Artwork installation at Camp Hill School, Nuneaton

Recently I have completed another artwork installation utilising the artwork created by the Children from Camp Hill Primary School in Nuneaton, Warwickshire.

I was commissioned to decorate the school reception corridors using the themes of identity, community, collaboration and the rights of the child.

Over 10 weekly After School Art sessions I helped a group of Children develop their ideas with the themes to create images on tracing paper that would all assemble into another stained glass effect artwork.

The slogan for the school is ‘Growing Together’ which the children voted for along other some other sentences to describe the artwork.

Each child had total freedom with their own creative ideas and produced several images that they felt represented themselves and their own surroundings.

The stained glass effect is a great method of joining individuals work together and help to connect the different thought processes.

New portrait

The past few years have been extremely busy, what with community art projects, windmills, and setting up art classes at my studio. So I haven’t really had much time and focus to concentrate on a set of art works.

My background before moving to Warwickshire was that of commercial art and graphic design, I have always regularly sketched and painted using watercolours or acrylics, but I’ve always avoided oils until now.

I made the conscious decision to transition from acrylics to oils and though that doesn’t sound very life changing, it was a huge step in my confidence. One of the reasons I suppose is that when I look back during my art college days I felt that I wasn’t good enough or worthy to convert to try oils. I did try a couple of oils paintings but I didn’t feel comfortable with it back then and found Acrylics to be more that adequate for what I needed at the time. 

I am not sure whether that was to do with all the expectations and pressures that came with my education back then, but now I do finally feel ready to explore this medium a lot more.

That all probably sounds a bit bizarre, but the process of oil painting and took me right back to basics in a great way. Taking more time and attention to values in painting and trusting the process a lot more.

So present day I have decided to do a selection of paintings in oil and the exciting thing is I am not sure which pathway the subject matter will take me other than starting with a couple of portraits that includes this one pictured.

The painting is of a good artist friend of mine called Tim. Myself, Tim and other creatives in the North Warwickshire area meet up every other Wednesday for a Sketchclub. So I decided to do some sketches, studies and photos of the creatives for part of my oil painting exploration.

I am really enjoying the process so far and I can see a lot of advantages to acrylics. Oil has a lovely richness and flow that is hard to replicate in other mediums, it also makes you have more of a sense of planning where to place your values, steadily building layers. 

What’s exciting is this new sense of learning and I will update more as and when I complete each painting.

Art Sessions for Home Education, Warwickshire

 Recently I have some new art classes sessions for Home Educators. They will take place every Thursday mornings at my art studio in the Chilvers Coton Craft Centre in Nuneaton, Warwickshire.

Like with all the Children's and Adults sessions I run, I encourage person centred creativity, embracing everyone’s own way of mark making and outlook on how they visualise the world around them.

Contact me for more information.

Here is also a link for booking options.         Book a session here.

Windmill clip at Riversley Park, Nuneaton

 

Footage of my Bamboo Windmill Sculpture which was on display at the Imagine Bamboo day last year at Riversley Park in Nuneaton, Warwickshire. The artworks that were on either side of the mill formed the community art mill where members of the local community contributed their artwork.

Special thanks to filmmaker Chris Cuthbert for the footage and a thank you to the Creative Explorers project, NBBC and fellow local Artists Tim Franklin, Spencer Jenkins and Alisha Millar who also exhibited their bamboo sculptures on the day.

Plus my daughter who was an amazing help and support on the day.

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To Book for Nuneaton Art Classes

To Book for Nottingham Art Classes

Life Drawing Session Dates

 I have finally put together a list of all the life drawing sessions that I will be hosting at the Wembrook Community Centre in Nuneaton, Warwickshire.

The sessions are on a Sunday evening once a month. It is on from 7-9pm and there will also be a longer session on the August 17th date from 4-9pm where there will be 2 models. 

All the dates are open to all beginners and improvers. Materials are provided if needed and Free parking. Tutoring is also available on request.

If you live in and around the area and would like to join in on one of our relaxing group sessions, feel free to contact me for more info and booking. 

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To Book for Nuneaton Art Classes

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A new year and a re-emergence.

Happy New year to those who celebrate this period of the festive time. It has been a while since I have posted on here and yet I have been wanting to write something on many occasions recently. One reason being extremely distracted and busy with various projects at home and also within my work involving some slight changes in direction. 

A majority of my time has been establishing the art classes that I run between Warwickshire and Nottinghamshire. The other one involves a Bamboo Windmill which I will need a lot of time to process and write about. Not only has it been a journey of learning and discovery, but a whole new way of thinking in my approaches and understanding within the relationship of how we define everything in our society. Creativity is very powerful and can be used as a gradual habitual method of learning.

All will be revealed soon on here and on the separate Windmill Blog I set up for this particular ongoing journey.

In the meantime here is the first video I have set up on my new YouTube Channel. It is a sketch I created of Baxterley Windmill in North Warwickshire which is no longer standing. 

