The open studio practice
Once a month, 2nd MON, 6pm-9pm, £25 pp, booking is essential
Following the success of the DRAWING + Beyond workshop in June 2024 and previous experiences, I am delighted to offer a recurring intimate artistic and therapeutic experience founded on a fine art studio practice.
As an artist and an existential therapist myself, my desire is to bring diverse therapeutic disciplines and academic theoretical approaches into an artistic studio space, breaking free of traditional definitions while emphasising a creative, imaginative and original direction at the basis of therapeutic and artistic development. Still designed with the clients in mind, these sessions are open to practitioners who feel a need for “something more, something different”. My belief is that this is a space where analysis and art will come together organically.
The pillars of these sessions are:
- thinking through practice
- research through making
- awareness through curiosity
- development through questioning
- confidence exploration through expansion
- growth through making + feeling + thinking.
The sessions are intended to be experienced as an open drop-in space, created and managed to enrich, support, strengthen, and expand one’s own practice, whether therapeutic or creative. It is shaped following a fine art open studio approach, both self-led if preferred and/or following a pre-established structure.
This is meant to become an open space to explore various ideas and thinking approaches, to enhance one’s critical thinking, and aim at developing a personal creative and therapeutic language. We hope that the sessions will be stimulating via engaging conversations, where both theoretically challenging debates and critical awareness are offered.
There will be also time for one-to-one tutorials and small group sessions, if desired, which are aimed at helping to reflect, strengthen one’s independent practice and identify areas in which one might desire to develop and advance. To achieve that, we also aim to offer opportunities to meet and engage with guest artists from various ranges of practices. Critiques time will also be available, whether you want to use the space to explore ideas, test & present, exchange views, etc.
Requirements and further info:
These sessions are aimed at both qualified and/or in-training therapists, art therapists and clinical supervisors, artists and those interested in drawing & creative practices and phenomenology and body response & affect theory or just curious people ready to try something different. They are tailored for adults.
Show up with an open mind and an open heart! There will be refreshments such as teas/coffees/biscuits and snacks but due to the intrinsic difficulty of to cater for every necessity and eventuality, feel free to bring your own. Please note that there is one flight of stairs to access the space. A variety of stationery and art supplies will be available but then again: feel free to bring your own.
Due to the nature of the space and the sessions, specific art practices which would require particular technical environments, materials and expertise [such as ceramics, oil painting, dark room photography, welding, etc.] will not be offered. However, this would still be the perfect space to explore, plan, design, develop, converse, deliberate and structure one’s furthermore specific artistic and therapeutic practice. Knowing the importance of a journaling habit alongside a creative and therapeutic process, we warmly advise you to explore “The Artist Way” by Julia Cameron during this time together. The book can be found here: https://amzn.to/3KY2ls6
Doors will be open from 6pm to 9pm. Come for 10 min, 1 hour or all 3 hours: we will be there making, sensing, reflecting, and communing. Should you desire some time for private one-to-one support/tutorial/supervision, 20-min slots will be available. Feel free to send me an email at matilde.tomat@gmail.com to reserve a spot.
Fee: £25 per session. Booking is essential to secure a space. An OPEN STUDIO Handbook & Policies will be provided, and its terms and conditions are considered accepted at the time of booking and reserving a space.
Book now via Eventbrite.