Unfortunately this course has now been cancelled.
Course Description: Beginners- Advanced
Maximum Capacity: 12
Course Description:
In this course we will be drawing on the iPad a repeating pattern of seashells in isolated layers for transferring to seperate colour silkscreens. (p.s. we will not be doing the actual physical silkscreen). You will end with a piece of illustration to apply to any patterned product in different colour styles.
Using photographic references or real shells we will start with either a real pencil or a digital sketch of your silkscreen design exploring composition, colour transparency and tonal valules.
Ian will guide you through various ways of editing your ideas using the tools in Procreate, an industry and consumer favourite app for approximately £10 from the Apple app store (iPad 3 and upwards).
Materials List:
Please bring: iPad version 3 or above with Procreate installed. Apple Pencil stylus optional but highly recommended for the course. If you decide to purchase the Apple Pencil, check which version (V1 or V2) is compatible with your iPad. Your Apple ID, your charging cable and plug.
Artists Profile
Ian has been using digital painting techniques with his traditional media skills in illustration and fine art over the last 20 years, mostly depicting animal art with a passion for marine-life painting. He has been creating large oil paintings for hotels, palaces and government buildings often using the digital composition tools as part of the process. As an illustrator Ian uses the iPad to create complete digital images for print and screen. Here on this day course Ian will share his methods and tips he’s discovered in his professional career.
Course Cost:
A £25 non-refundable deposit is required on booking. Full course price is:
Members of Nature in Art: £55
Non-members of Nature in Art: £69
To book a place on this course, please click here.
Julia has a love of estuaries and salt marshes, particularly those not far from her Somerset studio. Working with Andy Don, an international eel expert, she has discovered the incredible – implausible sometimes! – life of eels, which has resulted in a whole new series of adventures and artwork. This project became the catalyst for her to learn about and enjoy our fabulous coastline in general, and the important role we all have in managing our rivers, coastline and seas, especially in the light of her new-found understanding of eels, a critically endangered animal. Come and hear about the dramatic life of eels and the challenges they face, how Julia felt compelled to capture some of these themes in her relief editioned prints and how our wildlife is truly showing its connection to the global world. Julia will also briefly talk about her latest series of prints focussing on the Shad, a critically endangered fish. (The image below shows the Shad at Upper Load Weir near Tewkesbury.)
Starts 7pm, followed by a finger food buffet and the talk. Finishes around 9:15pm.
£12 per person.
Book a ticket HERE.
FULLY BOOKED
Course Suitability: Absolute Beginners – Improvers
Maximum Capacity: 10
Course Description:
Painting can be very therapeutic, but the enjoyment can quickly disappear if you find yourself frustrated with what you produce. This course is about reintroducing you to the fun of painting, loosening your painting style and teaching you how to take the pressure off the end result. It will teach you how to be inspired to create relaxing abstract paintings but also how to feel relaxed when creating them. Through guided exercises you will learn different painting techniques, as well as practical tips to free up your painting style. We will explore different materials, surfaces and subjects, painting to music and other ways to help you unwind and take pleasure in painting. There will be laughing as well as moments of calm and reflecting. A fun filled day learning something new and giving you the chance to relax. Suitable for all abilities, even those who have not picked up a paintbrush before.
Materials List
The tutor will provide the required materials for course participants. The cost per person will be £10 on the day of the course. Please wear old clothes / apron.
Artist Profile
Christina is an abstract artist based in Gloucester. Inspired by the natural world she works with inks and paints to create layers of translucent colours resulting in soothing and relaxing art.
Christina has had lots of experience in the arts and running workshops and at one stage was even the Education Officer here at Nature in Art.
She has exhibited work on the London underground, Saatchi Art and is represented by Wychwold Art Gallery. She had a pop up shop in John Lewis and produced artwork for Gloucestershire Hospital to improve their mental health in Crisis room. Her website: https://www.makerwhodoesntmake.com
Course Cost:
A £25 non-refundable deposit is required on booking. Full course price is:
Members of Nature in Art: £55
Non-members of Nature in Art: £69
An inspiring display of sculpture by Anita Mandl and photography by Steve Russell, in collaboration with Gallery Pangolin, Stroud.
Where would we be in a world without animals and birds? Their beauty astounds, their diversity is myriad. Both Anita Mandl and Steve Russell celebrate these
in their very different ways. The animal world Mandl carves and casts is tightly hewn in form bringing to life the essential character of her avian and mammalian subjects.
