Participants emulating the life model's pose during a life drawing class with CAST artists and students of Helston Community College, led by Denzil Forrester and Phillippa Clayden in June 2017
Image: courtesy Melanie Stidolph
Phillippa Clayden and Denzil Forrester lead an unconventional life-drawing class at CAST in June 2017
Image: courtesy Melanie Stidolph
Mike Nelson visits students at Helston Community College to present his work and take part in a round-table Q&A discussion in October 2017
Helston Community College is a ten minute walk from CAST in Helston and the Groundwork team works closely with staff at the college to organise events, activities and artists talks. In March 2016 acclaimed artist and film-maker Ben Rivers presented an illustrated talk about his work. In 2017 Turner Prize nominated artist Mike Nelson visited the art studios to present his work and talk with young people on GCSE, A level and BTEC art and design courses in a round-table Q&A.
‘It is thrilling for our students to meet celebrated international artists. These experiences have a huge impact on our post-16 students and extend their contextual understanding, through the insights they gain into an artist’s working processes, motives and personality. Up-close interviews also inspire students’ career aspirations, by closing the distance between the professional and the young person’
Sarah-Jane Marsden, BTEC Art and Design teacher at Helston Community College
In June 2017 students from the college took part in a series of day-long life drawing sessions at CAST, working alongside artists from CAST studios. The sessions were led by Phillippa Clayden and Denzil Forrester whose teaching is based on Kimon Nicolaides’ book The Natural Way to Draw (1941) and involves a wide range of approaches, materials and drawing instruments.
‘The different ways to respond to music with weight and mass and the ways to use instruments will stay in my memory’
‘Mind bendingly great’