Art of Illustration Classes For Adults and Children.

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday Mornings from 9.30am to 11.30am For Adults.
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday Afternoons from 3.30pm For children and young adults.

374 Clayton Road, Rotorua
 If you are genuinely interested in lessons
 Phone 0273513887 or email janet@jkeen.net for a free creativity consultation.
Enrolling now for 2019

 The idea of dealing with demons was suggested by a writer friend of mine.

 A hedgehog ran up to me when I was weeding at the back garden.
 He snuffled my toes and ran off.
 I was quite surprised but I felt he was trying to tell me a message.
If I go into my intuition I think he was trying to tell me that there is a place for everyone in my garden and to leave some areas messy for snuffling in.
The garden is organic, no sprays, plenty of snails for birds and hedgehogs.

 I went to the Auckland zoo and saw the Meercats.
 About two thirds of the zoo was closed and the Meercats were one of the most interesting displays.
I love the little watch cats who  sound alarms when threats turn up
I was a bit disappointed with the zoo that day because I wanted to see lots of animals.

 I was at Ohiwa harbour by the sea and lots of birds were swooping around chattering.
 I have a theory that all living things have a language and we need to be still to hear  and decipher what they are all talking about.
Quite often I sit in the country and just be still and which birds turn up and I always  talk to them.

I would love to have a free pet bird that I could get up close and personal with. I don't like birds in cages. I spend a lot of time talking and feeding birds but they are a bit wary in my garden because of my cat.

My cat follows me everywhere in the garden, in the studio, to the compost and inside when I'm playing my keyboard and working on my computer.
He has his own chair at the dinner table but he's not allowed to have food scraps from our plates. Occasionally he catches rats but not often, he seems to prefer to sleep. he also is not a great fighter so his ears are intact not like Gary my last cat who was a great warrior.
 Gary was a devoted as jasper but in a different way All cats to me are Gods.

Wherever I go I illustrate.
Every country is different, every location different.
It is a rewarding pastime because it makes you appreciate your surroundings as you lose yourself in mindful creation.

Picasso said that painting is another way of writing a diary and it's true.
  I look back at my visual diaries full of illustrations and I can recall exactly what was happening with me psychologically, spiritually physically and mentally.

Art classes Rotorua using Resene Testpots Enrolling now.

Call  0273513887 or 3463435  now  to arrange  your free assessment and interview  to see whether you  children or your grandchilden would like it.
Enrolling now   For :


Monday, Tuesday Wednesday Mornings from 9.30am to 11.30 am
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday Afternoons from 3.30pm  to 4.30pm

                              Painting by pupil Ruth Hughes, all rights reserved.

Testimonial.
Monday morning art classes with Janet are the highlight of my week.
Janet shares her knowledge, creativity and expertise with enthusiasm , inspiring me to enjoy my art in  whatever form I choose and at what ever level I am at.
She also has wonderful listening skills which makes an art class with Janet a delightful way to spend a morning.
Ruth Hughes.

 The following paintings are by Ruth Hughes, all rights reserved. 
                            

 Mixed media with collage.

 

 

 

Cards for special people that can be framed.

How would you depict yourself as an angel?

Stencils and textures.

 

Dry brushing and stamping.

 

 
NZ icons

 

Paint your surroundings in a flat modernist style, acrylic with Indian ink




 
NZ icons with acrylic, flat painting, practising edges and colour mixing.
Acrylic washes and layers with Indian ink pen and  spray varnish

 

 

 

 

Acrylic on paper using sewing machine for emphasis

 

 

Record your biking trips and adventures using maps and sew everything together.

 

 

 Enhance your images by sewing on them, it's a lot of fun.

Acrylic on canvas experimenting with typography

Children's book illustration using Resene acrylic test pots.
Children's book illustrating is my favourite thing to do.
 You can do a course with me and produce your own children's book.

One of Ruth's mosaic pavers, clever work. 
You can do mosaics in my classes as well, which is why you need to come in for an interview to see the range of possibilities.
 My studio walls are covered with examples of my work to use as inspiration..

 

                                                                                                                                            Ruth Huges
Ruth's strong graphic style.

                                                                                                                              Ruth Hughes

Ruth came up with this idea herself and produced this series. She also photocopied them and made them into a series of cards.

                                                                                                          Ruth Hughes

  They really make you feel like going camping don't they?

  Resene acrylic on canvas, seascape study  Ruth Hughes.

This is a small selection of masterpieces that Ruth has created.
She is a very adventurous and rewarding pupil to have.


Ring 0273513887 or phone 3463435 for a free consultation on how I can tailor make a  creativity plan to  suit your needs.
Monday, Tuesday Wednesday mornings from 9.30am
Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday afternoons from 3.30pm.
At 374 Clayton Road, Rotorua.

Creativity Quote:
Every child is an artist, the challenge is how to remain one once you grow up.

After School Creative Art Classes, Painting, Mosaics, Sculpture, Mixed Media, Drawing, Book making.

Very enthusiastic about making all sorts of  imaginative well thought out art, very engaging , talented personality.


Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday After School   3.30 pm to 4.30pm.
Each session is one hour long.
Classes start 1st week back to school.
Limited to only 18 pupils, maximum 6 in a class.
This is the best class size for optimal learning.

Quality prices Quality materials Quality accelerated, personalised creative teaching in a genuine artist's environment.

Please phone for a free consultation.
See if your child likes it.
Phone 346-3435
Email janet@jkeen.net

     
Lovely work, comes up with very inventive ideas and  has very competent mosaic skills. A joy!

