Spring and Summer Workshops 2023- Dates Released

This is a call for expressions of interest. Courses require a minimum number of participants to run, with a maximum of between 8 and 12 places available, depnding on the course. Please contact me to provisionally book a place- payment will only be requested once the course is full. Workshops will be held in Quorn and will run from 10am until 4.00pm, with a break for lunch.

Drawing for Beginners (£65) Monday 17th April. This course is for you if you haven’t picked up a pencil since school. Work through a series of exercises which cover the basic principles of drawing (pencil, charcoal, pastel and pen and ink). All materials provided.

Acrylics for Beginners (£65) Monday 24th April. This course covers everything you need to know about working with this flexible medium. From the easy stuff like how much water to use with your paint, what surfaces you can work on and looking after your brushes. You will work through a series of exercises to guide you through colour mixing and mark making and finish the workshop off producing a study of a still life. All materials provided.

Oil Painting for Beginners (£65) Monday 15th May. Suitable for beginners. Produce a portrait using a limited palette. This exercise serves as an excellent introduction to working with oils, allowing you to concentrate on mixing tones, paint consistency and its application. All materials provided.

Gouache Resist (£65) Monday 22nd May. An interesting little-known technique with exciting results. You will produce two gouache resist paintings- one monochromatic, one colour. This technique is suitable for all skill levels. All materials are provided.

Encaustic Techniques- Working with Wax (£75) 19th June. Encaustic painting involves working with paint, pigments, and melted wax. It is an incredibly exciting process to work with and has a myriad of possibilities. In this workshop you will produce a series of experimental pieces covering the basic encaustic techniques. No previous experience of the technique is required although it helps to be confident drawing and painting. All materials provided.

Lino Printing (£65) Monday 26th June. In this workshop you will produce an A5 four colour reduction lino print. It is suitable for beginners and those wishing to revisit the technique. All materials provided.

Collagraph Printmaking (£65) Monday 3rd July. Collagraph prints are created by producing and varnishing a collaged image on a printing plate which is subsequently printed either ‘relief’ or ‘intaglio’ using a press. During this workshop you will produce a collection of monochromatic and colour prints using different collagraph techniques. It is suitable for beginners and those wishing to revisit the technique.All materials provided.

Drypoint Etching (£65) Monday 10th July. A drypoint is an etching produced by scratching into particular surfaces with tools such as etching needles- it is similar to traditional etching but without the hazard of nasty chemicals. In this workshop you will produce a series of monochromatic and colour drypoint prints by engraving into a variety of appropriate surfaces. It is suitable for beginners and those wishing to revisit the technique. All materials provided.

Experimental Techniques using Wet Media. (£65) Monday 7th August. Here you will be introduced to a series of experimental techniques using wet media such as acrylics, gouache, inks and watercolours. You will be encouraged to experimenting with surface treatment and be shown ways to expand your mark making repertoire. Suitable for those with some experience of acrylics. Some materials provided. This course is an excellent precursor to the Abstracting Landscape workshop on Tuesday 15th August.

Moving Towards Abstraction (£65) Monday 14th August. For confident drawers and painters who feel ready to explore approaches towards abstraction. You will work through a series of exercises which help you confidently move away from pure representation. Some materials provided. This course is an excellent precursor to the Abstracting Landscape workshop on Tuesday 15th August.

Abstracting Landscape (£65) Tuesday 15th August. An excellent follow up to the ‘Moving Towards Abstraction’, and ‘Experimental Techniques using Wet Media’ workshops. Put your new mark making and compositional techniques into practice on this one-day workshop. Some materials provided.

Wednesday Workshops during Spring and Summer 2022

This is a call for expressions of interest. Courses require a minimum number of participants to run, with a maximum of 8 places available. Please contact me to provisionally book a place- payment will only be requested once the course is full. Workshops will run from 10am until 4.00pm with a break for lunch. Most will take place in Quorn, with a few held in Hoby. Email info@josheppard.co.uk or call 07984 316292 to save a place.

