The Creative Mix is an ideal way to explore a variety of artistic methods. Over the five days, students will work through various exercises in drawing, painting, sculpture and printmaking. This is a great ‘taster’ course and an excellent opportunity to both develop skills and get creative with your own ideas.

This 2-weeks long masterclass provides a rare opportunity to work on a life size torso; a course that will enable development of the skills required to produce large scale figure work. Whilst learning to make creative choices associated with cropped figures and creating focus in their pieces, students will have space to experiment with surface texture, modelling flesh and bone. The course will have a strong approach to figure work, with teaching in anatomy and structure whilst allowing room for personal choices, style and artistic impression. Students will develop technical skills of measurement, plumbing, anatomy and clay application, to capture a true likeness, whilst being encouraged to view their sculpture as a work of art rather than a direct copy of a physical form in front of them. Working on such a large scaled piece will enable students to hone their creative and personal skills, to develop an understanding of their own sculptural style and capture individual expression. This course is ideal for those who are at at least intermediate sculpture level. Students will be offered an opportunity to mould and cast a fragment of their sculpture during the weekend 31st July - 1st August for an additional fee.

A comprehensive introduction to the various techniques of kiln formed glass as well as a brief study of the history of glass-making. This is an all round opportunity to experiment with ideas and technical glass making skills from a sculptural perspective that progresses to completing an independent project. The course covers model and mould making using a variety of mould making materials, approaches kiln formed glass techniques and starting points such as open casting, fusing and slumping. You will be taught how to cut, clean and arrange glass in preparation for fusing and slumping into a basic bowl shape. A short project will be set to encourage you to adopt an experimental approach using mould making refractory open cast processes. You will be shown how to use coloured glass to create a 3D sculptural glass form of your own design. You will be taught through demonstration, group and individual instruction and learn from hands on experience. Through looking at both contemporary and historical works you will discover the potential of the medium of glass.

This 2-weeks long masterclass provides a rare opportunity to work on a life size torso; a course that will enable development of the skills required to produce large scale figure work. Whilst learning to make creative choices associated with cropped figures and creating focus in their pieces, students will have space to experiment with surface texture, modelling flesh and bone. The course will have a strong approach to figure work, with teaching in anatomy and structure whilst allowing room for personal choices, style and artistic impression. Students will develop technical skills of measurement, plumbing, anatomy and clay application, to capture a true likeness, whilst being encouraged to view their sculpture as a work of art rather than a direct copy of a physical form in front of them. Working on such a large scaled piece will enable students to hone their creative and personal skills, to develop an understanding of their own sculptural style and capture individual expression. This course is ideal for those who are at at least intermediate sculpture level. Students will be offered an opportunity to mould and cast a fragment of their sculpture during the weekend 31st July - 1st August for an additional fee.

This course is ideal for beginners or for those wanting a refresher course. In the first half of the week you will learn how to cut a reduction linocut. This technique popularised by Picasso uses just one linoleum block that is successively cut to make multi-coloured prints. In the second half of the week you will learn a different technique using woodblocks and colour separations to cut three different blocks to create your multi-plate prints. You will be taught by Carol Wilhide Justin, an RCA Print graduate and experienced printmaker.

This exciting new course aims to introduce GCSE and A-Level students to the use of textiles, embroidery and latex in contemporary art; this will enable you to expand your artistic vocabulary, develop your portfolio and experiment with mediums that you may not be very familiar with. Each day will begin with an introduction to artists who use textiles in their work, to inspire you and contextualise the lessons. In the morning, you will be taught different techniques and in the afternoon, you will apply these techniques to a project (either your own idea or one suggested by the tutor). Please note, you must complete a consent form before your child can join our Young Artists programme. This form is available for download here. Please email your completed form to shortcourses@artacademy.org.uk. Your child may also bring a completed hard-copy version of this form with them on the first day of their course.

