The Autumn Term begins on Monday 25th September 2023 - The Schedule is available on this item on our News Page It should be noted that The Bridge will close permanently on 31st March 2024. See our News page for more information.
Fridays:
4pm - 6pm
New term starts:
Monday, 25th September 2023
Tutor
Jo Pickering
Exploring a variety of portrait painting techniques for beginners and intermediates alike. Autumn 2023 - "Half Term" for this course will 3rd and 10th November, with the course ending on 15th December
A fun and friendly course in a relaxed atmosphere. For beginners or those with more experience wishing to further their skills.
We will look at a variety of techniques in the first 6 weeks related to portrait painting, and will look at artist examples for inspiration. Using all of the skills we have learned the aim is to work on a final finished portrait in the final 4 weeks.
Week 1 – Pencil sketching techniques- heads from any angle practice. Photo study and self portrait measuring and practice using mirrors.
Week 2 –Try techniques artist style – expressionist and realistic– watercolours, acrylics, oil paints, pastels – demonstrations given – own preference.
Week 3 – Prepare drawing for small expressionist portrait
Week 4 – Expressionist portrait
Week 5 – Prepare drawing for realism study – either whole head or close up
Week 6 – Realism drawing
Week 7 – Prepare for final piece
Week 8 – Final painting
Week 9 – Final painting
Week 10 – Final painting
Artist Jo Pickering has been teaching Art to secondary school students for over 25 years and is currently Head of Art at a Stockton secondary school. Jo has continued to practise her own art having exhibited with Cleveland Art Society in 1985 as their youngest member at aged 15. She has exhibited several times in the local area including Richmond, Redcar and Barnard Castle.
Most recently Jo was selected to exhibit one of her paintings in the prestigious Mall Galleries in London as part of the ‘Artist of the Year’ exhibition.
Jo has also featured on Sky Arts ‘Landscape Artist of the Year’ in 2017.
‘I prefer to specialise in portraiture and am always experimenting with different media but oils will always be my favourite’
‘Portraiture as a subject fascinates me. Expressions, moods and strong dramatic lighting are all too enticing to me. I like to produce images that are challenging to paint and may even leave a work ‘unfinished’ as an effect as I feel I have learned enough from that particular work.’
As well as painting regular portrait commissions Jo teaches adults in a regular weekly class and holds one day workshops for both beginners and more experienced artists throughout the year.
Location
The Bridge Centre
Yarm Road
Darlington
DL1 1ED
Parking
The Bridge is a short drive from Darlington Town Centre, with free parking available on-site and in the surrounding area.
There is also a covered space to store bicycles.
A number of Arriva buses stop outside The Bridge, including numbers: 2, 3B and 12
We're a ten minute walk from Darlington Train Station. From the Yarm Road entrance to the station, turn right onto Yarm Road (walking away from the town centre), and follow the road towards the corner of Hundens Lane.
Our building is fully accessible including disabled facilities.
Dropped curbs are in use in the surrounding area for wheelchair access to the building.
If you have any queries about The Bridge, we encourage you to get in touch using the details below:
Phone: 01325 243864
E-mail: Contact us
The Bridge provides a vibrant community led venue to support artists and encourage visual arts involvement for Darlington. Many artists who had a presence at the Darlington Arts Centre can now be found at The Bridge Centre. It is also the home of other arts-based organisations.
