WEA courses

Unlock the vibrant world of acrylic painting in our one-day workshop, "Paint an Expressive Landscape with Acrylic," held at the Springbourne Library. This immersive course is designed for beginners and enthusiasts alike, providing a comprehensive introduction to the techniques and principles of landscape painting using acrylics. During this enriching day, you will delve into the expressive potential of acrylics, learning to capture the essence and mood of a landscape through colour, texture, and composition. Guided by an experienced artist instructor, you will explore various painting techniques, from bold brushwork to subtle blending, to create dynamic and evocative landscapes.

To introduce students to the art of drawing in a relaxed and supportive environment. Following on from Creative Painting Q00014040, this course takes students further into the basics of sketching and then drawing to produce convincing and vivid images. It provides step by step instructions on positioning the use of line, light and shade and proportion as well as drawing techniques such as pencil and charcoal. The course is suitable for both beginners as well as experienced students. The course will provide you with an understanding of the methods, materials and concepts required to create both ‘correctly’ and expressively drawn pictures.

Are you looking for a relaxing hobby to help you unwind? Creating moments of calm in the day is essential for our emotional well-being and mental health. Step into the world of mindful crafts with this course and enjoy art for relaxation. This creativity course allows you to explore your art and craft skills to find practices that soothe you. Whether you enjoy drawing, painting, origami, or craft-making, art courses can help you find a relaxing hobby.

Learning about Abstract Art is a fascinating and rewarding topic; it tracks an evolving story looking at different ages, from 19th Century innovators such as JMW Turner, through to Impressionism, Cubism, Futurism and Modernism in general, right up to the 21st Century. This course will also introduce you to some lesser- known female artists who have been formerly neglected by the art establishment. Inspired by these examples, shown at the beginning of each lesson in an interactive visual presentation, we will develop skills in a range of drawing and painting media, including drawing inks, chalk and oil pastels, watercolour, acrylic, collage and mixed media. This course is for complete beginners and those looking to improve their skills and develop their own style. Please note that this is a 3-session course running on: Wed 17/07/2024, Wed 24/07/2024, and Wed 31/07/2024.

Learning about Abstract Landscape Art is a fascinating and rewarding topic; it tracks an evolving story looking at different ages, from 19th Century innovators such as JMW Turner, through to Impressionism, Cubism, Futurism and Modernism in general, right up to the 21st Century. This course will also introduce you to some lesser- known female artists who have been formerly neglected by the art establishment. Inspired by these examples, shown at the beginning of each lesson in an interactive visual presentation, we will develop skills in a range of drawing and painting media, including drawing inks, chalk and oil pastels, watercolour, acrylic, collage and mixed media. This course is for complete beginners and those looking to improve their skills and develop their own style. Please note that this is a 3-session course running on: Wed 17/07/2024, Wed 24/07/2024, and Wed 31/07/2024.

Learning to draw is a precious skill that encourages mindfulness and creativity. A quote from the late artist Paula Rego: ‘Sketches always have more vitality than paintings because you're finding things out through doing them.’ Inspired by historical and contemporary artists, this course will build your confidence and expertise in a range of media including pencil, charcoal, pen and ink, using cartridge and mid toned pastel paper. Our topic will be still life – learning to see and analyse real objects is the best teacher for developing your own drawing style. Suitable for beginners and those wishing to develop their skills. Please note that this is a 3-session course running on: Wed 17/07/2024, Wed 24/07/2024, and Wed 31/07/2024.

Learn to Draw and Paint Animals in Watercolour and Mixed Media Unleash your creativity and connect with nature's beauty in our one-day course, "Learn to Draw and Paint Animals in Watercolour and Mixed Media," hosted at the welcoming Springbourne Library and facilitated by The WEA (Workers' Educational Association). This inspiring workshop invites participants to explore the vibrant world of animal artistry through watercolour and mixed media techniques. Throughout the course, you'll be guided through the process of capturing the essence and character of animals in your artwork. With expert instruction, you'll learn to use line, tone, texture, and colour to bring your chosen animal portrait to life in a unique and expressive way.

This course is an introduction to ways of viewing paintings made in Europe in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. The course that uses a selected number of paintings to provide a basis for the beginnings of an appreciation and understanding of some of the seminal ideas in aesthetics and philosophy of the period. The selection will encourage a focus on the paintings with specific themes and attentions; from the early use of artificial perspective and proportions to involvement in a world that represents the complexity of thought with feelings The course will include a study of selected works by Giotto and Masaccio, Jan van Eyck. and Rogier van der Weyden, Piero della Francesca and Sandro Botticelli, Andrea Mantegna and Giovanni Bellini.

This course is designed for learners who would like to develop their own individual style and direction when exploring portrait skills. Starting with the anatomy of the head, you will be guided through the basic steps and techniques when studying a character. Using Photography, you will then go on to learn about directing and how to confidently capture a head and shoulder portrait. This could then be used to either draw from or manipulate, using mixed media, for example painting onto its surface or collaging.

This course in art appreciation provides close attentions to particular works of art from two important artists, Leonardo da Vinci and Albrecht Dürer, working in Europe in the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries. The focus will be upon specific paintings, drawings and prints in relation to their concept of beauty. The course will present a range of work by both artists and each week will select one work for a Close View and detailed attention. Particular attentions will be given to Dürer’s painting in Venice and to his woodcuts and engravings; to Leonardo’s drawings and to his work in Milan.