Drawing for Beginners (£60) Wednesday 4th May This course is for you if you haven’t picked up a pencil since school. Work through a series of exercises which cover the basic principles of drawing (pencil, charcoal, pastel and pen and ink). All materials provided.

Acrylics for Beginners (£60) Wednesday 11th May This course covers everything you need to know about working with this flexible medium. From the easy stuff like how much water to use with your paint, what surfaces you can work on and looking after your brushes. You will work though a series of exercises to guide you through colour mixing and mark making and finish the workshop off producing a study of a still life. All materials provided.

Working with Wax (Encaustic) Wednesday Beginners (£70) 1st June Encaustic painting involves working with paint, pigments, and melted wax. It is an incredibly exciting process to work with and has a myriad of possibilities. In this workshop you will produce a series of experimental pieces covering the basic encaustic techniques. No previous experience of the technique is required although it helps to be confident drawing and painting. All materials provided.

Revisiting Working with Wax (Encaustic) (£50) Wednesday 8th June For those who have already completed the beginner’s course. This is an opportunity for you to work independently using the encaustic equipment in the studio with supportive advice and recaps where necessary. Some materials provided.

Oil Painting for Beginners (£60) Wednesday 15th June Suitable for beginners. Produce a portrait using a limited palette. This exercise serves as an excellent introduction to working with oils, allowing you to concentrate on mixing tones, paint consistency and its application. All materials provided.

Lino Printing (£60) Wednesday 22nd June In this workshop you will produce an A5 four colour reduction lino print. It is suitable for beginners and those wishing to revisit the technique. All materials provided.

Collagraph Printmaking (£60) Wednesday 29th June Collagraph prints are created by producing and varnishing a collaged image on a printing plate which is subsequently printed either ‘relief’ or ‘intaglio’ using a press. During this workshop you will produce a collection of monochromatic and colour prints using different collagraph techniques. It is suitable for beginners and those wishing to revisit the technique. All materials provided.

Drypoint etching (£60) Wednesday 6th July A drypoint is an etching produced by scratching into particular surfaces with tools such as etching needles- it is similar to traditional etching but without the hazard of nasty chemicals. In this workshop you will produce a series of monochromatic and colour drypoint prints by engraving into a variety of appropriate surfaces. It is suitable for beginners and those wishing to revisit the technique. All materials provided.

Gouache Resist (£60) Wednesday 13th July An interesting little-known technique with exciting results. You will produce two gouache resist paintings- one monochromatic, one colour. This technique is suitable for all skill levels All materials are provided.

Moving Towards Abstraction (£60) Wednesday 20th July (and 17th August) For confident drawers and painters who feel ready to explore approaches towards abstraction. You will work through a series of exercises which help you confidently move away from pure representation. Due to its popularity, this course is repeated on 17th August.

Abstracting Landscape (£60) Wednesday 27th July (and 24th August) For confident drawers and painters who feel ready to explore approaches towards abstraction. A suitable follow on from ‘Moving Towards Abstraction workshop’. Due to its popularity, this course is repeated on 24th August.

Experimental Techniques using Wet Media. (£60) Wednesday 3rd Aug Here you will be introduced to a series of experimental techniques using wet media such as acrylics, gouache, inks and watercolours. You will be encouraged to experimenting with surface treatment and be shown ways to expand your mark making repertoire. Suitable for those with some experience of acrylics. Some materials provided.

Working with Collage and Mixed Media. (£60) Wednesday 10th Experiment using collage with wet and dry media to expand your mark making repertoire. Suitable for those confident working with acrylics. Some materials provided.

Moving Towards Abstraction (£60) Wednesday 17th Aug (and 20th July) For confident drawers and painters who feel ready to explore approaches towards abstraction. You will work through a series of exercises which help you confidently move away from pure representation. This is a repeat of the workshop on July 20th.

Abstracting Landscape (£60) Thursday 24th August. (and 27th July) For confident drawers and painters who feel ready to explore approaches towards abstraction. A suitable follow-on from ‘Moving Towards Abstraction’, ‘Experimental Techniques using Wet Media’ or ‘Working with Collage and Mixed Media’. This is a repeat of the workshop on July 27th.

