Hi, Everybody!
 
I only started to learn how to use and find my way round a computer just over two years ago. Talk about trying to teach an old dog new tricks! I'm still trying to come to terms with modern technology. My brother - one of them - ten years younger than me, - who has been at it for at least a couple of decades, has been trying to instruct me, and I know I've been driving him to distraction! However, I'm starting to feel comfortable with it all, at last, along with using the internet.
 
    So many people have been suggesting to me that I should develop my own website. So many times have I dismissed the idea - thinking "why ever for?". However, having discovered - and become a member of - an internet group called 'THE FIGURE DRAWING FACTORY' I have come to realize that I may have much to offer them through a website of my own. There are others in the group who are professional artists and have their own sites and are wonderful sources of information, advice, inspiration and encouragement, each from their own perspective, for those in the group that have had no art training whatsoever and are eager to learn and gain in experience to further their enjoyment of drawing and painting, and expand their ability to express themselves. Even those members who have no web-site of their own, (some of whom are raw 'beginners') and are on their own voyage of discovery, have much to offer - and gain - through comment and discussion.
 
As for myself, I can only offer people my own perspective in these matters, in the light of my own particular training and experience as an art teacher, but I have no wish to appear patronising in any shape or form. I do wish to help, however, and I do hope that my efforts here are helpful.
 
The word 'FACTORY' may give rise to some surprise and puzzlement for those reading this for the first time; but what does a factory do? It manufactures, fabricates, - PRODUCES things. In this case, it is the production of art work that uses the ultimate inspiration of the human form in all its complexity and beauty.
 
The study of the human body from the artist's point of view has always been considered as being the best resource for training the eye to observe subtle changes of colour, graduations of tone, variation of lines (edges) and shapes.
 
The produce of the factory, like any other, can be purchased, but its primary function is to enthuse and encourage its members in their hobby of drawing and painting. Also like any factory it has its own 'raw materials' - (if you would please forgive the expression!) - Models! Some of the members have joined purely as models; some of the artists also have offered themselves as models.
 
This group is actually scattered far and wide around the globe; I am resident in the UK, but most of them are in America and Canada. It is amazing how people so far apart from each other can come so close to each other through their art with the present-day facility of the computer and digital technology.
 
There are four galleries you can visit, - "My drawings", "My paintings", "About myself" - (a display of photographs about myself and my other interests .... just so that people can get to know me better!), and "Participants work". There are also two STUDIOS. The studios are places where I am hopeful of being able to offer some practical guidance and experience - for those that seek it - in the mechanics of drawing and painting - using various techniques - and the use of various media. Obviously it's going to take some time to develop this facility, so I hope you will bear with me and visit the site frequently. If there is ANYTHING new added to the site it will be shown on the NOTICE BOARD. I'll be using STUDIO ONE for general drawing and painting. STUDIO TWO is a life drawing class. This one is restricted - for obvious reasons. All the ACTIVE members of the Figure Drawing Factory group will automatically be given the key to this room. Those who are NOT in this group will be freely welcomed if they just email me and allow me to get to know them.