paper. Paper available to purchase.
Demonstrations: Laying out your still life, realistic fabric techniques.
13th Dec Free Lesson – Unfinished Work or PYO subject
A chance to finish any incomplete pieces from earlier in the year. They don’t have to have been started in my classes, bring along anything you like. If you have no unfinished work then you may choose your subject. I have hundreds of photos in my studio, and lots of still life objects; whatever you want to paint I can probably find it, just let me know a week or so beforehand.
Demonstrations: Individual demonstrations this week as you request them.