White House Arts

Download a pdf of the 2010 Course Programme (text only for easy download - no photos) - click here

Term Dates 2009/10
Autumn term - Monday 21st September to Friday 4th December (1/2 term 26th to 30th October)
Spring term - Monday 11th January to Friday 26th March (1/2 term 15th to 19th February)
Summer term - Monday 26th April to Friday 9th July (1/2 term 31st May to 4th June)

How to Book
When you have confirmed availability for your chosen course (by email info@whitehousearts.co.uk, or phone 01223 420018) please send a cheque for the full course fee, made payable to "White House Arts", to 72 Fen Road Cambridge CB4 1UN
You can also request to be added to our e-mailing list using the same contact details - you will receive occasional updates on new courses and latest news (your details are only ever used by WHA and will never be passed to any 3rd party).

Terms and Conditions:
Fees paid for courses are non-refundable, unless there is a waiting list for the course and a replacement can be found. Refunds will be subject to a 10% administration fee.
Your place on a course is secured on a 'first come first served' basis by payment of the course fee.

	Download a pdf of the 2010 Course Programme (text only for easy download - no photos) - click here Term Dates 2009/10 Autumn term - Monday 21st September to Friday 4th December (1/2 term 26th to 30th October) Spring term - Monday 11th January to Friday 26th March (1/2 term 15th to 19th February) Summer term - Monday 26th April to Friday 9th July (1/2 term 31st May to 4th June) How to Book When you have confirmed availability for your chosen course (by email info@whitehousearts.co.uk, or phone 01223 420018) please send a cheque for the full course fee, made payable to "White House Arts", to 72 Fen Road Cambridge CB4 1UN You can also request to be added to our e-mailing list using the same contact details - you will receive occasional updates on new courses and latest news (your details are only ever used by WHA and will never be passed to any 3rd party). Terms and Conditions: Fees paid for courses are non-refundable, unless there is a waiting list for the course and a replacement can be found. Refunds will be subject to a 10% administration fee. Your place on a course is secured on a 'first come first served' basis by payment of the course fee.
	WEEKEND COURSES - 2009/2010
	Please bring packed lunches - tea and coffee provided

	Silver Clay Jewellery with Melanie Blaikie Saturday 9th January 10am-4pm £70 inc. basic materials Due to demand, 2nd day added - Sunday 10th January Silver clay has all the properties of clay but is 99.9% pure silver. This enables complete beginners to model two or three pieces of jewellery, which will then be fired in minutes and be ready to take home at the end of the day. Melanie Blaikie is one of only a handful of tutors in this country qualified to teach this technique.

	Mixed Media Experimentation with Neil Payne Saturday 16th January 10am-4pm £50 inc. materials (Priority given to those who have not attended this course previously) A wide variety of media and techniques will be used to create exciting decorative work. Materials will include watercolour, inks, pigments, pastels, graphite, gold leaf and oils. You will learn techniques such as montage, collage, media layering and elements of monoprinting. Suitable for beginners and those wishing to extend their use of media.

	Silver Ring Making with Francesca Biggar Saturday 23rd January 10am-4pm £60 inc. all materials (there will be a charge for silver used if you make more than 1 ring) A course aimed at beginners. Students can enjoy a whole day of jewellery making, get a feel for the subject and finish a simple silver ring. The course will cover all the basic jewellery techniques such as piercing, soldering, filing, polishing and also the handling of tools.

	NEW! Two Saturdays of Sketchbook ideas with Karen Stamper 30th January and 6th February 10am-4pm £100 inc. materials Do you have an empty or half completed sketchbook? This two day workshop is a fantastic opportunity to bring your sketchbooks to life. We will look at different observation and recording techniques to develop your own style. You will learn how to make each page exciting and interesting with pen, collage, print and paint. Please bring your own book/s, any size. Suitable for all levels.

	Beginner Throwing Weekend with Rachel Dormor 13th and 14th February 10am-4pm £100 inc. materials, and biscuit firing only An opportunity to devote a whole weekend to developing your throwing technique. Each student will have use of their own pottery wheel so there will be plenty of 1-1 tuition. The course is designed to cater for individual needs so is ideally suited for beginners.

	NEW! Chainmail Jewellery with Ghislaine Tibbs Saturday 27th February 10am-4pm £60 inc. basic materials This one day course looks at the ancient art of making chain maille, not for armour, but for beautiful and surprisingly contemporary-looking jewellery. Although aimed at the beginner, the course will cover many weaves including shaggy hoops, the versatile parallel or helm chain, inverted chain and the exquisite Byzantium. You will make a bracelet and several samples.

