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Art Trail Centre - Newsletter Issue 47 December 2011

Art with Class ©

In this issue

 

New Website

Brian's Corner

Holiday 2012

Courses & Workshops

Art4All project

Painting Day

Framing

Charity

 

The December 2011 issue of the newsletter will appear here as we will fade out the PDF and paper versions (as this page should load quicker).

New Website

The need to rewrite the new website was thrust upon us with only 10 days notice, having just returned from a working break from Venice to the U.K. to collect new material this was something we could have done without, however, as you know Brian does like a challenge - or at least that's what I tell him! We have moved most of the content across and tweaked a number of areas including all photographs, as time goes on we will develop this further. In fairness the new website platform does give us so much more scope.

You will notice we have added front page News, Workshop, Special Offer and Course boxes on the right hand side to help keep you up to date with what's on next and to hopefully catch your attention. Also there is a new video box (double click to view or click the > to start) all of which we will update periodically.

If you don't see what you want, please view the CALENDAR pages.

We have tried to consolidate the previous site to make it easier to navigate this site. Some things will be in different places but hopefully the logical approach to this will help you. If it doesn't, please do let us know.

The calendar has been colour coded to help quickly identify the different workshops we run, if you find this either helpful or not, please do let us know with any tweaks or changes we need to do to improve the site. Normally one would build and test the site over a number of months, we unfortunately did not have a choice!

The Booking form has again been tweaked and we have moved from six forms to just one. Just tick the boxes concerned (by clicking on to them), the form says 'check the boxes'. It's the same thing and we will know what you are enquiring about, whether this be a booking, enquiry, for any of our services and where the enquiry came from - advert friend etc. There is now a YELLOW security box where you just need to repeat the number shown in the box. This helps us avoid SPAMMER contact enquiries.

The Booking form - you will also note this is both different in look and the reply you will receive. You will now automatically see what you have input into the form of a 'thank you' reply email. Hopefully this will help you remember what you have booked and prevent unnecessary printing.

You will also note the map of how to find us is far more interactive and flexible for those new to us, with improved transport and accommodation direct links.

Brian's Corner

On behalf of Jill and myself we would like to wish you all a very Happy and Healthy Christmas. This term has seen some lovely workshops, beginners and experienced students alike have had fun and enjoyed personal artistic development in a number of subjects and techniques.The Tall ship project was I must say absolutely amazing, the quality of the finished paintings was very high. Maggie O'Connor one of our new students who started from ground zero said" I keep looking at it and do not believe I have painted this in my first few weeks of term" John Oliver said " I'm really chuffed - the painting was great and so much fun - thanks Jill"

The "my" project has seen some interesting subjects brought together to produce paintings many of you will no doubt frame and perhaps use as Christmas presents, as they are worthy of hanging on many a person's wall.

Charity - I make no apologies adding this section this early in the newsletter. Earlier we raised nearly £300 and the actual Poppy Cycle ride which many of you know I, along with Terri Phillips and John Brennan organised to help raise £4153+ and the event collectively did 1000 miles. I've also been working with BVSCS who have donated another £1237.If any of you still have monies to donate, please do let me know.

Chris Chope MP (middle photo) receiving his certificate of achievement from Brian. Chris laughed and said "I'm the one normally giving these".

Thank you all so much and well done to Lotte, Heather and Jill in doing their bit in the saddle.

This year we also donated £400 to the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, again to John Thornton Young Achievers, MNDA, Childline, Help the Heroes, Fortitude, & Forest Home Hospice. The pull a plane (737) at Bournemouth Airport raised £6000 between JTYA and MNDA, thank you all who sponsored Brian and the others who entered. Brian commented " that's the biggest bird I pulled!" A total of 12 teams entered, the weather was good and the atmosphere electric, it's worth visiting this event next year.

Holiday 2012

The Holiday section remains work in progress with July 2012 taking us back to the beautiful village of Brantome and some new places to visit.

For early bookings you will be able to take advantage of a very special offer. If you have been promising yourself for ages to come with us, don't leave it too late!

