On Wednesday 24 January, the Year 12 Fine Art class embarked on a short trip to Old Jet Studios, to take part in a workshop with one of the artists there – Adam Riches.

Upon arrival we were given a tour of the studios, which feature spaces for all kinds of artists, ranging from painters to photographers to writers and many in between. It was fascinating to be able to meet artists in their workspace as it gave a sense of what art can be like as a real day-to-
day job.

After a quick lunch in the communal kitchen/dining space, we began the workshop, which was focused on portraiture, to align with our recent studies. Specifically, we created monotype portraits, employing various techniques of wiping off and removing paint from a printing block to create negative space images. The process was quick – albeit slightly messy with a touch of exciting unpredictability, resulting in a multitude of dynamic and expressive prints. It allowed us to create freely and experimentally; it was a great opportunity to just get stuck into the art of creating. All in all a highly informative, engaging and practical outing.

Madeleine W, Year 12