Saturday 26 January 2013

Classes at The Laboratory

Art classes and workshops are thriving at The Laboratory this January. After our fun weekend drawing and creating Moshie Monsters last weekend, this weekend it was all about clay! Find out how our pottery workshop went later in this blog.
The Laboratory art classes are now up and running. This week we explored new mediums and techniques in shading producing a small sketch each. Art classes run every Thursday 7:00pm-9:00pm, if you are interested in joining this class please email Lisa on the_laboratory@hotmail.co.uk
The photos below show what we got up to this week.
Practising shading skills


Experimenting with different shading techniques

Working from a secondary source, Neil uses water soluble crayons to create layers of colour

Lee using pencil and water soluble crayons to reproduce this budding poppy. Beautiful shading work.




Owen lays a charcoal ground and then uses a rubber to draw this
stunning Rhino, adding hints of colour

 

This bright coloured Peacocks head was drawn by Sophie, using pencil and water soluble crayons. Great attention to detail and use of colour.
 
This Saturday potential potters of all ages joined us at The Laboratory for our pottery workshop. Budding potters created vases, bowls and plates of all shapes and sizes on our potters wheel. As a first time experience for most, adults and children alike were pleased with the results they managed to accomplish.
After making pots on the wheel, our budding potters learnt how to make coil pots and basic clay sculptures using a range of tools and techniques. Here is how we got on...


Learning how to throw a pot
 

The children made this look quite easy, but it didn't put adults off having a go.


All first time potters were pleased with the results that they got,
producing small vases, plates and pots


A natural potter in the making
 
Learning how to make a plate



After creating a pot on the wheel it was time to get creative at the table


Children learnt how to make a coil pot as well as exploring how to use clay to create small sculptures and plaques



 We all loved getting messy and squishing the clay between our fingers. Great work Holly!



Summer enjoying working with clay and making a wonderful coil pot



Jack add additonal detail to his coil pot



Birthday boy Danny, enjoys showing dad how to use roll clay to make a coil pot.

Don't miss out on future fun art and craft workshops at The Laboratory.
 
Sunday 3rd February
Doodle Day and Valentines Art (Drop in between 12:00noon-4:30pm) £3:00 pp
Join us for a fun day of doodling raising funds for Ep
ilepsy Action Charity or you can have fun making a range of stunning Valentines gifts for that special someone...

Sunday 10th February
Chinese New Year (Drop in between 12:00noon-4:30pm) £3:00 pp
Celebrate the “Year of the Snake” with us at The Laboratory and learn a how to make your own paper craft snake, felt fortune cookies, unique Chinese lanterns and more.

Sunday 17th February
Urban Art Blast (Drop in between 12:00noon-4:30pm) £3:00 pp
Create your own unique Banksy Style canvas using acrylic paint, stencils and collage

Saturday 23rd February
All things Welsh! (Drop in between 12:00noon-4:30pm) £3:00 pp
Get ready to celebrate St David’s day on the 1st March by joining us for our welsh art and craft session, make your own flag, dragon, Welsh lady, daffodil crafts and more.

All sessions cost £3 per person. Feel free to drop in any time between 12:00-4:30pm to join in the activities. If you would prefer to book a slot please contact Lisa Smith on:
07970332097 or email: the_laboratory@hotmail.co.uk
 

Saturday 19 January 2013

Moshi Monsters Mayhem

It was Moshi Monster Mayhem in The Laboratory this Saturday, as all ages joined us to design, draw and create their very own Moshi Monster.
This was a great workshop for observational drawing and problem solving. Participants had to observe the shapes that made up the particular Moshi Monster they wanted to create prior to starting their initial drawing. When it came to actually modelling the monster out of plasticine   participants had to review the shapes from their drawing - reinforcing what they had observed earlier. Our Moshi Monster creators then used knowledge gained through a plasticine modelling demonstration, to work out how to adhere these together, mix colours and consider the correct modelling tool to make the mark required.

To start the session we looked at various Moshi Monsters to give us ideas to work from and to observe and note what shapes and colours we would require to draw our Monster. After discussing the shapes needed and how to draw these using a light pencil outline to get the basic shape, participants embraced the challenge and got creating.
Angels beautiful colour-blast Moshi

Moshi Time at The Laboratory

Joshua, colouring in a picture Daddy helped to draw

William worked really hard on his drawing of Oddie. Filling the paper and keeping the drawing to proportion

All ages enjoyed creating and drawing their Moshi's, enjoying the opportunity to relax and create

We thought this was a really good drawing for Brandons age. The eye and beak are in the right place and you can make out the shape of the birds wings and feet. Great solid colouring in.

Even the adults got involved
When was the last time you sat down as an adult and coloured in a picture?
 And here are a selection of some of the Moshi Monsters drawn today.
William's drawing of Oddie


Amy's drawing 

Nicky's lovely penguin drawing
 Once the children had drawn their plan for their Moshi Monster, and considered what shapes they required to make the monster, it was time to hit the plasticine table.
Children watched a short demo by myself showing them how to make basic shapes, how to mix colours, how to adhere plasticine together and how to create various details. Then it was time to get sculpting - and this is how we got on...
We was really impressed with how the younger children listened to  and followed instructions on how to use plasticine to create their Moshi Monster

Danny working hard to create his Moshi Monster referring to his drawing as he works
 Here are some of our finished Moshi Monster Creations
William's Moshi Monsters, we love the attention to detail on "Oddie" (the doughnut shaped monster)

Angel and Jack's amazing creations in this afternoons workshop

Danny and Zena proudly show off their Moshi Monsters

If you have enjoyed looking at this blog then why not join us to experiment, explore and create at any of our upcoming art workshops, (suitable for adults and children).
Saturday 26th January
Pottery fun (Drop in between 12:00noon-4:30pm) £3:00 pp
Have fun learning how to make your own coil pot or even try your hand at throwing a pot on our potter’s wheel.