This course focuses on teaching students to use the human form to express emotion, energy and character through working on a series of sculptures. Students will focus on understanding how to use different forms and compositions to express the character of the pose and to understand subtlety in the choice in forms, textures and materials. This course offers students an opportunity to work with different materials, to try something a bit different and loosen up your sculptural techniques. It is suitable for beginners to advanced students. Our experienced tutor will show beginners a step-by-step approach to figure modelling, and will work with more advanced students to push their work forward in their own way. Working with small dynamic standing poses in Super Sculpey as well as two seated poses in clay.

A comprehensive introduction to the various techniques of kiln formed glass as well as a brief study of the history of glass-making. This is an all round opportunity to experiment with ideas and technical glass making skills from a sculptural perspective that progresses to completing an independent project. The course covers model and mould making using a variety of mould making materials, approaches kiln formed glass techniques and starting points such as open casting, fusing and slumping. You will be taught how to cut, clean and arrange glass in preparation for fusing and slumping into a basic bowl shape. A short project will be set to encourage you to adopt an experimental approach using mould making refractory open cast processes. You will be shown how to use coloured glass to create a 3D sculptural glass form of your own design. You will be taught through demonstration, group and individual instruction and learn from hands on experience. Through looking at both contemporary and historical works you will discover the potential of the medium of glass.

This course is ideal for beginners, repeat attendees or visitors to London, to offer an in depth introduction to relief and intaglio printmaking.  For the first two days, you will learn to work with Japanese wood carving tools to create a series of multi-colour reduction relief prints on linoleum. During the last two days of the course, you will learn to combine both a hard-ground line and aquatint tone to create a series of black and white etchings. Guided by the tutor, students will expand their knowledge to realise a portfolio of prints. The studio is a low-toxic environment with dedicated printmaking facilities for professional hands-on learning. Students benefit from the diversity of attendees, taught by internationally renowned printmaking artists at a central location, offering a unique educational experience in London.

Designed for both beginners and more experienced students, this interesting new course looks at the power of the needle and the ways stitch has been used as a tool of subversion. With the rise in popularity of textile art and blurring of the distinction between fine art and craft, the possibilities of this medium are endless and unexpected. You'll learn techniques and processes, explore how they can be used in your own work, and engage in discussion about what it means to use stitch in fine art practice in the 21st century. The classes are structured; in the morning there will be a presentation of the techniques being taught that day as well as contemporary artists who use these processes in their work. This will show you the possibilities of stitch and embroidery, both as an end in themselves and a way of adding texture and dimension to your artwork. In the afternoon, you will have the opportunity to experiment with the techniques that have been taught or use them to work on a personal project.

In this interesting new course, you will experiment with a range of materials that you may not be familiar with, including different paints, textiles, plaster casting and mixed-media. The course aims to help you develop a new range of skills and expand your artistic vocabulary, and culminates in a personal project on the final day where you can translate your ideas and interests into a finished artwork using the techniques and media you have learned about. There will be time for one-to-one guidance and input from the tutor on days 3 to 5, to further help and encourage you to develop your own ideas and artistic projects.

This five-day course encourages students aged 12 to 16 to use traditional and digital techniques to create pages for comics and graphic novels, including character design and development, visual storytelling, colouring and lettering. By the end of the course, students will have produced at least two full-colour pages of comic-strip art. This course is ideal for students of all skill levels, from those looking to advance their artistic skills and creative confidence to those looking to increase an interest in a subject that isn’t their favourite!

Portrait sculpture is an immensely absorbing and enjoyable discovery with every new sitter. This week-long course aims to introduce you to the process; to observe and translate your observation into a clay portrait sculpture from a life model.Whether setting out a portrait head from a structural point of view with a clear path of constructive method and/or searching for a more expressive manner of approach, you will benefit from exploring with a professional sculptor to help build upon your own sculptural experience.