Very creative, has strong sense of colour and design,  decisive, comes up with fascinating ideas for series.  Both brother and sister work well together, both are a joy to teach, and have a delightful family.  A pleasure to have in the class




 Loves her art and creativity.  Vibrant colour sense. Great communicator. A pleasure to have in the class

Loves gold, painting skills developing well, bright, happy and focused. Loves art, is always optimistic  and  well behaved.




Have produced a lot of  colourful mosaics and paintings that they have displayed in their garden and on their walls and given away to relatives as presents.  The twins work well as a humorous artistic team. Parents, Owners of Third Place Café, Lake Road display some of my paintings and mosaics on their walls.  

Natural flair with colour

Carefully constructed work, detail orientated and a pleasure to teach. Cat lover!!!!

Aspiring model


Good little artist from the very beginning, this was only his second painting.



Started out with little confidence but rapidly gained it with individual attention. Very modern and impressionistic style

Very confident with colour and design, she was in her element creating which was lovely to be a part of.




Confident with  brush skills and a fast worker.  Clearly liked coming up with her own ideas which was empowering for her.

Self portraits with plastic animals.

 

Anthropomorphic cat with plastic animals. Pupils then write a small story or poem  about the work.

Anthropomorphic Pigeon

Each animal was named and they had to go on a small adventure. Ideally the lesson has three interacting characters with drama and conflict resolution.

It's very interesting to me which animals children pick as their favourites or totems and what their names are with the associated stories.

 Mr Hat the Panda.   How cute perhaps he's worried about the time. We put various background papers on first so that it helps tell the story and sets the scene.

This cats name is BS I wonder that that stands for.

 

Self portraits can be quite revealing how a person is feeling and what their thoughts are. Picasso said painting is just another way of writing a diary.

 I like  people to respond to their  surroundings and incorporate the magic of what nature has to offer.

 

Every child is an artist,  the challenge is how to remain one once you grow up.

Picasso

Phone 073463435

0273513887

email janet@jkeen.net

For a free consultation and needs assessment for your children, so that we can taylor make a personalised programme that is fun, exciting, mindful and peaceful.

Genuine enquiries about including your child in my art school are welcome

           Testimonials  from Happy clients

My granddaughter and I have had mosaic and painting lessons with Janet for many years and we have really enjoyed our lessons and our time with Janet.

We endorse Janet as an excellent creativity teacher for all ranges of people from special needs to gifted people.

At one time my granddaughter was very unwell, Janet went the extra mile to come to our home to support our family, and my granddaughter was able to continue with her lessons from home.

 

Janet’s positive and enthusiastic energy helped us though our difficult time.

Thank you Janet
Averie Oliver

 By Rya Patel

 

 

Detailed photorealistic work. Rya has a lot of patience and attention to detail.

 

My daughter Rya has always had a passion for art .

Right from when she was little she would always spend a lot of time colouring and drawing.

I wanted her to advance her art skills and therefore enrolled her in Janet’s art class.
With Janet’s help and guidance Rya learnt a lot of new skills and really improved her drawings and paintings .

She produced some excellent masterpieces which are proudly displayed on the walls in our house.

Janet is an excellent teacher who gives her students the freedom to explore new things while providing guidance and expertise at the same time.

I would be happy to recommend Janet to anyone who would like to take their child’s art skills to the next level. Janet has such a bubbly and vibrant personality and is very approachable and a joy to know.

Meeta Patel

Please phone for a free consultation if you are genuinely interested in lessons and to see
if your child likes it.
Phone 346-3435  027 3513887
Email: janet@jkeen.net

Debating judging at Rotorua Boys High School and Rotorua Girls High.

Winners of the year 13 debate  Boys High with the winning  trophy.


The great Debate between Rotorua Girls  High School and Rotorua Boys High School .

 I judged three debates along with other English teachers last Tuesday night and it was a pretty close race in many of the competitions. 

 This is the fourth time I have judged debates in association with Boys High and every time I do it I learn more and am always surprised by the professional performances of the competitors.

 It is a time of thinking on your feet and intelligent argument, backed up with sound statistics and research along with formidable rebuttal. 
  Half the marks are awarded to presentation of the argument and this is where I really focus.

Good eye contact, pauses, speaking slowly and audibly, having convincing body language and a flair for the dramatic always helps me to decide who wins.

Practise in these areas is crucial so that you can exude confidence.

The topics this year were interesting and engaging.
 Year 9.  Moot  Homework is not beneficial to students.

Year 10.   Moot  NZ needs to have a sugar tax.

Year 11.  Moot Household recycling is a waste of time

Year 12.  Moot Zoos should be banned

Year 13. Moot  Fake news Threatens democracy.
 
The competition was well run by Rotorua Girls High.
They sent some useful handouts about judging debates before hand, provided a nice supper and gave the judges a lovely present of chocolates and an orchid.

A thoroughly enjoyable event.
It was great to see a lot of parental support and attendances by both principals.
I think having  combined events between the Girls and Boys High schools is healthy.
It teaches  pupils about friendly rivalry and co-operation.

I look forward to further judging opportunities.
It's a great community service to be involved with schools in this way.
It's very inspiring to see all these talented young people being so brave and competent. 


Experiences of public speaking will serve them  well in  their promising futures.

 Public speaking quotes.  
“Healthy debating enforces critical thinking principles - looking at things from the different angles, with increased perspective and less prejudgment.”
― Pearl Zhu, Digital It: 100 Q&as