For our final lesson in the Beginners Birds Drawing Course we painted these glorious goldfinches using Derwent Inktense Blocks. Quite a difficult medium to master I think but a lot of fun. Thanks to everyone who has attended this term and well done on producing such great work every week no matter what challenges I threw at you.
No definite dates for future face to face classes at the moment but there are plenty of tutorials available on my Patreon page and remember you can sign up for a free trial using the following link:
This week we tried something a bit different and did some timed drawings of Blue Tits ranging from 15 minutes to 30 seconds, followed by a longer drawing. This helps to train us into making quick decisions about the most important aspects of the drawing. Soft pastel was perfect for making quick marks and smudges of colour. Great work everyone! Well done.
Below are some of this week’s pictures and you can see more on our Instagram page at: @leedsartgroup.
This week we drew these beautiful bullfinches using oil pastel. We focused a lot on colour mixing especially in the background and the grey feathers of the bird, only using black where we really needed it. Great work everyone!
Below are some of this week’s pictures and you can see more on our Instagram page at: @leedsartgroup.
We have a week off next week for the bank holiday but I’ll see you back in class on Monday 13th May.
This week it was the Heron’s turn to be our subject. We all got very messy with bits of magazine collage and glue. Worth all the mess though as it’s a really effective technique and quite engrossing to do. If we’d had a bit more time we could have added some more detail and tone with black biro. You can always finish them later at home. Hope you all enjoyed it.
A much less messy technique next week but lots of colour!
Below are some of this week’s pictures and you can see more on our Instagram page at: @leedsartgroup.
There are few British birds that allow use to use such bright blues when drawing them. So big thanks to the Kingfishers for letting us use our blues and oranges! We used soft pastels to create these vibrant colours. A very smudgy, messy process but definitely worth it for such great effects. Keep up the good work everyone. More mess next week!
Below are some of this week’s pictures and you can see more on our Instagram page at: @leedsartgroup.
Great to be back in class after our little break and a brilliant start to this term’s course. We began the course with Starlings and used holographic scraper board. We scratched through to reveal the colours underneath to suggest the iridescent feathers of the bird – and don’t they look fabulous! A great start to the course everyone, well done.
Below are some of this week’s pictures and you can see more on our Instagram page at: @leedsartgroup.
I will be running the following courses from Monday 8th April 2024. These classes are open to anyone over 18 years of age. Scroll down for further information on each course. The closing date for payments is Tuesday2nd April 2024.
Beginners Birds Drawing Course – face to face
“Inspired 5” – Online Beginners Art Course (via Zoom)
All classes will be taught by myself, Wendy Atton B A (Hons). If you would like to view my work please visit my website at http://www.wendyatton.co.uk or my instagram page @wendyatton_artist. Please note that places cannot be reserved without full payment and all fees are non-refundable in part or in full.
The online courses only are free to any NHS employees as a thank you for just being wonderful. Just send me a photo of your staff card when you book.
If you have any questions or would like to book a place please get in touch by either email:leedsartgroup@yahoo.co.uk or telephone: 07788 871286. Payment can be made by bank transfer or cheque. If you already have my online payment details please use the correct reference when booking and please drop me an email when you have paid so that I can confirm receipt and book you on the correct class.
Face to Face courses
Mondays
Beginners Birds Drawing Course – face to face
Headingley Parish Hall, St Michael’s Road, Headingley, LS6 3AW.
Start date: Monday 8th April 2024 – this course will run for 6 lessons over 7 weeks (no lesson 6th May).
Price: £60
In this course we will use images of the birds we see around the UK as inspiration for drawings and paintings. Each week we will focus on a different bird and use different media. We will explore a range of materials and techniques and use a series of simple steps to build up a picture. This course is designed for beginners and is ideal for anyone with a love of birds or who would like to improve their drawing/painting skills whilst experimenting with a variety of materials.
All materials will be provided during the lessons.
This course is designed for beginners but would also be suitable for all abilities.
Online Course
Tuesdays
“Inspired” 5: Online Beginners Art Course – Via Zoom
6.30pm – 7.00pm (Ref: INS5)
Start date: Tuesday 9th April 2024 – this course will run for 5 lessons over 6 weeks (no lesson 7th May)
Price: £25
In this course we will look at other works of art and use them as inspiration for our own artwork creations. This may mean recreating all or part of a picture or simply using it as reference for our own ideas and interpretation. This course is designed for beginners but would be suitable for all abilities.
Materials
The course will explore a range of different media including watercolour, oil pastel, charcoal, etc. Alternative media suggestions will be given for each lesson, so if you don’t have the specific materials used in the example, you will still be able to have a go at the tasks. The bare minimum you will need for the course is a pencil and something to create colour. A full list of materials used in the lessons will be included in the booking details.
Please note: you do not need to have completed any of the previous “Inspired” courses in order to join this course. All courses are stand alone courses.
This week was the final lesson in the “Beginners Portraiture Course 1” and a chance to draw from life! Thank you to our life model Charlie who did a great job and to all our volunteers who stepped in to do a spot of life modelling too! Brilliant drawings everyone, a great finish to the course!
Below are some of this week’s pictures and you can see more on our Instagram page at: @leedsartgroup.
Courses will be starting again in April. So watch this space for more information – coming soon!
I will be holding the following “Draw Along” sessions via Zoom. Both these Draw Alongs use the same materials (see below).
DAFFODIL
Date: Wednesday 20th March 2024
Evening session: 6pm – 7.30pm Payment ref: DAFF
Subject: “Daffodil”.
Price per session: £7
Closing date for payments: Monday 18th March 2024
HARE
Date: Wednesday 27th March 2024
Evening session: 6pm – 7.30pm Payment ref: HARE
Subject: “Hare”.
Price per session: £7
Closing date for payments: Monday 25th March 2024
Materials needed:
A4 grey/mid-tone pastel paper/card (if you don’t have pastel paper, the grey/brown side of a cereal packet will work – that’s what I’ll be using during the lesson).
Soft pastels (NOT oil pastels – they work very differently) – I’ll be using a set of 24 Inscribe pastels.
HB pencil, putty rubber/kneadable eraser. Also, a cloth to clean your hands might be useful.
Blending tools such as a paper stump, tortillion or cotton bud may also be useful.
A charcoal pencil/black pastel pencil/dark graphite pencil would be useful for the “Hare” Draw Along.
If anyone needs any advice on materials please get in touch.
The camera will give a view of my hands throughout the sessions so you will be able to see my picture taking shape whilst creating your own at the same time.
Please contact me if you would like to book a place so I can send you the booking details. Payment can be made by bank transfer or cheque. If you already have my online payment details please use the correct reference when paying. Payments for both sessions can be made as a single total payment but please indicate this either in the reference or by email. Please drop me an email when you have paid so that I can confirm receipt and book you on the correct session.
I will email the Zoom meeting link to everyone after the relevant closing date along with the image to draw from. The image can be printed out if you wish or you can display it in a window on your screen during the session.
If you have any questions or would like to book a place please get in touch. If you no longer wish to receive these emails please reply to this email with the subject heading “Unsubscribe”.
In the “Beginners Portraiture Course 1” this week we finally got to put everything together in a complete face with the added difficulty of drawing children. Children’s faces have slightly different proportions to adults so there was a lot to think about. More challenges to come next week but you are all doing great. Well done.
Below are some of this week’s pictures and you can see more on our Instagram page at: @leedsartgroup.
Leeds Art Group 