Contact Jo Sheppard for more info www.josheppard.co.uk 07984 316292 or info@josheppard.co.uk

Summer Workshops Summer 2021

I am optomistically announcing the dates of my summer workshops for 2021. This is a call for expressions of interest. Courses require a minimum number of participants to run- please contact me to provisionally book a place- payment will only be requested once course is full.

Workshops run from 9.30 to 4.00 with a break for lunch. Venues in Quorn and Hoby (Leicestershire).

Drawing and painting for beginners (£50) Tues 22nd June. Quorn This course is for you if you haven’t picked up a pencil since school! Work through a series of wet and dry media covering the basic principles of drawing and painting. All materials provided.

Working with Wax (Encaustic) Beginners (£60) Mon 28th June. Hoby Produce a series of experimental pieces in this introduction into encaustic techniques. No previous experience required. All materials provided.

Working with Wax (Encaustic) Improvers (£60) Tues 29th June. Hoby For those who have completed the beginners course. There will be a recap and plenty of time for you to word independently. Most materials provided.

Working with Wax (Encaustic) Experienced (£50) Wed 30th June. Hoby For those who have completed the beginners and improvers course. This is an opportunity for you to work independently using the encaustic equipment in the studio with supportive advice and recaps where necessary. Some materials provided.

Working with Cold Wax and Oils (£80) Monday 5th July. Quorn Suitable for beginners. Course fee includes a sufficient cold wax medium and odourless mineral spirit for the workshop. Some other materials provided.

Oil Painting for Beginners (£50) Tuesday 6th July. Quorn Suitable for beginners and improvers. Produce a portrait using a limited palette. All materials provided.

Lino Printing (£50) Monday 2nd August. Quorn Produce and A6 monochromatic lino print and an A5 colour reduction lino print. Suitable for those with little or no experience. All materials provided.

Collagraph Printmaking (£50) Tuesday 3rd August. Quorn Produce a collection of monochromatic and colour prints using collagraph techniques. Suitable for those with little or no experience. All materials provided.

Drypoint etching (£50) Wednesday 4th August. Quorn Etching without the hazard of nasty chemicals. Produce a series of monochromatic and colour drypoint prints by engraving into a variety of surfaces. Suitable for those with little or no previous experience. All materials provided.

Gouache Resist (£50) Monday 9th August. Quorn An interesting little known technique with exciting results. You will produce two gouache resist paintings- one monochromatic, one colour. This technique is suitable for all skill levels, and all materials are provided.

Moving Towards Abstraction (£50) Tuesday 17th August. Quorn For confident drawers and painters who feel ready to explore approaches towards abstraction. Some materials provided.

Experimental Acrylic and Mixed Media Techniques (£50) Wed 18th August. (Quorn). Experiment with surface treatment and expand your mark making repertoire. Suitable for those with some experience of acrylics. Some materials provided.

Abstract Landscape (£50) Thursday 19th August. Quorn For confident drawers and painters who feel ready to explore approaches towards abstraction. A possible follow on from ‘Moving Towards Abstraction workshop’ or the ‘Experimental Acrylic and Mixed Media Techniques’. Some materials provided.

Contact me on 07984 316292 or info@josheppard.co.uk to reserve your place.

 

A new venture- Zoom Evening Classes

Over the last few months I have been delivering Zoom art classes to my regular art groups- it has worked surprising well. In a couple of weeks we hope to start meeting face to face again but I’d quite like to continue delivering Zoom sessions, so have decided to start an evening class.

The classes will run on Wednesdays from 7 to 9.30

It will cost £10 a week and you can pay-as-you-go. Payment can be either cash (if you live locally- drop it through my door), cheque or bank transfer

I intend to start the classes on 12th May

The subjects covered will be general painting, drawing, collage etc.- we will look at different techniques /artists/ theories etc.

