Josh's experience was truly amazing and maybe I can explain it to you this way:
When he normally does things, I ask him:
"Well how did it go?"
I get: "Fine"
I then ask about 250 more questions and may learn that the food was good and the people were nice!!
This time I asked: "How did you get on at Art at the Park?
"Mum you would not BEELEEVE how much I learned in a week. I REELLY could not BEELEEVE what I did. I NEVER thought I could draw like that. It was SUCH a good experience - I am SO glad I did it!"!!
No response from Mum because she is sitting there gobsmacked.
He then went on to tell me how AMAZING it is to look at something from the middle and work outwards (Long treatise on accuracy and perspective!)
How MUCH he learned about shading (he used to do it with his fingers but Julie has this AMAZING method using all different types of pencils)
"Mum you have NO IDEA of the BRILLIANT work she does - she is working on this piece of her son and it is WOW!"
Then we moved to Mark and food and how lovely it was and would I not ask Mark for some of his recipes!!
"God, but he has cool pieces on the wall!"
The girls were really interesting and he got on really well.
In other words for the first time since he was 11, I could not get a word in!!
What can I say - thank you so much to you both for all of your hard work and dedication.
I can honestly say that Josh approaches Art so differently now. He has a respect for the process and for his talent. He is willing to give it time but also trusts himself so much more that he can do it.
What can I say to you both but the biggest thank you!!
Andree, Dublin
Julie and Mark, Thanks very much for having me last week, you have a wonderful family and I had a lovely time. Lisa and I went home and told everyone how great it was! I really feel that I did benifit greatly from the course, I learnt lots. Thanks lots. I also learned how to make THE greatest scrambled eggs in the world. Thanks even more for that. I'm sure I'll be in contact with you sometime soon, because knowing me, I'll have some ridiculous problem or question to ask you.
Thanks to both of you, and Rory and Christie!
Regards,
Jenny.
I found the course really beneficial, I got a lot of work done that can go straight into my portfolio. What I didn't get finished, I can work on at home because now I know what's expected. A load is gone from my mind and I
can relax a bit until the interviews.
Thank you soooo much!
Ruth.
Portfolio Testimonials
Hi Julie, Ruth's mum here. Julie, thank you so much for all the work you did with Ruth, she adored the whole experience especially the food and family warmth.
Thanks also to Mark who made such a contribution also and I hear your kids also did their share- Ruth loved them and believe me she doesn't usually gush about kids! I will highly recommend the course to all interested students and parents. She certainly has made huge strides towards compiling an impressive portfolio. Well done and thanks again, hope we meet again along the way! Regards to Mark and the boys.
Ruth's mum
Excellent course, great fun, great people, great atmosphere, great dinners! Got loads of work done that just wouldn't have been possible at home. I'd recommend it to anyone. Learned new techniques and was introduced to water colour. The course should run and run.
Thanks for everything Julie and Mark.
Jim
Best decision I ever made, lovely atmosphere to work in. Got more work done than imagined, had lots of fun doing art and meeting new people.
Thank you, Hilary
The course was exceptionally useful as the directions for portfolios are so vague and unhelpful, and the course really helps you to understand what is required of you. The setting also manages to make the course relaxed as well as productive.
Donal
In January we had a student from The Aran Islands, who had never seen snow! So the students HAD to make a snowman on that one snowy day in January!
The peaceful atmosphere of the countryside makes Art at The Park special because you're free from distraction to get your work done. When you're around a group of people who have the same goal as you its impossible not to be inspired.
Gareth.
Thank you sooo much! This course was such a help, and gave me heaps of confidence too, just hope I can keep up all the work at home! Helping me to plan out my portfolio was such a relief too, am really glad I came, (and thanks again),
Sarah
P.S. and all the food and tea was lovely too!
This course has to be the best thing I ever did 4 my portfolio! Every day was productive! I have got so much more done in these few days than I have done altogether, and it's at a much (severally underlined) better standard! I feel so much more confident about my art and I'm not afraid to try the impossible now! Julie, you're such a brilliant teacher... I'd come back next
week if I could!
Thank you,
Carrie x
P.S. your family are legends!!!
