BUSY BRUSHES
ART CLUB

Who I am

Clare, an experienced and qualified primary school teacher, private tutor and leader of Busy Brushes Children's Art Club. The club was set up in 2015 with my friend and fellow teacher Andrea as a way to run our own show and give children the time, space and inspiration to make art at their own pace, no matter if five or ten years old. From a hired hall start initially, I now love working with small groups of children around my kitchen table where we can chat, socialise and share our work as we draw, paint and create. I continue to teach in schools and am fully CRB checked, First Aid trained and insured.

What I do

Busy Brushes is an art club for five- to eleven-year-olds, held in the school holidays throughout the year. Each three-hour session features a particular artist, genre or theme and is designed so children of all ages can work at their own level and take home something to be proud of. There is a snack and drink mid-session and a break in the garden to relax. Lots of friends and siblings return to the club time after time - a lovely testimony that they have enjoyed themselves and view themselves as artists, happy to explore and experiment. My role is to inspire, educate, demonstrate and support depending on the age and abilities of the child. I love seeing the excitement when a child can master a printing roller, embroidery needle, marbling inks or chinese brushes and ink and then try out their own ideas.

Sessions cost £30 each and children can do one or as many as they wish in a block of sessions. Siblings get the reduced price of £27 per session. There are lots of happy customers and returning families from a variety of local schools which really pleases me! All refreshments, equipment and aprons are provided, your child just needs to wear old clothes and enjoy art!

OUR ART

My inspiration

Some of the famous and lesser known artists I have focused on are Monet, Kahlo, Vasarely, Warhol, Gaudi, Appel, Matisse, Van Gogh, Kandinsky, Klimt, Villegle, Pollack, Jojkity, Udo, Shilling, Dali and Indiana. We have printed, junk modelled, sculpted, sketched, mixed paint, dyed, splattered, engraved, weaved, made mosaics and worked with materials like wool, feathers, foil, beads, pasta, fabric and printing rollers. We have celebrated Easter, Christmas, Halloween and Day of the Dead with activities as diverse as real evergreen wreath making, egg decorating, sugar skulls and pumpkin faces. Our activities can be collaborative such as giant Pollack splatter painting, experimental such as floor mandalas using leaves and flowers or individual still lives where children observe and sketch. We've also travelled the world to explore Aztec stones, Aboriginal painting, Mexican shadow boxes and Native American dream catchers amongst other things...

Come and Join Us!

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram - I post pictures of what we are up to after each club. Email me to subscribe to our regular email list - busybrushesartclub@gmail.com

Clubs run most school holidays, often twice in the summer holidays. You can book by clicking on the Book Now button advertised and completing the form.

Next on... Easter 2024

3D Paper and Card Workshop

Tuesday 9th April, 9.30 - 12.30pm or 2.00 - 5.00pm

Cut, bend, fold and curl paper and card to create stunning 3D sculptures in this session, using paint and pens to enhance your work.

Lauren Birch's Colourful Cats

Wednesday 10th April, 9.30 - 12.30pm or 2.00 - 5.00pm

Learn about the folk art style of Birch and use oil pastels to design your own fabulous cats with bright colours, symmetrical patterns and spots and stripes galore.

Matisse Inspired Still Life Painting

Thursday 11th April, 9.30 - 12.30pm or 2.00 - 5.00pm

Artists will have their own stretched canvas to draw and paint upon, studying the famous 'Goldfish' painting by Matisse and creating their own version.

Van Gogh's Sunflowers

Friday 12th April, 9.30 - 12.30pm or 2.00 - 5.00pm

Using VG's famous Sunflower paintings we will use different collage materials and techniques to replicate our own vase of beautiful, colourful sunflowers, featuring papers, fabrics, buttons, beads and paint.

Morning session is 9.30am - 12.30pm and afternoon session is 2pm - 5pm.

All sessions are £30 per child for a three-hour workshop with snacks and drinks and all art materials provided, with a 10% discount for siblings booked in too.

All at my house in central Henley to keep yours clean!

© 2024 Busy Brushes