insideKENT Magazine Issue 75 - June 2018 | Page 131

GETAWAYS
ARTS & CULTURE
Holidays
THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE OF EVERYDAY LIFE JUST ISN’T
ALWAYS COMPATIBLE WITH THE URGE TO EXPRESS
OURSELVES AND BE CREATIVE THAT MANY OF US GET FROM
TIME TO TIME. YES, WE MIGHT HAVE BOUGHT THE PAINTS
AND PAPER; YES, WE MIGHT HAVE WRITTEN THE FIRST
CHAPTER; AND YES, WE MIGHT HAVE A POTTER’S WHEEL
SITTING IN THE SHED, BUT THAT DOESN’T NECESSARILY
MEAN WE’LL GET ANY FURTHER WITH IT ALL – WORK, FAMILY,
LIFE IN GENERAL ALL HAVE TO BE PRIORITISED.
Yet we shouldn’t let real life stand in the way
of creative passion, nor should we allow
ourselves to get so bogged down that we forget
all about looking after ourselves, which is
why an arts and culture holiday can be just
the ticket. Getting away from the usual routine
and being allowed to indulge in our artistic
pursuits is good for the soul...and not too bad
for the brain either.
If you find that you need to get away from it
all to be you true creative self then take a look
at these fantastic holidays and short breaks.
They could be the making of you.
Kent Holidays
GREEN FARM // www.greenfarmkent.co.uk // Shadoxhurst WEEKEND ARTING // www.weekendarting.co.uk // Edenbridge
There are a number of different classes and workshops run at Green Farm
in Shadoxhurst, but one of the most popular is the weekend art retreat. These
privately run retreats combine the beauty and simplicity of a natural setting
with luxury accommodation in an immaculately restored 15th-century
farmhouse, making your visit feel personal, intimate and completely unique.
During the art weekend, you will have four scheduled art workshops
and plenty of free time within which you can do as much or as little art as
you like. Or, you may prefer to take advantage of all the other things to do
at green farm such as the fabulous yoga classes. The weekend will be based
around learning to create sketchbook pages – an artist’s visual diary and a
reference for other art work, and from this create drawings, both black and
white and colour, to create pictures based on the beautiful areas of the
community wildlife garden and the hay barn. If you are looking for an enriching experience that will take
your art practice onto a new level, then these concentrated one-
or two-day art courses from Weekend Arting may be just right
for you.
Experience shows that great progress can be made in a short,
concentrated period. At Weekend Arting you are offered just the
right balance of intensity and fun with lots of individual assistance.
You'll be amazed at what you can achieve.
After a lifetime of painting and teaching, Kent artist, Cathy
Bird MA set up her studios at Jessops Farm and has been running
successful tutoring sessions there ever since. She is in demand
as a guest tutor at local art clubs and regularly leads life-drawing
workshops with the Ide Hill Art Group.
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