Banish Fear of Failure - Process, Tips + Insights

Mixed Media / Abstract / Beginners / Landscape

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Course details

Maybe it’s time to liberate yourself from your fear of getting your painting wrong? In this two part series of confidence boosting webinars artist Kerry Harding will share with you the tips and techniques she has developed over years of studio practice and teaching to banish those fears that stop you giving it a go.

Kerry in her studio

Understand what we think failure looks like when we are being creative, where might it come from and how it impacts us in the studio as a block. We will look at how successful artists develop tactics to banish those doubts and share some practical tips that you can try for yourself.

Kerry has been one of our lead artist for several years on our year long course called Porthmeor Programme. She has developed effective techniques with students to help break through personal confidence barriers to reach creative potential. In these two webinars she will share insights as well as tasters of the techniques she uses for herself and her others.

Each session will include a practical exercise for you to do at home to encourage play, risk taking and experimentation.

You can watch the session live or later. We record it so we can let you revisit the session to refresh your memory for up to one month after.

Once you have booked a session, you will receive a link on the morning of the broadcast. All you need to do is follow the link. You will also be invited to join our Facebook Alumni group so you can share your discoveries with our community of fellow students from around the world.

Whether you are a beginner or more experienced artist you will enjoy Kerry’s insights into how to banish that voice that holds you back.

Session 1 March 18th, 6 – 7:30pm

What blocks us from being creative?

Where do those inner voices come from that stop us making? Kerry shares insights into the steps you can take to build confidence and start to value your own personal narrative as an artist.

Session 2 March 25th, 6 – 7:30pm

Setting up your ‘healthy’ studio

How do we create the physical and mental space we need to be productive and inspired? Kerry shares her own insights along with other renowned artists. She guides you through a series of practical steps so you too can create your own personal routines that will unlock your creativity.

Taught by

Kerry
Harding

View Kerry’s Work

The best work comes when your shoulders are down and the hours disappear, not as easy as it sounds as most artists will tell you and so its been one of the guiding principles in my approach as a tutor. After over a decade of teaching I have also most enjoyed the process of helping students find their own voice, its already there and so hugely rewarding to help with this discovery.

What to Bring

You don’t need to join in with the live session if you would prefer to watch and review later. If you would like to do the homework you can do experiments using whatever you have to hand. i.e., paper and glue, charcoal, paint.

You will need access to the internet and ideally a PC, Smart TV, laptop or a tablet with audio. Phones are not really suitable to watch a webinar on as the presenter will be hard to see when they share their screen with you. But we will be sending you a recording of the session so you can revisit it as many times as you like for up to one month after.

Timings and Breaks

We will start teaching at 6pm and expect the session to last one and a half hours.

We will pause for questions at different points during the session so you can pose questions to the artist using the online chat function.

We will be sending you a recording of the sessions so you can revisit as often as you like for up to a month after broadcast.

FAQs

Online Broadcast

Do I need a webcam/any equipment?

For our webinar sessions which are broadcast on the internet and no webcam or microphone is needed as you just need to be able to see/hear hosts and you can communicate using the chat function. You can watch using a PC, Smart TV or tablet. A phone isn’t ideal as you will struggle to see enough unless you can miracast to a screen or smart TV.

For the longer online courses on Zoom you will need a laptop or tablet with audio and camera enabled so you can have a screen near where you are working. If you have a PC without camera or speakers, you can purchase a plug and play webcam for approx £25 which connects to a usb port. You will also need reasonable broadband connection and speed.

All the art materials and equipment needed to participate in the course will be listed in full on the online learning platform, for live webinars this will be a minimum of two weeks before the session starts.

I have registered for the webinar but I can't find my joining link

You can access all the resources and joining link for your webinar via our online learning platform. You will need to have set up an account on our online learning platform in advance. You can do this during the checkout process when purchasing your webinar. If you are having trouble accessing your online account, please contact [email protected]. You can use a PC or tablet or even cast from your phone to watch on your Smart TV.

I paid for the session but missed it, how can I watch?

Currently all our online sessions are recorded and you can access the recording on our online learning platform until it expires. Usually 60 days for a webinar, 90 – 180 days for multipart webinars or online courses.

Art Courses

Do you have to be experienced to come to the School?

No prior experience is required to join most of our art courses. The School of Painting is a friendly and welcoming environment for all ages and abilities, including complete beginners.

Our drop-in life drawing classes and short workshops are perfect if you’re trying painting for the first time. Many of our longer courses are also suitable for beginners, as our tutors are experienced in supporting mixed ability groups. If a course requires previous experience, this will be clearly stated on the course page.

Studio Courses

Can I bring my dog?

The studios are busy places with lots of equipment and not suitable for bringing a pet dog. We can accommodate assistance dogs with prior notice so we can make suitable adjustments. If you wish to bring an assistance dog please call 01736 797180 or email [email protected]

Can you help me choose the right course?

Yes, our friendly and knowledgeable team are always happy to help you choose the best course for your needs, whether you’re a beginner or looking to develop specific skills.

Please call us on 01736 797180 to discuss your options.

How do I get my work home?

Tutors have special techniques for transporting oil paintings and for our 3 day courses we will give you a plastic folder with a handle. These are also available to purchase for £3.50 or do bring a portfolio.

Please note: For the course Bigger, Bolder, Braver with Boo Mallinson, we will provide a large A1 size plastic folder for your work but please consider how you will be able to transport the larger canvases home safely before signing up for the course as we will not be able to store large paintings in the studio. On this course you will be painting on a 50cms x 50cms and a 1m x 1m canvas alongside smaller pieces.

For international students we are happy to arrange transportation of your work back home, postal costs will be borne by you.

What do I need to bring?

Absolutely nothing! All materials and aprons are provided although some people do like to bring their own set of brushes.

What do I do for lunch?

Courses allow an hour’s break for lunch and there are numerous places nearby or you are welcome to bring a packed lunch into the studio.

What times do courses run?

Most of our courses start at 10am and end at 4.30pm on the first day. Subsequent days we start at 9.30am ending at 4pm.

Short workshops start at 10am in the Summer and 9.30am/ 1.30pm during September festival


Booking a Course

How do I reserve a place on a course?

You can book your place online or by calling us on 01736 797180.

If you want to reserve a place whilst you confirm holiday accommodation we will give you a full refund if you change your mind within 24 hours of booking. Just get in touch [email protected].

To secure your place, a £100 deposit is required, with the remaining balance due 12 weeks before the course start date.

About St Ives

Where can I park near the School?

The nearest long-stay car parks are:

Island Car Park
Barnoon Long Stay Car Park

Both are approximately a 5-minute walk from the School.

During the busy summer months, you may find it easier to park at Trenwith Car Park near the leisure centre and walk into town. A shuttle bus often runs back up the hill from near Tate St Ives.

How do I get to the School of Painting in St Ives?

By train:

The nearest mainline station is St Erth, which is approximately a 15-minute taxi journey away. From there, you can also take the St Ives Bay Line, which runs every 30 minutes. The School is a 10-minute walk from St Ives station.

By car:

Take the M5 to Exeter, then follow the A30 into Cornwall. After passing Hayle, exit at the St Erth roundabout towards St Ives. Continue through Lelant and Carbis Bay into St Ives..

Where can I stay in St Ives?

St Ives offers a wide range of accommodation, including hotels, guest houses, and self-catering options. You can explore options on our website, or contact us directly on 01736 797180 if you’d like personalised recommendations.

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