Art Classes – sculpture,drawing and painting

Join a visual art program in the Cradle of Humankind, north of Johannesburg at Mike Edwards Art Studio for drawing, painting and sculpture

Art Classes are offered for the amateur, professional or beginner.
Also offered are art classes for groups to develop team-building and for individuals to de-stress, rebuild confidence, or to just relax and get away from it all for a fun time drawing, painting and sculpting in the country.

INTRODUCTION

The boundaries between the traditional subjects offered in art classes of Drawing, Painting, and Sculpture are now less defined than ever before, with artists linking these with striking visual results. However, the traditional basic techniques remain the backbone of Mike Edwards’ approach to his art classes yet, at the same time, he encourages experimentation by breaking away from a too slavish approach to these techniques. His aim in his art classes is to foster and to stimulate a personal vision and interpretation in his students’ work through self-discovery in the use of colour, line and form.

ART CLASSES: DRAWING AND PAINTING

Weekly art classes are run for a maximum of ten people per session on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Monday: 09:00 to 12:30
Wednesday: 09:00 to 12:30
Saturday Flexy time any three hours between 07:00 -13:30

Art class projects are set to cater for both the beginner and the advanced participant.
Technique and medium are discussed and participants are encouraged to use different techniques and approaches to gain experience and facility on a broad front.
Before specialising, participants in the art classes are encouraged to work in and experience watercolours, acrylic and oil colours in painting while proficiency in drawing with pencil, pen and ink, conte crayon, and with many other drawing instruments, is encouraged.
Drawing, Painting and Sculpture participants work together other than when not practical due to the differing technical needs of the two disciplines.
Art class participants are encouraged to interact at all times.
One art class in four is a field trip either urban or rural (weather permitting, transport not included in cost)

COSTS: R225.00 per three hour session, excluding materials.
COSTS: R425.00 per six hour session, excluding materials.

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ART CLASSES: SCULPTURE

Art class sculpture projects are set to cater for both the beginner and advanced participants.
Technique and medium are discussed and participants are encouraged to use different techniques and approaches to gain experience and facility on a broad front.
Before specialising participants in the art classes are encouraged to work in and experience clay, plaster and wood, as well as simple casting methods using rubber and resin. Drawing remains important using pencil, pen and ink and conte crayon. The use of other drawing instruments is also encouraged. Individual art classes in sculpture are also offered, the costs depending on the direction chosen by the student.

*COSTS: R225.00 per three hour session for group classes
(excluding materials)
*COSTS: R425.00 per six hour session for group classes
(excluding materials)

but the fees will ultimately depend on the nature of the class, which would be designed to accommodate the needs of a particular student.

Un-supervised studio time can also be built into a given projected learning period.

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WORKSHOPS

Sculpture workshops and short sculpture courses are also organized for sculpture enthusiasts keen on learning about particular methods and techniques. These workshops cover casting methods, mould making, clay and the use of various similar materials, ceramic sculpture and armature building to wood carving, wood fabrication, metal fabrication and bronze casting. They are held on demand for a maximum of six participants per workshop or on an on-going individual basis. Fees will depend on the nature of the material/technique required which would be designed to accommodate a particular person or group.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Team Building, Weekend Art Classes as well as short courses in Drawing and Painting are arranged on demand.
Cost is dependent on the needs of a particular group as well as the duration of such events.
Costs for team building events will include materials as well as teas and lunches.
Accommodation can be arranged within The Cradle area if needed.

Who all can benefit from these art classes, art courses, art workshops, art team building?

• Individuals
• Club Groups
• Corporate Teams
• Tea Clubs
• Groups and clubs of all descriptions

– in fact, anyone who has an urge to create something of their own.

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BRIEF TEACHING BACKGROUND

Mike Edwards has been a practicing artist/teacher for over fifty years, having first exhibited professionally on the Fame & Promise Exhibition in Johannesburg in 1959 as well as having started part-time teaching at St. Georges Preparatory School, Port Elizabeth in the same year.

He is primarily known as a sculptor of both abstract, landscape oriented, and portrait sculpture. He taught formally for thirty years, first at the then Free State Technical College and later at the University of Pretoria as Associate Professor of Fine Art until 1991. He holds a National Art Teachers Certificate from the Port Elizabeth Art School as well as a MA (Fine Art) from Pretoria University. He is also the recipient of Silver Medals for Achievement in Sculpture from the Port Elizabeth Municipality in 1959 and the University of Pretoria in 1989.

Besides being responsible for sculpture training during his teaching career he was also responsible for art classes in painting and in particular the adult landscape art classes in Bloemfontein from 1965 to 1972. On joining the Dept. of Fine Art at Pretoria University in 1973 he established Printmaking which included etching, lithography, wood and lino cuts as well as screen printing (serigraphy). Throughout his career in formal teaching he was also responsible for both drawing and life drawing.

Mike has an abiding interest in painting and printmaking in the urban landscape, his speciality being historic buildings of the past.

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