location_on East London
Meet the Maker: Tess Newall
Tess Newall is a set designer and decorative artist. She paints murals in private homes and decorates furniture and lampshades to commission from her studio in East Sussex. As part of our series of Creative Workshops at Firmdale Hotels, we’re welcoming Tess to Haymarket Hotel on March 17th. During her special workshop you will be given your own handmade card lampshade to paint and take home. We’d love you to join us! We caught up with Tess to learn more about what inspires her creations. Join us as we ‘Meet the Maker’…
What have you been busy creating recently?
I have recently launched my own collection of hand painted homewares. Our wallpapers and lampshades show every brushstroke and texture of an original piece and our mirrors, lamps and children’s chairs are all hand-painted in our studio.
What inspires you?
I am inspired by antique patterns, textiles and decorative interiors from across the world. I always visit the decorative arts museum of any city I visit. I also love artists whose work creates scenes and conjures other worlds, such as Oliver Messel and Natalia Goncharova.
Where did you first find your creative inspiration?
My mother is an artist and my childhood was spent painting and making from as early as I can remember. Back then, my inspiration always came from nature. Mum taught me to look at things carefully. Over the years I have built up a reference library of books and antique fabrics which I love delving into. The V&A archive is also a great place to search for inspiration.
Where do you like to work and why?
We live in East Sussex at the foot of the South Downs. I have a workshop where my team is based and I love the hustle and bustle and camaraderie there. It is next to my husband Alfred Newall’s furniture making workshop and we work a lot together. My most focussed work takes place in my studio which is in our garden. It is silent and surrounded by plants and flowers. I am probably the happiest when on-site, up a ladder or painting a mural. There is something very magical about seeing your vision come to life, as you never know quite how it’s going to turn out!
What is your favourite colour combination and why?
I love earthy tones sitting alongside blues and greens. I also often use pops of red in my work – Diana Vreeland called red ‘the great clarifier’ which I completely agree with.
Where are you dreaming of visiting this year?
I would love to go to Lisbon. I would spend hours looking at azulejo tiles!
How has your style as an artist developed?
I think artists’ styles are always evolving. As a student, my art was very precise and representational, more like a fine artist. Then I worked in film, where I had to learn to adopt any style of painting and where research became key before starting on a project. It also usually involved painting a scene or decorating a room very quickly, under pressure and often in an awkward and cold location – that was very good training for a life on building sites and working to deadlines! I think that now, my style is becoming more recognisable as my own and I am fortunate that people place confidence in me to design what I feel is right for their space.
Do you have any tips for people wanting to discover their creativity?
I would say to try not to be self-critical. Paint or make something just for you and you will usually be amazed by how well it turns out. Everyone has creativity inside of them.
What made you choose to collaborate with Firmdale Hotels for your Creative Workshop?
I love Kit Kemp and her Design Studio’s use of colour and pattern. I have been lucky to paint murals and decorate furniture for many of their projects. Their room schemes bring joy to everyone who experiences them and they make you really want to look at the details. Our approaches feel very aligned!
The Lampshade painting workshop with Tess Newall will take place at the Haymarket Hotel 17 th March.
During this special workshop you will be given your own handmade card lampshade to paint and take home. You will draw inspiration from the shapes, colours and patterns found in our hotel interiors and in Tess’s own collections. The workshop includes all materials including the choice of a large (39cm diameter) or small (28cm diameter) card lampshade, a practice panel for design work and a wide selection of specialist paints. If you’d like to join us, click here for tickets.
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You’ll benefit from a mindful moment
When your partner’s stressed, you’re likely to be stressed too – particularly if you live together. Taking art classes in London allows you to hit pause on the day-to-day hustle and embrace a more mindful, positive creative practice. Maybe your partner’s experiencing a really tough time at work, or is going through some tense moments with their family. Booking art workshops where you can both learn to paint together will remind you to reconnect with each other and prioritise your relationship with each other – a fact that can get easily lost in the hustle of daily life.
By becoming involved in an embodied creative practice, you’ll be encouraging both yourself and your partner to step back, take a deep breath, and focus on each other. Don’t forget, too, that you can always book a paint and wine class. With a drink in one hand and a brush in the other, it’s the perfect opportunity for you and your significant other to restore calm and mental balance.