	The Art of Crochet with Anne Taylor and Sara Dani Saturday 6th March 10am-4pm £50 inc. crochet hook and materials Learn to crochet or revitalise those half-forgotten skills. During this relaxing day you will learn how to use three traditional crochet stitches and how to follow a basic pattern. You will complete a small item such as a mobile phone cover, flower or short scarf, and then develop these into larger pieces such as shawls, a longer scarf with a fringe, or a large bag.

	Advanced Knitting with Liz Marley Sunday 7th March 10am-4pm £50 inc. some materials Come and experiment with freeform techniques which challenge the idea of knitting as a "back-and forth" process - you'll work in all directions, picking up stitches from other pieces, to make a sampler which could become a cushion, scarf or bag. The ability to cast on and off, and knit and purl, is required.

	Silver Box and Spoon Weekend with Geoff Seddon 13th and 14th March 10am-4pm £100 (a charge will be made for silver used) Make a precious gift or present for yourself on this busy weekend course. There will be various designs to suit all levels of competence. A course in small-scale silver-smithing ideally suited to students with some basic experience in making jewellery. Take home a completed silver box or spoon decorated with your own design.

	Oil Painting Weekend with Denise Spalding 20th and 21st March 10am-4pm £100 inc. basic materials Enjoy giving your artistic potential a boost whether you are being introduced to oil paints or are experienced in this diverse medium. Still life will be the springboard to create a composition (more experienced students may wish to develop their own ideas). We will look to the Masters for inspiration and structure. Your preferred technique will be encouraged/discovered in a relaxed and sympathetic environment.

	Further Felt Fun Weekend with Gill Collinson 27th and 28th March 10am-4pm £100 inc. basic materials An exciting course for those who have tried and enjoyed felt making before. You will make your own felted artwork using a variety of felt making techniques such as needle felting, mosaic, and resist. This will give you a unique opportunity to experiment and learn many new felt making techniques and processes to create your own highly individual work.

	Screen Printing onto Textiles Weekend with Ricki Outis 24th and 25th April 10am-4pm £110 inc. most materials (a short materials list will be issued on enrolment) Come along to this exciting course with a pile of plain fabrics and leave with exciting colourful prints you can use for T-shirts, cushion covers, a sample book or a small quilt. Emphasis is on the experimental, learning to make simple paper stencils, which can be used with the screen to create bold and colourful prints on fabric. This is a great introductory weekend for anyone new to screen printing as well as for students who would like to develop existing printing skills. We will be using pigment based print inks, which are non-toxic, and A4 screens.

	Wire Drawing and Sculpture with Neil Payne Saturday 8th May 10am-4pm £60 inc. basic materials Using a variety of metal forming and texturing techniques you will create a piece of sculptural work using steel wire, lead, copper and other materials. Inspiration will come from the human figure, animals and natural forms. Suitable for complete beginners and those with some sculptural experience.

	Fascinator Course with Andrew McDonald Saturday 15th May 10am-4pm £60 inc. basic materials An ideal course for anyone who is going to a wedding this Summer and wants to stand out from the crowd! Making this small decorative piece of headwear involves learning how to make a base, shape feathers, make roll-edge flowers and other decorative shapes and how to arrange and manipulate veiling if you choose.

	NEW! Stringing Jewellery with Linda Orders Saturday 22nd May 10am-4pm £50 inc. basic materials Stringing is an art form that is often overlooked as it is notoriously complicated. But it is a medium where your imagination can run riot! Linda is a professional pearl stringer with over 25 years experience. She will show you some basic techniques that will inspire you to produce a necklace you will be proud to wear. So let her string you along for an informative and fun day!

	Coracle Making Weekend with Olivia Elton Barratt 29th and 30th May 10am-4pm £180 per coracle (based on two people working together) inc. materials This unusual and popular course returns! Learn to make a version of an Irish “Boyne” coracle, using thick willow withies covered with bitumen-coated calico. Olivia Elton Barratt is the President of The Basketmakers' Association, and an extremely experienced coracle maker and tutor. Suitable for anyone who loves messing around in boats.

