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Course Descriptions

Visual Diary
All students will be using an A3 visual diary. This is used to build their personal imagery and start their background research to gain a direction to their work. With younger students the visual diary is used to gather their drawings, small paintings and images used within their work. We photograph finished works to keep as a record of what they have produced. These diaries can be kept to help build their own visual art history and help recollect what their thoughts were around a series of works at the time.

Mediums
We encourage students to explore different mediums that best express what they want to say. From using drawing tools, paint, mixed–media, to 3D materials/objects, spatial concerns, photography, computer prints, small moving image works, etc. The students are encouraged to search out and experiment with materials that will best represent what their work, is about. We will work together to find solutions to problems along the way. The use of a digital camera is advantageous but not essential.

Jonathan's painting - "Framed"

Drawing
A range of drawing practices will be explored and related back to their individual study.

Artist models
The students are encouraged to study other artists’ works, helping them to find their own style and way of working. Gallery visits will be encouraged to help students be aware of what other artists are producing.

Research
We also encourage library visits, the use of the internet, magazine/newspapers etc to research the history and issues revolving around their chosen direction. To keep the courses vibrant and interesting we invite guest artists/speakers to show and talk about their work.

Exhibiting
We encourage students to work towards a solo exhibition. No matter what age or level of ability, exhibiting is seen as part of the whole visual expression of their work. The more often a student can exhibit his or her work the more confident they become.

Students who wish to exhibit will be encouraged to find an exhibition space in their home to begin with, having an opening with friends and family present to give them support and help them gain confidence. Then they will be helped to find a site-specific space relating to their chosen theme.

This exhibition space could be in a related outdoor environment or within a local business/industry premisses or council facility or by approaching a local gallery. Working in with local businesses, etc artists become connected to the local community and vice versa.

Students will learn how to make a proposal to present their work to an exhibition site owner (this maybe the student’s parents in the first instance?). Plan what will be included in their exhibition and more importantly what they will leave out. Plan and budget for an opening, design an invitation and set up their own exhibition.

Course materials
The students supply their own course materials. Materials to bring will be discused when the first class is confirmed.

At the first class
We ask students to supply a few photocopied or emailed images of their previous or present work to bring to the first class – to provide a reference and starting point.

Class numbers/ hours/ payment
Class numbers are kept to no more then ten students.
Students are working on their own individual themes even though they are in small groups. Because students are working on their own projects, they can book into a course at any time throughout the year.

Times can be discussed upon enquiry. Students do not need to all begin at the same time on a given day. The start and finish time is left to the student. Students can decide how long their class will be, with a choice of - one hour, one and half hours or two hours. Students can book into more then one class time per week.

If a student cannot attend a class for any reason they can reschedule within that week but beyond this it is lost.

Course Payment can be on a casual rate, monthly or by term. Please click here to go to the online enrolment page.

There are three forms of visual art: Painting is art to look at, sculpture is art you can walk around, and architecture is art you can walk through.
- Dan Rice