New classes for beginners and those seeking to improve technique, starting soon.
The beginners class is structured to teach you from the very basics, given that most people interested in taking up drawing & painting have done little or no art since school. You will be taught from the very basics, drawing and measuring. This is fundamental to painting.
Given that most beginners are nervous about taking on a new interest, you are welcome to come to any class before joining and find out more, and talk to current members, who who joined the class exactly as yourself! Then you can make a better decision as to join or not.
If interested, please contact me for booking information, or if you want more information on what you will be learning.
ARE YOU STILL RUNNING YOUR ART CLASSES ONLINE?
Yes, some classes are still running, online, via zoom. I am still offering same lesson content as when we meet at venues. The zoom classes have proved very popular as it allows you to learn from home and in a smaller class, limit on a zoom class is 15 people. Plus everyone is doing the same lesson.
Feel free to contact me to discuss this in more detail. Not used Zoom? I will help you, as you only need to know couple of things, I do the rest for you.
I HAVE NEVER DONE ART, OR SINCE LEAVING SCHOOL
Doesn't matter. You will learn art the same way as most things in life, such as driving a car, a sport or cooking. Simply by doing it. Many would-be artists are put off by the myth that you have to be born with a natural talent for doing art. Not true!
BUT I CAN'T DRAW!
That's why you need to join an art class. My art classes are structured to teach you from the very basics, starting with the drawing process. You will be taught how to measure correctly to achieve accurate proportion when drawing. This is the first problem people encounter when trying at home, or at a class which offers no tuition.
HOW MUCH IS THE WEEKLY COURSE?
Classes are currently £110 for ten consecutive weeks, then you can enrol for further weeks and we go through most of the year.
CAN I COME TO A CLASS, TO FIND OUT MORE?
Yes, I strongly suggest you come to any of the classes to find out more, talk to current members and get a feel for the class. Enjoy a cup of tea or coffee with us. Remember, virtually all the members started as absolute beginners.
IF I JOIN, THEN FIND I DON'T WANT TO CONTINUE, CAN I GET MY MONEY BACK?
No. As you can appreciate I take new members on a 'first come first served' basis. By keeping a place for you, means I cannot fill your place if you leave.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I MISS A WEEK? CAN IT BE ADDED ON THE END OF THE 10 WEEKS?
No, I cannot tack any missing weeks onto the end of the 10 weeks. But, I am always flexible, so what I offer is the following: any missing weeks you can make up by either coming to another weekly class, held at a different venue (so you might do two classes per week to make up your missing weeks). If attending the Lydiate Friday group, because there are two classes on the same day, you can come for the full day. Or, you can make up any missing weeks on the all day Saturday class, held once a month.
learn to draw and paint. members on a visit to the John Moores exhibition at the walker art gallery, Liverpool
...Members scrutinizing an art piece at the John Moores exhibition at the Walker art gallery, Liverpool.
Artist, Roy Munday
WHAT WILL I LEARN?
Most people need to start with the very basics, unless you've had previous experience, then you can probably slot in with those more experienced. I find that people with previous experience have never been taught many of the basics, especially how to draw accurately, which is necessary. Remember, the key to successful painting is drawing and the key to drawing is being able to draw accurately and in proportion. No matter how good you are with paint, unless the drawing is correct, you will always struggle to get the painting right. This is the first thing you will be taught. From a simple still-life set-up in the class, I will show you how to measure and draw it in proportion. Followed by how to turn it into a three-dimensional drawing using tone, or shading, using charcoal.
THE PAINTING PROCESS?
After about 9 weeks, you will be introduced to the painting process. Unless shown otherwise, would be artists simply apply paint as they would when decorating at home: smoothing out brush marks, putting the paint on thinly and so on. An artist works differently and I'm a great believer in exploiting the paint to its full potential.
AND YOU KEEP LEARNING. After about week 12, you will learn colour theory (how to mix colours). You will be taught how to use a palette knife to produce a painting. Once you've completed this, then you will be able to work more on your own initiative and work from your own subject. But you will still continue to learn. For example, using pen & ink. This is a very creative medium, especially when combined with watercolour, which again you will be introduced to.
