STUDIO NOTES

WEEK 7 - Some exciting news and plenty happening in the studio!

Art Futures × Daler-Rowney

We have some exciting news to share this week! Daler-Rowney has agreed to support Art Futures through a new trial partnership, recognising and rewarding students for developing their creative skills and engaging with opportunities beyond their qualifications. As part of the partnership, students who achieve five verified Art Futures digital badges will be eligible to receive a Daler-Rowney Graduate Product Bundle, containing a selection of art materials to encourage them to keep experimenting and developing their practice. There are up to 20 bundles available during this initial trial, with one bundle per eligible student, subject to availability and verification. I am particularly pleased about this because it brings something tangible to the badge framework. Students are already developing skills and producing some fantastic work, and it's important that their achievements are recognised. Having the opportunity to receive quality art materials also means they can put those rewards straight back into their creative work.

You can read more about the partnership on our Creative Partners page.

Creative Partners

Level 1 - Exploring Emotions and Personal Connections

Level 1 have been developing mind maps based around different emotions, exploring how personal experiences, memories and associations can become starting points for artwork. It's been interesting to see how differently students approach the same theme. Some have focused on particular feelings, while others have made connections to colours, objects, places and experiences. They have also been looking at the work of different artists, considering how artists communicate emotions and ideas through their choice of materials, imagery and techniques. This research will help students begin developing their own ideas for their final pieces after half term. The next stage will be taking those initial thoughts and exploring how they might translate into something visual.

Level 2 - Music into Painting

Level 2 have completed their final paintings inspired by their chosen music tracks, taking influence from the work of Wassily Kandinsky. Students have been exploring how music can be interpreted visually through colour, shape, line and composition. Rather than illustrating the lyrics or creating a literal image, the challenge was to think about how the rhythm, mood and energy of a track could influence their painting. The finished pieces show a real variety of approaches, which is particularly interesting considering everyone started with the same brief. It's been good to see students making their own decisions about colour, composition and how they want their music to be represented.

Level 3, Year 1 - Tetrapak Printing

Level 3 Year 1 have been completing their Tetrapak prints, and the results look fabulous! This has been a particularly enjoyable process to watch. Students have been working with recycled Tetrapak packaging to create printing plates, experimenting with drawing, mark-making, texture and the printing process itself. One of the best parts has been seeing their reactions when they pulled their prints. Several students were genuinely surprised by the quality and detail they had achieved. Printmaking can be quite unpredictable, especially when working with an unfamiliar material, but that's also what makes it interesting. The students have produced some really strong outcomes, and it's been lovely to see their confidence grow as they've discovered what the process can do.

Level 3 Year 2 - B1 and Developing Creative Practice

Level 3 Year 2 have continued working through B1, alongside developing their artist statements and creative responses. There's been a lot of discussion around individual interests, influences and the direction students want to take their work. Writing an artist statement can be surprisingly challenging, particularly when students are asked to explain their own creative practice rather than simply describe what they've made. We've been looking at how to communicate their ideas more clearly, identify what genuinely interests them and make stronger connections between their research and practical work. Alongside this, students have been developing creative responses that allow them to explore their ideas through different materials and processes. It's an important stage of the course, particularly as they begin thinking more seriously about their individual practice and progression.

That's us heading into half term! Plenty of work in progress, some really encouraging outcomes and, of course, the exciting news of our new Daler-Rowney partnership. Looking forward to seeing how everything develops when we're back in the studio.

Sarra & Jon

WEEK 6

It's been another exciting and productive time in the Art & Design Department at LSEC, Bromley, with students across all levels exploring new techniques, developing their creative confidence and preparing for their next steps.