If anyone would like to join in but is unfamiliar with zoom, Id be happy to have a quick one-to-one with you to cover the basics. Its really not as scary as you would think

Please let me know if you or anyone you know may be interested, or if you would like to find out more

A selection of feedback from May 2021

'Jo's zoom sessions really keep you on track. Learnt so much about colour and technique and had a lot of fun - really enjoying them '. – Judi Y

‘During lockdown, Jo's zoom sessions have proved a stimulus to creativity. They have provided a chance to share and compare picture making with others, so that even as we are on our own at work, we have been encouraged to develop fresh approaches and to experiment with new techniques.’ – Diana C

‘Fantastic sessions … Jo constantly inspires and introduces new ways of working and ideas in her lessons so it was a real loss when we couldn’t meet physically. The Zoom sessions though work really well … easy to see demo from Jo and what others in the class are doing, whilst chatting – not having to cart big bags of paints and materials about is an added advantage. Will definitely continue to participate in Zoom sessions even when we can meet in person.‘ – Rachel F

‘The Zoom sessions have been much more successful than I anticipated. Not only can you still get one to one advice but you also benefit from hearing and seeing what everyone else is doing too. It is very sociable and you don’t need to worry about forgetting those vital materials or equipment because you are at home. Zoom is easy to use and everyone seemed to get the hang of it quickly. Jo is a great teacher. Highly recommended.’ – Kathy I

'Zoom sessions started in Lockdown, from necessity rather than choice. But they worked remarkably well. We could all see Jo's demonstrations without crowding round or craning our necks, we never realized that we'd left something at home which was needed, and we all had access to chat to Jo and each other and to ask for help or advice. And we still showed the rest of the class what we had been doing at the end of the session. Clearing up could be done afterwards. Definitely worth doing and stress-free.' – Jackie R

'Jo is a fantastic teacher. I have learnt so much from attending Jo's classes, both in the virtual and actual classes. Jo makes the classes fun and provides supportive feedback and lots of encouragement. The lessons encompass a wide range of topics and approaches, but there is always the option to use preferred materials and paint in your own style, or even to do something completely different!'' – Mo C

'You don’t need a fully equipped studio to participate in Jo’s Zoom classes, just enough space to balance a pad, a pallet & a jar of water. She is a very creative tutor & very relaxed about how you interpret the weeks theme. The classes are a lovely mindful 2 1/2 hours of creativity. Highly recommended.'' – Diane H

'I’ve loved Jo’s zooms. Jo always gives plenty of advanced information about subjects and materials so you can research and prepare when you need to. She chooses a wide range of interesting tasks that serve to build up knowledge and skills and suit all levels of ability. It’s been great to see how Jo and other members respond to the tasks. The huge range of outputs is very inspiring and you learn a lot from each other. You can ask for help at any time during the session and Jo will advise on how best to proceed if you are stuck or unsure. You soon bond with other zoomers and everyone is very supportive.'' - Helen E

'I’ve really enjoyed Zoom classes with Jo. It’s fun and we get great advice and ideas. I always look forward to the weekly sessions.'' – Karam R

'Just to let you know how much I have enjoyed the Zoom sessions. I have found them very enjoyable keeping up with everyone, and even doing some research and practice in the week.'' – Daphne T

 

Feedback

Feedback for workshops and teaching can be found on the 'Further Information' page .

Here is the workshop programme for summer 2020 workshops.

*** NB Due to the Covid-19 pandemic these workshops have been put on hold. Dates will be rearranged once things start to return back to 'normal'. In the meantime please do let me know if you would like a place reserving. ***

I will be running a suite of workshops over the summer from my studio in Loughborough. Each workshop runs from 9.30 to 4.00 with a break for lunch.

This is a call for expressions of interest. Courses require a minimum number of participants to run- payment will only be requested once course is full. Contact me on 07984 316292 or info@josheppard.co.uk to provisionally book a place.

Drawing and painting for beginners (£45) Wed 2nd June This course is for you if you haven’t picked up a pencil since school! Work through a series of wet and dry media covering the basic principles of drawing and painting. All materials provided.

