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Studio Art Club
Led by Helen Ridley
Every two weeks on Thursday from 11am - 2pm you will join local artist Helen Ridley to explore your inner artist.
Helen will demonstrate a range of techniques and materials, from watercolour and gouache to pencils and pastels.
Each session will explore a different theme with a range of references to choose from, giving you the opportunity to explore and experiment.
The Studio is open to all abilities and you will need to bring your own materials, please see details listed below:
Materials
● Watercolour paints
● Watercolour brushes
● Gouache paints
● Coloured pencils
● Coloured Pastels
● Watercolour paper
● Sketchbook to plan compositions and colour palettes
Mixed media paper will be available
The Studio Art Club runs from Thur 8 Sept every 2 weeks on the dates below.
Spring
Thur 19 Jan, 2 Feb, 16 Feb, 2 Mar, 16 Mar, 30 Mar, 13 Apr, 27 Apr
11am - 2pm
£28 per session | £184 per 8 week term
other events you may be interested in
Zen Drawing (online)
Led by Amanda Schenk
Amanda Schenk is the visual artist behind Norden Farm's much-loved (and Instagrammed) glass corridor artwork in the school holidays. Join Amanda for this new drawing course, aimed at helping to create a sense of calm and relaxation through drawing patterns.
Suitable for all abilities, the workshops will focus on building confidence in your drawing abilities - concentrating on the soothing journey of the drawing experience, rather than the finished drawing.
In each session you'll explore how to produce different types of patterns in abstract drawings - looking at different designs each week.
You will need: paper (plain, no smaller than A5), lead pencil, eraser, sharpener, black fine liner or a pen. Optional is a black marker.
Spring
Tues 10 Jan, 7 Feb, 7 Mar, 4 Apr
7.30pm - 8.45pm (online only)
£8 per class | £28 per 4 week course
Suitable for ages 18+ years
Please prepare for your visit by reading our latest Visitor Information here. This includes important information about face coverings and measures we have implemented to keep everyone safe when visiting Norden Farm.
Tango
Led by Tango Journey
Tango is a social dance. All across the country people gather in village halls to socialise and dance to the music of 1930s/40s Buenos Aires.
The course is suitable for beginners and for those that want to refresh the fundamentals of the dance. You will learn how to dance with a partner, with the music and within a group.
You will learn a little about the history and culture of tango and you will be given music and film clips to enjoy at home. Above all you will have fun!
Spring
Thur 12 Jan - 9 Feb, Thur 23 Feb - 16 Mar, Thur 30 Mar - 27 Apr (exc 13 Apr)
8pm - 9pm
£12 per session | £50 per 5 week course | £40 per 4 week course
Crafternoons
Led by Kayleigh Robinson.
Norden Farm's Crafternoons are relaxed crafting sessions for older people.
Get crafty with a range of activities, or bring along your own projects to work on with support from tutor Kayleigh Robinson.
You can learn new skills, meet new people and try something new, a cup of tea is included with the ticket price. If you are unable to attend in person you can log on from home to chat and join in the session.
Wed 1 Feb Still Life Drawing
Wed 15 Feb Cloud Decorations
Wed 22 Feb Mini Scented Cushions
Wed 1 Mar Button Bowl
Wed 8 Mar Watercolour
Wed 15 Mar Book Folding Art
Wed 22 Mar Decoupage
Wed 29 Mar Puzzle Piece Art
Wed 5 Apr Easter Egg Decorating
Wed 12 Apr Miniature Garden
Wed 19 Apr Collage
Wed 26 Apr Ceramic Plates
Social Arts Crafternoons is a partially funded project run by Norden Farm with support from The Berkshire Community Foundation.
Suitable for ages 60+ years.
Spring
Wed 11 Jan - 26 Apr (exc 8 Feb)
2pm - 3pm
£5 per session, including a cup of tea
These are blended sessions, where you can take part in person at Norden Farm or online via Zoom.
If you need transport to Norden Farm for this session please contact Jess Thompson at jess.thompson@nordenfarm.org / 01628 682563 to talk through your requirements.
Book Club
Share your thoughts on contemporary fiction with other readers in a welcoming and relaxed atmosphere.
This season the Book Club will be reading
19 Jan - Act of oblivion by Robert Harris
16 Feb - Olive again by Elizabeth Strout
16 Mar - Small things like these & Foster by Claire Keegan
20 Apr - The Promise by Damon Galgut
Suitable for 18+ years.
Spaces are limited, early booking is advised to avoid disappointment.
Spring
Thur 19 Jan, 16 Feb, 16 Mar, 20 Apr
7.30pm – 9.30pm
£5 per session (includes a glass of wine or soft drink from the bar)
Jewellery Embroidery Workshop
Led by Aliona Borysenko
Welcome to the world of embroidery!