You’ll get creative together
Taking a couples painting class will allow you both to flex your creative talents. Being able to get creative is more than just a fun hobby, as it nurtures social and emotional intelligence by fostering our intuition, compassion and imagination, all of which are vital to bring to any relationship you may have.
Creativity is critical to relationships in more ways than one, too – it certainly plays a part in emotional, mental wellbeing, but Psychology Today reports that it’s also important for bolstering and fostering the passion that’s so central to romantic relationships.
Rolling up your sleeves and taking a painting class with your partner will nurture these creative impulses. Art workshops may also stimulate a little bit of friendly competition between the two of you – perhaps a prize could be promised to whoever comes out with the best canvas. Alternatively, if you’re both just keen to use the opportunity to unwind and learn to paint in a low-stakes environment, your teacher will be there to guide you and answer any questions you may have.
You can learn a new skill together
One of the most tried and tested ways to keep your brain firing is to learn a new skill. In doing so, you stimulate your neural pathways, promoting flexible thinking and creative problem-solving – both of which are valuable skills to bring to relationships.
By learning a new skill under expert guidance, you’ll foster a sense of pride and accomplishment, and by taking a couples painting class, you’ll be sharing that feeling with your partner, thereby feeling more bonded.
If you find yourself really enjoying the art classes you take together, why not ask your teacher to inspire and educate you with new techniques? How to start oil painting, for example, or watercolour painting for beginners. The classes are what you make of them, and your teacher is there to support you as much or as little as you want.
Top 30 Gift Ideas for Creative Kids Who Love Art
If you need gift ideas for creative kids, you will love the cool art supplies, kits, books and tools I’ve chosen. There are so many great things on this list for young aspiring artists who love art that I’m sure you’ll find a ton of gift ideas right here.
Do you have a young kid artist at home?
What better way to encourage your child’s creativity than with the gift of art!
Kids of all ages have a natural fondness for creating by drawing, painting, and crafting. And while you can go a long way with regular paint, and paper, you can never go wrong with some more inspiration and cool tools.
I’ve gathered over 30 art and craft gifts you can give for the child who has everything or for the creative kid who just love art!
Before we get to the list, you can get all of the items with free 2-day delivery when you sign up for a FREE 30 trial on Amazon Prime.
More Gift Ideas:
- Top 30 Gift Ideas for Creative Kids Who Love Art
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- The Best Hand Lettered Gifts of 2020
- The Best Gifts for Hand Lettering Lovers
- Gift Guide: The Ultimate Christmas Gift Guide For Kids Age 0-6
- 10 Gifts for Babies and Toddlers That Will Last for Years
Top 30 Gift Ideas for Creative Kids
For the Kid who Loves to Paint
1. Standing Easel – Want the most bang for your buck? Here’s a dry erase board, chalkboard and painting station all in one. Clear out some space somewhere and set this puppy up!
2. Big Paint Brushes – Includes all the basic brushes your child need for acrylic and watercolor painting.
3. Easel Paper Roll – Hang these paper rolls on an easel for drawing and painting, spread them out on the floor to make a giant canvas for giant creativity with these two extra-long rolls of premium white bond paper.
4. Easel Accessory Set – If you already got the easel, then the Easel Accessory Set is a great kit to complement the standing easel.
For the Kid who Loves to Draw
5. 142-Piece Wood Art Set – This is THE ultimate art supply kit for kids who love to draw! The kit includes 60 crayons, 24 oil pastels, 24 premium core colored pencils, 24 watercolor cakes, and more.
6. Drawing Pad – White paper is an essential art supply, and this drawing pad is ideal for pencils, crayons, markers, chalk, poster paints or watercolor artwork.
7. How to Draw 101 Animals – Drawing animals can be difficult, but with simple step-by-step line illustrations, it becomes way more easy for children to draw with confidence.
8. How to Draw People – If you think drawing animals is hard, just think how much more difficult it is to draw people (and their faces!). This book will teach your kids to draw a fireman, a drummer, a cowboy, an astronaut and more.
For the Kid who Loves to Write
9. Neon Chalk Lettering – Embrace your inner Picasso with the eye-catching marker colors and designs that pop. The stenciled outlines and flipable signs give canvases to showcase your new designs.
10. Brush Marker Set – These brush markers has a great color selection, quality and flexible brush tip and are the perfect first set of brush markers for your kids.
