‘A Brush with Song’

May 25th-27th 2012

downhill beach self-catering accommodation northern ireland mussenden temple

Come and take part in a creative blend of singing and painting, in the stunning setting of the North Antrim coast. As well as facilitated sessions each day, there will be free time to explore the stunning surroundings, walk by the sea, or just relax! Gourmet food provided by Crusoe’s of Castlerock. Special diets catered for.

Brian Ballard painter Kate Fletcher singer northern ireland

Brian Ballard

is a leading Irish Artist, who will lead the group in painting with oils and/or acrylics. He will encourage everyone to express themselves, either outside, inspired by the beautiful landscape, or inside painting still life. He is an inspiring teacher, who would welcome those with or without experience of painting.

Kate Fletcher

has been running regular singing workshops for over twenty years. She believes not only that anyone can sing, but that everyone has a right to give voice. With a range of songs from around the world in harmony and by ear, the singing is accessible to those with lots of experience or none.

Both Kate and Brian are experienced teachers in their field, and are committed to opening up their sphere to all. So if you are an experienced singer new to painting, an expert artist new to singing, or just like the sound of a weekend of creativity and enjoyment, then this is for you!

Location:

The weekend will based in Downhill where accommodation will be provided at the Victorian residence ‘Glenhassan Hall’, now known as the Downhill Hostel, a beautiful self-catering guesthouse on the Downhill beach.

self-catering accommodation on downhill beach northern ireland self-catering accommodation on downhill beach northern ireland

Accommodation

will be in shared rooms, mostly shared in twos, but to a maximum of three.

Cost

per person sharing:

£250 residential including meals
£160 non-residential including afternoon and evening meals

Arrive 7pm Friday 25th

Depart 2pm Sunday 27th

What to bring:

Enthusiasm!

Outdoor clothing and shoes for painting outside

Your own painting materials if you have them –or materials can be ordered ahead of the weekend (see below). Additional canvasses will also be available for sale.

Please contact Kate and Brian or print and complete the form below, and send with a £50 deposit (payable to Brian Ballard) to

Brian Ballard and Kate Fletcher

53 Kensington Road

Belfast BT5 6NL

For more information or queries, tel 028 90 796697 or email ballardfletcher@btinternet.com

Booking Form A Brush with Song, Glenhassan Hall. 25-27 May 2012

Please reserve me a place on the Glenhassan Hall weekend, 25th – 27th May. I enclose a cheque for £ 50 deposit

Name:

Address:

Contact telephone numbers:

Email:

Special Dietary needs:

Residential / Non-residential (circle one)

I will bring my own materials,/ including sketching easel-please bring if you have one

or: I would like to purchase paints and canvas, and borrow easel (circle one)

Other relevant information or special circumstances which we should know about in order to make your weekend as enjoyable as possible:

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I am now 3 weeks in to a paper-making course with some of the P3, P4, and P5 kids from Ballyhackett Primary school and we are all having great fun, just have a look!

papermaking equipment for kids craft class castlerock coleraine Kids making paper at art and craft classes in Castlerock Coleraine

The kids know all the equipment they need and how to set out their tables to be ready to work. Mostly they work in pairs taking turns drawing out each sheet of paper, turning them onto the couching cloths and then absorbing excess moisture with a sponge before removing the mold.

Kids making paper at art and craft classes in Castlerock Coleraine Kids making paper at art and craft classes in Castlerock Coleraine
Kids making paper at art and craft classes in Castlerock Coleraine Kids making paper at art and craft classes in Castlerock Coleraine

This week the kids coordinated with their partners as they choose what colour paper they made. After making a couple of sheets with recycled shredded office paper and coloured napkins, they started to add textures to their vats from an assortment of things I brought along. The glittery stars were very popular. We also had wool, dryer lint, dried artichoke fibre. The children experimented with the materials and saw how they effected the texture of each sheet as they drew sheets from the vat.

Kids making paper at art and craft classes in Castlerock Coleraine Kids making paper at art and craft classes in Castlerock Coleraine

Paper-making is such a tactile process and changing the makeup of the vat after each sheet allows the kids to get a feel for what textures they like as well as observing the changes in colour and thickness of the sheets as the makeup of the vat changes. A further stage is learning how much pulp to add after each sheet is drawn to maintain a desired consistency, and then documenting favourite recipes by proportion so they can be repeated.

Kids making paper at art and craft classes in Castlerock Coleraine Kids making paper at art and craft classes in Castlerock Coleraine
Kids making paper at art and craft classes in Castlerock Coleraine Kids making paper at art and craft classes in Castlerock Coleraine

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