Frequently Asked Questions
I’m really, really busy! Will I be able to learn to paint?
Yes, you will. It really can be done in just a couple of hours a week. Because the courses are carefully structured you will find it easy to learn in small steps which won’t be too taxing and should be enjoyable and even relaxing! Of course it makes it quicker if you have a spare room or a desk where you can leave your painting stuff out, but it really doesn't take long if you do have to put it out and pack it away each time.
How long are the courses?
This depends on how fast you want to learn! The lessons are sent to you over a period of time as shown below, but you can actually do any course entirely at your own speed. If you want to go slower, then just save the emails and download the lessons as and when you like. If you want to take the course more quickly, just email me and I’ll send you all the links to the entire course, once payment is complete.
The Watercolour Course (32 issues) lasts for 15 months with a new lesson every two weeks (the first five lessons come to you weekly) or you can choose to take the whole course weekly, which makes it about 8 months long.
Watercolour - Fast and Loose is a 6 week course (7 lessons).
The Acrylics Course is 24 issues long sent to you over six months.
The Drawing Course is 16 issues and lasts for four months.
The Oil Painting Course is 7 issues which are sent to you over six weeks.
What if I go on holiday and miss and issue?
E-mails are sent out to your inbox automatically with a link to the next part, so there is no possibility of you missing a lesson. The e-mails will download to your computer when you get home.
Am I right in saying that there are videos to watch on the computer, and written material which I should print out?
There is a video that is embedded in the webpage that comes with each lesson. You can also choose to download the video so you can watch it offline if you like. There are just a few pages of course material to print off with each lesson. It is best to print these off and put them into a file which you can refer to at any time, but you can also view them as pdf pages on your computer.
Is my work assessed or examined in any way?
Only if you want it to be! You don’t have to submit any paintings at all for assessment and your work will not be examined. You are safe to practice in the privacy of your own home, quite undisturbed by anyone else! However if you would like me to see any of your paintings and help you out by encouragement and advice, then you can always send them to me by E-mail, and I’ll be happy to help wherever I can. Or you can post them on the forum for others to see and comment on.
What if I get stuck?
Then e-mail me, and I’ll try and help you out.
I’m a complete beginner - is this a problem?
Absolutely not. In fact the courses start with you in mind. You will find everything you need to help you along the way, starting with materials to buy, to how to mix paint and how to use your brushes. So don’t worry - you CAN do it!
I've already got some painting experience. Will I find the early parts of the courses too easy?
At the start of each course I do cover the basics. But even here I think you will find some very useful stuff. It sometimes helps to go back over certain simple exercises just to remind ourselves of things we have forgotten! And with each lesson I have tried to give ideas for those who have some experience to use the exercises in a deeper way. I also believe that we can easily forget some of the basic rules of painting, and to revisit these will help all of us to paint better.
You will also find that the teaching material will soon progress to the stage where you are being challenged in your painting, and you will come across new methods and ideas that will stimulate your creativity. These courses really are for all.
I haven’t any painting equipment.
Don’t worry, you won’t need to buy lots and lots of stuff. I’ve tried to keep to a minimum amount of materials in each course There’s a complete list with Part 1 of each course.
What if I buy a course and then find I don’t like it?
I am absolutely sure you will love your course. However if you should choose to cancel within the first 30 days I will completely refund your payment, so there is no risk to you at all.
Can I download the videos?
Yes.
My videos are now privately on youtube. Only people on my courses can see them.
You can download the videos from youtube as follows:
1. click on the youtube symbol (bottom right of the video). This opens the video in youtube.
2. in the address bar at the top of your browser, type in ss after the www. (for example video 1 is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abCDefG, so yo type in ss after the www. to make it https://www.ssyoutube.com/watch?v=abCDefG
3. this takes you to a website where you can download and save the video.
Yes, you will. It really can be done in just a couple of hours a week. Because the courses are carefully structured you will find it easy to learn in small steps which won’t be too taxing and should be enjoyable and even relaxing! Of course it makes it quicker if you have a spare room or a desk where you can leave your painting stuff out, but it really doesn't take long if you do have to put it out and pack it away each time.
How long are the courses?
This depends on how fast you want to learn! The lessons are sent to you over a period of time as shown below, but you can actually do any course entirely at your own speed. If you want to go slower, then just save the emails and download the lessons as and when you like. If you want to take the course more quickly, just email me and I’ll send you all the links to the entire course, once payment is complete.
The Watercolour Course (32 issues) lasts for 15 months with a new lesson every two weeks (the first five lessons come to you weekly) or you can choose to take the whole course weekly, which makes it about 8 months long.
Watercolour - Fast and Loose is a 6 week course (7 lessons).
The Acrylics Course is 24 issues long sent to you over six months.
The Drawing Course is 16 issues and lasts for four months.
The Oil Painting Course is 7 issues which are sent to you over six weeks.
What if I go on holiday and miss and issue?
E-mails are sent out to your inbox automatically with a link to the next part, so there is no possibility of you missing a lesson. The e-mails will download to your computer when you get home.
Am I right in saying that there are videos to watch on the computer, and written material which I should print out?
There is a video that is embedded in the webpage that comes with each lesson. You can also choose to download the video so you can watch it offline if you like. There are just a few pages of course material to print off with each lesson. It is best to print these off and put them into a file which you can refer to at any time, but you can also view them as pdf pages on your computer.
Is my work assessed or examined in any way?
Only if you want it to be! You don’t have to submit any paintings at all for assessment and your work will not be examined. You are safe to practice in the privacy of your own home, quite undisturbed by anyone else! However if you would like me to see any of your paintings and help you out by encouragement and advice, then you can always send them to me by E-mail, and I’ll be happy to help wherever I can. Or you can post them on the forum for others to see and comment on.
What if I get stuck?
Then e-mail me, and I’ll try and help you out.
I’m a complete beginner - is this a problem?
Absolutely not. In fact the courses start with you in mind. You will find everything you need to help you along the way, starting with materials to buy, to how to mix paint and how to use your brushes. So don’t worry - you CAN do it!
I've already got some painting experience. Will I find the early parts of the courses too easy?
At the start of each course I do cover the basics. But even here I think you will find some very useful stuff. It sometimes helps to go back over certain simple exercises just to remind ourselves of things we have forgotten! And with each lesson I have tried to give ideas for those who have some experience to use the exercises in a deeper way. I also believe that we can easily forget some of the basic rules of painting, and to revisit these will help all of us to paint better.
You will also find that the teaching material will soon progress to the stage where you are being challenged in your painting, and you will come across new methods and ideas that will stimulate your creativity. These courses really are for all.
I haven’t any painting equipment.
Don’t worry, you won’t need to buy lots and lots of stuff. I’ve tried to keep to a minimum amount of materials in each course There’s a complete list with Part 1 of each course.
What if I buy a course and then find I don’t like it?
I am absolutely sure you will love your course. However if you should choose to cancel within the first 30 days I will completely refund your payment, so there is no risk to you at all.
Can I download the videos?
Yes.
My videos are now privately on youtube. Only people on my courses can see them.
You can download the videos from youtube as follows:
1. click on the youtube symbol (bottom right of the video). This opens the video in youtube.
2. in the address bar at the top of your browser, type in ss after the www. (for example video 1 is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abCDefG, so yo type in ss after the www. to make it https://www.ssyoutube.com/watch?v=abCDefG
3. this takes you to a website where you can download and save the video.