Level 1 - Expressing Emotions Through Sculpture

Our Level 1 Art & Design students have been exploring sculpture through the work of Alberto Giacometti, whose distinctive elongated figures provided inspiration for their own expressive creations. Working collaboratively in teams, students selected an emotion and explored how it could be communicated through body language, gesture and pose. They then translated their ideas into wire sculptures, experimenting with shape, form and movement to capture their chosen emotion.The activity encouraged students to think creatively about how the human figure can communicate feelings without words. Alongside developing their practical sculptural skills, students strengthened their teamwork, communication and problem-solving abilities, producing a fantastic collection of individual and expressive outcomes.

Level 2 - Exploring Colour, Emotion and Music

Level 2 Art & Design students have been revisiting colour theory, strengthening their understanding of primary, secondary and tertiary colours and exploring how colour can influence mood and meaning. Building on their previous studies inspired by Wassily Kandinsky, students are now investigating the relationship between colour, emotion and music. Each student has selected a song that resonates with them and is developing a carefully considered colour palette to communicate its atmosphere, energy and emotional qualities.Through painting and experimentation, students are discovering how colour combinations, contrasts and expressive mark-making can transform sound into a visual response. The project is helping them develop their understanding of colour symbolism while encouraging personal interpretation and creative decision-making.

Level 3 Year 1 - From Observational Drawing to Linocut Printing

Our Level 3 Year 1 students have been developing their observational drawing and printmaking skills using a fascinating collection of unusually shaped and textured pumpkins as their starting point. Students began by carefully studying the pumpkins' distinctive forms, surfaces and intricate details, producing observational drawings that explored line, shape, tone and texture. These drawings then provided the inspiration for a series of linocut prints. Moving from drawing into printmaking challenged students to consider how three-dimensional forms could be translated into striking black-and-white imagery. They experimented with carved marks, positive and negative space, and contrasting textures to capture the unique characteristics of their subjects. The results have been particularly successful, with students producing bold, detailed and highly individual prints. It has been wonderful to see their confidence grow as they explored a new process and discovered how careful observation can lead to exciting creative outcomes.

Level 3 Year 2 - Developing Creative Practice and Exploring Future Opportunities

Our Level 3 Year 2 students have continued developing their creative responses to recent observational and life drawing sessions, using these experiences to strengthen their understanding of the human form, proportion, movement and expressive mark-making. Alongside their practical work, students have been progressing with B1, developing their individual ideas, research and creative practice as they prepare for the next stage of their studies. Students also visited the UCAS 'Create Your Future' event at ExCeL London, an excellent opportunity to explore higher education courses, speak directly with universities and discover the range of creative progression routes available to them. The event provided valuable insight into university life, course expectations and future career possibilities. With important decisions approaching, the experience has helped students consider their options, ask questions and begin making more informed choices about their next steps.

Creativity, Confidence and Progression

From expressive wire sculptures and music-inspired colour studies to detailed linocut prints and university exploration, our students continue to demonstrate creativity, curiosity and a willingness to experiment. It's fantastic to see their individual skills developing across the department, alongside the confidence, independence and creative thinking that will support them throughout their studies and beyond.

Sarra & Jon

WEEK 5

Art & Design: Creative Connections, Exciting Opportunities and Inspiring Experiences

It has been another exciting and productive week in the Art & Design Department, with students across all levels exploring new creative approaches, developing their practical skills and benefiting from opportunities that connect their learning with the wider creative world. From expressive wire sculptures and vibrant Basquiat-inspired artwork to an exciting live brief with Windsor Castle and an inspiring alumni visit, there has been plenty of creativity, experimentation and enthusiasm across the department.

Level 1 - Exploring Alberto Giacometti Through Wire Sculpture

Our Level 1 Art & Design students have been exploring the work of Alberto Giacometti, investigating how body language, posture and movement can communicate emotion. Inspired by Giacometti's distinctive elongated figures, students have been creating their own expressive wire sculptures, experimenting with shape, form and movement. The workshop has encouraged students to consider how even the simplest figure can convey a sense of character, feeling or action through its positioning and proportions. It has been a fantastic opportunity for learners to develop their three-dimensional making skills while exploring the relationship between the human form and emotional expression.