This fun five-day course for students aged 12-16 provides a skills-based experience and expert tuition in animation. Students will be taught skills in stop motion, 2D drawing and the use of Adobe Creative Suite as an animation tool. The days will be themed and split in half; the mornings will focus on skills development and the afternoons will focus on creating an animation using the skills learnt. The course will culminate in a screening of work to peers and parents. Students will be encouraged to work in groups and independently while challenging or responding to ideas and new skills in an enjoyable and creative space. Please note, you must complete a consent form before your child can join our Young Artists programme. This form is available for download here. Please email your completed form to shortcourses@artacademy.org.uk. Your child may also bring a completed hard-copy version of this form with them on the first day of their course.

This course is designed to give a broad yet intensive introduction to etching in all its shades of grey. You will develop a composition through line, texture and tone by etching a zinc plate in a mordant of saline sulphate. This 5 day workshop concentrates on hard-ground (fine line) and soft ground combined with aquatint (tone) in its various forms. The course is flexible in its composition allowing attendees to work at their own speed within the medium. Students may also work on their own individual etching projects.

This practical course is suitable for beginners and experienced artists who want to experiment with metal cast sculpture. Pewter is a metal that can be cast and finished in your own studio, with relatively basic equipment, and without the need of a foundry. Pewter is a silver coloured tin metal alloy which melts at low temperatures. During the course you will model a sculpture in wax, learn how to cast in pewter using plaster waste moulds and the ‘lost wax’ casting technique. Bring your own ideas or come with an open mind and be inspired to work with new materials and sculpture techniques. This is a practical workshop based course with one to one and group guidance from the tutor.

Portrait sculpture is an immensely absorbing and enjoyable discovery with every new sitter. This course aims to build upon your previous experience [Intermediate/Advanced] to further how to observe and translate your observation into a clay portrait sculpture from a life model. Refresh, renew or find alternative ways of looking through group and individual discussion with your tutor, David Klein, member of the Royal British Society of Sculptors (MRBS) and the Society of Portrait Sculptors (SPS). Whether setting out a portrait head from a structural point of view with a clear path of constructive method and/or searching for a more expressive manner of approach, you will benefit from exploring with a professional sculptor to help build upon your own sculptural experience. David Klein hopes to impart a few of the tools he has learnt and explore on this course that wonderful tension between finely rendered form and unworked chaos. Portraiture is a search. This search for form, truth and personality requires tools. From the force of the neck into the weight of the head, which in so many ways defines and marks exceptional sculpture. This course will explore the structure, turning points of form, emphasis and simplification.

In this masterclass, you will be painting with watercolour from two models over four days, incorporating both short and sustained poses. The variation of composition on a daily basis during the course will inspire freshness of vision and encourage experimentation, as well as focus on nuance and the particular. For those wishing an intense period working with a water-based medium on paper, this offers the opportunity and time to experience what watercolour has to offer. This exciting course is an intensive four days that offers a high level of tutor contact time. You will work under the expert guidance of Jennifer McRae RSA, whose work can be found in a number of collections including the Royal Collection at the National Portrait Gallery.

In this interesting new course, you will experiment with a range of materials that you may not be familiar with, including different paints, textiles, plaster casting and mixed-media. The course aims to help you develop a new range of skills and expand your artistic vocabulary, and culminates in a personal project on the final day where you can translate your ideas and interests into a finished artwork using the techniques and media you have learned about. There will be time for one-to-one guidance and input from the tutor on days 3 to 5, to further help and encourage you to develop your own ideas and artistic projects.

In this NEW course students will learn all basic knowledge and techniques to complete their manga comic strip. The course focuses on the uniqueness on manga style, such as how to make pages look exciting and attractive within the limitation of monochrome and how to express the character's emotions effectively. At the same time, it includes the very important basic skills like figure drawing. The students are encouraged to use traditional approach to 'draw and plan' pages and to finalise their work in digital form. The aim of the course is to make sure that all the students feel more confident creating manga illustrations and to complete at least two pages of manga style art.