Creative Themes… and how to find one!
Creative Themes… and how to find one!
Find a deeper, more authentic connection with your creativity…
THIS SHORT SELF-PACED COURSE IS FOR ARTISTS WHO HAVE EXPLORED TECHNIQUES AND NOW WANT TO DEVELOP A PERSONAL THEME.
About this course
Are you seeking to find authentic meaning in your work? Have you built your practical skills but feel there is something missing? Working from a theme will enable you to find a deeper, more authentic connection with your creativity.
Join me for Creative Themes….and how to find one. This is not a practical skills course, but it will enhance any practical course you take.
- Many artists need time to germinate their ideas without the pressure of time. Making this available as a self paced course alleviates that pressure.
- Working thematically is an aspect of creativity that is relevant to all artists whether they are realist or abstract, or in-between. This course will enable realist artists to learn how to dig deeper into their ideas moving beyond subject to theme. Abstract artists will be enabled to create work that moves them beyond process.
- This course will also help those who find committing to an intention difficult through fear, resistance and/or overwhelm.
Having decided your theme, you can then go on to gather resources and explore it to the full on your own or by taking my Approaches to Abstraction* or Urban Explorations courses.
*There will be a discount available for those enrolling on Approaches to Abstraction. Please note: Approaches to Abstraction is an annual scheduled course and as such places are limited, unfortunately taking Creative Themes does not guarantee you a place.
Course cost: £75 introductory price of £50
ENROL
Introductory price of £50 valid until 16 May
“Thank you so much for this, it is just what I need at this moment! I have found this aspect of making art the most difficult of all. I’m looking forward to getting to grips with it.”
Course content
- What a theme is, why you need one and dealing with the problems we have when choosing or committing to a theme.
- Approaches to documenting your ideas; writing, mind mapping, subconscious drawing, mood boards and Pinterest
- Ways to start your search; your past and present work, exploring subjects, titles and inspiration from artists.
- How to evaluate your ideas and decide which path to choose.
This is a self-paced course, meaning you can do it in your own time and return to it as often as you need too.
Examples of students’ work that has been developed from a theme
Pip Bignall theme ‘Divergence’
Mary Hickson theme ‘Fragmentation’
Jeremy Bevan theme ‘Sea Defence’
Heather Hanna theme ‘Industrial Debris’
Catriona Stamp theme ‘Contrasting Times’
Beatrice Crane-Baker theme ‘Changing Forest’
Anne Gaze theme ‘Saturated Forest’
Ann Newman theme ‘Boundaries’
Testimonials
“I’m so excited it comes exactly at the right time for me, because I’m seriously asking myself: What do I want to say? I want to reflect on where I am going and that is deeply connected to the question about theme and authentic expression.”
“So glad I signed up! What a brainwave to do a course on the understanding and importance of ‘themes/working with themes’. You can read about this but no one as far as I can tell is presenting it as course for us artists who see plenty of practical examples about the how rather than the why!”
“Thank you so much for this, it is just what I need at this moment! I have found this aspect of making art the most difficult of all. I’m looking forward to getting to grips with it.”
Course FAQs
This is a Level 3 course which is very popular but quite intensive, as such I only run this once a year. The course runs for six weeks.
DO I HAVE TO ATTEND AT A SPECIFIC TIME?
No, the only timed element is the four Q&A zoom meetings, and they are recorded if you cannot attend. The rest is prerecorded video and text. New content is available each week and I am on the course platform everyday to answer questions and join in discussions.
WHAT MEDIUM WILL WE WORK IN?
This is a Level 3 course that deals with creative concepts, and not a specific media so you can use any media you like! I will be demonstrating a few approaches using acrylics as that is quicker….
IS THERE TUTOR INTERACTION?
Yes, on the main course I am available to answer practical questions and I check in daily to comment on ideas and discussions, but I don’t specifically critique your work. Each activity has a forum where you can share your work with other students taking the workshop (not Facebook).
IS THERE AN ONLINE COMMUNITY?
Yes, all course participants have the option of sharing work they create within each module of the course. There you can share your work and ideas if you wish to do so and see work by other students.
Can I pay in any currency?Of course! The payment is set in GDP as I am in the UK but when you pay it will convert to your own currency
CAN I PAY IN MY CURRENCY?
Of course! The payment is set in GDP as I am in the UK but when you pay it will convert to your own currency
HOW DO I ACCESS THE COURSE?
You will be asked to register on the teaching platform Ruzuku. That is where the course lives.
HOW LONG SHOULD I EXPECT TO SPEND?
Expect to put aside 3-4 hours a week to watch the videos and complete the tasks (add an extra hour if you have a Personal Portfolio). Although I am only available during the scheduled 6 weeks ALL the content, come with lifetime access.
WHAT IS THE FORMAT?
The classes are delivered in video format via the online platform Ruzuku. There is also additional written content in the form of downloadable PDF’s
WHAT INTERNET CONNECTION WILL I NEED?
To get the most out of the class you need to have a high speed internet connection and newer computer or mobile device that is equipped to stream video off of the internet.
WHAT LEVEL ARE THE CLASSES?
The classes on this course are Level 3 and are suitable for artists who have established skills in any media. From 2023 priority will be given to those who have taken Confident Composition or Urban Explorations as both give a firm grounding for this course If you are unsure then please email me at sally@sallyhirst.co.uk.
DO I NEED ALL OF THE SUPPLIES?
No, I encourage you to work with what you have and adapt the classes to suit your needs. I am all for mixing things up and experimenting with materials! There is a supply list available in advance for each course.
DO YOU OFFER REFUNDS?
With my scheduled courses if you feel they are not right for you I will refund you within a week of your booking/the course starting, (less an admin fee) or a full credit towards another class. I encourage you to fully read through the class details and contact me if you have any questions prior to signing up. If once you have started you feel it not for you then please email me to discuss at sally@sallyhirst.co.uk.
You can find my full Terms & Conditions here.