To help you answer the question,
“What level course is right for me?”
To help you decide what level course is best, you will see Teaching Levels on each of the course pages above the ‘Add to cart’ button.
Students will always benefit from clear instructions and lots of one-to-one tuition on all of my courses.
Level 1: Absolute-beginner
For those students who have never done any art or are returning to art after a very long break.
Teaching focuses on core skills with tutor-led exercises on use of materials and techniques
Level 2: Beginner + Improver
For those students who have done some art learning, draw or paint occasionally at home or attend an art group, and feel they need to gain a foundation in the basic techniques.
Teaching focuses on core skills, understanding and use of the Art Elements + Principles, materials + techniques, with tutor-led exercises and mini projects.
Level 3: Intermediate
For those students who have learnt the basic techniques, have gained some artistic confidence and are seeking to develop their skills further to create more complex work.
Teaching focuses on developing art skills, creative techniques and individual styles, students’ ability to self-assess their work, encouraging experimentation, with tutor-led exercises and time for extended projects with the benefit of group critiques.
Level 4: Experienced
For those students confident in their abilities and techniques, who are looking to challenge themselves further, to create a coherent body of work, possibly to exhibit and sell.
Teaching focuses on guiding students in developing their own ideas and self-directed practice, through enhancing personal skills and techniques and encouraging a deeper contextual awareness with the benefit of one-to-one tutorials.
Art + Creativity
£350.00
Priced per term
Grow and develop self-confidence and start flourishing as a creative artist.
This art and creativity course teaches fundamental drawing skills and a range of creative techniques. Students will be encouraged to develop a contemporary personal approach to making art.
Each 10-session term focuses on a different range of essential art + creative skills. They can be completed in any order – Drawing skills; Materials + Techniques; Creative self-expression. Select the ‘Term options’ drop down menu to choose.
Suitable for: Adults
Teaching Level: Beginners, Improvers, Intermediate, Returners
Monday 10 – 12.30pm x 10 session term
Course Structure
flexible 10-week terms
spring – summer – autumn
book for a year-long course, or
for a single 10-week term
welcoming + inclusive studio
learn in a creative + friendly atmosphere
learn technical and creative skills
celebrate creative successes
Drawing skills
Banish your creative worries and learn to draw with enjoyment and confidence.
Learn technical skills and creative use of materials
Learn techniques to get proportions correct, perspective in easy steps, how to shade and use tone, and create exciting compositions. Take your first steps to learning a range of materials including graphite, charcoal, pastels, and acrylic paint.
Supportive teaching
An encouraging, patient and inclusive approach to teaching with lots of one-to-one support will benefit everyone, even those students who fear the worst!
Term dates
Select the ‘Term options’ at the top of the page to see specific term dates
Class Content
Class 1
Sketchbook mark-making mini-project
Class 2
Adopting the right approach to drawing to guarantee improved results
Class 3
Measuring techniques for greater drawing accuracy
Class 4
Drawing with tone and shading to add depth and dimensionality
Class 5
Introduction to working with colour
Class 6
Creative drawing technique for added self-expression
Class 7
Introduction to linear perspective
Class 8
Expressive mark making to enhance your visual language
Class 9
Grabbing attention by creating a dynamic focal point
Class 10
Creative still life drawing project
Note: session plans may change to respond to the needs of the group
By the end of the spring term…
Students will feel confident they have laid their creative foundations. Students will have the skills and techniques to enable them to continue developing and growing as artists.
Students are encouraged to spend an additional 2-3 hours per week further developing the creative projects started during the studio sessions. However, it will not detract from the course learning if students do not have the extra time.
Becoming a member of the AVA art group that meet in the studio on a Wednesday afternoon is a great way to ‘protect’ additional creative time. Attending each week to work on the creative projects will give students the space, time and support from fellow group members that is needed to help develop skills and creative confidence.
CLICK HERE>
Materials + Techniques
Develop a creative, flexible and more self-expressive approach to drawing. Learn to take control of the creative process.
Learn expressive drawing and creative confidence
Take a break from drawing with accuracy and realism while you nurture your imagination. Learn to trust your artistic intuition, and the value of creative play. Gaining confidence in the fundamentals of mark-making will re-energise your drawing skills beyond your expectations.
Personal creative development
Lots of one-to-one support enables students to explore new directions and styles in their art and start the journey to developing a personal individual style.
Term dates
Select the ‘Term options’ at the top of the page to see specific term dates
Class Content
Class 1
Introduction to mixed-media with acrylic paint
Class 2
Drawing natural forms using a full tonal range with graphite and pencil.
Class 3
Landscape painting with water colour paints
Class 4
Drawing buildings in vibrant colour with oil pastels
Class 5
Explore the power and freedom of drawing with charcoal
Class 6
Explore transparent glazes with colourful drawing inks
Class 7
Still-life painting with acrylic paints and mixed media
Class 8
Soft pastel painting with a contemporary organic approach to composing pictures
Class 9
Collage: painting with paper allowing you to re-imagine a still life in vibrant colour and texture
Class 10
Collage: continue with project for a 2nd session
Note: session plans may change to respond to the needs of the group
By the end of the summer term…
Students will feel creatively enthused and confident in their use of different materials and will have embraced the use of artists-sketchbooks to help them develop their creative ideas.
