Frome Community Education’s Summer term is soon to begin with courses now available to book online.
In addition to its existing programme of arts & crafts, languages, health & wellbeing, culture and words-related courses, programme manager Pia McGee is excited to announce a new “Learning and Improving Life Drawing” class with Paul Crummay.
“Paul has been teaching very popular weekly life drawing classes in Wells for several years,” Pia explains. “Now that he has moved to Frome, he reached out to Frome Community Education to see if we would be interested in running something similar. It is something we receive frequent enquiries about, so needless to say we jumped at the opportunity.”
Paul’s class is a taught class, open to all levels from beginner to experienced. Tutoring will be tailored to the individual and will develop the skill of observational drawing from different life models. Paul’s mantra is “Observation, observation, observation!” as he describes his approach to classes: “We are developing our ability to SEE, using our drawing as a feedback process for how accurate we are being; an ever-iterative process of successive approximation – in other words, endless series of both mistakes and correction.”
He will teach students how to use and develop their skills in a chosen medium (whether that be pencil or charcoal) and will help develop their hand to eye coordination to represent what they see, as well as encouraging students to develop a constructive critical faculty to self-correct their work. As he explains, “The fundamental skill in drawing from life is the ability to stand back and check what you have on the page against what the model is showing you.”
Paul’s five-week class is expected to prove extremely popular and places are limited to just 10 spaces. Other new classes this term include ‘Art of Cornwall’ with Paul Chapman, a five-week look at how Cornish art evolved to become an influential and significant aspect of the Modern Art world; ‘Collage Portraits’ with Jessica Wilker; and ‘Let’s Go Down To The Sea,’ a one-day painting workshop with Jeanette Magson. There is also a one-day course, ‘Myths to Live By’ which, by using examples of various myths and legends from around the world, will aim to look at how their essential qualities can be used to enhance our own life journey.
Most courses start week beginning 22nd April. Book now to secure your space, either by booking online at www.fromecommed.org.uk or by visiting the Box Office at the Cheese & Grain.
Picture: Life Drawing Class by Paul Crummay
