Art is a Serious Subject
In our studio, we take art seriously. We run the Classical Art Course, a programme embedded with the values of the Renaissance disciplines. Here, we pay homage to the masters who came before us, dedicating their lives—and in some cases, their health—to the pursuit of their art.
It is because of this ethos that we make a point of being the experts in our field. We are always learning, as knowledge in the science of art and its mediums is evolved and developed. This has enabled us to offer something much more valuable than a class that dabbles from one medium to the next in a constant conveyer belt of unfinished projects. Everyone is encouraged to slow down, work at a pace that will give them maximum value.
Each student of our Classical Art Course and of our other clubs and classes, are kept just slightly out of their comfort zone, the learning zone. It is here that art becomes more of a discipline than a mess about. The learning zone is where all the most important work happens. You discover things about yourself that you never knew possible, you discover things about yourself that you didn’t realise you struggled with, whether that be skill level, personality traits or your understanding of the world around you.
The learning zone is not about speed. It is not about subject matter. It is about technique, discipline, practice, patience and perseverance. During our course, as with similar elite courses run in the Florentine art schools and across centuries of artistic learning, you will work on projects that don’t interest you. There will be projects that you don’t engage with on the surface or that you would never choose in the outside world. But if we catered to all tastes, we are diluting the value of our course. The course is a discipline and it is bending the way you view the world and upskilling you.
If you’ve ever learnt how to play a musical instrument, you will have been made to do scales and arpeggios. Our course are the scales and arpeggios of art. It is building the foundations and teaching you another way to observe. This is never a quick process. You will be tested, you will feel uncomfortable, but you will also be rewarded. We have students that have stayed the course for many, many years. They have done so because, despite those uncomfortable moments, they can see the value it has given them. We now have alumni that are selling art in London venues, that are attending elite and prestigious institutions, because of their portfolios built during the courses and clubs we offer. It’s not just progression, it’s potentially another career path.
What Was My Art Journey?
So how have I become so prolific in the field of art? Why should you learn from me?
I am a third generation creative business owner. My grandfather was a graphic artist with his own studio in London, where, without the help of social media and websites, he pounded the streets with his portfolio and built up his reputation to the point where he had clients like record companies and large institutions like Coca-Cola. He designed album covers for the likes of Elton John. I have his studio sign in the studio as a reminder of how easy I have it, compared to artists of his generation.
My mother was the head of floristry for the Banqueting Room of Grosvenor House, London. She would design and arrange flowers for people like Tony Curtis, Dionne Warwick and later in her career, when she owned her own flower shop in Wadhurst with my sister (who is still a florist), clients like Hans Rausing, Davina McCall and Jeff Beck to name but a few.
You don’t get to become an authority on a creative subject without getting your hands dirty, nose to the grind, long hours, disciplined obsession and open to learning from the best. This is what I learnt from my family and it is what I still do today. Where other families (and schools) would discourage a creative career path, it was normal for my family. We are living proof that you can carve out a successful career in the creative arts.
The turning point for me was when I was 15 and I visited an exhibition by artist Gary Hodges, who later was head judge of an art competition I entered and selected my work as a prize winner. I accepted the award at the House of Lords.
I didn’t flit from one subject to another during my creative pursuit. I stuck to graphite pencil for 20 years after doing a foundation course at art school and GCSE, GCSE 17 and A-Level Art. I wanted to hone my skill and I did it with obsession. I was focused, determined to get to a stage where it would be acceptable to show the world what I was capable of and I was, and still am, looking to find my true potential as an artist. I will never stop. It is a way of life for me.
During my art journey I have learnt more about the world than school ever taught me. I know proportions, perspective, light, shade, angles, upscaling, down scaling, colour theory, anatomy, alchemy and business. Most importantly, I have another level of appreciation for the masters of the past. Michel Angelo crippled himself to achieve autonomy in his field. Artists of the Renaissance spent years on one painting, changing, adjusting, perfecting techniques, aesthetics. It has created some of the most passionate and contentious relationships, such as the rivalry between Constable and Turner.
I have spent hours, years, honing my skill, understanding how to encourage others to have this level of passion for art, studying the pedagogy of art.
But I Just Want to Enjoy It
If that is your goal, then our Classical Art Course is not for you. But, we do provide the space, the inspiration and the ability to access art at your finger tips. Our studio and coffee house is unique. It is not a cafe and we don’t pretend to be. We don’t do breakfasts or meals, we are an art studio first and a creative coffee house. We know that not everyone has the confidence to do art, but we can all appreciate it and that is what we are all about. The first step is discovering your interest, then having a go and you can do that during our coffee house open hours. That is where it all begins.
Most importantly, we know the value of not rushing. We don’t have time limits on tables, you can spend as long as you like in the space during our open hours. This is important and where we put the art and the customer experience first, before profit margins.
And we have plenty of choice for all. Not just academic drawing and painting, but clay, mosaics, pottery painting, calligraphy and more.
Happy creating!
Katharine x
Saturday Mornings in the Studio
Saturday mornings is all about learning. Our teenage art club, Leonardos, are in their element and deserve to enjoy the space as theirs. Our pottery club is in full swing on our Bottega Table and the studio is used as it was intended, an atelier. It is because of this, we have now decided to keep Saturday mornings as a ‘reservations only’ time. A quiet time to create for artists, children and our clubs. Between the hours of 9am and 12pm, we ask that if you wish to stop at the studio, you reserve a table first. This ensures all our customers get value when they visit us.
12 -3pm is open house. Come in on the off chance, from your dog walk, sunny stroll or impromptu dopamine hit. All will be welcome.
Our Tables are Your Tables
Unlike your usual cafe, our tables don’t have numbers, they have names. Each table is a unique viewpoint of our studio space, with its own feel and story. You can learn and work in a group at our Bottega Table (Italian for working studio) or enjoy some quiet creativity in Painters Corner. You can linger in warmth by The Hearth or sip your coffee on our Gallery Table, amongst the art.
When you visit, take note of the table you sit at. See if it suits you. If it does, then request it for your next visit and we will happily reserve it for you.
What’s On
Monthly Pottery Club – ONLY 3 SPACES LEFT!
28th March 10-12pm
To book:
Pottery Club – Katharine Jennings Fine Art Studio and Coffee House Rotherfield
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Holiday Art Club – ONLY 7 SPACES LEFT!
Crochet Courses for Adults and Children with Amber Joy Creative
