Name: Add WOW to Your Paintings!
Price: 25 GBP
Availability: InStock

back room art

London

I have had an interest in Art for most of my adult life and having never studied it at school I was nervous of taking up any classes so late in life. However, by chance whilst trying to find local art classes I happened to stumble upon Back Room Art and I sent an enquiring email. From the very first communication Heather put me immediately at ease and gave me the confidence to go to my first class. I joined a wonderful group of people. Heather works well to ensure we are all included in the lessons, working at our own pace and with projects and materials we feel comfortable to use. Heather’s inspiration, openness and motivation have given me a confidence in doing something I never felt capable of doing. Our works are encouraged and praised and Heather’s communication with everyone is brilliant to ensure we all get something out of it. She listens carefully to our aspirations and helps us to achieve them with advice, suggestions and with realistic goals. The facilities we work in are relaxed, friendly and well stocked with all the artistic materials you could wish for, giving me a chance to use resources I would not generally have tried out at home on my own. Coming to this class has given me so much more than just the opportunity to create art; it has opened my eyes to art I would not normally have looked for, expanding my horizons and opportunities. It is the one thing on a Monday that I do look forward to." Teresa "I had no idea where to start after enjoying Art at school but never holding a paintbrush again until I started working with Heather. Her work is vibrant and it is clear she demonstrates her passion for all types of art in her teaching. I didn't want to be told what to do in an adult Art class, but I know much more about perspective and abstract technique than I ever did." Sarah "I so look forward to my Tuesday evenings- a time to just let go and enjoy creating - perfect to de stress amongst great company with a lovely laid back vibe and fab cuppa tea! " Abigail "Drawing stick people was my trademark, but drawing with Back Room Art I started to draw real looking faces....Never thought I could do this." Sean "I liked painting the flowers, and had a laugh at my finished piece. Heather just says have a go once she teaches us some techniques and she says if we go wrong, it's not working, it's artistic license. The beauty of painting is that you can always paint over it."

sheffield contributing school

Sheffield is a rural, contributing primary school with a decile rating of 9. The roll is stable, and has ranged from around 85 - 110 pupils over recent years. There are 5 classes, and the teachers are supported by support staff. The school is situated 60 kilometres west of Christchurch, nestled among the foothills of the Southern Alps. Lakes, rivers, ski-fields, national parks, Christchurch and countless other recreational activities are less than 30 minutes away. The school grounds are extensive. Ongoing landscaping and property initiatives have developed further native bush areas and places for the students to work and play. The school buildings comprise five traditional open plan classrooms. A library, an administration area, learning support room, an adventure playground, a sandpit, and a new resource building complete the permanent fixtures. The school is well resourced in all curriculum areas. Particular emphasis in recent times has been the development of high quality ICT equipment. Each classroom has access to a television, a large number of laptops and iPads and a learning management system. Special needs assistance has been built into the school budget. Teacher aides and part-time teachers work with individuals and groups of children for short blocks of time, sometimes withdrawing children, other times working within class programmes. A number of children have ongoing resourcing for individual special needs and have part-time teacher or teacher aide assistance funded by the Ministry. Teachers implement programmes which extend and challenge children of all abilities.Support services attend the school regularly. These include the Public Health Nurse, Resource Teacher of Learning and Behaviour, Speech Language Therapist and other specialists. The school P.E.A.K. values are at the heart of everything we do at Sheffield School. As a result, relationships between students, staff, board and parents are positive and the school enjoys fantastic support from the Sheffield community. The Board of Trustees and PTA are very proactive, supporting a wide range of initiatives which benefit the students. Parents are involved in many aspect of the programme including PTA, fundraising, sport, camps, transport, classroom programmes, library and options programmes. The children are a pleasure to teach. They are well supported from home and come to school keen to learn. There are very few behaviour problems in classrooms or in the playground and bullying is not tolerated. Children’s interests are broad and include athletics, swimming, tennis, cricket, netball, rugby, soccer, hockey and basketball. Keas, Scouts and Guides are operating in the area. There are many cultural activities available including a dance school, speech and drama clubs, gymnastics, art classes and various music tutors. Sheffield School maintains close ties with the other schools in the Malvern district, coming together regularly for sporting and cultural events. The school has recently participated in ICTPD project, as part of the Malvern cluster of schools. ICTPD (Information and Communication Technology) is a Ministry of Education funded initiative, which offers exceptional professional development opportunities to those involved.

alison burchert.