Level 2 - Jean-Michel Basquiat: Bringing Music to Life Through Art

Our Level 2 Art & Design students have been completing their final pieces inspired by the work of Jean-Michel Basquiat, responding creatively to their chosen songs as part of their Sound & Vision project. Using bold colours, expressive mark-making and symbolism, students have been translating the mood, energy and meaning of music into vibrant, individual compositions.The project has encouraged students to think about how visual elements can communicate sound, emotion and personal interpretation, while developing their confidence in combining different techniques to create expressive and meaningful artwork.The finished pieces demonstrate a fantastic range of individual approaches, with students using Basquiat's distinctive visual language as a starting point for their own creative responses.

Level 3 Year 1 - Working with Windsor Castle Education Centre!

Our Level 2 and Level 3 Year 1 Art & Design students were delighted to welcome a representative from the Windsor Castle Learning Team, who visited the department to launch an exciting new live brief.We are thrilled to have secured this collaboration, giving our students the opportunity to respond to a real client brief and potentially have their artwork displayed at such a prestigious location.The project takes inspiration from His Majesty King Charles III and his lifelong passion for nature, conservation and the importance of humans living in harmony with the natural world.Students were introduced to the King's longstanding commitment to protecting the environment and encouraged to consider how art can communicate powerful messages about our relationship with nature.Their challenge is to create a two-dimensional artwork that celebrates this message while engaging and inspiring children across Key Stages 1-3. The artwork must be visually exciting, accessible to younger audiences and provide a starting point for conversations about nature, sustainability and how we can all play a part in protecting our planet. Even more excitingly, a winning artwork from both Level 2 and Level 3 Year 1 will be selected for display within the Windsor Castle Learning Team's premises, where it will be seen by hundreds of visitors.This is a wonderful opportunity for students to experience the expectations of a professional creative brief, develop ideas for a specific audience and understand how artwork can have a meaningful impact beyond the classroom. We are looking forward to welcoming our client back to the department to see how the projects develop and cannot wait to see the creative responses our students produce.

Level 3 Year 2 - From College to University: An Inspiring Alumni Visit

Our Level 3 Year 2 Art & Design students enjoyed a very special visit from former student, who is now in her third year at Norwich University. It was wonderful to welcome her back to the department and hear about her creative journey since leaving college. She spoke openly about the transition to university, her course, living away from home, the opportunities she has experienced and what she hopes to do after graduating. One of the most valuable parts of the visit was seeing how her creative practice has developed. She shared examples of her college work alongside the projects she is now producing at university, giving students a real insight into how their skills, ideas and confidence can grow through higher education.The session prompted plenty of questions from our Level 3 Year 2 students, who were keen to learn more about university life, studying a creative subject and the opportunities available to them after college.Following the discussion, she led a practical character development workshop, encouraging students to experiment with their own ideas and approaches to character design. The group engaged enthusiastically with the activity, producing imaginative responses and exploring new ways of developing their creative ideas.She has also kindly offered to provide individual feedback on the students' work once their outcomes have been shared with her, extending the learning experience beyond the visit itself.

Student Voice

The students' feedback highlighted just how valuable it was to hear directly from someone who had recently made the same transition:

"Learning about experience from college to university was really interesting."
"I now have a stronger idea of what happens at uni and what I want to do, as it is similar."
"Liked getting her perspective on uni life and how she said that going to the UCAS event Create Your Future and speaking to the students who attend there was more valuable and something that they had not considered."

Visits like these are invaluable. Not only do they introduce students to new creative approaches, but they also help them develop a clearer understanding of university life and the possibilities that lie ahead.There is something particularly special about welcoming former students back and seeing how far their creativity has taken them. A huge thank you to her for giving her time, sharing her experiences and inspiring our current students. It was lovely to see her again, and we are incredibly proud of her achievements!

