Skyblue Art Classes

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Subjects for holidays

Apr 25, 2019
1 min

Subjects for holidays

Coming up in May drop in classes; we focus on painting and drawing buildings. Scenes that you might see on holiday. Do you have some photos of your holiday that were of colourful buildings that you loved? Perhaps you are going somewhere that is colourful? If so great! Take some photos. In these drop in classes I will show you how to create strong, effective compositions using the photos provided. Editing from photos can be tricky but there are ways and we delve into how to ac

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Skyblue June Day out

Mar 21, 2019
1 min

Skyblue June Day out

Over the years we have enjoyed summer days out as a group. It all started when we used to get together for a painting weekend up near Arundel, sadly the owners moved on and we lost our fabulous location. For the last couple of years we have been taking a day out to a few Sussex gardens; Borde Hill, Sussex Prairies Garden and this year we thought we would like to visit Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens. We usually take a fold up chair and a few paints with us to sit and enjoy bein

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Thanks for coming along

Mar 14, 2019
1 min

Thanks for coming along

Some of you may know that I recently was busy with exhibitions and it was lovely to see Skyblue people at Colonnade House, in Worthing. I was only there for certain days. It was a super opportunity to show my latest work there and I always love meeting everyone as this social time balances out the long hours I put in at the easel. Some of you also joined in with my Facebook page online 'Prize Draw' with 2 out of 4 of you winning a print of my Tiny Paintings, pictured here is

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Drawing with purpose

Jan 10, 2019
1 min

Drawing with purpose

Over the coming months we will start to link our drawings with paintings and vice versa. How can drawings be linked to paintings? We will investigate this in classes to see that drawings become very useful for paintings Drawings are lovely in their own right, there is a restful quality to drawing from life, perhaps from flowers or as we did this week. If you are just starting out then most people I find, feel comfortable with doing a pencil drawing as it seems the most famili

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A mini project

Nov 1, 2018
1 min

A mini project

Heene Community Centre are holding their Christmas Fayre on 1 December weekend. They have asked us if we would each like to donate a creative piece for their Christmas Raffle. The idea is to paint on a mini canvas. These tiny canvases are obtainable in Hobbycraft or online, they vary in size but we are looking at 10cm, so like a miniature. The theme is a 'Dog Portrait' in acrylic. Get your tiny brushes out and take part in this last project for 2018. You must also be willing

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How are your Skills?

Oct 25, 2018
1 min

How are your Skills?

Creating classes full of tips and inspiration to improve knowledge and skill about painting and drawing is what I love to do. I have devised a mini questionnaire that I am handing out in class to see where you are at and what you would like to learn. All you have to do is fill it in and hand back to me so that new classes can be designed specifically with you in mind. A rolling deadline but by end of 2018 classes would be great Jane #skills #painting #learning #2018 #2019 #be

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Ipad/iPhone editing photos

Sep 20, 2018
1 min

Ipad/iPhone editing photos

In class we are getting used to using a variety of computer aids; iPads, iPhones or other tablets such as Android and Google. We use them as a visual resource and to carry around our class photos to work from. There is so much you can do once you have taken a photo and the video below from the SyncSisters on YouTube demonstrates how you can change your photo, crop it, put it into black and white and lots of other things. Don't forget to save it! Do this before you load it in

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Back to Painting

Sep 6, 2018
2 min

Back to Painting

Hope you all had a lovely summer break, it certainly has been very hot for a long time and even painting has seemed tricky at times. Trying to paint in the heat has been testing, plenty of water is needed and some shade. We had a lovely Skyblue summer trip at the end of August at Prairies Gardens. It is such an easy and beautiful garden to go to in late summer and we even had a super talk about the making of the garden by owner Pauline McBride. Needless to say we made great u

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Painting Clouds in acrylics

Jul 19, 2018
1 min

Painting Clouds in acrylics

For our last class before we break for August we take a look at painting clouds using acrylic paints. There are a variety of methods out on YouTube you might like to take a look at, below I have linked to a rather energetic but informative Aussie from YouTube! In order to paint clouds it is essential to know the shape of clouds - take some photos! You may have an idea of a cloud shape but this will not necessarily be true to life. Between now and next week take some snaps on

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Another App for acrylics

Jul 5, 2018
1 min

Another App for acrylics

We are developing skills, working from photos and using apps to convert photos ready for painting. "Brushstrokes' is one that is ideal for acrylic painting. Look for it on the website or the app shop on your phone. This video from YouTube by Joel Aarons is a good introduction on how to use the app with your own photos #app #acrylics #painting #photos

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Do you take photos?

Jun 21, 2018
1 min

Do you take photos?

