Artists Development Group

Group in more detail

How do I join the Group?
Joining the Artists Development Group requires you to submit a few examples of your current work and a very short online written application. New groups are created 3 times a year and you are welcome to apply to join as often as you wish.

 How will joining the Group benefit me?
Joining the Artists Development Group can be a supportive bridge from learning particular skills such as drawing, material techniques, and a creative sketchbook practice, to embracing a personal developmental approach to creating a cohesive body of work and taking significant steps to realising your artistic voice.

Who is the Group for?
The Artists Development Group is perfect for those of you who have completed our Art + Creativity year-long course, as well as those of you who feel a growing confidence in your art making skills and techniques and are ready to take further steps towards creative-independence and develop a stronger personal style and technique.

The Group is for you if you wish for encouraging stepping stones to guide you gently towards increased creative-confidence, while keeping you on track to creating increasingly more resolved and finished artwork.

The Group is for you if you wish for a supportive, structured, and creative environment to help you find ways of being a creative artist that fits with your life’s other priorities while ensuring making art supports your general wellbeing.

How does the Group work?

• Bi-weekly studio sessions on Thursdays 1-4pm that will feature creative projects, technique demonstrations and artists references to guide and inspire your work, along with tutor 1:1, group critiques, and peer support
• Alternate bi-weekly Microsoft Teams group video catchup on Thursdays 5-6.30pm to answer questions or provide additional feedback and guidance.
• Private tutor feedback is always available via email, when away from the studio
• Independent work at home is encouraged every week, for which there will be guidance on what to aim to achieve
  • Aim to set aside a minimum of 1-2 days at home, but the more you put in the more you will gain
• Group members will be encouraged to start their own private WhatsApp group for continued peer support through the 11 weeks, and possibly beyond.

What is the focus of the Group?
Tutoring, support, guidance and demonstrations focus on;

• the practical aspects of making art such as your choice and use of materials and techniques
• your personal style such as abstract, semi-abstract, realism, etc
• the themes you explore in your artwork and how these are visually expressed
• guidance on practical steps to generating creative ideas and visual thinking skills
• guidance for pulling together a small but cohesive body of work

What kind of style can I work in?

• Each project usually begins with observational drawing research. After this you will be encouraged to develop the project in your own style whether this is realism, semi-abstract, or pure abstract.

What kind of materials can I work in?

• the materials we generally use in the studio are;
  • graphite, charcoal
  • Soft pastel, oil pastels
  • Acrylic paint, watercolour paint
  • Collage
  • Mixed media
  • Drawing + painting surfaces include; mixed-media paper, and stretched canvas or board for the final pieces
• supporting materials + techniques:
  • you are welcome to embrace other supporting materials and techniques within your work such as printmaking, photography, sculpture, textiles, etc but these are not specialisms held by your tutor so do not expect tuition and teaching specifically related to these.

Benefits of being a member the Group project

You will gain the creative-confidence to develop your own bodies of work that explore specific themes and ideas. You will begin to develop your own personal style and techniques that showcase your individual creative voice and start to understand what kind of artist you are becoming. You will develop your own habits and ways of working that fit in with your life and establish a sustainable arts practice of your own as a new emerging artist.

Everyone’s creative journey is different. The Arts Development Group is here to support you as and when you need it. You are welcome to apply to join further Groups and immerse yourself in another creative project.