Developing your artistic skills

Gail Lea of Deal U3A talks about what it is like to run a U3A art group.

My artistic career began with photography but that wasn’t expressive enough so I took up painting, starting with pastels and going onto oil, which is really my favourite medium (watercolour being still a work in progress).

I studied for a year at K.I.A.D in Canterbury, and then started teaching retired people in Ramsgate, where I lived.

I got involved in Deal U3A and a friend persuaded me to do figurative drawing, and it took of from there.

I have run painting courses in Dover for the last four years and have a loyal group of regulars who turn up every time. We try to stretch ourselves with new techniques such as rescuing your water colours with pastels, and using lots of water based media together.  This is very popular and everyone is making great progress.  It gives a lot of scope for different effects.  We plan to have an exhibition in the autumn and contribute to other local events throughout the year.

As subject adviser, I receive a wide variety of queries ranging from copyright to revitalising an art group. I certainly enjoy the challenge the role presents.