Looking Ahead - Creative Opportunities and New Experiences

This week has highlighted the variety of learning experiences taking place across our Art & Design courses. From Level 1 students developing expressive sculptures and Level 2 learners creating vibrant, music-inspired artwork, to Level 3 students responding to a professional live brief and hearing first-hand about university life, each experience has encouraged students to develop their skills, explore new ideas and think more confidently about their creative futures.

Sarra & Jon

WEEK FOUR

This week in Art Futures, our art students have been developing their creative skills through experimentation, observation and some exciting new challenges.

Level 1 - Fourth Plinth Clay Challenge

Students took on a clay challenge inspired by the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square, researching previous sculptural works that have been displayed on the iconic plinth. Students selected one sculpture and set themselves the challenge of recreating it in clay, considering the original artwork’s form, proportion, shape, texture and three-dimensional qualities. They explored how to translate an existing sculptural piece into a new material, thinking carefully about construction methods and how to capture the key visual characteristics of their chosen artwork. The challenge encouraged students to develop their observational and making skills, while experimenting with clay as a sculptural medium. It was also an opportunity to consider how sculpture can be interpreted and re-created through changes in scale, material and technique.

Level 2 - Oil Pastel Workshop

Students have been researching the expressive and energetic artwork of Jean-Michel Basquiat, exploring his distinctive approach to mark-making, line, colour, symbolism and visual expression. As part of an oil pastel workshop, students experimented with a range of techniques, including layering, blending, directional mark-making and the use of bold, contrasting colours. They explored how different marks, textures and colour choices can be used to communicate mood, movement and emotion, while considering how Basquiat developed his own visual language through the combination of imagery, text and expressive marks. Students then created a small oil pastel response inspired by Basquiat’s style, using their chosen song from the Sound and Vision project to inform their visual response. This encouraged them to consider how the mood and energy of music could be translated into visual form, making individual choices about colour, composition, symbolism and mark-making. The workshop gave students an opportunity to experiment freely with the medium while developing their confidence in using expressive techniques and personal visual responses.

Level 3, Year 1 - Making Natural Dyes and Inks

Students explored how artists can create their own colours using natural and everyday materials. Students made dyes from a range of ingredients, including vegetables, spices and charcoal, before experimenting with adding bicarbonate of soda and vinegar to see how these changed the colours. Working in small groups, they challenged themselves to discover just how many different colours and tones they could achieve. There were some surprising results, and the process encouraged plenty of experimentation, problem-solving and sharing of ideas.

Students then took their handmade dyes and inks into their artwork, creating primary images inspired by the woods. This gave them the opportunity to explore the unique qualities of the materials they had produced themselves and consider how natural colour could influence their creative outcomes.

Level 3, Year 2 - Life Drawing in the Studio

Students had a very different challenge this week when we welcomed a ballerina into the studio for a life drawing session. For many of the students, this was their first experience of life drawing from a model. We introduced a series of drawing challenges designed to encourage them to observe carefully, work quickly and become less concerned with creating a “perfect” drawing. As the session progressed, it was great to see confidence grow. Students became increasingly comfortable with capturing movement, proportion, gesture and form, producing a varied and expressive collection of observational drawings. Alongside the practical work, we have continued working on Personal Statement Question 2, helping students reflect on their experiences, skills and creative development. Portfolios are also continuing to take shape, with work gradually being selected, refined and added to the website.

It has been a busy and productive week, with lots of experimentation, new experiences and growing confidence across both groups.

Sarra & Jon

WEEK THREE - New ways of seeing

This week has seen lots of exciting progress across Art Futures, with students across all levels exploring different ways of developing and communicating their creative ideas. From introducing Level 1 students to clay and three-dimensional making, to Level 2 experimenting with photography, light and movement, there has been a real focus on trying new processes and building confidence through practical work. Our Level 3 students have continued to develop their observational and making skills, while Level 3 Extended are beginning to explore specialist creative pathways and think more closely about their future progression.

