Online Art Classes Offer a Lifeline
The VC Gallery in Haverfordwest has been working to alleviate loneliness and isolation in service veterans and others in the wider community through the arts with a range of projects since it began in 2013.
One of its latest successes – part of the Brightside Virtual Community sponsored by South Hook LNG Community Fund and Pembrokeshire Association of Voluntary Services (PAVS) – has been the regular virtual art workshops online with Nina Camplin.
Award-winning artist Nina is the online arts facilitator for a programme of art tutorials (known as Nina’s Zoomers) in which she shares her talents with would-be artists from all over Pembrokeshire.
“We run a programme of twice-weekly tutorials where people get a chance to come together online and learn new skills,” she said. “It is an incredibly supportive group and it’s been a pleasure watching confidence and friendships grow.” In May the workshops have been covering owls with Amy Barrett, water lilies, watercolour seascapes, shadow painting and pointillism.
The VC’s founder, veteran Barry John MBE, passionately believes that health, wellbeing and a better quality of life are enhanced by involvement in creativity in all its forms. Determined that services should not suffer as a result of the pandemic and lockdowns, the VC team came up with a range of new possibilities.
This art project allows the VC Gallery to send out SOS Artboxes for people with limited resources and to help participants with their digital issues, also linking members to the Community Connectors Connect IT tablet loan scheme.
Nina said: “Meeting online and supporting one another through Facebook has meant a really good community with a growing understanding of how challenging life can be for some of us. A participant commented that she ‘felt pretty low this week but the session was the best tonic’.
“When one of our members explained to us how her various health issues affected her ability to cope with everyday activities, the group responded with huge compassion, with another explaining that she now understood a member of her own family so much better and was able to manage their challenges with greater compassion.”
The VC Gallery says the online workshop option has been so valuable to its members and that it is “so grateful for the collaboration with South Hook LNG who have been a strong supporter of charities, community initiatives and events for over a decade”.
Nina said: “We meet on Zoom on a Wednesday between 2pm and 4pm and on a Thursday between 10am and 12 noon. The workshops are recorded, so artists who can’t make it at those times, or want to watch again, can still work with us.
“Workshops are varied and there is something for everyone. All ages and all abilities are welcome to these free, supportive and encouraging sessions; you can learn how to paint like artists such as Monet or van Gogh or Banksy, using a range of media.
“Our aim is to enjoy each other’s company and make us more resilient in these difficult times.”
Booking is easy via Buy tickets for The VC Gallery or contact The VC Gallery to find out more at:
website: www.thevcgallery.com
or by phone : 01437 765873
Here are more examples of work that has already been created in previous sessions...
To find out more and to book call The VC Gallery on :
01437 765873
PLEASE NOTE, All IMAGES ARE THE WORK OF INDIVIDUAL ARTISTS IN THE GROUP AND ARE THEIR OWN PROPERTY. AS SUCH THEY ARE NOT TO BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT THEIR PERMISSION
