Adult Classes at The Art Train

Adult Classes at The Art Train

I have been teaching adult classes on a weekly basis since 2010. The programme has developed over time. I have been in too many art classes where the tutor’s ego gets the better of them. Tutors can sometimes be vague and obtuse. I could never work out if they had some secret knowledge, they didn’t know what they were talking about, were too hungover or just didn’t think you worthy. It was all a bit baffling. So, I don’t want my students to feel confused and I’m certainly not worried about you making work like me. You aren’t me. I aim to be completely transparent in my teaching. I do not claim to know everything, but I will tell you everything that I have picked up along the way. I teach many things which I was never told at art college.

Here’s a few philosophies of mine…

I want my students to succeed. I will tell you everything I know.

Drawing isn’t easy, and neither is painting. But that doesn’t mean you can’t learn how. Most adult students start classes with the statement “I can’t draw”. You can, it’s just nobody showed you how.

 The naturally gifted are few and far between and just because you can’t pick up a pencil and make a realistic drawing immediately doesn’t mean you won’t ever be able to.

Another thing… realism isn’t everything.

Visual arts are complex activities, so you need to learn how in bite sized pieces. You can’t possibly learn how in one lesson. It takes time and work. I want to see you get better.

It’s a marathon not a sprint.

Drawing and painting isn’t relaxing. It’s difficult, it takes work. But the effort is well rewarded.

You need to be brave, you need to let go, you need to give yourself permission to have a go. What you end up with on the page might not be what you intended but that’s often the best work you will do.

Let go of your prejudice and fear and find your creative spark.