Level 1

Creativity came to life in our recent Level 1 Art clay workshop, where students were introduced to the exciting world of three-dimensional art and sculpture. As they explored the versatility of clay, learners developed fundamental sculptural skills, including shaping, modelling, smoothing and cross-hatching techniques to securely join sections together. The challenge was to create a unique clay head that conveyed a distinct emotion or character, encouraging students to think creatively about expression, storytelling and visual communication. The results were fantastic, with students producing a diverse range of imaginative and highly individual outcomes while gaining confidence in a new artistic medium and developing an understanding of how form, texture and expression can bring artwork to life.

Level 2

Our Level 2 Art students are continuing to develop their Sound & Vision project through an exciting exploration of creative photography. Working collaboratively in teams, learners took part in a specialist lighting workshop where they experimented with coloured torches, glow sticks and long-exposure photography techniques. By combining movement, light and slow shutter speeds, students transformed rhythm, energy and sound into vibrant visual compositions, creating striking images that captured the essence of different musical styles. The workshop encouraged creative problem-solving, teamwork and technical photography skills, while challenging students to explore how colour, shape and movement can be used to visually interpret music in innovative and imaginative ways.

Level 3, Year 1 - Hybrid Creatures and Observational Drawing

Level 3 students completed their hybrid creature sculptures, bringing together their ideas and making skills to create some imaginative final outcomes. We then moved on to explore the work of Harry Frost, focusing particularly on his use of pen, line and observational drawing. To put these ideas into practice, we headed out into the woods on campus, where students spent time making observational drawings directly from their surroundings. Alongside their drawings, students took lots of photographs to build a bank of primary imagery that they could continue to work from back in the studio. They then used this material to develop more refined responses in biro pen, concentrating on line, texture, detail and careful observation.

Level 3, Year 2 - Romeo and Juliet

Level 3 Extended students continued to develop their responses to our Romeo and Juliet still life, building on their initial ideas and extending their artwork through further experimentation and refinement. As part of the RBO Design Challenge, we also watched sections of The Royal Ballet’s performance of Romeo and Juliet. This gave students an opportunity to consider how the story can be communicated visually through performance, costume, set, movement and atmosphere. We looked more closely at the requirements for each of the Design Challenge opportunities, helping students understand the different creative pathways available and what they will need to consider as their individual responses develop. Alongside our practical work, we have also started thinking about progression. Students began working on Question 1 of the UCAS personal statement, considering their reasons for wanting to study their chosen subject and beginning to identify the experiences, interests and creative influences that have shaped their ambitions.

It has been a busy and productive week across all four levels, moving between sculpture, photography, observational drawing, design, performance and progression. It has been great to see students at different stages of their Art & Design journey experimenting with new processes, developing their confidence and beginning to make increasingly individual creative decisions.

Sarra & Jon

WEEK TWO -Exploring, Experimenting and Looking Ahead

It has been another busy week in the Art Departmnt, with lots of experimenting, making and developing ideas across all of our levels. It is always interesting to see how differently students respond to a challenge, and this week there has been a real mix of practical work, creative thinking and planning for the future.

Level 1 - Exploring the Fourth Plinth

This week, Level 1 have been looking at the different sculptures that have appeared on the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square. They explored a range of artists and artworks and started thinking about the ideas, messages and stories behind them. The aim was to get them thinking about public art and how sculpture can communicate an idea, make people stop and think, or simply change the way we experience a familiar space. It has been a good way of introducing them to different approaches to sculpture and encouraging them to start forming and discussing their own opinions about art.

Level 2 - Music and Mark-Making

Art students have been experimenting with music and mark-making, looking at how we can take something we hear and turn it into something visual. Students listened to a variety of musical styles and experimented with lines, shapes, patterns, movement and different types of marks to represent what they could hear and feel. We really liked seeing how differently everyone responded to the same pieces of music. There wasn't a right or wrong response - the idea was to encourage students to experiment, work more freely and trust their own creative instincts.