	Knitted Wire Jewellery with Alison Powell Saturday 12th June 10am-4pm £60 inc. basic materials Create your own beautiful contemporary jewellery by knitting coloured fine wire with beads and stones. You will be introduced to making knitted pieces that can then be manipulated and sewn into highly unusual bracelets and rings. You will be shown the basic techniques and then encouraged to design and create your own pieces. Basic knitting experience is useful but not essential.

	Summer on the River Drawing Day with Neil Payne Friday 18th June 10am-4pm £60 inc. materials but please bring your own sketchbooks Landscape drawing from the canal boat Rosie! The day will be spent drawing in sketchbooks and on paper with a variety of media on the boat and on the banks of the river, taking inspiration from how other artists have approached drawing in the landscape. Come and have an enjoyable, productive, and (hopefully) sunny day on the River Cam.

	Monoprinting with Val Armstrong Saturday 19th June 10am-4pm £60 inc. materials In this course you will experiment and play with the technique of monoprinting. The result will be wonderful and unique multi-coloured prints. They will be created by overlapping layers of transparent inks with both cut paper and organic matter as stencils. The secret is to judge when to stop!

	Rush Baskets with Olivia Elton Barratt Saturday 3rd July 10am-4pm £60 inc. materials Make a stylish and sturdy shopping or picnic basket from Norfolk Rushes combined with coloured webbing to create a strong handle. Beginners and those with experience welcome.

	Advanced Silver Clay Weekend with Melanie Blaikie 10th and 11th July 10am-5pm £130 inc. most materials Suitable for those who already have some experience of working with Silver Clay or for adventurous novices! This weekend will be a veritable feast of Silver Clay! You will learn lots of exciting and innovative techniques for creating real silver jewellery and will be using different forms of silver clay to achieve amazing designs and finishes. All techniques will be taught in easy stages with plenty of hands on demonstrations and useful tips and information throughout the weekend.

	NEW! Advanced Throwing Course with Matthew Blakely Mon 12th and Tues 13th July 10am-4pm £100 inc. materials, and biscuit firing only This is an intensive two day workshop that will enable you to concentrate on developing your throwing skills and improve technique. This class is suitable for people who have some experience of throwing and wish to refine their technique or to focus on a particular skill or form. There will be plenty of 1:1 tuition throughout the two days.

	NEW! Three Day Slab Work in Clay with Joy Voisey Wednesday 14th to Friday 16th July 10am-4pm £140 inc. materials A three day course suitable for all levels - beginners very welcome. Working with stoneware clay we will consider texture as well as form as we build pots and "creations" from rolled slabs of clay. We can consider the use of adding metallic oxides to give varied effects on bare clay or under glazes. Ceramics will be given their first firing when dry, then dates will be advised when you may come and glaze your work. All materials and equipment provided.

	Indigo Dyeing with Clarissa Cochran Thursday 22nd July 10am-4pm £50 inc. most materials (Scarves can be purchased - £2.50 to £5.00) Come and enjoy a creative day in an idyllic garden setting. Bring your own T-shirts, or other white clothing (natural fibres only) and transform your wardrobe for the summer! Learn about this magical blue dye and how to use it on cottons and silks, using Japanese shibori techniques. Design your own scarf or cushion cover or make experimental pieces for patchwork or embroidery work. Cotton sheeting pieces provided.

	Raku Taster Day with Rachel Dormor Friday 23rd July 10-4pm £50 inc. materials A chance to try out this exciting, beautiful and unpredictable glazing and firing technique. You will glaze and fire your own ceramics or a tea bowl in the traditional Japanese way. You will lift your own pots out of the red hot kiln!


	NEW! Beginner Jewellery Weekend with Geoff Seddon 11th and 12th September 10‐4pm £100 (a charge will be made for silver used) Small scale silver smithing and jewellery making. Time to learn the basic techniques …. soldering, cutting, sawing, drilling, polishing ......to produce two or three finished items!

	DAYTIME CLASSES - 2010

	Ten Week Advanced Textiles and Mixed Media Exploration with Gill Collinson Mondays 9.30am–12.30pm starting 11th January and 26th April £165 per term inc. materials A course aimed at those with some experience in any visual discipline who would like to continue along their creative path, supported by an experienced artist/tutor within an informal yet stimulating environment. Projects will be set as starting points from which to explore a wide range of textile/mixed media techniques combined with essential design principles.