Essex

Encouraged as a small child by an artistic mother, I always sketched family members and pets, being able to capture a good likeness. From school through to college, my ability to draw became apparent and was recognised throughout my home town of Colchester in Essex. I had taken to pastels after years of painting in watercolour. The transition happened when working on a portrait….. "With watercolours I couldn't keep the smooth texture of the skin and the more I worked at it, the rougher the 'skin' got. Frustrated, I picked up a box of pastels that I'd had from college and almost closed my eyes as I chalked over the face I'd been working on for hours, cringing with the fear of having to throw the whole picture in the bin…. I smudged it over with my finger. The result was amazingly smooth and definitely 'skin' like. I put away the watercolours and invested in many shades of quality pastels". In 1997 and keen to enter into the art world, I offered my services to organisations to produce promotional portraits which came with good media coverage and helped my business catapult within its first year. I was introduced to various artists and teachers and was offered a place to work alongside Royal portrait artist Richard Stone who had admired my work through the local press. In 2003 I took up teaching art within local clubs and private classes, holding exhibitions and encouraging 11 to 16 year olds to develop their artistic talents with workshops using different mediums. From 2008, I had the immense pleasure of working with Colchester Zoo in Essex when I became their Artist in Residence. From holding art classes in the Zoo and working with children during the school holidays to portray their favourite animals, one of my greatest adventures was to work closely with the Zoo's great managerial team on their 'Stand Tall' project for their 50th anniversary. This saw many local artists give up their time to design and create personal works of art on 2.5m giraffe sculptures. These were then displayed around Colchester and even took a tour to London's South Bank before they came back to the Zoo for auction. It was with much excitement to see one of my giraffes (Big Catrina) sell to the highest bidder at £6800. Developing very unique drawing skills, I have helped students from all over the world with many varying art abilities to accomplish their artistic dreams. With a limited palette of chalks, and a vast experience in pastel application, my teaching took me to places I hadn't even dreamed of. Constantly moving forward and learning new ways to pass on my skills, I would say that teaching students of all ages is in my blood now. It has become a passion to show others the beauty of this versatile medium.

the shackleford centre

Godalming

Shackleford Village Hall started life as the Shackleford Institute, built in 1893 as ‘a private charitable club for the purposes of reading and recreation for its members …’. The Hall was opened by Lord Midleton of Peper Harow, who became its first president. The original brick-built Victorian building includes an open vaulted hall, with a stage and ‘Green Room’ and catering facilities. The building incorporates a self-contained cottage. In 1974 a Social Club was added but in 1995 a fire destroyed part of the building. It was rebuilt maintaining its Victorian features and with improved facilities. The main hall is named Pilkington Hall after a long-serving president and benefactor. In the early 2000’s the Social Club and the Hall were being used less and less and in particular the Social Club was no longer attracting sufficient interest to justify the running costs. The Hall was in daytime use as Acorns Nursery, but with minimal activity in the evenings and at weekends. In 2009, the constitution was revised and modernised, and the members agreed to transfer the assets to a newly formed charitable company limited by guarantee. The original objectives of ‘The improving of the conditions of life of the inhabitants of the Parish of Shackleford…’ are preserved in the current Memorandum and Articles. At the same time a decision was made to close the Social Club and relocate Acorns to the refurbished area previously used by the Social Club. This had the dual advantage of giving Acorns a dedicated space, allowing them to develop a permanent setting, and freeing the Hall for daytime use by other groups. The nursery now operates independently and the area occupied by the nursery is named the Brigstocke Room, in recognition of services to Shackleford and the locality by Sandy and Diana Brigstocke. The Cottage was also refurbished and established as a separate entity to the Hall and is now rented independently of the rest of the Centre. This restructuring of the constitution, and revised operation of the Centre, generated sufficient income to begin improving the facilities leading to more regular use of the Pilkington Hall, which is now widely used for a range of activities and the Centre benefits from an active program of continuous improvement. The Centre is in regular use by Acorns Nursery, St. Mary’s School, various clubs and classes, and residents of the surrounding area. We welcome new groups and look forward to seeing you. Quilting has been underway at the Hall for many years as can be seen in the picture above. The quilters meet every Friday and welcome new members. The Village Hall makes an excellent venue for clubs, classes, presentations and meetings and has full catering facilities for events of all kinds. Conveniently situated a few minutes off the A3 just south of Guildford in the Surrey Hills, an area of outstanding natural beauty, Shackleford Village Hall has all the charm of a traditional village hall but with modern facilities providing a warm and comfortable venue for a wide range of clubs, classes and events including Yoga, Pilates, Art Classes, Quilting and more. The hall is located close to the parish church of St. Mary’s, with easy access and ample parking.

