NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

FINISHING SCHOOL

I have some time in late July/August on Monday evenings (London time) and I know everyone generally wants to finish paintings. It’s summer and a good time to work hard with lots of buoyant, childlike energy like a solar-powered battery stored up from the sunlight you’ve gathered during the day (just like plants) (‘plant’ is Welsh for ‘child!’). So: let’s get things done!

Introducing this idea… FINISHING SCHOOL

The Finishing School of finishing paintings

For acquiring the correct brush etiquette in completing one’s paintings

Deportment for one’s portfolio

Polish your paintings and varnish your soul

To mark entry into charmed and framed society

See you at the finissage

Q. When is a painting finished?

A. When it’s the deadline. (Joke - I’d be interested in your answers!)

Although these sessions are not explicitly taught classes, and there is no new material covered, I will be painting alongside you and the sessions are themed. To get the most out of them you may choose a painting-in-progress of yours with a similar theme. I may go slightly faster than usual and it might feel intense; at other times it might go more slowly than usual due to thinking and contemplating. Alternatively you are welcome to bring along any painting you like at any stage of the process, although one that is en route to finishing is recommended. It is a chance for you to catch up on that pile of unfinished work and get some focused painting done with some gentle guidance in the spirit of the traditional kitabkhana, where students, apprentices, masters, calligraphers and occasionally poets all worked in the same space.

Open to former and current students with works in progress. Current students may think of them as more relaxed catch-up sessions in between regular classes, which takes the pressure off ‘homework’; former students may benefit from the chance to reconnect with miniature painting and fall in love with it all over again!

[If you are interested in actual taught classes, please see my other available classes in the ‘Upcoming’ section for the current curriculum.]

£195 for the month

All Monday evenings

All London time

Which is your preference in terms of time slots?

• 7-8pm (this one may not always be possible, we'll see)

• 8-9pm

• 9-10pm

• 10-11pm

• 11-12am (this time slot may or may not continue in winter as it gets dark, we’ll see)

To keep things fresh, we can vary the themes on a weekly basis. Ideas for themes:

• Faces

• Architecture

• Books

• Birds

• Siyah Qalam

• Backgrounds

• Annoying little bits that just need to get done

• Borders

• Plants

• …