Russell explores wildlife large and small with the knowledge of their place into an ecological jigsaw puzzle of immense complexity.
Anita Mandl is already represented in the Nature in Art Collection, with this exhibition being a perfect opportunity to see a larger collection of her work. Nature in Art acquired ‘Prostrate Buffalo’ in 2005, a cast resin marble sculpture of a buffalo lying down. (below). Steve Russell also had a solo exhibition here in 2013.
There will be a preview evening for this exhibition on Thursday 9th May. Please click here to find out more.
Anita Mandl:
Born in Prague, Mandl (1926-2022) trained as a zoologist and studied sculpture at the Birmingham College of Art. She was a Member of the Royal West of England Academy and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Sculptors. Her carvings, mostly in stone, are cast into editions in bronze and
silver. Her deep knowledge of animal anatomy and behaviour informed her sculptures which are skilfully pared down to convey the very nature of a species. Their economy of language, their smooth and lustrous surfaces, together express the essential characteristics of an animal.
Steve Russell:
Born in the UK, Russell (b. 1969) has shot photographs since he was a child, his passion for the camera eventually prompting his father into building him a darkroom. That proved an enlightened investment, ultimately helping Russell transform a schoolboy hobby into an award-winning career. Frequent journeys to East Africa over the last twelve years have provided Steve with huge inspiration and the opportunity to photograph an impressive variety of animals and bird species as well as staggering scenery, from the Rwenzori Mountains of Western Uganda to the Tanzanian coastline. https://www.steverussellstudios.com/
https://www.gallery-pangolin.com/
This course has unfortunately had to be cancelled due to illness.
Course Suitability: Absolute Beginners – Advanced
Maximum Capacity: 12
Course Description:
Beetles are one of the earth’s greatest evolutionary success stories. Of all insect species that walk our planet, beetles make up a whopping 40%. There are 350,000 different species described in science & some think that may be as many as 2.1 million. If all flora and fauna was stretched out in a long line, leaf-to-leaf, claw-to-claw, twig-to-twig, tentacle-to-tentacle, etc every 5th thing would be a beetle.
Beetles are predators, pollinators, prey and pest controllers. They are also big, beefy & beautiful. In fact they are crying out to be studied and painted. Come along to this unique watercolour workshop and find out how to use art to pay homage to these fabulous animals.
Materials List:
Please bring the following:
- Watercolours: Neutral Tint (W&N), Titanium White, Cobalt Violet Deep Hue (Sennelier), Helio Cerulean (Schmincke) , Indigo, Ultra Marine, Orange, Madder Lake (Schmincke), Brilliant Blue Violet (Sch) ,
- Pens: – UniPin Fine Line Waterproof and Fade Proof pen. Mitsubishi. 0.05. Black
- 0.3mm Propelling Precision Pentel Pencil (HB)
- Brushes: Rosemary No. 2 SER 301 Pointed Round, Rosemary 0 SER 307, W&N Sceptre Gold 000 101 Series (Sable/Synthetic range) , W&N Foundation brush No.5, Rosemary Micro detail 15/0.
- Masking Fluid (Pebeo Drawing Gum is good)
- MaskingTape
Artist’s Profile
Cath Hodsman AMRSB, is one of the U.K’s foremost entomological artists, illustrators and teachers. Based in the Cotswolds, she has exhibited; showcased her art; or taught at many relevant esteemed venues throughout her career, including the Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace, The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, R.H.S Wisley and the Natural History Museum, London. Cath believes that the best way to celebrate the importance and relevance of insects in a happy, healthy ecology, is to capture their micro beauty and anatomical intricacy. She uses microscopes in her work in order to capture beauty that is invisible to us.
FULLY BOOKED
Course Suitability: Beginners – Improvers
Maximum Capacity: 12
Course Description:
On this one-day course, you will make plant climbers, plant supports, trellises and decorative Garden Hurdles, all out of willow and hazel grown in Somerset and Gloucestershire.
Helen will guide you through each stage of the process, whilst introducing you to the different varieties of willow/hazel which you can use to make your creations unique.
By the end of the day you should have been able to make 3-4 items to take home to put in the garden.
