MORNING ROUTINE 🌱💭

How can we make sure we start the day right, even if we get out of the wrong side of bed?

These days the thoughts seem to rattle around in my head before I’ve even opened my eyes. It’s all part of the process, I guess, or the subconscious processing that these strange times seem to have accelerated.

So I’ve made a few changes to my morning routine that help me get my head in check first thing:

1. Wake up, kettle on and drink a pint of water whilst I wait for the kettle to boil (let’s face it the body always needs a drink first thing.
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2. Go outside (if you can). As I take my first sips of tea I sit on a little cushion in the garden. I soak in the sounds, the smell, the feel of the day. This morning, for example, the frogs are singing for the sunshine ☀️

3. Morning pages. Before I pick up my phone at all I’ll scrawl out 3 pages of free-writing into a little book I picked up from paper chase. I dump everything here - my weird dreams, any anxiety or fear (better to get it out and leave it here than carry it with me all day).
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4. Visualise. Close your eyes and get a clear picture of your day. It really doesn’t hurt to visualise everything going ok, or really well for that matter!
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5. Breathe. After this I’ll close my eyes for 10 minutes and focus on my breathing. I’ll let the thoughts come and go until my mind feels a little emptier, a little clearer. It helps to set a timer or you spend the whole time wondering how long you’ve sat there for.
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That’s it! Takes around 15-20 mins, no more. And the ripple effect it has on the rest of my day is frankly immeasurable.

Do you have a morning routine to help calm your mind? I’d love to hear your tips too! 🌱

Get your teens away from their screens this Summer!

We're delighted to announce that following the success of our half-term Youth Art Camp in June, we'll be adding further dates this summer to get your teens out and about getting creative at the gorgeous Surrey Hills Yurts site in Dorking.  

Join us on the 10th, 11th, 16th and 17th August for our Youth Camp afternoons for 11-16's. More info here. 

Calm, creative and innovative workshops for 11-16's with fresh air, fun and creativity at the core.

Having held the post of Head of Art at her school and as an experienced teacher, Ellie is very experienced with working with young people, and loves to encourage their creative process.

Our youth workshops were borne out of this, with her wanting to bring a fluidity and hands on approach that you can’t really experience in a school environment. Following extensive planning, Ellie ran her first SAS Youth Workshops in May half term, and the feedback was absolutely fantastic:

" He loved it yesterday Ellie, his photos were fab & his plaster leaf is already up on the mantelpiece! Thanks SO much ☺️ Here is his beautiful leaf ~  G. Mellors 

Thanks Ellie , Ben had a great afternoon. ~ A.West

Thank you Ellie! Julian loved it! ~ M.Montford

The summer holiday workshops on 9th, 10th, 16th and 17th August 2017 promise to bring even more creativity, with a wide range of activities planned from printmaking, yarn bombing, sun-print photography and sculpture.

As at the last sessions, there will be a fire pit and light refreshments. Ellie’s approach encourages confidence and skill, and she is looking forward to getting back to the wonderful environment at Surrey Hills Yurts in order to focus on mindful making in this incredible setting.

You can book online for one or for all sessions. Double up Discount available on 2 day Art Pass with further discounts for booking for all 4 days. All materials are included in the price of the workshop as are light refreshments. Workshop leaders are all experienced artist teachers and are all fully CRB checked. Sessions run from 1:00 - 3:30 pm. Book here.

Free Nature / Craft Workshops / Surrey Art School @ Pippfest 2016

Surrey Art School will be running FREE Nature / Craft workshops for all the family at Pippfest 2016! Join us on the 11th September in Dorking for a free community festival to raise money to keep Pippbrook House in public hands. 

Creativity cannot exist in isolation and we at SAS believe in the power of community and in working together to create the world we want. This wonderful community event brings together artists, musicians and local businesses in a fun day for our local residents to enjoy.

Our workshops are sponsored by Gilliangladrag and the fabulous Fluff-a-torium in Dorking.

Come and meet the team, sit and make with us this Sunday! 

Join our Club - Surrey Art School

Like what you see but not quite sure what you want yet? Join Surrey Art School artist community anyway and stay up to date with the latest classes, course and events in the area. And if you join our club today you will automatically get 10% off your first course, class or event with us. 

If you like a lot of chocolate on your biscuit join our club!

#artists #art #community #bettertogether #surreyartists #surreyartschool #specialoffer #10%

Dorking Advertiser

Surrey Art School is featured in this week's Dorking Advertiser. 

Although we are delighted by the local promotion we'd just like to stress that Surrey Art School was founded to extend what schools are able to offer in terms of Art Education.  It is restrictions such as the Ebacc that are wholly out of schools' control and that have been pushed by the government, that are having such a negative impact on creative subjects. 

Having taught in schools for the last 8 years, I couldn't have more respect for teachers and schools and the wonderful, relentless and rewarding work they take every day to ensure our young people have a bright creative future!

See the full story here

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Surrey Art School - Summer School 2016

Our Summer School programme is now live on the website. Click and book classes for our Youth Programme which will take place at Green Lane Farm, Newdigate, Dorking from the 26th July to the 26th August 2016.  

Booking online is easy, just visit out youth classes page. Classes vary from 2- 2.5 hours in length and all materials and light refreshment are included.

We encourage our students to be inspired by the natural beauty of their surroundings and to understand how to unleash their own creativity through a series of focused, skills based workshops. 

Tutors have experience working with the 11-16 age range and can help students to tailor their work to benefit their GCSE or Arts award studies. 

Surrey Art School will also be running a full after school programme from September 2016 and an Adult programme for novices to experienced artists to develop their artistic practice. 

Making Art makes big ideas happen.