Current teaching activities at Paul Birchall Studio in Woodstock
This year I will be teaching open sessions where people under guidance can work on their own themes and so develop their own personal artistic ideas.
I have also introduced Online courses , blended learning options with
Online hours
I will operate pretty much as I do in my regular studio except for that immediate interaction and demonstration factor. However, if you are disciplined and want to work at home with guidance this might be an option.
This is how it works:
I will operate one-to-one via Zoom.
You can buy five hours of time, which you can use in half-hour to one-hour segments so you can tap into my creative resources to help you along. You can use the hours to suit your needs. I will have dedicated online time slots and will be available evenings too for people who work during the day.
I will aid people with their own projects, giving input, direction and stimulus where and when they think they need it.
So many people have built working set-ups a home now and are used to online ways of working.
Cost of online hours
Five online hours = Ten 30 minute slots for R1500 Time can be used in half hour slots with 15 minute extensions if 30 minutes is not enough. 30 minutes is the minimum time period.
Class Times
Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Mornings 9.00am - 12.30pm
Tuesday and Wednesday Afternoons 1 To 4pm
Block 1
Fee:R1200 monthly
Participants must provide all their materials.
Occasionally specific material are used from my stock and charged accordingly.
Places are limited to 6 persons maximum
People wishing to join classes There are options to make up missed sessions
For further information contact me on 0823633046 or e-mail me at swainsyard.info@gmail.com
Other teaching activities
My ideas around teaching
For a number of years, I worked in a commercial art studio alongside a talented group of artists. The exchange of knowledge and practical techniques across all mediums has given me a wide base of skills to use in my own work and to pass on to others.
Combined with my more formal training, I try to engage students in exploring both techniques and intellectual ideas to develop style and individuality in the images they create.
My experience of students in art classes has been one of frustration and unfinished work. I try to help students to fully realize their ideas.
I believe that even with a limited skills base, students can create interesting work by engaging with the learning process.
Most people that I have taught seem to think that they need to learn to draw before they can create something they might consider a finished art work.
Learning to draw is a discipline that takes many hours of dedication, trial and error, exploring different techniques. I was taught to draw in a very logical and practical manner, using the point and line technique. This has underpinned everything that I have done as an artist.
From time to time, I run a structured programs and workshops in a variety of techniques. Anyone interested in finding out more can contact me at the above address.
What I try to do as a teacher is to enable students to combine learning skills with developing ideas and to make finished pieces of work.