Working with Wax (Encaustic) Beginners (£50) Mon 22nd June Produce a series of experimental pieces in this introduction into encaustic techniques. No previous experience required. All materials provided.

Working with Wax (Encaustic) Improvers (£50) Tues 23rd June For those who have completed the beginners course. There will be a recap and plenty of time for you to word independently. Most materials provided.

Working with Wax (Encaustic) Experienced (£40) Wed 24th June For those who have completed the beginners and improvers course. This is an opportunity for you to work independently using the encaustic equipment in the studio with supportive advice and recaps where necessary. Some materials provided.

Working with Cold Wax and Oils (£50) Tues 30th June Suitable for beginners. Looking at landscapes. All materials provided.

Oil Painting for Beginners (£45) Wed 1st July Suitable for beginners and improvers. Produce a portrait using a limited palette. All materials provided.

Lino Printing (£45) Wed 8th July Produce and A6 monochromatic lino print and an A5 colour reduction lino print. Suitable for those with little or no experience. All materials provided

Collagraph Printmaking (£45) Tues 21st July. Produce a collection of monochromatic and colour prints using collagraph techniques. Suitable for those with little or no experience. All materials provided

Drypoint etching (£45) Wed 22nd July Produce a series of monochromatic and colour prints drypoint by etching into a variety of surfaces. Suitable for those with little or no previous experience. All materials provided

Gouache Resist (£40) Monday 27th July An interesting little known technique with exciting results. You will produce two gouache resist paintings- one monochromatic, one colour. This technique is suitable for all skill levels, and all materials are provided.

Moving Towards Abstraction (£40) Wed 5th August For confident drawers and painters who feel ready to explore approaches towards abstraction. Some materials provided.

Experimental Acrylic and Mixed Media Techniques (£45) Tues 12th August Experiment with surface treatment and expand your mark making repertoire. Suitable for those with some experience of acrylics. Some materials provided.

Mixed-media landscapes (£45) Monday 17th August Suitable for those with some experience of acrylics. Ideal as a continuation of ‘Moving Towards abstraction’ and the ‘Experimental Acrylics’ workshop. Some materials provided.

Mixed-media Still Life (£45) Tuesday 18th August Suitable for those with some experience of drawing and painting. Ideal as a continuation of ‘Moving Towards abstraction’ and the ‘Experimental Acrylics’ workshop. Some materials provided.

 

Here is the workshop programme for August 2019 workshops.

Call for expressions of interest. Please book early to avoid disapointment.

The venues are to be confirmed, but all workshops will be in the Loughborough/Quorn area. Each workshop will run from 9.30 to 4.00 with a break for lunch. Courses require a minimum number of participants to run- please contact me to provisionally book a place- payment will only be requested once course is full.

Drypoint etching (£45) Thurs 1st August. Produce a series of monochromatic and colour prints drypoint by etching into a variety of surfaces. Suitable for those with little or no previous experience. All materials provided.

FULL Working with Wax (Encaustic) Beginners FULL (£50) Mon 5th August Produce a series of experimental pieces in this introduction into encaustic techniques. No previous experience required. All materials provided.

Working with Wax (Encaustic) Improvers (£50) Tues 6th August For those who have completed the beginners course. There will be a recap and plenty of time for you to work independently. Most materials provided.

Working with Wax (Encaustic) Beginners (£50) Wed 7th August Produce a series of experimental pieces in this introduction into encaustic techniques. No previous experience required. All materials provided.

Moving Towards Abstraction (£40) Mon 12th August For confident drawers and painters who feel ready to explore approaches towards abstraction. Some materials provided.

Experimental Acrylic and Mixed Media Techniques (£45) Tues 13th August Experiment with surface treatment and expand your mark making repertoire. Suitable for those with some experience of acrylics. Some materials provided.

Mixed-media landscapes (£45) Wed 14th August Suitable for those with some experience of acrylics. Ideal as a continuation of ‘Moving Towards abstraction’ and the ‘Experimental Acrylics’ workshop. Some materials provided.

