Life Painting & Drawing School - Testimonials
Rachel Clark, an established portrait
painter and abstract
artist, has been running her life drawing classes in London since
1976. The Life Painting & Drawing School has become the pre-eminent
private destination if you want to make real progress in your work. If
you are looking for a portrait painting school, her life drawing courses
will give you focussed and expert teaching.
Below you will find testimonials from beginners, advanced students, professional
artists and corporate clients.
"I have attended, so far, five of Rachel’s life drawing classes
and have every intention of participating in many more. Her studio is
welcoming, relaxed and comfortable... Rachel’s method of teaching
is tailored to each pupil so that previous experience is unnecessary,
but everyone, no matter how much or little experience they have, will
gain from her skilful teaching and infectious enthusiasm for life drawing.
It is a privilege to be allowed into a professional artist’s studio
and be taught so well."
Hilary Vernon-Smith
Head of Scenic Studio - Royal National Theatre.
"Rachel ignites one. You find yourself equipped with powers you
did not know you had - and producing work you did not know you could."
Eleanor Brushfield
"Looking for new ways to inspire our team, one of our Design Directors
came up with the idea of life drawing classes - sadly drawing skills have
been neglected particularly in the Mac world of Design. Creatives, designers,
directors, & producers - some who had never taken a class in their
lives & others who were self conscious & very rusty all enthusiastically
signed up & Rachel tailored her teaching to every one of them at whatever
level of experience. They all felt they had made tremendous strides in
the space of a week & emerged energised, confident in their drawing
skills, inspired & really looking at the world & the job they
do in a very different way. Fantastic thank you Rachel & I hope we
can work together again very soon."
Jane Walker
Creative Director BBC Broadcast
"...absolutely brilliant, being taught by Rachel is like hitting
the jackpot or winning the Lottery. She is the best tutor that I have
every encountered. It is definitely thanks to Rachel that I am now doing
an Art Foundation Course at Central St. Martins. I really wish that there
were more tutors like Rachel at art school."
Natasha Lien
Art student at Central St. Martins School of Art.
"Rachel Clark offered great tuition and support to our artists working
on the Harry Potter computer games. I wanted my artists to experience
sketching a life model representative of a young wizard moving and casting
spells. Through the 2 day course they rapidly improved their confidence
and speed. Rachel's teaching is calm supportive and conducive to an enjoyable
and enlightening experience."
John Miles
Senior Art Director, Electronic Arts UK
"... It was demanding and deeply satisfying. In the five days we
had five models and worked on sketches that lasted anything from ten seconds
to three hours. Rachel is a very good teacher, seeing immediately what
each of her students needs most. I made progress, regained enthusiasm
and an appetite for more. Thank you, Rachel. It was a fantastic week."
Celia Hall
Journalist, The Daily Telegraph.
"I have been amazed at my own results. Every student, beginner of
advanced, sees a definite improvement in their work. As a keen “would
be” the one-to-one tuition is essential for me. Whilst Rachel creates
a relaxed atmosphere in her spacious studio, there is also charged vitality
and enthusiasm amongst her students. The course is most enjoyable and
worthwhile."
Linda Jensen
"...an absolute breath of fresh air. I trained as an architect but
work as a professional artist and I would recommend the course to anyone...
we all started the week with a certain amount of nervousness, but Rachel
soon put us at our ease. It was a most rewarding and inspirational experience
- the beginning of a lifetime of life drawing."
Mark Shepherd
Dip Arch MSAI
"I started to draw and paint eight years ago aged 65. Now I measure
my progress against the results of a week’s course with Rachel. She
provides a subtle combination of demanding attention to detail with a
sympathetic encouragement of individual talent (or lack of it!) The atmosphere
of her courses is professional and cheerful and there is ample personal
instruction. At the end of a week I may be quite exhausted but I know
that I have had excellent value for money."
