From photography to printmaking, and learning more about Baroque art or botanical illustrations, these courses need no previous experience …
Learn printmaking with Superfolk
Renowned for their colour-saturated prints and painterly printmaking style technique, Superfolk is now offering spring online classes offering participants the chance to make their own lino-block prints. Jo Anne Butler, Superfolk’s co-founder explains, “For many years people have been getting in touch wanting to learn more about how we make our prints. We share our process a lot on Instagram. The simplicity of this type of printmaking is really appealing. I know that people watch how we make our prints and think to themselves that they would love to make a print themselves, now we are inviting them to do exactly that.”
This hands-on masterclass series will include guidance and support to create your own artwork – from the starting concept through to a finished artwork. Live classes will include opportunities to ask plenty of questions and troubleshoot your artwork as it develops. Students will also gain an understanding of the tools and techniques of relief block printing (including lino cutting tools, lino carving, combining and mixing colours, colour registration and layers, and paper choices.)
This online masterclass series will run on four consecutive Thursdays from April 11 to May 2. The emphasis will be on printmaking techniques that are suited to home (kitchen table) printmaking. No printing press is required. Participants will also have a digital reference booklet explaining all of the terminology and tools needed and a description of the printmaking process. After the course, students will also receive one of Superfolk’s beautiful prints. The cost of the course is €130, for early bird subscription, thereafter it costs €150. For more information visit; www.superfolk.com.
Hone your photography skills at Dublin Street Photography Festival
Street photography generally means candid photography, capturing a real moment. The genre is both about the photographer and their subject. Street photographers are observers by nature. From the early masters like Henri Cartier-Bresson and Robert Doisneau, to contemporary works of Alex Webb, Martin Parr and Tony O’Shea, galleries and museums across the globe have recognised the importance of the street photography genre as an art form. The inaugural Dublin Street Photography Festival will take place from May 3-6 at Charlemont Square, Dublin 2. The festival features an extensive exhibition of work by international and Irish photographers as well as a series of free and paid workshops covering a range of topics. These include Mobile Photography with Brendan Ó Sé; Street Photography with Matt Stuart; Street Portraits Using Film with Brendan Comey and Jim Leonard. For further details visit; www.dspfestival.com.
‘Kitchen Maid with the Supper at Emmaus,’ Diego Velazques, National Gallery of Ireland
Learn more about Baroque art The National Gallery of Ireland
The National Gallery’s popular art appreciation courses offer a great opportunity to learn more about well-known artworks and artists, or to discover the new and unexpected. The latest online art appreciation course begins on March 19 and focuses on European Masters of the Baroque. Over eight weeks, art historian Dr Audrey Nicholls will delve into the defining characteristics of Baroque art through the work of some of its European masters including Caravaggio, Rembrandt and Vermeer in European Masters of the Baroque. This exciting – and sometimes shocking – style spread through Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries. Beginning in Bologna and moving through Rome, Naples, Flanders, Spain, France and the Dutch Republic, this course will focus on the Baroque movement in Europe and its main protagonists. Artworks from the National Gallery of Ireland’s collection will be discussed, as well as key works from collections worldwide.
Participating via Zoom from anywhere in the world, attendees will have the opportunity to engage and ask questions directly in every class. Each session will be available online for two weeks following the class to allow participants to catch up or watch again. To sign up or to find out more visit; www.nationalgallery.ie.
Learn more about Colour Theory at Dublin Art Classes
Dublin Art Classes offer an ongoing selection of courses and classes in oil painting, acrylics, watercolour and mixed media, for both adults and children. No previous experience is necessary. One of the next online foundation courses is on Colour Theory which begins on April 9 at 7pm and runs over five weeks. This course delves into the colour wheel and includes mastering colour mixing, matching and contrasting colours effectively. This transferable skill is particularly useful for working the SS24 fashion trends too! The cost is €250. To find out more visit; www.dublinartclasses.com.
‘Clementis,’ by Jane Bockett
Create botanical watercolours at Feste Lente Gardens, Bray
Led by Irish botanical artist, Patricia Morrison, this is the perfect opportunity to enjoy painting in pretty surroundings over the weekend of Saturday and Sunday April 13-14. Patricia will demonstrate and give guidance on techniques of drawing, illustration, painting, plant identification and framing during this two-day course which runs from 10.30am to 1pm each day. Participants will have a chance to study the flowers and shrubs in the walled garden at Festina Lente, Bray and take home their own watercolour at the end of the course. Materials and refreshments are supplied. The cost is €55; to find out more visit www.eventbrite.ie. Patricia also gives one to one and small group classes at her home and studio in Connemara and can be contacted via the Irish Botanical Artists Association; www.irishbotanicalartists.ie.