11. Words to Live By – This book is a unique combination of inspirational quotes, hand-lettering tips and techniques, and fun coloring pages. It has step-by-step so that artists of any age can learn how to create beautiful works of letter art.
More Fun Gifts for Creative Kids
12. Art Table – As far as art tables go, this art table would be a great choice for kids who love art. It has a large smooth surface for activities and an angled easel design for maximum comfort and storage for pencils and crayons.
13. Washable Kid’s Paint – This paint s et is ideal for introducing young children to the joys of painting. The paint can be used on almost any surface.
14. Create Your Own Window Art – This is h ours of screen-free entertainment for your child. This craft will build up their confidence by letting them color in the plastic to make cool window art, and later they can draw their own too!
15. String Art Kit – The kit has everything you need to create cool string art, from sturdy foam canvases pre-printed designs to 60 yards of thread and 170 pins. There is no need for nails, hammers, or other supplies, which means your kids can instantly begin honing their creative juices.
16. DIY Slime Kit -Slime is so popular right now and I bet your kids would love to make their own, homemade slime with foam balls and glitter!
17. Play Sand – Thanks to a little science magic, Ultimate Play Sand stays soft and shape-able year after year. This amazing sand is great fun for children of all ages and even for adults.
18. My First Sewing Kit – This kit is a perfect travel or rainy day activity and will foster creativity and skills that can grow into an exciting hobby, or why not an extraordinary career?
19. Paint by Number – A good introduction to watercolors is to mix up some paint and just paint by number. You can find more designs here.
20. Rock Painting – This kit is a fun way for your kids to spread kindness, encouragement, and happiness throughout your community by simply painting fun and beautiful rocks and hiding them in your neighborhood.
21. Stamp-a-Scene Stamp Pad – If your child doesn’t enjoy drawing characters, they may enjoy this stamp set with everything needed to create and color fun picture scenes.
22. Pottery Studio – If you have a child that is really creative, then maybe pottery might be something they’ll enjoy? They can create a cool pencil holder or a beautiful jewelry stand and perhaps give it to you to enjoy.
23. Sew Cool Machine – The Sew Cool Machine doesn’t require any skills and includes 9 projects that even beginners can complete. And best of all, there are no needles to thread!
24. Button Art – Button Art is designed for preschoolers to develop hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, and creative thinking. It also comes with a wide storage tray to keep everything together so the pieces don’t end up all over your house.
25. Do Art Pottery Studio – Prepare to get your hands dirty! You need to be patient when making pottery but this kit is easy to use and completely safe for your kids.
26. Wooden Tabletop Easel – Do you have more than one child that likes to paint? This easel is double sided and allows for both sides to be used at the same time which makes it great for multiple children!
27. Light-up Tracing Pad – Give your kids the confidence to create with the included coloring board and art supplies! The tablet has an ultra-thin design and bright LED drawing surface that makes tracing easy.
28. Spirograph – Hearts, stars and teardrops…oh my! The classic way for aspiring artists to create amazing designs is getting new pieces for the first time in a generation!
29. Butterfly Necklaces – Let your child embrace their creative side with this fun DIY tackle kit. Or throw a jewelry party and let all of your kids’ friends make jewelry together.
30. 3Doodler Create – The worlds first 3D pen! How cool is that? You can create amazing and unique art with this tool and draw vertically, draw horizontally and lift your imagination off the page!
31. Sk8 Deck Wall Art – Do you have a skateboard fan at home? The Sk8 Deck Wall Art may just be the most fun you can have with a skateboard without leaving the house.
How to Encourage Your Budding Artist?
Want to help your child to express himself or develop a natural talent, here are 14 ways to foster a passion for art in your school-age child (source):
- Stock up on art supplies
- Encourage experimentation, but don’t push it
- Resist the urge to set the creative agenda
- Avoid becoming an art critic
- Talk with your child about his art
- Don’t “correct” your child’s artwork
- Display and notice the artwork of all your children
- Find new places to do big, messy projects
- Plan a trip to an art museum, gallery, or studio
- Flip through arty picture books
- Watch an artist at work
- Be open to zany ideas
- Let mistakes happen
There you have it!
My list of the top gift ideas for creative kids!
I hope you found some great ideas for your kids in this post, and if you give your kids something from this list, it would be really interesting to see what you thought of it so leave a comment below!
If you want to get the gifts with free 2-day delivery, then sign up for a FREE 30 trial on Amazon Prime here!
