Somerset Skills and Learning
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Arts and Crafts

Do you have a Creative Side ?
Ceramics
Ceramics

 

We offer a huge range of courses within this curriculum area, including Fine Art, Performing Arts and Media, so there is something to suit everyone. Many of our tutors are practising artists with a wealth of knowledge and experience to pass on. This ensures that many of our specialist courses such as Upholstery are taught not only by qualified teachers but also professionals who have worked or who work in the industry.

 

Our courses run in a variety of ways from full or half day workshops, 5 weeks ‘art schools’, 10, 20, 25, and 30 week courses.  All of our art classes include art history, looking at relevant artists and placing the work or projects into context.

 

 

Half or one day workshops:

These are designed as introductions to a subject, and you will usually go home with a completed sample or piece of work. They are the perfect way to find out if you would like a longer course in that subject.

 

 

Art School

These are our five week courses designed around a particular subject; they are aimed mainly at complete beginners. They aim to be fun, to inspire and build your knowledge and confidence with a specific medium and set you on the road to further creativity!

 

 

Longer courses

Our longer courses aim to allow you to fully explore the subject and whilst many are for all abilities we also offer longer courses for the complete beginner and those with more experience. These classes build your knowledge and skills in the subject. All of our classes include looking at art history and broadening your wider knowledge of the subject. Our tutors will aim to guide you at your own pace through a range of mutually agreed projects building up your skill level as the course progresses.

 

 

First Steps

Our First Steps classes are literally that – a first step back into education in a non-threatening environment. Designed to build confidence and skills levels, we offer courses in a range of subject areas.

 

Watercolour
Watercolour
Acrylics
Acrylics
Summer - Sue Donaldson
Calligraphy

  

 

 

Spotlight on - Calligraphy and Design

 

This is a relatively new course which has proved to be very popular as well as successful. The tutor is a Fellow of the Calligraphy and Lettering Arts Society and an accredited tutor.

 

The course aims to give learners a chance to fully explore this beautiful art form and express their own creativity within it. You will learn the script of Italic and focus on capital forms. You will learn about basic layout and paste-up methods which will lead to designing greetings cards, invitations, menus or calligraphic artwork for mounting and framing.

 

Below are examples of work from one of our current students, Sue Donaldson, and a couple of quotes from current learners:

 

“Before the class I didn’t realise how creative it would be – I went on a short art course with SS&L to help with that creative way of seeing things. I now look at all lettering and design differently.”

 

“Very therapeutic – I find it very interesting and the tutor supports me fully – I would definitely recommend it!”

 

These courses run in Glastonbury at our Somerset Skills & Learning centre in Abbot's Court, Benedict Street:

  • Calligraphy and Design for Beginners  - 20/01/12 for 8 weeks

  • Calligraphy and Design for Improvers Part 2 – 18/01/12 for 8 weeks

 

 

Listed below is a quick guide to the variety of courses we have on offer:

 

 

 

Arts:

Watercolours

Oils

Drawing

Painting and Drawing

Pastels

Calligraphy

Art History

Antiques

 

Textiles:

Spinning, Weaving and Dying

Rags to Riches

Creative Textiles

Upholstery

Felt Making

Lace Making

Bead Needle Weaving

 

Music:

Classical Guitar

Piano

Traditional Irish Music

Traditional Music Ensemble

Singing Bowl Meditations

Singing

 

 

 
Crafts:

Pottery and clay modelling

Jewellery

Stained Glass

Kiln Glass

Woodcarving

 Dance:

Ballroom Dance

Egyptian Dance

Salsa and Latin Dance

Tap Dance

Media

Animation – Wallace and Gromit Style

Scripting for Beginners

Writing Articles for Newspapers and Magazines

 

Success Stories - Amy Yates

 

Amy Yates joined the Oil Painting for All Abilities class about 3 years ago. Since then she has gained confidence and developed an individual style of oil painting based mainly on local scenes.

 

In 2009 she won a competition to design a Christmas card for the local charity PAC. The card was a sell-out success and she has since designed a new card for PAC for Christmas 2010.

Amy has recently set up as a professional artist and taken part in a variety of local art exhibitions including Frome Open Studios Art Trail during the Frome Festival for the last two years where she regularly sells her work.

 

Below is an example of Amy’s work and style.

 

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Amy Yates - Corfe Castle
Amy Yates - Corfe Castle