Sunday 3rd February
Doodle Day and Valentines Art (Drop in between 12:00noon-4:30pm) £3:00 pp
Join us for a fun day of doodling raising funds for Epilepsy Action Charity or you can have fun making a range of stunning Valentines gifts for that special someone...

Sunday 10th February
Chinese New Year  (Drop in between 12:00noon-4:30pm) £3:00 pp
Celebrate the “Year of the Snake” with us at The Laboratory and learn a how to make your own paper craft snake, felt fortune cookies, unique Chinese lanterns and more.

Sunday 17th February
Urban Art Blast (Drop in between 12:00noon-4:30pm) £3:00 pp
Create your own unique Banksy Style canvas using acrylic paint, stencils and collage

Saturday 23rd February
All things Welsh!  (Drop in between 12:00noon-4:30pm) £3:00 pp
Get ready to celebrate St David’s day on the 1st March by joining us for our welsh art and craft session, make your own flag, dragon, Welsh lady, daffodil crafts and more.

All sessions cost £3 per person. Feel free to drop in any time between 12:00-4:30pm to join in the activities. If you would prefer to book a slot please contact Lisa Smith on:  Mobile: 07970332097     Email: the_laboratory@hotmail.co.uk

Sunday 13 January 2013

The Launch

This Saturday saw the official launch opening of The Laboratory art studio, opposite The Green Centre at Wat Tyler Country Park.
We had a fantastic day with a large number of visitors who joined us for the launch and took part in the day's activities.
Participants had fun making a bowl from newspaper, drawing images of our large paper roll and showing off their artistic skills on our "Draw one Take one" activity.
A big thank you to Stephen Metcalfe MP, for visiting the studio and joining in with the fun activities (see pictures below) and Steve Prewer, manager of Wat Tyler for supporting our vision and attending the event.

The studio will be open most weekends, with next Saturday seeing the start of our Make and Matter group costing £3 per particpant. Workshops will start at 9:00am and finish at 11:00am. Participants will learn how to make felt brooches of various designs. We hope that once you have learnt how to make a brooch you will join us to make additional pieces that can be taken to Basildon St Luke's Hospice and sold in their shop to help raise funds. The aim of this group is for participants to learn a technique or new skills, socialise and make a positive contribution to their community.
We will also be holding Moshi Monsters workshop for all ages costing £3 per participant. Drop in any time between 12:00noon-4:00pm. Participants will learn how to draw their favourite monsters, design their own and make a Moshi Monster out of plastercine.

Ready for the launch

Tables ready for the art and craft activities

Summer showing off her stunning newspaper rolled bowl

Having fun drawing on the "Draw one Take one" table

It was a pleasure to see people of all ages exploring their creativity at The Laboratory

Eva working hard to make her spiral from Newspaper to turn into a bowl

Daniel created a fantastic spiral sculpture from Newspaper

MP Stephen Metcalfe popped along to find out about The Laboratory

Guided by the fabulous Sue Barnfield, Mr Metcalfe joined in the "Draw one Take one" activity

This lucky chap chose Mr Metcalfes drawing after leaving a
beautiful shell drawing on the wall for the next lucky customer

We were pleased to see people from all ages visit The Laboratory.
The range of drawings created represented a wide range of styles and abilities.

My talented sister-in-law Lea King made these amazing cupcakes, which some visitors were lucky enough to try!

At the end of the day we toasted the gallery with a nice glass of bubbly .
If you are interested in joining any of classes email the_laboratory@hotmail.co.uk to book your space.
Our adult beginners classes start Monday 14th January 7:00pm-9:00pm, 
Children's art classes start Thursday 17th January 5:00pm-6:30pm 
and adult classes start on Thursday 17th January 7:00pm-9:00pm 

To keep up-to-date with events at The Laboratory follow us on twitter: @1the_laboratory or facebook: facebook.com/(1thelaboratory)

Thank you to my sister Nicky for running the newspaper craft activity, Sue Barnfield for running the draw one take one stall, Lea for the lovely cup cakes, my amazing friends and family for all your support, encouragement and belief in me and last but by no means least to my wonderful husband for being my technician,  photographer, chauffeur, accountant and my rock.

Wednesday 9 January 2013

Featured Artists - Sue Barnfield


With the launch only 3 days away I am delighted to introduce to you The Laboratory's first featured artist - Sue Barnfield.
A selection of Sue's amazing Portraits exhibited at The Laboratory

Sue Barnfield was born in London, and is now living and working in the Basildon Area. She has been painting and drawing since childhood, and now feels that her practice has led her to a positive place as an artist. Sue is self taught, encouraged and influenced by many people, most notably her late father George White.
Amy Winehouse and Twiggy

Jessie J

iPad art
After working for many years in the city, training people on various computer systems, home and abroad – Sue gave up her job to become a portrait painter. Working in a diverse range of mediums such as acrylics, watercolour and pastels, her practice concentrates on painting abstract portraits of personalities within popular culture. This passion for portraits has led her to a wide variety of commissions even painting a “portrait” of a jet aircraft!
Sue regularly exhibited at the Basildon Eastgate Art Gallery (BEA) and we are delighted to have Sue Barnfield as our first featured artist at The Laboratory.
If you are interested in a commission or more information about Sues work you can contact Sue on:
Mobile: 07722766921          Email: susanbarnfield@hotmail.com

Sue's work will be up for all of January and can be viewed at our launch this Saturday 12th January 10:00am-4:00pm