Mixed-media Still Life (£45) Thurs 15th August Suitable for those with some experience of drawing and painting. Ideal as a continuation of ‘Moving Towards abstraction’ and the ‘Experimental Acrylics’ workshop. Some materials provided.

 

Its that time of year! Here is the programme for July 2019 workshops...

Call for expressions of interest.

Over the summer months I will be running a suite of workshops. The venues are to be confirmed, but all workshops will be in the Loughborough/Quorn area. Each workshop will run from 9.30 to 4.00 with a break for lunch. Courses require a minimum number of participants to run- please contact me to provisionally book a place- payment will only be requested once course is full.

The July courses are as follows, with August workshops to be posted in due course.

Drawing and painting for beginners (£45) Wed 10th July This course is for you if you haven’t picked up a pencil since school! Work through a series of wet and dry media covering the basic principles of drawing and painting. All materials provided.

Gouache Resist (£40) Wed 17th July An interesting little known technique with exciting results. You will produce two gouache resist paintings- one monochromatic, one colour. This technique is suitable for all skill levels, and all materials are provided.

Oil Painting for Beginners (£45) Wed 24th July Suitable for beginners and improvers. Produce a portrait or landscape using a limited palette. All materials provided.

Collagraph Printmaking (£45) Tues 30th July. Produce a collection of monochromatic and colour prints using collagraph techniques. Suitable for those with little or no experience. All materials provided.

Lino Printing (£45) Wed 31st July Produce and A6 monochromatic lino print and an A5 colour reduction lino print. Suitable for those with little or no experience. All materials provided.

Contact me for more info through www.josheppard.co.uk or info@josheppard.co.uk

 

Quorn Art Group- Summer 2018 Workshops

All workshops will run from 9.30 to 4.00 with a break for lunch. Venue tbc but all workshops will be in the Loughborough/Quorn area. This is a call for expressions of interest. Courses require a minimum number of participants to run- please contact me to provisionally book a place- payment will only be requested once course is full.

Collagraph Printmaking (£45) Tues 31st July. Produce a series of monochromatic and colour prints using both the relief and intaglio method. Suitable for those with no experience or those wishing to develop previously learnt skills. All materials included.

Lino Printing (£45) Wed 1st August. Produce a series of monochromatic and colour reduction lino prints. Suitable for those with no experience or those wishing to develop previously learnt skills. All materials provided.

Drypoint etching (£45) Thurs 2nd August. Produce a series of drypoint etchings using different materials. Suitable for those with little or no experience. All materials provided.

Working with Wax (Encaustic) Beginners (£50) Tues 7th August. Introduction to the basic principles of working with wax and a variety of other media. The course is designed for those with no previous experience. All materials provided.

Working with Wax (Encaustic) Improvers (£50) Wed 8th August. Ideal for those who have completed the beginners course. All materials provided.

Drawing for beginners (£40) Tues 14th August. This course is for you if you haven’t picked up a pencil since school! Explore a variety of media and refresh those skills through a series of rewarding exercises in a supportive and friendly environment. All materials provided.

Acrylic Painting for Beginners (£50) Wed 15th August. Introduction to the basic principles or working with acrylics. The course is designed for those who consider themselves beginners. You will experiment with mark making and work towards producing a still life painting. All materials provided.

Experimental Acrylic Mixed Media Techniques (£45) Tues 21st August This course is suitable for those familiar with acrylics and interested in developing their skills further. The course encourages you to experiment with a variety of unusual techniques and materials and will widen your mark making repertoire. Some materials provided.

Moving Towards Abstraction (£40) Wed 22nd August. Exploring various approaches to abstraction, there will be several practical exercises leading to the production of a small final piece. It is appropriate for all media. Some materials provided.

Mixed Media Landscapes (£40) Thurs 23rd August Suitable for those with some experience of acrylics. Ideal for those who have completed the Experimental Acrylic Mixed Media Techniques or Moving Towards Abstraction. Some materials provided.