Charlotte Morwenna very kindly wrote this poem inspired by my sketch and is also a great introduction to what I will post soon.

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To Book for Nuneaton Art Classes

To Book for Nottingham Art Classes

Art Classes and Life drawing sessions

For quite a few years now I have been facilitating and guiding many beginners and improvers on thier own creative journey. I currently hold them in both Nuneaton, Warwickshire and Sherwood in Nottingham. 

They are simply designed for people of all ages, where I try to encourage person centred learning and start their creative pathways within a friendly group environment where they can learn and share off each other without judgement or intimidation. 

A lot of people haven’t picked up a pencil since leaving school either because they were told they weren’t good enough or compared themselves to someone they thought was better. My ethos is to help people embrace their own individuality and discover their own version of mark making in a way that can help enrich confidence, wellbeing and a whole new creative outlook. 

I cover a range of themes alongside individual developments. I see myself as a guide rather than a teacher and with my experiences help you to find your own.

I also facilitate life drawing sessions currently at Wembrook Community Centre in Nuneaton, Warwickshire. These are open to all adults of all abilities and I am there on hand to guide if requested and host the evening.

All the sessions are pay as you go and you can book as and when it fits within your daily life.

Below are the links to find more info and to book a space:

Nuneaton: Adult and Children’s classes / Life drawing sessions

Nottingham: Adult classes

Other classes

I also provide separate one to one sessions / private art classes at my art studio / Art workshops.  Get in touch for more information.

Windmills and Watermills of Nuneaton and Bedworth for Sculpture commision

I am excited and proud to present weeks of historical research, designing and illustrating (still ongoing!) of the Windmills and Watermills that graced the areas of Nuneaton and Bedworth in North Warwickshire.

This is historical back up as part of a sculpture I have recently been commissioned to create for Nuneaton and Bedworth in which I will give more information on soon. Tuttle Hill Windmill was certainly not alone and this poster is the start of that journey to help breathe life back into the community of a time when artisan industries such as weaving, woodworking and blacksmithing and several other handmade methods were abundant prior to the onset of coal mining, and the age of steam during the Industrial Revolution. In short I hope to inspire and ignite a new sense of value in our community by….. ‘Blowing Creative Energy, Weaving new stories and Forging new relationships, Community and Collaboration”

For more information and updates on this project you can go to this page here:

Community Artmill Project

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To Book for Nuneaton Art Classes

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More Art Classes at my Studio Workshop

I now have an adult art class set up for a Monday daytime at my studio workshop as well as the children’s classes on a Saturday. Plus an adult art class and life drawing session at the Wembrook Community Centre in Nuneaton, Warwickshire.

Aside from that I also have the weekly Adults Art class in Sherwood, Nottingham. 

If you or anyone else you know would like to attend and you are a complete beginner or improver then message me for more details.

To Book for Nuneaton Classes

To Book for Nottingham Classes

Children’s Art Summer Workshops

I will be organising a few Children’s Art Workshops during the School summer holidays starting on the 28th July at my studio workshop, Chilvers Coton Craft Centre, Nuneaton, Warwickshire.

I have split it into two age ranges (though this is only a guide for parents or carers to decide which one is appropriate for their child.

Morning sessions: 5-7yrs, £15 for 1.5hrs.
Afternoon sessions: 8-12yrs, £20 for 2hrs.

All materials are provided. There is a cafe,
parking and toilets on the site. 

It is advised that your child wear old clothing in case of any glue or paint getting on them and bring a drink or snack for them just in case. 

Here is a timetable of what is on offer:-
28th Jul & 1st Aug - Maskmaking, 2nd & 3rd Aug - Printmaking, 17th & 18th - Model making.

To book a place for your child you can go here: Book a workshop.    

For more information and updates you can also join the Facebook group:

My new Art studio and art workshop for adults and children

My new Art studio and workshop opened yesterday at the Chilvers Coton Craft Centre in Nuneaton, Warwickshire. The day started by doing small children’s art sessions.

My aim is to combine the workshops and classes for adults and children alongside creating and building on my own artwork.

If you or your child that would like to attend one of the workshops then message me for more info. There is a booking link on the website for more info.

 

Art Classes for Adults & Children in Nuneaton, Warwickshire and Nottingham.

 Ants Art Classes Open to all beginners & improvers

In the Nottingham and Nuneaton, Warwickshire and surrounding areas.

For quite a few years now I have been hosting small art classes that are open to all complete beginners and improvers to help develop their creativity, motivation and confidence all within a friendly group setting. 

There is no set course structure but themes and prompts are used as a way for development. I am here to use my experience as a working artist to help you on your creative journey. Basic materials will be available if needed, plus tea / coffee provided.

Note: Very soon I’ll be restarting small kids art classes in Nuneaton, more details to follow soon.

Click here for a list of local art classes currently on offer

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Email: antsgreentree@gmail.com or Tel: 07962 865 453