Finding your authentic creative self with Veronique Maria

Creative and professional development

Ref: SWE12426

Suitable for all £299
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About this course

Explore your creativity, passion and purpose. Work with image, text and form, guided by your senses through visualisation, meditation and process.

Course Description

Explore the breadth of your creativity and uncover your passion and purpose. Work with image, text and form, guided by your senses through visualisation, meditation and process.

Your tutor is both an artist and mentor, providing you with a supportive and encouraging space for you to explore more of the breadth of your uniqueness as a creative individual.

Working with your senses, dreams and imagination, you will be led through a number of exercises designed to uncover, reveal and strengthen your creative core. Using your favourite materials and techniques, alongside some new ones, you will begin to express the essence of your creative self, through images, text, texture and form. Sixty percent of the course is working with the senses, using visualization, meditation and process, and forty percent is expressing your voice through materials.

You will be encouraged to take risks, to let go of any preconceived ideas you may have about yourself and your creativity, and to be really open to meet and explore your most authentic creative self.

This course is about experiential and experimental processes, not about making finished pieces. It is suitable for visual artists, writers, musicians and makers. No previous experience is necessary.

You will leave the course with a new found confidence in your creative self, a deeper understanding of your purpose for creating and a concrete plan around maintaining your practice in the following months.

Timetable

Arrival Day - this is the first date listed above

Courses start early evening. Residential students to arrive from 4pm, non-residential students to arrive by 6.45pm.

6.45pm: Welcome, followed by dinner (included).

8 - 9pm: First teaching session, attendance is essential.

Daily timetable

Classes 9.15 - 5pm, lunch is included.

From 6.30pm: Dinner (included for residential students).

Evening working - students may have access to workshops until 9pm, but only with their tutor's permission and provided any health and safety guidelines are observed.

Last day

Classes 9.15am - 3pm, lunch is included.

Residential students are to vacate their rooms by 10am please.

(This timetable is for courses of more than one day in length. The tutor may make slight variations)

Course Materials

Included

  • The cost of some drawing materials, paints, paper and clay will be provided, which will be shared amongst the group.

What students need to bring

  • You will need a sketchbook, pens, eraser and pencils.
  • In the weeks leading up to the course, pay attention to materials which attract you and that you enjoy using. Where possible, gather them up to bring to the course. These may include: a special sketchbook, pens, pencils, pastels, chalks, crayons, etc., and may also include glues, scissors, string and more.
  • You may like to bring a camera or device to photograph your work as you go along.

Available to buy

  • Available from shop:
  • Sketchbook suitable for journaling on your lap – ideally A5 or maxiumum A4
  • Pen, pencil
  • Optional materials: Pastels, crayons of your choice
It is a fundamental part of the work that we will be doing together that there is full group participation. Each session builds on the previous one. It is therefore important that when you book this course that you can ensure you can attend each and every session. Full participation with all exercises, group dialogue and experiential processes is vital for the course to be a success for everyone. No experience of meditation or mindfulness is necessary, as the tutor will lead beginners through this on the course. Please wear appropriate clothing/aprons for the workshop or studio. This includes stout covered footwear, i.e. no open-toes or sandals.

Tutors

Veronique Maria

Veronique Maria is passionate about the transformative power of creativity. She has worked as designer, artist and artists' mentor since 1970s and exhibits internationally. She has a BA (Hons) in Wood, Metals, Ceramics and Plastics from Brighton University, an MA in Psychosynthesis Psychology (Applied to Fine Art Practice) from Middlesex and is a Leadership Graduate with The Coaches Training Institute USA. Since 1989 Veronique has received numerous grants, awards and international residencies, the most recent being a ‘Grants for the Arts’ award through Arts Council England to further develop her creative practice from 2020 through to 2022. 

Accommodation

Residential option available. Find out accommodation costs and how to book here.

Courses of interest

Further study options

Take the next step in your creative practice, with foundation level to Masters in Fine Art study. 

Depending on your experience, start with an Online Foundation Certificate in Art and Design (one year, part-time), a Foundation Diploma in Art and Design made up of 10 short courses taken over two years (part-time) or a Diploma in Art and Contemporary Crafts (10 three-day study blocks, over two years). All will help you develop core skills, find direction in your practice and build an impressive portfolio in preparation for artist opportunities or higher-level study. See all degree and diploma courses.

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