Tuesday 10 July 2018

Change is a positive thing............ for students and tutor

Change can be a difficult process to get through, even when the end result will be a positive one.

The process of change is initiated often by an idea and for me in this instance it is a creative one.  Barbara Januszkiewicz sums it up well:

Creative thinking inspires ideas. Ideas inspire change - Barbara Januszkiewicz

Many of you know that over the last year or so, as well as health, and family caring challenges, I have been involved in the organisation of the Botanical Art Worldwide event for the UK. Now this very successful event is over and the Association of British Botanical Artists evolves without me, I can move forward with opportunities for me as an artist but also as a tutor.

My ultimate aim when teaching is to guide my students through their learning process, recognising that each of them may learn in a different way and leading them to a progressive and successful outcome.

This is a challenge in itself, especially when you may only be teaching them for a one day workshop or for a few hours each week, or even online.  So my thinking cap has been well and truly on and now I can reveal that there are several changes coming up with Illustrating Natures Details, which will hopefully provide a fulfilling learning and teaching experience for all.

The 3rd July was my last day of teaching at Peter Symonds College AHED in Winchester.  I will be leaving after 6 years of teaching there and meeting so many talented people.  Thank you to everyone that has supported me and come to the classes, many of whom I will still see.

This means that I can create a new learning experience, one that means more time for all and following a project based approach.
This will take place from October 2018  at the Holt Estate, near Winchester, where I already teach workshops and courses.



The classes are for those with some experience of drawing and painting botanical and natural history subjects.  There will be a block of 4 classes to start with that will take place every other week. This will mean that there is the opportunity for structured tuition within class and then the option of continuing at home on a specific project over the 8 weeks in total. Students will also have the option of choosing a set botanical or natural history subject area at the point of booking.


Another exciting result of this creative change is that I have created a private group on Facebook for any student that attends the day workshops or longer courses at the Holt Estate.  This is a great way of everybody keeping in touch as some are spread far and wide.  
It is not a tuition group but an additional means of communication and support and is proving popular already.
This is one of the positive benefits of social media and I am thrilled to be able to provide this free of charge, as an addition to attending the workshops and courses.
If you have attended the courses at the Holt you can request to join the group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/HoltCoursesandWorkshops/


Don't forget that you can also keep up to date with news by signing up for the newsletter, the link for which is in the tabs above.

Do also keep a look out for further online courses coming later in 2018.

Happy drawing & painting !

Sarah