Marci Tackett –Screenprinting on fabric
The course outline was to take three patterns, create screens of them, and combine them using transparent and opaque ink, fun and messy! Then put the results into a bound book.
I decided to not only follow the course requirements but also use the opportunity to produce something that was unique for my husband's first grandchild. A fabric book, tailor-made and using the child's fathers passion of racing cars as well as incorporating my doodles, oh and my daughter wanted a screen printed t-shirt! We had four days, Friday being Easter. I had a load of fun, wore out one of the screens!
Monday – Dan Wilkinson – Life Drawing
Dan's class is always different, because the energy comes from the models he happens to get from week to week and on the students who are working on the day. Boy do we work! If you have never tried a life class it's worth it, but be prepared to sweat!
What paper? brown, white, cartridge, canvas, size A4, A3, A2 or A1?, on an easel or on your lap?, what drawing materials charcoal, pastel, lead, ink or paint? What to focus on, full body, face, feet, hands? depicted in line or light and shade, colour or black and white? Some weeks go well, some are disasters, lots of material for future work and lots of practice drawing the human body.
Wednesday – Marc Hill – Understanding Paint
I was asked by the exhibit manager of Odlins gallery to participate in a nude exhibition (paint and photography) in July and have been working towards offering her 6 or 7 pieces. So Although I have been in Marc's classes before and enjoyed his course content my focus was to complete 2-3 more nudes and utilise his great eye and suggestions of my progress.
Friday – Sarah Brock Underpainting techniques
Sarah loves doing portraits so I decided tap into that and use some photos I took of my cousins grandchildren in Australia over the holidays. Six under 5years and one on the way gave me more than enough material to use. I love the working out of composition and the tonal map using the underpainting technique, so when you start adding colour most of the hard stuff has already been done.
Sarah Brock - Painting
I enjoyed Sarah's 'make your own pastels' class so much that I tried to get into her painting block this term. The course was over subscribed so when one of the students couldn't be there Thursday and Friday I dived straight in.
I enjoyed the technique and got some good results very quickly, Thursday I followed the course and dabbled in still life. On Friday, knowing I was in Sarah's mains class, I started to set up my first portrait. Sarah is so approachable and enthusiastic, she tailors her teaching to her students requirements, we are all at different stages of our art walk and want to focus on different things and Sarah has the ability to cater to her students, but there were issues with classroom size (not big enough!) and time getting around everyone.
