On Saturday 7th May, local artist Conrad Clarke visited the Art Department to lead a painting workshop with SFC1 (Year 12) students and some of our LC3 (Year 9) Art Scholars.
SFC1 student, Phoebe, wrote:
“The studio had been prepared with several vibrant still lifes bursting with colour. Mr Clarke brought in some of his own paintings of landscapes with unnatural, luminous colours which reminded me of the image you get through a heat sensor camera.
“We were given a limited choice of colour and had to create several base layers with one colour, then choose a section of the still life to paint. First blocking in areas, then building up more detail by cutting into the background to highlight the negative space, giving definition to the shapes of the leaves and flowers. I chose a more muted colour palette of mainly green, while others opted for bright oranges and purples. This was a fun opportunity to try out a different painting technique, which was challenging but taught us useful skills.
“Others felt that the workshop was an interesting insight into the artist’s approach to painting and an opportunity for those that don’t paint often to experiment with both paint and technique. Interest was piqued by the limited choice of paints and the variety of colours it was still possible to generate.” 
Lily (SFC1) commented: “Conrad Clarke really reshaped how I approach painting, especially by reinforcing the importance of colour. By painting with just three secondary colours, the workshop helped me realise how versatile painting is, and cultivate skills that I’ll carry forward into my own art.”
The Art Department looks forward to continuing the relationship with both Mr Conrad and his gallery, Spring Cheltenham, a venue we visit with our Scholars to view contemporary work.
Mrs Coulson, Teacher of Art
Find out more about Conrad Clarke’s work here.
Fall Away, 2022, oil on canvas
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