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EMILY BALL AT SEAWHITE‍

CONTEMPORARY DRAWING AND PAINTING COURSES‍

The Year in Review

Looking Back on a Year of Creativity

Dear  ‍ ‍

Christmas and the closing of the year always puts us in a reflective frame of mind.  So for this newsletter we have invited the tutor’s to reflect on what they have enjoyed about delivering courses at the studio this year.  It’s a chance to celebrate the studio’s wonderful community of artists, and we hope that many of you will see your own experiences reflected in the tutors musings.

“Thank you to  everyone who has come to my  studio on courses this year. For your wonderful work, dedication, generosity and willingness to be playful and open. The conversations and journeys as we work filter through all that we do. The decisions and actions we make to paint and draw are metaphors for life. Thank you to the students who joined in on the live online courses. Through the magic of Zoom our studios have been shared, communities and friendships made. We have encouraged, inspired and supported each other over long distance. Thank you to all of the students who have bought pre-recorded online courses too. I have met so many now and I am thrilled to hear how much you have enjoyed and learnt from them.” ~ Emily 

Painting and drawing is so much more than making pictures, it is a metaphor for life and living. Here's to a positive, creative and life affirming 2025 filled with good conversations and times with special people; a year spent making art as often as we can so that we can live better. 

Happy Christmas!

Love Emily, Luke, Jane, Angie, Katie, Nick, Joe, Simon and Julian.    

Emily Ball‍

 It is very hard to select just a few high points at the studio this year. It may sound corny but each time I teach a course by myself or alongside Katie we say 'that was the best yet'. In truth I love all of my teaching but I do think as tutors we are at rich points in our careers. With so much experience of teaching and painting under our belts we have lots to share, but also understanding of the 'ups and downs' of the journey to get there. ‍

Image: Emily teaching in Florida and on the beach in the Algarve

 At the beginning of 2024 I was very lucky to be teaching in Florida working with such wonderful and lovely artists in Orlando. Later in the year I just loved my annual trip to Portugal to teach and paint. It is always a very nourishing and important experience.

My extravagant and luscious Floribunda courses in the studio are always a visual feast too. I always love all of the teaching that Katie and I do together. The alchemy of our combined skills seems to make magic.

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Image: Floribunda 2024 (Emily Ball)

Image: The Figure in Movement: Drawing (Emily Ball & Katie Sollohub)‍

 Lastly I am so excited and encouraged by the response to my one woman show in the Seawhtie Atrium Gallery that opened on December 7th. The feedback I have received has given me such a boost and renewed energy to be even more ambitious with my own paintings in 2025. 

Click on the image below to watch a  tour of Emily's exhibition:‍

Simon Carter

Image: Studio Residency (Simon Carter)‍

 I am always impressed by the mix of seriousness and good humour in the studio. It makes it such a good place to teach and work, and time there passes in a blink.

This year it has once again been a pleasure meeting up with old friends and new faces at the Studio and sharing time and experiences together. It is always gratifying when a student has that ‘oh yes!’ realisation, and when that moment of epiphany is expressed with vitality and energy in paint. I don't want to name names, but there have been several instances this year!‍

Image: A Day at the Beach (Simon Carter)

Julian Brown

 I think the most memorable moment from last year would have been suspending a 1000 meters of black strapping from the studio ceiling. It transformed the central part of the studio into a large abstract space which produced some wonderful and inventive work from the students. It wasn’t without its moments; let’s just say I was very relieved to see it still standing on the first morning of the course.

Image: Freedom of Abstraction (Julian Brown)

 The other big highlight would have been the whole residency week. It always amazes me the range and ambition of the work, from miniature jewel like paintings to massive expansive paintings. Having a week’s opportunity to talk through processes and ideas with dedicated students is a massive privilege. ‍

Image: Studio Residency Week (Julian Brown)‍

Nick Bodimeade

 A highlight of the year for me was taking a group from the studio over the road to see Emily and her wonderful show in the Atrium Gallery. So good to be able to talk about, handling, colour, composition, painterly communication and perhaps most importantly commitment in front of such inspiring works. Teaching through doing and example at its best.‍

Images: ‍In the Woods, Ink, white chalk and oil pastel on paper, 59cm x 84cm, May 2023; tiny Hot Hill painting on canvas (Emily Ball)‍

Katie Sollohub

Image: Embodied Drawing (Katie Sollohub)‍

 As always it is difficult to pick just one moment, but I can certainly say that this year’s Embodied Drawing and the Drawing Residency in December have ended the year in a way that just makes me want to carry on… to carry on drawing, to carry on developing my own work and ideas, and to carry on teaching - in a way that facilitates others to achieve their dreams and work in a way that they might not have the space or the confidence for on their own. This is what makes the Seawhite Studio the best place to work - the huge space, the generosity of spirit, the abundance of materials available to hand, the inspiration on the bookshelves and in every conversation.  It has been a joy watching others grow in just a few days, not just on paper but in themselves. The Drawing Residency week in particular has been a space where I have been able to practice what I preach and experiment fully with new and ongoing projects, whilst holding the space for others. This is truly what teaching is about.‍

Image: Summer in the Gardens at Highdown ( Emily Ball &Katie Sollohub)‍

 Looking back at the rest of the year, I have loved every single course, but I always especially enjoy co-teaching with Emily, and delight in how we keep it fresh and changing each year - this year’s highlights included finding 2 amazing new locations to inspire us and students alike - Highdown Gardens for the Summer School and Leonardslee Gardens for Autumn Trees.

Images: Autumn Trees at Leonardslee Gardens (Emily Ball & Katie Sollohub)

 Last but not least I must mention my 2 still life courses - my personal favourite theme - working from the humble everyday object. Simply Still Life is a joyous celebration of shape and colour which I look forward to each year. But as always, wanting to keep a fresh approach to all my favourite subjects, I gave myself the extra challenge of delivering an alternative version in the shape of A Not So Still Life course in the Autumn which is definitely one I want to repeat in 2025.  There is so much to look forward to!

Image: Simply Still Life & A Not So Still Life (Katie Sollohub)‍

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