Folk Art & Decorative Painting

I concentrate mainly on Canal Art* - an art form now listed on the Heritage Crafts site as 'in danger' of dying out - and Folk Art.   When classes are at other venues, they will be taught in acrylic paints, however, for those interested in the traditional medium of enamel paints, these classes will be held in my home studio.​

 

The style is very much about brush stroke techniques, which lends itself perfectly to being a teachable art, regardless of your experience. The style is more representative of a subject rather than an exact likeness and is not limited to being just floral.  ​Another term used for it is Tole Painting, which in the past used to mean decorating items of ironworks or utensils.  In the present day you can apply these styles to just about anything, from furniture to fireplaces, cups to cupboards!

 

Here in the UK probably the most well known in this style is Castles and Roses, popular on canal boats. The one shown below was painted on a cast iron water pump as a commission.

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Styles from other countries include Rosemaling, Hinderloopen among others. The British Association of Decorative and Folk Arts (BADFA) have some basic explanations of them - click here to be taken to their site.

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*  Please get in touch if there is a particular technique or design you would like to learn to paint.

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