Arts

This continuation course builds on the foundational skills from Drawing and Introduction to Painting for the Terrified, deepening your understanding of drawing and painting techniques. You will refine your observational skills, explore composition, and experiment with a wider range of materials and styles. The course covers more advanced colour mixing, tonal studies, texture creation, and different approaches to painting, including layering, glazing, and expressive mark-making. By the end of the course, you will feel more confident in your artistic decisions, develop your unique style, and create a small body of work demonstrating your growth.

The course will present painting and drawing techniques in connection with art history references. Different media (such as acrylics, pastels or watercolours) will be explored in a fluid way, natural to the way an artist usually chooses to explore different subjects and themes. Ways of combining techniques through mixed-media will also be explored, and the course will emphasize the importance of choosing the right technique and materials for the desired subject and different ideas needed to be expressed. The course will present different artworks in connection with colour theory or compositional principles. A thematic discussion of artworks from art history as well as from contemporary art will help illustrate different ideas of composition or art theory. The course aims to empower students to understand the visual language of various artists and artistic movements, to understand the ideas that generated them and to help them start discovering a personal artistic style. By the end of the course students will start to create personal, original artworks and will learn to choose the medium that best suits their unique artistic expression.

Facing an empty page in your junk or art journal can be a daunting prospect, would you like to learn some creative techniques for filling those pages? Join me and together we can unlock some of the secrets of creating beautiful, thoughtful and fulfilling journal pages with creativity and meaning. This course is designed for those new to journaling, who don’t quite know where to start and more experienced enthusiasts looking to overcome ‘blank page syndrome’ and bring their journals, notebooks, altered books and memory albums to life. During the 10 weeks of this course we will explore techniques such as: • Layering and mixed media • Creating Interactive ephemera pieces • Mark making • Using stamps and stencils. Whether you want to document memories, express emotions or simply play with artistic techniques, this course will provide inspiration along with practical guidance to bring your creativity to life.

This 16-hour adult education sewing course focuses on the art of upcycling and mending clothing, blending creativity with sustainability. Over 8 two-hour sessions, students will gain confidence in both hand and machine sewing techniques. The course covers how to take measurements from existing garments to create custom patterns, alongside a variety of visible and invisible mending methods. Learn practical skills such as sashiko stitching, embroidery, patching, and darning while breathing new life into old clothes. Ideal for beginners and those with basic sewing knowledge, this course encourages mindful making, self-expression, and a more sustainable relationship with fashion.

This course is for carers, those who have cared, and the cared for. This creative craft course is ideal if you want to feel calm while developing your creativity skills. Try your hand at mindful sewing. Learn the basic skills and techniques to produce your own pieces, and explore the tools and materials needed. Take inspiration from other creators. Find ways to use art for relaxation, whether you prefer to make it or observe it.

This online single session short course has been designed for carers, former carers and those who are being cared for. Take a bit of time out of your day, to learn a simple new skill in a fun and relaxed environment. The session will take you through some simple handmade book making techniques and requires minimal materials that you will mostly have to hand in a domestic environment. Learning new skills helps to boost creativity, problem solving and reduce stress levels, and one of these short courses is ideal to help increase these skills.

Join our experienced tutor and a group of like minded crafters as we delve into the rewarding world of all things paper craft: from books in miniature to large desktop folios, and everything in between. On this creative course our aim is to build confidence as you learn new or build on your existing skills which will enable you to realise your creative potential and use up some of your stash. Each week we will explore a new paper craft technique or project which will build your skills and enable you to create unique handcrafted pieces for yourself or as gifts. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned crafter this course offers both inspiration and hands on practise along with step by step guidance from your tutor, every step of the way. This course is aimed at those new to paper crafts as well as more experienced crafters.

This introductory session will enable you to observe and capture the intricate beauty of flowers using the softness and blending potential of pencils and the boldness and definition of ink. We will practice sketching different types of flowers using a variety of techniques and then experiment with different ink techniques to create texture, contrast and depth. Ultimately, we will work on a final flower illustration to put into practice what you have learned to create an elegant and expressive artwork. This course could be suitable for beginners or intermediate artists who are interested in exploring pencil and ink as a medium.

This course introduces learners to the world of textile crafts, developing various techniques such as hand sewing, fabric painting, embroidery, and simple weaving. Learners will learn how to create unique fabric-based crafts while developing skills in working with different materials and textures. The course is perfect for those looking to further express their creativity through textiles, whether for personal enjoyment or future craft projects.

Discover the art of portrait painting with our Art Practical: Learn to Paint Portraits course. Learn techniques for capturing likeness and expression in your paintings. Ideal for artists of all levels looking to develop their portrait painting skills.