t'ai chi ch'uan center

In Memoriam - Grandmaster Chen Yun Ching 1939 - 2022 The Rochester Tai Chi Chuan Center and the Rochester Ling Yun Pai wish to express their heartfelt condolences to the Family of GM Chen Yun Ching, and to the Chen Pan Ling World Family. His instruction and experience in the Chen Pan Ling Legacy that he passed on to us will always be treasured, and continued. Chen Pan-ling T'ai Chi Ch'uan Long Form The Chen Pan-ling style of T'ai Chi Ch'uan is a composite of the Yang, Wu, and Chen styles. It was developed by a World War II era committee of top martial artists commissioned by the Chinese Nationalist Government. Chiefly promoted by Chen Pan-ling, this style has been recognized with his name. This style of T'ai Chi has borrowed several elements from other styles making it a more energetic form by utilizing a greater range of motion of the body. It promotes health and relaxation, as well as the connections that make T'ai Chi an internal martial art. The Chen Pan-ling style 99 posture long form is suitable for all student levels. Chen Pan-ling Legacy Arts Shaolin empty hand forms, Core Bagua, and Hsing-I drills are covered. Warm up exercises include Chinese traditional health exercises and stretches, and Qigong. This class is for those of Intermediate to Advanced level and ability. Grandmaster William C.C. Chen Yang Style 60 Posture Form Grandmaster William C.C. Chen has been described as a teacher's teacher. Quiet, gentle, and supportive, he is none-the-less knowledgeable and perceptive in his teachings and evaluation on what people need. Grandmaster Chen's 60 movement form is based on the Yang style. It provides people with the necessary motions and movements to allow them to experience the relaxed aspects of T'ai Chi Ch'uan as well as the connections that make T'ai Chi a powerful art. Classes are arranged to accommodate the beginner, (the first 20 movements), and the more advanced practitioner, (the complete 60 movement form). Grandmaster William C.C. Chen FUNdamental Principles & Postures This class will focus on the fundamental principles of T'ai Chi by repetitive practice of individual postures. T’ai Chi Ch'uan forms consist of a sequence of various postures regardless of the style. The postures were developed to teach different martial applications based upon fundamental principles of T'ai Chi. The principles taught will follow the William C.C. Chen method and cover the postures included in the William C.C. Chen short form. Emphasis will be placed on performing postures from both the left and right (mirror image). The class is open to beginning and advanced students. Grandmaster William C.C. Chen’s exploring T”ai Chi Ch’uan from the inside out. Grandmaster William C.C. Chen is constantly refining and thinking about better ways to convey his ideas about T'ai Chi Ch'uan. We will be exploring beyond basic body mechanics, to a better understanding of the internal feelings of making a shape. Looking inward, internal energy, staying rooted, the role of fingers and toes, and so much more! Grandmaster William C.C. Chen Yang Style Long Form - 132 postures The Yang Style Long Form is a direct descendant of the soft style Tai Chi form developed by Yang Chengfu (1883 - 1936), who trained Professor Cheng Man-Ching (1902 - 1975), who in turn trained Grandmaster William C. C. Chen (1933 - ). The Yang-style traces its roots to Yang Luchan (1799 - 1872). If you have completed Master Chen’s 1-60 Form and are looking to expand it, this is the next step. Cheng Hsin Mini set - Postures and Principles This is an introduction to Peter Ralston’s 7 posture points and 5 principles using his 12 posture mini set. The mini set is actually 24 postures as it is practiced in both the original and mirror image orientations. Cheng Hsin Pushing Hands This is a class in the application of T'ai Chi Ch'uan in a non-threatening manner. Two people work together to explore the movements which help the body, mind, and spirit, as well as gain insight into the martial aspect of T'ai Chi Ch'uan. Students of either T'ai Chi styles are welcome to this class. It is insightful when the two styles meet. Sun T'ai Chi Ch'uan The Traditional Sun style long form as passed down to us by Tim Cartmell, taught to him by Sun Lu Tang’s daughter, Sun Jian Yun. Taiji for Meditation - Da Liu's Modified Yang Form We will use Master Da Liu’s modified Yang style Taijiquan Form with its gentle flowing movements, deep breathing and relaxed awareness, to quiet the body and mind, to reduce distraction, and to balance inner and outer awareness. Principles will also be covered to refine the Form and develop the internal aspects. The Form will be a vehicle for “mindfulness in motion” in order to achieve a calm meditative spirit, good health, and longevity. Warm up exercises include stretches, Qigong. This class suitable for all student levels. Balance and Leg Strength Training In this class we will work to improve our balance and leg strength, by using static and dynamic postures, and short sequences, drawn from some of the Qigong, Taijiquan, and Kuo Shu sets that have long been a part of our curriculum at the Rochester Tai Chi Chuan Center. Whether you want to improve your Internal Arts practice, or just want to age gracefully and prevent falls, this class is for Intermediate level and ability, but is open to all. Qigong An ongoing relaxation course, this is a Qigong workout for healing (sitting, standing and movement meditation for health and well-being). The goal is to sample methods to build into your daily health practices. Liangong RTCCC has used the 18 exercises of Series 1 of the Liangong health system for many years as a warm-up during tai chi classes. This class combines refinement of the Series 1 exercises with exploration of the additional exercises in Liangong Series 2 and 3. Proper form, the specific Liangong breathing technique, the coordination of movement and breathing, and the development of ‘internal stretch’ will be emphasized. T’ai Chi Principles We use the Simplified Taiji 24 posture Form and our Four/Eight Direction Form, to work on classic principles as defined by T'ai Chi classic writings. This course is for those of Intermediate level and a good pre-cursor to push hands and a prerequisite for long forms. Workshops The Center also offers regular workshops with many renowned instructors in the pursuit of excellence in the art of T'ai Chi and other internal arts.

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