Open studio - artworks and video

 At the end of last term, I was delighted to open the studio and rent the pop-up shop below it to display my students artworks. They work so hard all year, and this was the first open day since before Covid, so it felt extra special. It was wonderful to see each person's work as a body, rather than simply seeing the weekly artwork, and I was thrilled to see just how BRILLIANT everyone has become. I noticed that Covid had had a positive impact on the standard of work produced - certainly at the time of lock downs, I know that folks put extra time and effort into their art as a distraction tactic. They had to find the subject matter in their own homes, set it up and light it (as opposed to me doing that in the studio each week), and this, I believe, created a stronger personal connection to the artwork. 

Here are some images from the open studio including a link to a lovely video which shows lots and lots of examples of student work. I know you will agree they are delicious! 

Video link here, but scroll down to view the photos below first as the link will take you off this page: https://vimeo.com/722105563

Above - an easel full of artworks by Gennie, who travelled from County Clare to the open studio. 

Above - a selection of watercolours and oils, by Rose, Ken and Patricia 

Below - a selection from the portfolios on display. 

Friday Night Life, BARA Belfast.

Students at work while Jeff poses

It's not every day that models come along in two's, but tha'ts exactly what happens with Jeff and Debbie! This lovely couple have been life modelling for ages, and are great to work with. Based in central Ireland, they travel all over the place to model for artist and students.

Lovely study by Sarah M

 They came to BARA for the first time in May, and we drew Jeff, and Debbie joined in with the class to do some drawing, for the first time ever! (She is second from the right in the top photo)

A selection of student's drawings 

Wonderful colourful chalk studies by CMW - these are always the envy of the studio!

 The second visit later in May was Debbie's turn to model, see some drawings above and below.

A snap of some of the class, with Debbie bottom left

 I'm delighted that they will be returning in July. If you are looking for a model (or two!) lifemodelsireland.blogspot.com

 they can be contacted via their blog

Friday 19th July 6 - 8pm, drawing Jeff.

Friday 26th July 6 - 8pm and Saturday 27th July 10 - 4pm Drawing Debbie.

For more info email julie@juliedougals.co.uk

Our daily breadsticks.. Pastel drawings BARA students

I was looking through an old A6 sized sketch book recently and found a little drawing of a plaited loaf.  And I thought aha, great subject..!! The drawing was done during a class, MANY years ago. When my children were small, I dond't have time for major painting projects, and the Sketch Book became the life saver - even though the maximum time I had was around 10 minutes during a class, it was enough to help me feel connected. With myself.

Little sketch book study, Julie Douglas 

So I bought lots and LOTS of part-baked loaves and rolls - the kitchen smelled fabulous!

Baskets of bread for the studio

The 'table of choices', from patterned cloth to croissants, seeded rolls, hot cross buns, jam and knives and spoons... 

The first challenge for the students was in setting up their arrangements. It's best to start with lots of options, then narrow it down to just three or four elements. The results were lovely.  They had a choice of tinted papers to work on - it is good to not work on a white surface all the time.

Cathy's pastel study 

Two sessions of work in this chalk study by Christine McC

Pat's oil pastel drawing 

Pat treid her hand at chalk pastels AND oil pastels. The image below is the chalk study - it has a softer look to it than the oil. However, the advantage of oil is a different intensity of tonal values. Note her brave composition, with the knife pointing out towards the viewer.

Pat's start in chalk pastel 

Catherine working on her pastel drawing

Carlo's chalk drawing. Nice and jammy.

A lovely chalk study by Rose-Jane

Upcoming workshops include portrait workshop 22 - 26 July, Oils workshop 22 - 26 August

Life drawing Friday 19th July 6pm, and a weekend session on life Drawing from Friday evening 27 July -  Saturday 27th July. 

For more info plesae email julie@juliedouglas.co.uk

Paul Foxton and the Munsell Colour Mixing workshop, Belfast 2018

Little colour chips, prepared by Paul - a full set for each student

If you've ever attended a workshop which runs smoothly and apparently effortlessly, you can bet your bottom dollar that a lot of time and effort has been put in ahead of time to prepare. With Paul Foxton, the care and attention put into the pre prep was astonishing. From painted cubes and spheres to individual colour 'chips', to home made 'grids', nothing was left out or forgotten.