Courses & Workshops

We hope by upgrading the website this will make your browsing that much easier and hence rather than duplicating these on this page simply click on to the CALENDAR page. The next two terms we have Watercolour, Acrylic, Oil, Chinese Brush Art workshops and some fanastic subjects.

Ferndown Art4All Project

Well finally we can report all the murals are up.in Penny's Walk

Our thanks go to the following for their contribution to the paintings –
Lotte and Linda, Jeremy, Peter, John ,Val and Sue,  Sheila and Sally for letting us use their photos, and Sue for sitting for us!  

Plaques will be fixed near each piece to explain the relevance of each to the history of Ferndown.

Student progress

Out Door Painting day - A great success and we were so lucky with the weather

The outdoor painting day at Boveridge House was enjoyed by all  - Super weather all day, entertainment at teatime with good results all round.  We behaved so well we have been invited for another year. 

Class projects

Roses, tall ships and project work led you through 3 very different scenarios last term. 
We have seen some stunning work .
The floral techniques are visibly improving in classwork, well done.  More of this is coming up in workshop format, so look out the website calendar for new colourful springtime subjects!

The Tall ships project tutorial went excellently. Just the right amount of information, tips and demonstrations for impressive results. See left John Oliver who commented " this project was really great I really enjoyed this Jill thank you so much". Everyone went home with a painting worthy of framing and hanging on the wall and lots of you created a loose sea of your own to sail on! Excellent.

 

 

 

The 'My' Project

A taster of some of the great projects, sorry we couldn't get them all in.

The "My" project pulled together many memories and developed new ideas and styles which I hope you will call on when the need arises. Lots more instruction was given, how, when, where and why tutorials, including suggestions of different compositional ideas, with different techniques for each project. The impressive results can be seen in the studio. I can say with conviction that ALL finished paintings surpassed my expectations on this challenging project for all experience levels of student, and I know it will have led some of you across a new personal 'block' into new horizons - well done.

Workshops

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Good results again for all the workshops last term – well done. 

Never under estimate the value of these workshops -I cannot stress enough how they strengthen your brushwork techniques and understanding of so many other things including composition and colour. This is apparent to me with the regulars amongst you by witnessing your steady progress and confidence when you paint.  Learners cannot easily see their own progress as well as a tutor can.

 Winter & Spring Term

Hollyhocks in acrylics, and a wild watercolour garden of flowers still to come in January to give us lots of colour during winter, remember that you can enjoy a discount if you book three workshops at a time. Why not try out our new booking form before you get distracted with presents and turkeys - even better, buy someone a workshop as a present!

The selection of workshops after the half term in February aim to compliment the course work again to give you opportunities to put into practice techniques that are fresh in your mind. Of course workshops are also for anyone who cannot make our Course classes and wish to have some fun and go home with a finished painting.

Starting with badgers in a winter setting, do study the descriptions on each workshop because we have recently had two people tell us that they missed their favourites due to their not checking the website in time.  

The portrait workshop will cover how to choose basic portrait colours and how many application layers – a good basis for you to later try one at home from a family photo or family member!

If you have had time to watch the video clip you may be tempted to join in with our wildlife theme – the zebra clip was cut down from a 29 minute painting and the Tiger workshop will bring some hot colour into Spring.  – come and find out how to paint them with me! We will be following on with a pride of lions again taken from my own photos. The techniques you learn in these workshops will help you in so many other paintings.

The course work produced some beautiful Chinese themes.  Why not come and try painting the authentic Chinese way – it will later enhance your normal watercolour brush work too! Remember all the equipment and materials are supplied on the workshops.

With that to look forward to all I can say now is have a great Christmas break, see you soon and Sayonara…………..

Framing and Stuff!

Remember Fayrewood Frames 01202 822 329 or 07747042956

Lynn will provide you with both a good product and excellent value

with a 10% discount to all our students.

 

 

 

For maps, directions and everything else we noramlly use to show please see our website pages

 

See you all next term!

 

Jill & Brian

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