Using photographs to paint from is second best to sitting in front of the scene and painting. However, this is not always possible and taking a photo is a great solution. So in class we will explore what makes a great photograph. You may be wondering why this is relevant. Inspiration and great reference materials make up a good part of a painting. If you have a photograph of poor quality, no immediate interest then sit down to paint it then you really have your work cut out.

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Try an App for painting

Jun 7, 2018
1 min

Try an App for painting

Ever considered using one of the painting apps that you may have seen advertised? A long while back we tried out one in particular - 'Waterlogue'. It may feel like cheating but to use it as an aid for a while is perfectly acceptable and although it is not perfect it can give you visual tips as mentioned below Waterlogue App for iPhone and Ipad Pros: helps you edit a photograph and see the lights and darks (key elements for a strong painting), keeps colours to a minimum stoppi

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What do you want to paint?

Jun 3, 2018
1 min

What do you want to paint?

As summer slowly takes up a pace we turn to painting from photographs and eventually from your own photos. Summer is a great time to get going with lots of new ideas, colours and have fun with paint. If you are looking for some super images we will be referring to a particular site where you can browse and download them. The site is called 'Pixabay' and there are some stunning photos to look at, so for a sneak preview take a look now. More details will be posted for you for

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See my new paintings

Apr 26, 2018
1 min

See my new paintings

When I am not holding classes and teaching I am painting! It is my passion and this year I have 3 exhibitions in Brighton but the first kicks off in May. Each year in spring, I am busy getting paintings finished for a 4 weekend exhibition in Brighton. I have done this for many years now (nearly 20) and it is always great fun. Along with 6 other artists (Frances owner of the house and fantastic ceramicist) plus Roy, my partner who is exhibiting his large scale light paintings

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Sip and Paint anyone?

Apr 23, 2018
1 min

Sip and Paint anyone?

I have been asked whether or not we would be running a sip and paint class! For those that are not familiar with this it is basically an art class with bring your own tipple! A relaxing class, aided by your own glass of wine or beer, on a summers night :) To see how this has been taking off globally check out the BBC article here We now have a date for our first Sip and Paint class, 20 July at Heene Community Centre. I have enquired whether we could have a spot in the garden

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Setting up shop

Feb 8, 2018
1 min

Setting up shop

A while back I was contacted to see if I knew anyone who would be interested in taking up a space at the Lido, near Worthing Pier to put up some of their paintings and have a little shop. Congratulations to Lynne, Lindsay and Jade who now have their paintings up on the wall and are open for business. Hope it goes well for you all and we will all pop in I am sure :) #worthing #painting #exhibiting #Skyblue

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Watercolour Raffle

Feb 1, 2018
1 min

Watercolour Raffle

We need to raise about £50 for the frame for the large group 'Tropical Bird Project' . It has taken us all a couple of years, with lots of gaps to complete the painting and we have a new home for it at Heene Community Centre. Buy strips of raffle tickets from me at class, £2 a strip and you could win a set (there are two sets) of 3 watercolours, an artist pencil and some super watercolour paper priced at over £20! Proceeds will go to buy the frame for the Skyblue Tropical Bir

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Congratulations

Dec 7, 2017
1 min

Congratulations

Congratulations to Richard who was approached to do a painting commission for a Xmas present. The painting will be presented to the sailor who was on this superb yacht (which then sunk!) He was flown out to complete the round the world yacht race and this painting was for him to show the yacht in its full glory. Richard has done a tremendous job, put in so many hours and it looks beautiful. Thanks to him for bringing it in to show us before it goes off to his client - well do

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Xmas Show invite

Nov 30, 2017
1 min

Xmas Show invite

I will be exhibiting my large works on paper, one of which is 'Quests' pictured here, at the Christmas Open Workshop exhibition and sale of contemporary crafts. I am not too sure when I will be there over the weekend but hope to see you. SATURDAY 9TH DEC 10-5PM SUNDAY 10TH DEC 10-4PM Mettle Studios and Wood Design Workshops Roundstone Bypass, Angmering BN16 4BD (Going east by the Roundstone Roundabout) Lots of Christmas cards, gifts and mince pies! Hope you can make it alon

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Stride Exhibition, Chichester

Sep 21, 2017
1 min

Stride Exhibition, Chichester

At the beginning of September I posted details on the Skyblue Website about the 'Stride' Exhibition in Chichester asking for entries and we already have a successful submission by Jemima. Congratulations go to Jemima for entering her two paintings, pictured here, that have both been accepted to this exhibition. With lots of cash prizes being awarded we wish Jemima lots of luck. The exhibition runs 10th – 22nd October. Prizegiving and artists’ private view takes place 6 – 8pm

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