Contact Jo Sheppard for more info through the website www.josheppard.co.uk, 07984 316292 or info@josheppard.co.uk

 

Quorn Art Group- Summer 2017 Workshops

This July and August I will be running a suite of creative workshops which will be split between my studio in Loughborough and in the village of Quorn, Leicestershire. Most workshops will run from 9.30 to 4.00 with a break for lunch. Costs will vary from course to course depending on the materials provided. Please do let me know if you would like a place to be reserved (no obligation). Once I know the course is viable I will forward the booking/payment details to enable you to book your place.

Lino Printing (£40) Tuesday 25thJuly. Storer Road, Loughborough. 9.30 to 4.00. Produce a series of A5 four coloured reduction lino prints. Suitable for those with no experience or those wishing to develop previously learnt skills. All materials provided.

Collagraph Printmaking (£40) Sunday 30th July. Storer Road, Loughborough. 9.30 to 4.00. Produce a series of monochromatic and colour prints using both the relief and intaglio method. Suitable for those with no experience or those wishing to develop previously learnt skills. All materials included

Experimental Acrylic Mixed Media Techniques (£35) Thursday 3rd August. Storer Road, Loughborough. 9.30 to 4.00pm. This course is suitable for those confident working with in this medium but who are interested in developing their skills further. The course encourages you to experiment with a variety of unusual techniques and materials and will widen your mark making repertoire.

Mixed-media Landscapes (£35) Friday 4th August. Storer Road, Loughborough. 9.30 to 4.00pm. Suitable for those with some experience of acrylics, this course builds upon experimental techniques, such as those covered in the ‘Experimental Acrylic Mixed Media Techniques’. Some materials provided.

Drawing for Beginners (£35) Tuesday 8th August. Storer Road, Loughborough. 9.30 to 4.00. This course is for you if you haven’t picked up a pencil since school. Explore a variety of media and refresh skills through a series of exercises in a supportive and friendly environment. All materials provided.

Acrylic Painting for Beginners (£40) Thursday 10th August. Storer Road, Loughborough. 9.30 to 4.00pm. Covers the basic principles of working with acrylics. The course is designed for those who consider themselves beginners. You will experiment with mark making and work towards producing a still life study. All materials provided.

Life Drawing for Beginners (£40) Tuesday 15th August. Allen House, Meeting Street, Quorn. 10.00am to 3.00pm. For those confident drawing but with little/no experience of life drawing. Materials provided.

Life Drawing (£45) Thursday 17th August. Allen House, Meeting Street, Quorn. 10am to 4.00pm. Suitable for those with some experience of life drawing.

Working with Wax (Encaustic) Beginners (£45) Monday 21st August. Allen House, Meeting Street, Quorn. 9.30 to 4.00pm. Introduction to the basic principles of working with wax and a variety of other media. The course is designed for those with no previous experience. All materials provided.

Working with Wax (Encaustic) Improvers (£45) Tuesday 22nd August. Allen House, Meeting Street, Quorn. 9.30 to 4.00pm. Ideal for those who have completed the beginners course. Work towards producing a finished piece using wax with a variety of media. All materials provided.

 

Quorn Art Group- Summer 2016 Workshops

This August I will be running a suite of creative workshops in the village of Quorn, Leicestershire. Workshops will run from 9.30 to 4.00 with a break for lunch. Costs will vary from course to course depending on the materials provided. Please do let me know if you would like a place to be reserved (no obligation). Once I know the course is viable I will forward the booking/payment details to enable you to book your place.

Lino Printing Tuesday 2nd August Introduction to lino printing Produce a series of monochromatic and four colour reduction lino prints. Suitable for those with no experience or those wishing to develop previously learnt skills. Most materials included.

Collagraph printmaking. Wednesday 3rd August Introduction to collagraph print making Produce a series of monochromatic and colour prints using both the relief and intaglio method. Suitable for those with no experience or those wishing to develop previously learnt skills. All materials included

Encaustic workshop. Thursday 4th August Introduction to the basic principles of working with wax and a variety of other media. The course is designed for those with no previous experience. Most materials included.

Drawing for complete beginners. Monday 15th August This course is for you if you haven't picked up a pencil since school. Explore a variety of media and refresh those skills through a series of rewarding exercises in a supportive and friendly environment.