This jewellery embroidery workshop is for beginners who are new to embroidery with different materials, as well as those with some experience in embroidery with threads.
During the workshop you will practice different embroidery techniques, which will give you the confidence to create and your own embroidery designs.
Designs for the Spring 2023 workshops TBC
You will be shown how to embroider with materials such as: beads, crystals, sequins, chenille, metallic threads, bugles and other materials. You may choose to decorate your clothes and your children's clothes with the embroidery you create, or you may choose to complete your embroidery into a brooch.
Spring
Sat 25 Feb, Sat 25 Mar, Sat 15 Apr
11am - 4pm
£70 per workshop
Materials and instruments for one Robin will be provided. Participants are very welcome to bring their clothes or that they would like to decorate with.
About Aliona Borysenko:
Aliona came from Ukraine where she taught at a leading Jewellery Design School. She began sharing her knowledges in workshops and courses 12 years ago. Whilst in Ukraine, she has worked with Swarovski and Preciosa and has created designs for the likes of Coca Cola, Schwarzkopf, L’Oréal and Windows to name a few. Aliona is exited to offer embroidery workshops for beginners at Norden Farm. She also works within schools and runs workshops for children.
Drawing on Coloured Papers
Led by Jo Hall
Choosing a different coloured paper for each session we explore how paper colour can be exploited as part of the composition. Within this we will look at line, tone, form, mark making, texture and pattern using a variety of drawing media. Initially working from still life objects, the first week from natural forms e.g. a sea shell or fruit, later in the course there will be an opportunity to draw a landscape in colour or make a portrait study using the three-crayon technique.
Some objects will be supplied for the first session or bring a natural form you would like to draw.
Please bring your own materials and scroll down for detailed info on what you will need.
Some papers will be available from the tutor at cost.
Tues 28 Feb - 4 Apr
12.30pm - 3.30pm
£120 per 6-week course
Suitable for 18+ years
Materials Info
We will experiment with coloured pastel papers and some smoother coloured drawing papers suitable for other drawing media. A small sample pack of papers for the first session (cost about £2.00) will be available from the tutor for the first session. Other coloured papers will also be available at cost.
Please bring: drawing board and clips or tape to hold your paper, putty eraser, plastic eraser, paper towel, spray fixative for chalky media (to be used outside only), craft knife or pencil sharpener, small piece of sandpaper, water pots if using pen and ink (plus brush for brush drawing with ink)
Drawing media: you will only need black and white for the first week
Choose from the following suggestions;
Dry media: charcoal and white chalk pastel, pastel pencil, conté crayon in black white and sanguine, any coloured pencil, or graphite pencil or block
Wet media: e.g. pen/stick/brush and ink, paint pen, black fine liner and brush pens
It would be good to have something from each list above. The different kinds of drawing media will be discussed at the first session. Don’t bring large tins and boxes of colour as we will be working in an almost monochrome way first of all gradually introducing more colour in the following weeks.
Japanese Calligraphy Spring Workshop
Led by Eiko Ishida
Celebrate the wonderful spring season– Spring is the season of new beginnings. Fresh buds bloom, animals awaken and the earth seems to come to life again!
Why not try something new? Learn the beautiful art of Japanese calligraphy. You will enjoy the peace and calm of this class while creating the brush characters that write about spring and this lovely season.
You will be shown the basic principles of writing Japanese; using the traditional Japanese materials of a brush, ink and Japanese paper. You will be guided on how to create your first brush strokes and build on these basic steps to create some lovely Japanese characters.
No calligraphy experience or Japanese language skills necessary.
Wed 12 Apr
11am - 2pm
£48
Suitable for 18+ years
Norden Farm’s Daytime Choir
Led by Dr Marta Mathea Radwan
Norden Farm’s Daytime Choir is a fun, friendly, non-auditioned choir for everyone. We learn by ear, so you don’t need music experience. Our music ranges from gospel, world and jazz to pop and classical - anything that sounds great and is a joy to sing. Joining us is a great way to meet people and sing your stress away.
Fri 13 Jan – 10 Feb and Fri 3 Mar – 31 Mar
2pm - 3.30pm
£12 per session | £50 for 5-week course
Suitable for 18+ years
About the tutor
Dr Marta Mathea Radwan is an award-winning vocalist, composer and musical director. Heralding from Poland and with over 30 years' experience in musical performance, Marta conducts choirs around London, including: jazz group Alle Choir London, Offbeat a cappella community choirs in Acton and Richmond, and Singing for Fun groups at Brunel University London.
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