Alan Pemberton
"Enthusiasm is the key to this course. It doesn't matter if you
are a beginner or a professional, Rachel is able to motivate and develop
everyone’s understanding of drawing and painting. My own work has
progressed further than I thought possible. My only regret is that I did
not find this course sooner!"
Monica Chrysostomou
Graphic Designer
Central St Martins School of Art
1984-1987
"I had almost forgotten what a wonderful discipline drawing is and
how much more creative it is over the computer. Rachel’s course has
helped me enormously in my approach to the day job. I am trying to spread
the word among my colleagues!"
John Hallett
Partner - Jones Hallett Design Consultants
"In one week you can learn more than in months at an academy where
often they try to push you into a certain style. In Rachel’s class
I felt free and relaxed..her teaching is clear and constructive. I found
it useful to have an intensive week’s training which gave me enough
information to paint on my own. I hope to return."
Koen Bossuyt
Interior Decorator - Belgium
"...enjoyable and fulfilling. Students ranged from complete beginners
like myself to very accomplished artists indeed... the tuition was so
one-to-one that we all came away with very positive improvement. I look
forward to returning."
John Salkeld
"As a retired Bank Executive, drawing was an experiment in creativity.
Under Rachel’s gentle but expert eye, my dream became a reality.
As a result of her focussed guidance, the fear of drawing became a pleasure,
a piece of magic."
Colin Wilks
CFO Lloyds bank (retired)
currently partner Deloitte &Touche, Poland
"...the finest art teacher I have had in London. Many art students
who have not received a formal grounding come to her.Her method of teaching
this discipline make drawing and painting extremely exciting and fulfilling."
Jane Kelly
Journalist, Daily Mail
"The skills you learn can be applied to drawing anything in the
future, and enable you to carry on developing away from the course. Rachel’s
coaching in oil painting is superb as she teaches you to really look,
and then mix colours accurately, both crucial skills. The course is hard
work, but great fun...I intend to return."
Diane Griffiths
Retail Merchandise Manager
"I work for a design consultancy in central London. I wanted to
be able to draw confidently in front of clients as a means of articulating
ideas...I found the week inspiringly hard work. I was always conscious
of being monitored and helped. You never stood still. The studio is a
beautiful loft space with high ceilings and natural light. It seemed important
to me to be taught by a working artist who has a passion for her art....That
infectious, quiet enthusiasm was impossible to resist."
Sally Crabb
Architectural Designer - Imagination
"I first went to Rachel fourteen years ago. Every time I go I take
a large step forward with my work. What I learn with Rachel I use throughout
the year both at the college I attend and at home. As a result I have
had my work chosen for exhibitions. I really look forward to going to
Rachel’s courses. She is an excellent teacher, encouraging and helping
each individual to develop in their own way."
Joan Powles
"I have now attended four of Rachel’s one week courses which
are most intensive and challenging. But having been taught the fundamentals
of sound drawing, both my confidence and abilities in this direction have
advanced leaps and bounds."
W F Pearce
"Rachel knows what pace to take you at individually, even within
a group. You neither rest on your laurels nor feel exposed. She is refreshingly
lacking in waffle and mystique. There is no sense of intimidation. As
a very tentative, late and not especially gifted beginner, I received
confidence, inspiration and encouragement."
Robert Abrahams
Lawyer
"I have had many life drawing teachers, some good, but Rachel is
certainly the best, and worth every penny."
David Wilson
Investment Professional
"Everything from the setting, timetable, models, materials, music,
fellow students, not to mention your gift, a truly exceptional ability
to teach people at all levels, has made each visit memorable. You seem
to know just how much I can achieve. You are helping me to see what is
there and to draw what I see. I find the classes absorbing, frustrating
and wonderfully creative; and I thank you for your encouragement, patience
and selfless sharing of your art."
Maureen Taylor
Psychotherapist
'Jo Reclining' - charcoal on paper
'Marcia' - charcoal on paper