Art to do at home

By Emily Spicer on 1/4/2020

The therapeutic benefits of art are well documented, and if there was ever a time to get lost in new creative endeavours, it's now. So dig out your pencils and clear some space, we've got everything you need to get inspired.

Grayson's Art Club

There are people who would pay a lot of money for an art class with Grayson Perry, but Channel 4 is giving viewers the experience for free. Perry will be teaching the nation how to draw, sculpt and paint and will encourage entries to a planned exhibition exploring people's experiences of self-isolation. The series begins on Channel 4, Monday 27^thApril, 8pm.

Star-studded activities

If you are looking for creative inspiration from some of the country's biggest names, Firstsite can help. The Colchester based arts organisation has teamed up with a host of big names, such as Antony Gormley, Grayson Perry, Jeremy Deller and Idris Khan, to bring art into the home. The idea is this: projects must fit onto an A4 sized piece of paper and require no special equipment. The activity packs, which will be suitable for both adults and children, will be available to download from 3 April.

Kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery

Based on a Japanese tradition of repairing broken pottery with lacquer mixed with gold, Kintsugi is the perfect craft to try at home. Born from a philosophy that embraces change and imperfection, Kintsugi provides the perfect means to turn your accidents into art. Many online stores offering the kits are currently closed, but Not On The High Street is still up and running, so this is also a perfect time to support independent traders.

Life Drawing Live

BBC 4 is bringing back Life Drawing Live, a guided, draw-along class, for those who want to try their hand at sketching a nude model. The BBC haven't released dates yet, but check back to find out more over the coming week.

Online illustration courses

If you've always wanted to try your hand at illustration, now might be the perfect time. Central Saint Martins is offering 4 and 5 week beginner courses in book, fashion and digital illustration. These online classes are ideal for beginners with an eye for design and include personal feedback from the tutor and a certificate on completion. Many courses begin in April, so be sure to check the website for details.

'How to' with the Royal Academy

The Royal Academy has an online life drawing class for anyone wants to hone their drafting skills and there are a wealth of online videos suitable for kids and adults. Learn how to make stop frame animation, adapt your art tools or paint a portrait from a photograph.

Tate art classes at home

Tate has a range of online classes set to teach you how to make art like a master. You can learn to paint like Kandinsky or abstract expressionist Frank Bowling and there is a plethora of resources for kids, too.