Edinburgh Atelier of Fine Art

The end of the workshop! It’s so bittersweet, on one hand you wish it could go on forever and on the other you’ve worked so hard for 6 days that you feel like you could sleep for days.

Scott was a wonderful teacher and a truly nice man, he is more than welcome back anytime that suits him!

Here are a few photos from the last day.

This has to be my favourite atm though, that wonderful colour of blue is so eye popping!

Halfway through the Scott Waddell fantasy workshop. Everyone is doing wonderfully well.

Start of a new term! Looking forward to all it has to offer!

Angus (Level 4) working on an amazing colour study. Loving that purple.

New term and having a great run of new models! We’re all glad to be back!

Reuben and Miklos working on greyscale/colour studies.

Enjoying quick life drawing poses for on a gorgeous Thursday afternoon.

Student Organised Evening Portrait Event in aid of Earhquake victims.

Evening classes starting in October. Clay Portrait sculpture on Tuesdays at 6.30pm, and Life Drawing on Thursdays at 6.30pm. All materials provided.
Spaces are limited so save your spot!
Please share 😀

Asinath finishing up her comparable figure copy. She’s done a great job- especially since she’s been balancing school and finishing up her dissertation at the same time. The energy and time she’s put in all areas of her life makes me tired just thinking about it.

We’re very proud of you!!

Beautiful work in progress by Calypso in a Lord of the Rings theme. Calypso is now moving on from first stage painting to second painting.

It doesn’t show as well in the photo, but the added chroma in the dark drapery shadows are just superb. There have been multiple energetic discussions on the highlights on the one true ring and debates about pushing and pulling areas to add to the overall effect.

I’m enjoying this just as much as Calypso watching this coming together and engaging her on her decision making process.

I have the very decided feeling “This SHALL pass”. (Badly butchered movie misquote…sorry)

Recent snaps from our previous Bouguereau workshop. Much fun and learning has by all- what a great bunch of folks! Can’t wait to see them again!

What a beautiful sunny day to end our Patrick Byrnes workshop! We were blessed with a particularly wonderful bunch of students and Patrick did an extraordinarily wonderful job expressing his knowledge and talent to all. A huge thank you to our models as well!

Start of a new term this week, here is level
1 student Piper finishing up her personal project of a sculpture of Paris.

Level 2 student Calypso’s final charcoal. Absolutely gorgeous. Very proud of the hard work she’s put into this. Cannot wait to see how she progresses with paint!!

Around the studio (and student nights out) this term…

Here’s Rux…deciding on her graduation piece….only to go 180 degrees. 😂 I liked both compositions she’s come up with though.

Wee post from Lea ~

Ollie did this little scrub in oil sketch of one of the cast shelves. (Sorry for not telling you I photographed it Ollie~L) One morning- minding my own business getting ready for the day, and walk out into the main atrium and sitting atop a spare model stand drying was this teeny gem 5”x8” maybe, and I stopped in my tracks- the colours just caught me.

I am in LOVE with his choice in temp shifts and the colours he’s chosen to portray the light shifts.

Colour theory and composition are my main personal loves and making colours work together for visual storytelling.

Ollie Jones is a graduate of the programme, and pre-end-of-the-world-pandemic was a home grown instructor at the atelier. He still bails us out now and again when we need an extra set of eyes or hands until we fully recover from the Covid/Brexit nightmare we’re all working through…and in return, he’s always welcome in the studio to work on his own stuff, enjoy some life model time or whatever- honestly- I’d trust him with managing the studio if *touch wood* I ever had to make an emergency trip abroad.

Watching him go from student, to instructor to an all out artist getting his own commissions has been a joy for me to watch.

Well worth checking out his work on social media- I fully believe he’s fleshing himself out into his own unique voice, which is my all time favourite thing to see when a student leaves us.

I wish this little iPhone pic could show how arresting this little sketch is in person.

A senior students rendition of a long pose in limited palette. Sometimes the less colours on the palette makes colour harmony just sail together with ease.

Came across the this lovely drawing that was donated by a student for our Figure Drawing wall.

Meme apparently showing me (Lea- -*slightly* OCD instructor 😀) and Angus the First with his monochrome cast.

Happened to walk into MY office this afternoon and this is what I saw!😂

Yes, because of covid restrictions, we have had a bunch of common area seating removed (although , with the gradual lifting, most has come back) and the students became used to using the office as a hang out to have lunch etc. Plus, I’d much rather have food and drink in there than near any paint.

I LOVE this candid shot. It’s a microcosm of the school and how our students are so naturally inclusive . Not only is there a pretty good age range, there is also a substantial difference in how long they’ve each been students- try to spot the one who’s only been here about a week!

It only caught my attention as I posted this that every single one is also from a different country! I love all of these guys ( -even the students that were clearly back to work!!) and feel truly humbled by their trust, talent and the respect they offer me.

A huge thank you to ALL of our students here, we love and appreciate each of you!!!

Love,
Your Favourite Shape N**i

This was a fare well meal to our “Portuguese Contingent” before they needed to return home before the first lockdown began. They brought such joy and enthusiasm to the school and are still sadly missed.

The pandemic has been an awful thing all around the world, and I’m so grateful to have had the chance to be even a small part in their artistic journey.

These are images from the red drapery exercises that are part of the programme. (These are pre lockdown, that hadn’t made it into FB history)

For these exercises the drapery is built up in many layers that end with more transparent towards the end in order to keep the chroma so high and eye catching.

Cris, joined us temporarily from Madrid to work on a series of images that she created. She worked on this once a week for about 7 weeks.

Cris (and I) are hoping that she will be back in a couple of months to work on another image she’s created. Working with her was so enjoyable!

Since the first lockdown, we’ve been remiss in keeping up with our FB posts. So, here’s a rehash of things that have been happening around the studio in the last little while during the pandemic.

Here’s wonderful student Jamie, finishing up his Level 1, with a masterful comparative drawing.

Masks are becoming a part of everyday life here, but the students are doing fantastically well with all the changes that this year has brought to all of us. 🎨

Colour mixing demonstration and practice session with instructor Lea.

After 6 months of leaning against a wall, this big guy is *finally* being hung!!