My Teaching Practice
My first experience of teaching was at the age of 22, running Life Drawing classes for students at Colchester Art College – it was a formidable initiation but very exciting. Since then I have taught in various schools, colleges and art societies around London, including Lewisham College where I ran the Visual Studies Course for two years.
Following my move to Alresford, near Winchester, I ran a succession of painting and drawing classes from my own studio for 12 years until the outbreak of Covid. I would take on students at all stages and ages and there was invariably a waiting list for places in my classes,students coming from as far afield as London and Bristol.
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I also organised and ran “plein air” workshops in and around Hampshire and West Sussex. Favourite locations were EmsworthHarbour, the South Downs and Selborne. For one wonderful week we painted in the middle of a huge red poppy field to the amusement of the local press who photographed our group for The Hampshire Chronicle.
I have always tried to play an active role in my local artistic community and in Alresford ran oil, life and portraiture classes for the Alresford Art Society. I gave a live portraiture demonstration for the inaugural Alresford Arts Festival and took part in Hampshire Open Studios.
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Since arriving in Devon I have been invited to teach by several local organisations and further information will be posted on my website in due course.
Testimonials
Gill G.
‘ I have been a pupil of Karen Popham for three years now. My painting has improved, but more than that I would like to thank her for her friendship, patience(!), expertise, oh so useful critique and generosity of spirit when imparting her wide knowledge of painting to us. Our class is a haven of creativity.’
Alan H.
‘I have been to oil painting classes with Karen Popham for the last nine years. She is a very professional and inspiring teacher. She teaches every aspect of oil painting in a very rigorous manner but always with humour and lightness of touch. She has an uncanny ability to explain how any painting might be improved but at the same time she picks out the good points in the same painting. Thus one is always encouraged and looking forward to the next class.’
Penny C.
‘Karen is a rare jewel of a teacher. She combines that rare mix of honest critique and warm empathy that nurtures skill and brings her students to a true love of oil painting in all its luscious loveliness.’