Level 3, Year 1 - The Fourth Plinth 100 Years From Now

3.1 have been taking part in workshops and a mini project looking at the Fourth Plinth - but with a very different twist. We asked them to imagine what might be on the Fourth Plinth 100 years from now, when humans have declined and nature has begun to take over. What might our cities look like? What new plants, creatures or strange hybrid animals might exist We wanted this project to really stretch their imaginations and encourage them to move beyond the obvious. It also leads nicely into our next main brief, which is based around the natural world. Students began designing and making their own sculptures using wire and Modroc, experimenting with shape, structure and form. All of the students have really enjoyed the challenge, and it has been great seeing the very different ideas beginning to emerge.

Level 3, Year 2 - B1, UCAS and Romeo & Juliet

3.2 have begun B1, which is a tough but really rewarding unit and marks an important point in their final year. There has been lots of research into UCAS, universities and possible progression routes, with the idea that students begin properly researching and thinking about their next steps after college. We also had a visit from Damian in the Careers Team, who spoke to the students about the whole UCAS process and helped to explain what they need to be thinking about as they begin making applications and decisions about their futures.

Alongside this, they have begun the RBO Design Challenge. To start the project, we set up a still-life visual moodboard designed to evoke the feeling and atmosphere of Romeo and Juliet. Students were asked to think particularly about contrasting emotions such as Love and Hate, Trust and Betrayal, and consider how they could capture some of those powerful emotions within their own creative responses.

We are also starting to plan some enrichment trips for our Art & Design students. Getting students out of the classroom and experiencing art, design, exhibitions, galleries and creative spaces first-hand is such an important part of their course. It gives them new sources of inspiration and allows them to see the work they research in a completely different context. We are currently looking at possibilities across the different levels and are getting some dates in the diary.

Sarra & Jon

WEEK ONE - 7/9/26

Our first full week has mainly been about settling in, getting used to timetables and classes, and getting to know one another. We have lots of familiar faces returning alongside students who are completely new to us, so it has been a busy week in the studios.

Level 1 and Level 2 have started with big classes and lots of new faces. Both groups completed baseline activities before getting straight into their first projects. Level 2 have started their first unit, working to a Spotify brief and exploring how music and sound can be interpreted and transformed into visual art. Level 1 have begun working in 3D, developing ideas for their Fourth Plinth project. Lots happening already, and a good start to the year.

Level 3 Year 1 started with baseline exercises, mark-making using dry media and observational drawings of footwear. I always find these activities incredibly insightful. They give us an immediate sense of where students are with their drawing and practical skills, but they also tell me a lot about the individual. It fascinates me how differently students approach exactly the same exercise. I can often spot the designers, illustrators and architects simply through the way they work and the outcomes they produce. With students I have only just met, you also begin to see little glimpses of personality appearing through their artwork, which is one of my favourite things about these first few weeks.

Our Level 3 Extended Diploma students also completed baseline activities before we made a gentle start on B1. It is a heavy unit, but also an incredibly rewarding and beneficial one, and I'm looking forward to seeing where they take it.

I also introduced them to something new that I've signed us up for this year - The Royal Ballet and Opera Design Challenge. This gives students an opportunity to respond to a live creative brief and explore professional design roles including set, costume, wigs, hair and make-up, and marketing. I'm really excited about this because it gives them another opportunity to take what they're learning beyond their qualification and work towards something with a real creative context.

Finally, I've started talking to Level 3 about Art Futures and what we'll be building this year. This is a completely new framework, so I'm excited to see it begin to take shape with the students.The platform is ultimately about them and for them - a visual record of their achievements and creative development, but also somewhere they can present themselves collectively and as individuals and showcase their talents.

A busy first week, and we're only just getting started!

Sarra & Jon

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse