Rachel Shirley
I have written and illustrated several art instruction books entitled Oil Paintings from your Garden and Oil Paintings from the Landscape (The Guild of Master Craftsman Publications Ltd, 2002 and 2003). These books include numerous step by step oil painting demonstrations and also advice on oil painting and materials.
I have since embarked upon a series of books entitled Oil Painting Medic, which offers solutions to common problems associated with oil painting. Why do my Clouds Look Like Cotton Wool? offering advice when painting landscapes, and Why do My Ellipses Look Like Doughnuts? offering solutions for still life painting (both published in 2011). I have also written How do I Inspire my Painting Class? Lesson Plan Ideas for Oil Painting in Post Compulsory Education and an Essential Guide to Teaching. All these books are available as printed version or Kindlebooks.
I have written and illustrated three children's picture books, Katie's Magic Teapot and the Cosmic Pandas, the sequel, Katie and the Cosmic Pandas' Deep Sea Voyage, and Ben's Little Big Adventure.
View all my books on Rachel Shirley page on Amazon.
I have a PCET 3 teaching certificate from Warwick University in the UK, and I have a BA Hons degree in my specialist subject Fine Art from Kingston, London. I have taught Life Drawing and Painting and Drawing to adults at my local college. You can view my blog all about making money writing at home, oil painting medic, or my gallery.
Having written for Arts Education, you will find a wealth of information various aspects of the arts from the student's and the teacher's viewpoint. Further helpful links will be added as an ongoing process.
Other achievements:
Wrote and illustrated a demonstration of one of my paintings for the book 100 Ways to Paint Landscapes’ (Volume 1) (The International Artist, 2002)
Wrote and illustrated a demonstration of one of my paintings for the book 100 Ways to Paint People & Figures (Volume 2) (The International Artist, 2002)
Won first prize in the Daler Rowney Front Page international painting competition (1993) on the theme of New Beginnings
My painting Cattlerun published as limited edition in Fine Art posters by Felix Rosenstiel’s Widow & Son Ltd
Won first prize in the Daler Rowney Front Page international painting competition (1998) on the theme Eclipse
Won prize for my painting on the theme of the film What Dreams May Come (1999) Sponsored by Polydor Films
Won the Abstract category in the Society of All Artists (2001) Artist of the Year Competition for my painting Chess
My painting Picnic was shortlisted in the Not the Turner Prize competition, and was exhibited at the Mall Gallery, London in 2004
Designed and painted two life sized fibreglass cows for CowParade in London and Manchester (2002 and 2004) for my cows Seacow and Flying Moochine. The cows were auctioned off and raised over £4000 for ChildLine
In my spare time, I enjoy writing fiction, but unlike my non-fiction books on Oil Painting, are yet unpublished. I have written screenplays and novels and children's books. I have many interests, as I enjoy reading and collating facts. For this reason, I am also interested in fascinating facts about our planet, and have completed projects on meteorology and how the earth's surface affects our weather. I am also interested in health issues and educational issues.
Latest Articles
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How to Prepare for a Final Assessment for Art School
A mock art assessment, or critique, helps prevent problems or disagreements between teacher and pupil.
Jul 24, 2011
- Rachel Shirley
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How to Evaluate Art Lessons for Improvement
An art teacher who never self evaluates painting lessons is in danger of encountering the same problems.
Jun 24, 2011
- Rachel Shirley
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How to Assess Art Work in Painting Class
How does the teacher assess artwork properly? The summative assessment must be fair or it will not be valid.
May 28, 2011
- Rachel Shirley
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Icebreaker Ideas for Art Class
Ideas for team-building exercises, games and quizzes for the start of art classes.
May 2, 2011
- Rachel Shirley
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How to Write a Brief for Art Lessons
A series of art classes needs a theme to make them hang together. How does the art teacher devise an overall topic for the art course?
Apr 7, 2011
- Rachel Shirley
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Writing an ILP for Art Lesson Plans in Art Education
An individual learning plan may be needed when teaching art to a group of students that include some with special needs.
Mar 23, 2011
- Rachel Shirley
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Art Lesson Plan on Drawing Tones
An art lesson idea for drawing development, art students will benefit from a drawing exercise featuring tones by the use of white objects.
Mar 7, 2011
- Rachel Shirley
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Art Lesson Plan on Negative Space for Composing Paintings
An essential art lesson idea, drawing the outline of backgrounds around objects will help enhance students' paintings.
Feb 26, 2011
- Rachel Shirley
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How to Assess Art Students for Lesson Planning
Before the art teacher can formulate a scheme of work for art, an initial assessment of the students must be conducted.
Feb 19, 2011
- Rachel Shirley
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Art Class Idea on the Definition of Painting
Key skills initiative means the art teacher must incorporate literacy into arts education. Exploring the meaning of painting is one such way.
Feb 12, 2011
- Rachel Shirley
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