A little note to you all

 

This special tea party in June 2016 was for everyone who has ever come to a class to say a big thank you. I started off in a very small converted garage at the end of Heene Road which was freezing in winter and so windy in summer. In these early days email wasn't really up to scratch and I had to send out invites by post about what was on in class! Nevertheless it gradually grew.

 

We then  moved up the road to Heene Community Centre which was is lovely and warm! 

 

Other courses and Saturday workshops ran in Mill Road and at Angmering and for a number of summers we held our very popular annual art getaway weekends in the countryside near Arundel, until they put the venue up for sale! We also started going out at Christmas for some great Xmas bashes, the record number of 32 for one Xmas bash at the East Preston curry house was great fun. 

 

Other get togethers have included art cinema visits, gallery visits to Pallant House and any excuse to eat cake has always been popular.

 

We continued with numbers growing and declining over the years and had several years showing as a group in the Worthing Open Houses with the lovely Jonathan Nulty in Heene Terrace. We managed to survive through a recession where things became trickier but still classes went on. A number of you have attended from 2006 - which is delightful!

 

Over the years you have all produced a staggering amount of art, shown each week on the website (this is the 3rd website now). You have entered competitions off your own back, won some prizes and some have even gone on to do a degree in art.

 

For my part you have all given me so much. When I completed my teacher training at Northbrook College I then went and worked at various colleges, Northbrook, the London College of Fashion as well as teaching Skyblue classes (formerly known as Brooks Studios) Over the years I have gained the most experience with Skyblue, researching many techniques and practical approaches of how to apply paint and to how to refine techniques so that people can enjoy drawing as much as I do. We have all worked out a lot of creative things together. 

 

Teaching has also given me a  much needed 'sense of community'. Being an artist can be a solitary profession and during harder times my classes have kept me going body and soul and enabled me to develop as an artist too. Most of all your enthusiasm and willingness to give things a go has been inspirational. So 10 years on I still love teaching for all of these reasons and love getting on my bike and cycling every Thursday to see you all.

 

It is here we celebrate :)

 

Thank you all so much, 

 

x Jane

www.janedenman.com

 

 

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