Students are encouraged to spend an additional 2-3 hours per week further developing the creative projects started during the studio sessions. However, it will not detract from the course learning if students do not have the extra time.
Becoming a member of the AVA art group that meet in the studio on a Wednesday afternoon is a great way to ‘protect’ additional creative time. Attending each week to work on the creative projects will give students the space, time and support from fellow group members that is needed to help develop skills and creative confidence.
CLICK HERE>
Creative self-expression
Creative projects allow students to explore the themes of still life, landscape and the human form. Teaching and demonstrations will show students how to experiment and develop creative ideas so they never run out of ideas of what to do next!
The key to an artist’s sketchbook
Students will learn techniques and methods to develop their own unique artist’s sketchbook that will help drive creativity forward. Embrace a new level of confidence in generating new ideas, experimenting with techniques to uncover a uniquely personal artistic style.
Creative self-confidence
Encouraging and supportive teaching with plenty of time for creative experimentation with a chance to try out ideas will enable students to become the independent artist they want to be.
Term dates
Select the ‘Term options’ at the top of the page to see specific term dates
Class Content
Class 1
Developing ideas to expand your creativity. Learn how to create themed project pages
Class 2 + 3
Create a sense of freedom and flow in still life drawings using oil pastels with transparent layers and off-set images
Class 4 + 5
Imaginative landscapes in mixed media and acrylic paint
Class 6 + 7
Travel a journey from realism to abstraction exploring ways of creating exciting abstract art
Class 8 + 9
Improve your understanding of the human form through sectional studies of your own figure; and self-portraits in pencil, graphite and soft chalk pastels
Class 10
Personal creative project with guidance and support from the tutor
Note: session plans may change to respond to the needs of the group
By the end of the autumn term…
Students will have developed skills to enable them to drive forward their own creative ideas and projects. They will have the self-confidence to use a wide range of techniques and materials to express their own creativity in an individual style
Students are encouraged to spend an additional 2-3 hours per week further developing the creative projects started during the studio sessions. However, it will not detract from the course learning if students do not have the extra time.
Becoming a member of the AVA art group that meet in the studio on a Wednesday afternoon is a great way to ‘protect’ additional creative time. Attending each week to work on the creative projects will give students the space, time and support from fellow group members that is needed to help develop skills and creative confidence.
CLICK HERE>
Helpful info + Guidance
Please read carefully
Information here over-rides similar information in the ‘Course info’ tab.
Course information
Group size
Refreshments
Please read the Studio COVID-SECURE procedures: Click here >
__________________________________
Days: Monday x 10 per term
Times: 10-12.30pm
Academic year: 30 weeks (3 terms x 10-classes)
Materials: Includes most materials, other than the materials students are asked to bring
Suitable for: Adults
Teaching Level: Beginners, Improvers, Intermediate, Returners
Group Size: Min 6 – Max 10
Your tutor: Brian Raymond biography >
Refreshments:
Course includes tea, coffee & biscuits. Please provide your own lunch on full day courses, workshops and classes.
Essential items to bring
Mixed Media Spiral Pad 25 Sheets
250gsm
Mixed Media Spiral Pad 30 sheets
250gsm
hardback cover
thick cartridge paper
spiral bound if possible
Optional items to bring
Cloth for cleaning your hands
Rag (old cloth) for smudging charcoal or paint
Wear old clothes or bring an apron
Pen and notebook for taking notes
To help you answer the question,
“What level course is right for me?”
To help you decide what level course is best, you will see Teaching Levels on each of the course pages above the ‘Add to cart’ button.
Students will always benefit from clear instructions and lots of one-to-one tuition on all of my courses.
Level 1: Absolute-beginner
For those students who have never done any art or are returning to art after a very long break.
Teaching focuses on core skills with tutor-led exercises on use of materials and techniques
Level 2: Beginner + Improver
For those students who have done some art learning, draw or paint occasionally at home or attend an art group, and feel they need to gain a foundation in the basic techniques.
Teaching focuses on core skills, understanding and use of the Art Elements + Principles, materials + techniques, with tutor-led exercises and mini projects.
Level 3: Intermediate
For those students who have learnt the basic techniques, have gained some artistic confidence and are seeking to develop their skills further to create more complex work.
Teaching focuses on developing art skills, creative techniques and individual styles, students’ ability to self-assess their work, encouraging experimentation, with tutor-led exercises and time for extended projects with the benefit of group critiques.
Level 4: Experienced
For those students confident in their abilities and techniques, who are looking to challenge themselves further, to create a coherent body of work, possibly to exhibit and sell.
Teaching focuses on guiding students in developing their own ideas and self-directed practice, through enhancing personal skills and techniques and encouraging a deeper contextual awareness with the benefit of one-to-one tutorials.
To help you answer the question,
“What course should I do next?”
There are 2 approaches to deciding what to do next.
Whichever approach you choose, remember to check the Teaching Levels (eg: Level 1, Level 2, or mixed ability).
Student Quotes
Waiting list
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