Collection: Adult Art Classes

Adult classes

Term 3 2022 is a 10 week term 

 Thursday and Friday mornings, 9.30am to 11.30am

Pay for a term or pay casually 

Term Rate is $300

Casual rate is $40 per class

You can start at any time during the term and pay on a pro rata basis.

Fees must be paid before the first class if paying by the block or term. I encourage students to pay by the term as paying up front encourages you to attend.

I try to make the schedule as flexible as possible as I know life is busy and  "stuff" happens. You can come on any days and make up classes within the term. Classes cannot be carried over into other terms.

Class Structure

Back to basics and drawing and painting.

This course introduces the elements and principles of art, whilst exploring a range of materials. The course will give you the confidence to draw and paint, whether you are a beginner or need a little push to get going again. I encourage all students to take this course, even if you have had previous lessons elsewhere, just in case you missed something the first time round. However if you have had lots of experience and want to learn a new technique or need help with your own work then that's possible too.

Extension Painting

After completing the basic drawing and painting course I offer an extension course which helps you gain confidence with your painting and really practice what you have learned. This course builds on the skills learnt during basic drawing and painting.

Exploring creativity

A more experimental course which explores line, marks, composition, shape, texture layering, image release, working in series with new approaches and techniques.

Personal Practice

Students can pursue their own art practice in class. Learning new techniques in painting, drawing, mixed media, image transfer, print making, watercolour, acrylic and encaustic. Please contact me to discuss your expectations and desired outcome. Classes are suitable for all abilities.

Alternate times may be possible, just let me know.

Most materials are included in the class fee.

Classes are relaxed, friendly, inclusive and a little therapy is thrown in too. Adult classes follow the school term and don't take place during school holidays. 

You can join the class at any time during the term.

Amazing Artists

I have been running kids holiday art workshops for many years. Each workshop has a theme which is usually a famous artist or art movement. I have covered around 60 famous artists over the years. The kids learn a little about art history and create their own art inspired by the theme artist using the techniques employed by them. The work the kids have produced has been fantastic and many of my adult students have said I wish I could do what the kids do. So now is your chance. This class will run just like the kid’s workshops. I'll introduce an artist, talk about their inspiration, motivation and working practice. You will learn how to work just like them. You will make art inspired by some the world’s most famous artists. You will learn new techniques and gain an insight into art history without the text book. You will learn a lot and have fun.

Watercolour and mindfulness

This class will be a watercolour basics course. I teach you about paper, paint, glazing, mixing, composition plus the elements and principles of art

Watercolour is an ideal medium to introduce a conscious practice of mindfulness into your creative process. Mindfulness practice and creativity are perfect partners. This course will help you find a restful space in your creativity by prompting a present approach

Principles of Art

I ran Principles of Art in 2021. Several students requested help with composition and principles. Art can be seen in elements and principles. Elements are like the building blocks of art and there are loosely 6 elements, value, line, colour, texture, shape, and space. My children's classes would focus on an element per term so that the kids would get a good understanding of an element. It is of course impossible to teach an element in isolation however I would try to make the chosen element the hero of an exercise. I sometimes wonder if my adult students would benefit from the elements programmes I devised. They certainly would be fun. So Principles are a bit more slippery than elements they are the ideas that make artwork. They are the ideas that help us decide where things go. They make art " work". 

 Composition isn't technically a principle but it is something that students often struggle to understand so I included it in my principles course. While I was putting the course together I realised that many of the ideas I just knew how to use by instinct and of course, you can't teach instinct. Saying "it just works that way" isn't very helpful or instructive and would result in blank looks and bafflement.

The principles are balance, contrast, emphasis, movement, pattern, rhythm, and unity/variety, plus composition. Each week I have an exercise that explores a principle. The exercises are designed to clarify a principle and show it in practice. By the conclusion of the course, students had a much clearer understanding.