Materials List
The tutor will provide the required materials for course participants. The cost per person will be £12, to be paid to the tutor on the day of the course. (Please try and bring the exact change)
Artist’s Profile
Helen Lomberg has been making Baskets and using Willow and other Hedgerow materials for many years now. Twelve years ago she set up The Gloucestershire Arts and Crafts Centre in Westgate Street, Gloucester.
Course Cost:
A £25 non-refundable deposit is required on booking. Full course price is:
Members of Nature in Art: £55
Non-members of Nature in Art: £69
Join staff from Gallery Pangolin and photographer Steve Russell to view ANIMALIA, a stunning display of sculpture by Anita Mandl, and photographs by Steve Russell.
FREE, but donation appreciated.
BOOK HERE
If you have any trouble booking using the above link, please call 01452 731422 to book your place.
Course Suitability: Beginners – Advanced
Maximum Capacity: 12
Course Description:
Create a bird’s eye view of the natural world using cruelty free non-toxic resin and materials from the natural world to make masterpieces free pouring onto mdf. You will have the opportunity to experiment using texture on a board to create dimensions of natural scenes from photographs or your creative minds! Perhaps an ocean atoll, wetland, riverbank environment, botanical garden, forest or a beach, the choice is yours.
We will explore creating dimension with both UV resin and epoxy to create a depth to the pieces. Adding botanicals and foraged natural elements. Over this two-day workshop you will get to experience making at least two pieces of art to take home.
Materials List:
The tutor will provide all materials at a cost of £25 (cash) per person, to be paid to Emma on the day of the course. Participants may bring home grown or locally foraged dried materials to put in their creations (i.e. sticks, shells bark, sand, dried flowers/leaves). These must be dried to put into resin to avoid mould occurring and humidity within the pieces.
Artist’s Profile:
Emma is a self taught mixed media artist who discovered resin during being furloughed in 2020 when she set up Nature’s Inspiration. She has experimented with many techniques and resins so can answer your queries on which is best to use. Having spent a huge amount of time of time growing, nurturing and drying botanicals she uses many in her resin work alongside those she forages locally within the countryside code.
Emma is part of a collective at Gloucestershire Arts & Crafts and The Beckford Collective and teaches workshops around the county in The Cotswolds, Worcestershire & Oxfordshire.
Emma was also awarded the LuxLife winner of Best Nature-Inspired Vegan Resin Art & Gifts 2023 – South West England under the The Perfect Gift Awards 2023 category.
Course Cost:
A £25 non-refundable deposit is required on booking. Full course price is:
Members of Nature in Art: £110
Non-members of Nature in Art: £138
To book a place on this course, please click here.
Here at Nature in Art we are extremely passionate about supporting local artists and craftspeople, helping to highlight the array of crafts available and the creativity of the people in the local area. On various weekends throughout the year we host a two-day Mini Craft Market in the Education Centre, where five to ten crafters sell their unique handmade crafts.
Previous crafts have included: nature crafts – paper crafts, woodwork, paintings, crochet/knitting, weaving, decoupage, cards, glass, silk painting, textile bags, jewellery, resin art, flood painting…
- 10am – 4pm
- Education Centre
- Free to enter
On Monday 20th May 2024, we are opening our Sculpture Garden as part of the National Garden Scheme (NGS).
The garden at Nature in Art is an expression of the art found in nature. A space that continues to evolve over the years and has been a journey of transformation. Dedicated volunteers have created a haven for wildlife with several ponds, a heritage apple orchard, championing old local varieties and beautiful flower beds.
Specially for the opening, find some new sculptures in the garden, inspired by Nature. Metal artist MissFire, Blacksmith Joanna Williams (FireIronArt) and contemporary artist blacksmith, Jenny Pickford. Jenny has previously exhibited at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
There will be a plant sale and book sale in aid of the charitable Trust that runs Nature in Art. (Please bring some cash!)
There will also be a chance to find out information and ask questions about beekeeping (with the beekeeper who looks after our hive) and compost (with the local Master Composters).
MissFire will be artist in residence. The museum gift shop will be open and the coffee shop will be serving hot and cold drinks and cakes.
Entrance Fee: £6.50 for adults. Children are free. This includes entry into the museum and artist’s studio. Please pay on the day in the shop.
All entrance money will go directly to NGS, who have donated over £67 million to nursing and health charities over the years and in 2022 donated £3.11 million to their beneficiaries including: Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie, Hospice UK, Parkinson’s UK, Carers Trust and The Queen’s Nursing Institute. https://ngs.org.uk/