	Five Week Drawing for Design with Niki Chandler Mondays 1-3pm starting Monday 26th April £60 inc. materials Taking observational drawing as our starting point, this short course will help you to develop a wide body of exciting artistic outcomes. You will discover a diverse range of drawing techniques, design processes and art media. You will learn how to make visual connections and build coherent concepts to underpin your design developments. The design focus will cover aspects of abstraction, composition, colour, proportion, texture and pattern. This course is suitable for both beginners and established artists/crafts people who are looking for new directions.

	Ten Week Beginner/Intermediate Textiles and Mixed Media Exploration with Gill Collinson Tuesdays 9.30am–12.30pm starting 12th January and 27th April £165 per term inc. materials An opportunity to develop skills, investigate composition, colour, texture etc. through led projects: building confidence and experience of a wide variety of techniques. By working through the creative challenge of exploring a theme or title, learn the steps to take you from inspiration to realisation, expressing yourself in an innovative and rewarding way.

	Ten Week Drawing and Mixed Media Day Class with Neil Payne Tuesdays 1-4pm starting 12th January and 27th April £160 per term inc. materials Discover a range of materials such as oils, acrylics, pastels and simple printmaking in this experimental and enjoyable class. You will be introduced to many drawing techniques and look at still lives and interiors as well as venturing outside when weather permits. Neil is an inspirational local artist and tutor. This class is suitable for all levels, including absolute beginners.

	Ten Week Ceramics Day Class with Lucy Blake Wednesdays 9.30am-12 noon starting 13th January and 28th April £150 per term inc. materials and firings Make, experiment, build, change and create. This course provides tuition tailored to the style and interest of each student. Lucy’s main focus is sculptural works, but she is equally happy to teach both hand built and thrown techniques as well as sculpture. Discover ways of expressing shape, form, texture and colour though the exciting processes of ceramics. Suitable for both the complete beginner and the more advanced student.

	Ten Week Jewellery Daytime Course with Geoff Seddon Fridays 1-3pm starting 15th January & 30th April £120 per term (a charge will be made for silver and consumables used) A class for all levels covering jewellery making and small scale silver smithing projects such as making boxes, spoons and bowls. You will have the chance to learn new skills and work on your own projects.

	EVENING CLASSES - 2010

	Ten Week Ceramics Evening Courses: Mondays 5-7pm with Joy Voisey and 7.15–9.15pm with Matthew Blakely starting 11th January and 26th April £120 per term inc. firings and materials A diverse course which will enable you to make ceramics using a variety of hand building techniques as well as improving your throwing if you wish. Suitable for both total beginners and those with more experience.

	Ten Week Drawing Evening Course with Niki Chandler Tuesdays 7-9pm starting 12th January and 27th April £110 per term inc. materials This lively course is aimed at all those who have a passion and interest in learning to see through the activity of drawing. You will be encouraged to discover your own personal style through engagement with a wide range of observational drawing and mark-making exercises. Formal elements of design such as colour, pattern, scale, texture and composition will be covered. The course is suitable for complete beginners to drawing, but will also appeal to those pursuing other craft areas as Niki has a background in design and textiles.

	Ten Week Intermediate and Advanced Jewellery Evening Course with Francesca Biggar Wednesdays 5-7pm and 7.15-9.15pm starting 13th January and 28th April £120 per term (a charge will be made for silver and consumables used) Higher level classes for those who already have some experience of soldering and basic jewellery making techniques. You will have the chance to learn new skills and work on your own projects.

	Ten Week Beginners Jewellery Evening Course with Nick Gillespie Thursdays 5-7pm starting 14th January and 29th April £120 per term (a charge will be made for silver and consumables used) Learn the basics of working precious metals, and jewellery construction: soldering, sawing, smithing, stone setting, texturing and polishing. An easy going exploration and a chance to learn the core skills necessary to accomplish your own projects – it’s easier than you think. No experience necessary.

	Ten Week Beginners Jewellery Evening Course with Francesca Biggar Thursdays 7.15-9.15pm starting 14th January and 29th April £120 per term (a charge will be made for silver and consumables used) A fun, practical course introducing a range of basic techniques such as sawing, soldering, drilling, texturing, forming and finishing. A number of projects will be run to introduce the range of core skills and you will make your own pieces of jewellery. No previous skills or experience are necessary.

	Ten Week Beginners Jewellery Evening Course with Rebecca Ilett Fridays 7-9pm starting 15th January and 30th April £120 per term (a charge will be made for silver and consumables used) A course aimed at beginners introducing basic techniques and processes in jewellery including etching, stone setting and repousse. The course is aimed at beginners, but those with more experience are very welcome too.