Acrylic Painting for Beginners. Tuesday 16th August Introduction to the basic principles or working with acrylics. The course is designed for who consider themselves beginners. You will experiment with mark making and work towards producing a still life painting

Exploring Acrylics- semi abstracted landscapes. Wednesday 17th August This course is suitable for those confident working with in this medium but who are interested in developing their skills further. The course encourages you to experiment with a variety of unusual techniques and materials and will widen your mark making repertoire.

 

Adult Education

Since qualifying as a secondary school teacher (PGCE) in 1996, I have gained a broad and varied experience of teaching. I left full time education to start a family in 2000 and have since been self-employed as an artist, tutor and workshop leader.

I currently deliver a number of weekly adult education classes. On Tuesday evenings (Autumn and Spring term) I tutor the ‘Drawing and Painting’ class for Loughborough University. This class is open to staff, students and the community and places can be booked via the university website.

On Thursday mornings I run the Quorn Art Group (Allen House, Quorn), and on Friday mornings I take the Hoby Art Group (Hoby Village Hall, near Melton Mowbray). The groups follow a series of dynamic 10 week programmes, but it’s very informal and learners can pick and choose which sessions to follow if they have something else they are working on. The groups are encouraged to explore works from the great masters, along with work from lesser-known artists; and participants are often able to choose to work in whichever medium they prefer, whilst being introduced to different techniques along the way. It’s a very learner-based approach: relaxed and creative, all aimed at encouraging people to develop their own creative style. For more information, please do contact me. 

Student Comments:

“Over the last ten years, I have done many art classes in Leicester and Melton Mowbray. I find Jo’s classes refreshing because she pushes our boundaries. She always has lots of innovative ideas and encourages us all to find our own way of expressing and interpreting art. I have friends who say “I am no good at art, so I don’t want to have a go”. They are missing the point, because art is supposed to be fun, not a competition with others to see who is best. Art is a very personal thing and the most important thing is that it should be enjoyed.” Diana Patterson, Hoby Art Group (2015)

“Relaxed doesn't mean comfort zone painting at Hoby Art Group. Somehow, Jo, while always keeping us aware and practicing the fundamental observational skills, provides ideas, suggestions and techniques which encourage each of us to develop our own creativity. The stimulus for a session is a starting point we share but we all end up with very individual pieces of work. Her guidance is gentle and light hearted, the group reflects this by being open-minded and encouraging towards one another. Although I have now moved some distance away I find it still worthwhile to travel 45 mins to remain part of this friendly crowd.” Diana Corps, Hoby Art Group (2015).

Enquire about adult education classes.


Workshops and Schools

Creative workshops provide an excellent opportunity for people of all ages to experience the arts, develop social and cultural awareness, and enhance personal wellbeing. Over the years I have delivered a wide variety of workshops for adults, children, community, open air cultural events and groups as wide ranging from Brownies to mental health service users.

Familiar with working within the school environment, I have an appreciation of curriculum requirements and workshops can be tailored to individual needs and to support the various Key Stages. Typically, sessions start with an introduction covering relevant personal work and/or examples, and continue with practical demonstrations – which then lead on to personal development in a creative, informal and enriching atmosphere.

Examples of workshops delivered include: printmaking (monoprint, intaglio, collagraph and other relief printing); Gyotaku (Japanese fish printing); expressive portraiture; drawing, painting and soft sculpture. Subjects covered range widely, such as : Pop Art, Hundertwasser; abstract still life; fossils (painting, printmaking, clay and plaster); Artist talks; paint and print with RE (Christianity and Sikhism); minibeasts; card making; Alfred Wallis; mixed media with pen and ink; Fauvism; gouache resist; metamorphosis; illuminated lettering; tie dye, experimental acrylics and wax workshops.

I am available for half or full day workshops or shorter mini-sessions, so please do contact me if you would like to ask any questions, discuss ideas or book a workshop.

Public Liability, Insurance certificate, DBS certificate and full CV available upon request.