Northamptonshire Art Group

Working on an A4 canvas, we will follow a demonstrated step-by-step approach to painting a landscape. An image will be provided. Experimenting with a full range of techniques including dry brush work, blending, sgraffito and negative painting will result in you achieving a painting that can go on the wall without a frame.

More experienced painters can use their own image and will receive help with cropping for a dynamic composition, together with advice and assistance as the work progresses.

This is a 2 half-day course, of 6 hours tuition. The small group makes more personal tuition time available.

WHAT IS INCLUDED?

• Acrylic paints
• A4 canvas
• A range of brushes and palette
• Coffee, tea and biscuits

WHAT TO BRING

• A small notebook and pencil
• Soft rags for wiping brushes… cut up old T shirts work well
• An apron, or wear old clothes

DATES AND TIMES
Monday 10th and Tuesday 11th November 2025
10am - 1pm

COST
£75

On this six-week evening course, you will have the opportunity to build confidence in tackling both drawing, painting and pursue the development of your own ideas inspired by our theme.

This will be a skills-based course, improving your drawing, meaningful mark making and use of colour, whilst providing hints and tips on a personalised level, enabling you to progress at your own pace. This course does not offer step by step instruction to the group. The priority is to support personal creative development, resulting in wide ranging responses to the theme.

The theme for this course is ‘Energy’, providing a prompt to our creative activities.

• The energy industries provide a wide range of stimulus, from pylons across our landscape to cooling towers, factories and wind turbines. Their associated politics can certainly create interesting conceptual ideas for your work.
• Sport is concerned with how energy is deployed to get the best results, whilst the western world in general seems keen to save our physical energy with technology stepping in to give us more free time.
• The natural world has endless examples of energy: storms, seas, volcanos, earthquakes and on a much smaller level, the energy needed to make seeds, algae, fungus and all manner of life thrive. The heat from the sun and pull of the moon are ever present.

There are no preconceptions regarding the outcomes you choose to make. You are entirely free to choose your own path of enquiry. Looking at work by a range of artists will help to increase your awareness of the possible varied and personal response routes. It is advisable to carry out some of your own research before week one, including drawing and photography.

The following will form part of our reference and may help you to establish some initial ideas. These are only a starting point - you are encouraged to research and select your own stimulus and artists inspiration.

• Utagawa Kuniyoshi sea images, e.g. ‘Nichiren conjures the Waves at Kakuda.’
• Sally Cole, contemporary painter making dramatic depictions of landscapes with expressive use of colour and light, painted with vigour.
• Sybil Andrews, designed bold lino cuts with depictions of turbulence, energy and movement.
• Henry Moore’s drawings of coal miners expending physical energy in tiny spaces.

Why do we draw? Drawing underpins the work of many artists and designers and can improve observational skills, enable visualisation and the development of perceptions and ideas. Through drawing we can explore and use the building blocks we need to make art: composition, tone, colour, shape and line.

‘You Can Draw’, will inspire you to develop personal project work and build your confidence in drawing for a variety of purposes over the duration of the course. As you feel able, you will be encouraged to diversify your media and approach.

Once enrolled you will be sent some pre-release information with suggested preparation you might wish to undertake and a breakdown of the sessions. Your experienced tutor, Cathy Burnett will cater for individuals, with personal support and guidance built into each session. You will be helped to personalise your work and approach in ways which best suit your own experience and aspirations.

For those who are regular attendees, we will continue to explore new avenues of inspiration, rooted firmly in an understanding of formal elements. This class attracts returning students; and as a supportive group we are always fascinated to see how everyone’s work develops so differently.

WHO IS THE COURSE AIMED AT?
The course is designed for those who want to improve their drawing, painting and general art ability through the development of an art project. You may be returning as a regular member, or revisiting art after a break, or just feel you want to try something new and creative. It makes an ideal follow on for those who have already completed ‘Drawing for the Terrified’ or any other type of beginners class, although this is not a prerequisite for joining. Cathy will enable you to make progress whatever your experience, though the course is not designed with beginners in mind. An open-minded approach will enable you to gain most from the sessions.

Unlock the secrets of watercolour techniques with award-winning local artist Samantha Brockway.

On this six-week introductory course, Sam will share her enthusiasm and love of this medium by introducing you to simple and effective techniques so you can tackle your watercolour painting with confidence. This course is also suitable for those who’ve attended any of Sam’s previous watercolour courses, as you will be able to have a choice of subject matter.

You will explore paint effects and methods to build texture, learn how to deal with mistakes and which brush to use before tackling composition and how to plan your painting.

We will look at master artists David Hockney and Van Gogh, examining their mark making techniques in their watercolour sketches. This course will also cover the basics such as:

• paper stretching
• creating washes
• colour mixing
• maintaining vibrancy with your colours
• development of brush techniques and effects.

By the end of this course, you will have completed a minimum of 2 pieces of work. The first will be following a step-by-step process, thereafter working from a selection of images provided (multiple subject matter) or you can bring in your own to work from.

WHO IS THE COURSE AIMED AT?
From beginners to those who already have experience with watercolours, this course offers something for everyone. Join us to enjoy the subtle and mysterious world of watercolours!

In this workshop you will make a collage based on still life arrangements using painted, found and vintage papers.

Taking inspiration from still life arrangements and still life and collage references we will explore the following:

• drawing
• composition
• colour
• value
• negative space
• abstraction versus representation

We will spend some time making experimental, loose drawings from still life arrangements and then learn how to start planning and arranging a composition. We will then move on to creating a final collage using torn and cut papers and looking at layering, contrast, background and main elements vs details.

There is no right or wrong way to make a collage and this course will be about play, exploration and having fun. At the end of the day you will leave with your own individual still life collage.

“Relaxed, thoughtful and stimulating workshop. I really enjoyed learning and developing my art with Emma”
— Flora

WHAT TO BRING AND WHAT IS INCLUDED

• All materials are provided, just bring an apron/old shirt
• Bring a packed lunch if required

WHO IS THE COURSE SUITABLE FOR?
16+ years
Suitable for beginners and for those who already have some experience of collage.

“I love Emma’s style of teaching, I am thrilled at how much I have achieved in these workshops”
— Richard

DATES AND TIMES
Sunday 30th November
10:00-16:00