Paul trimming the chips, the ay before the workshop

We were blessed to have Paul teaching this workshop. He reckons that only three people in the WORLD teach this method of colour mixing, and the other two artists are in America.  We had two fantastic days of Paul's wealth of knowledge, passed on in a caring and understandable way.

Judy doing a little pre-workshop homework! 

Paul explaining the process, surrounded by Mark, Suzanne, Siobhan, Roisin and Tess.

After describing the origin of the Munsell system, and the logic behind it, students spent the first morning mixing and matching colour chips at the long tables, to a student-sound-track of much sighing, gnashing of teeth and ocassional 'aHA...' moments!

Paul brought large tubes of his own (personally mixed) colour values, mixed in large quantities to save time at the easel. 

Paul demonstrating using the Munsell chips.

Students watcing the demo. 

 Students spent the afternoon painting a grey sphere, sight-size. Day two we moved on to colour, using Orange.

Choosing Munsell values

Each work station is equipped with a photographers lamp to cast an even light on the subject, which was placed on individual book shelves at a height which suited each student.

 Lunch was a shared ocassion around the big table in the drawing room. It's important to relax together and refresh before starting the afternoon sessions.

Lunch!

Lunch!!

Tess painting her orange cube

Judy painting the orange cube

  The studio is in an old school building, and the chairs from the junior classes came in really useful for those who chose not to stand to work.

Paul helping students 

Mark, in one of the little chairs!

Paul's final demo of the orange sphere

Demo completed

Back row: Tess, Margery, Paul, Mark, Siobhan, Roisin, Christopher
 Front row: Judy, me, Paul Foxton, Suzanne

It was a very full two days, and I'd like to warmly thank Paul for all his hard work, and the students for studying so whole heartedly. I'm delighted that Paul will return in the spring to deliver a five day workshop. Dates to follow! 

During the Autumn, there are five weekly classes in the studio as well as Friday Night Life drawing, and alternate Friday evening oils. The next weekend workshop is 20 & 21 October, in portrait drawing and the next children's classis Saturday 27th October. 

For info email julie@juliedouglas.co.uk 

New Studio, new classes!

I'm thrilled to be able to share that I have moved into new studio space, in what until recently was a Primary School, and am shaping it up into a spacious, comfortable contemporary atelier environment. I found it at the beginning of April, and in three very busy weeks, with the help of lots of student volunteers, have made it feel like home.

The walk-in film was made after a couple of weeks, so things have moved a little further since, but it gives you an idea..! 

 The photos below show how the rooms were three weeks ago - huge, and looking like a primary school class room. Large, with potential...

 But much work to be done. I started by removing everything from the walls, including hundreds of staples... and started painting.

 After several days working on it, the heavy brigade arrived - my volunteer students, armed with tool boxes, and scrubbing brushes.

 Glynis, Mark and me in the middle, Miss Rubber-Gloves. 

Merlynne and I painting. By now, the task seemed never-ending.. 

Ben, with roller

Rory, strong and helpful

Lost count of the number of trips to Ikea... 

Alan assembling a table, and his family and Rory tackling the chairs

Jim, modelling this year's best overalls... 

After the furntiture was all assembled...

My turn, to get the curtains ready to block the south facing sunlight during classes

 So, it's not finished yet - the easels room (which now includes a piano!) has yet to be painted, but I will keep going until all is done!

Students tt work in the easels room - Paul and Alison

Margery 

Brigid and Julie

Jackie, Robert, Mark, Sara, Gllynis

Every studio needs a friendly dog. Pam tickling Minnie 

A morning class in the drawing room. 

Thursday night class, hard at work

Ann, Kate, Jim using water colour

I am so grateful to all the volunteers, and may call on you again...!!

There will be two studio open evenings in June, and everyone is invited. I will keep you posted.

All my classes are now at the new venue and I now have space and easels to offer life drawing sessions. For details of upcoming workshops please email julie@juliedouglas.co.uk