Automata, mechanical toy & kinetic sculpture making in artist's workshop: 6 classes

Description

Come with your idea for your project and be taught at my workshop in the busy artist studios in North West London. As a teacher, with experience from Primary to University levels, I’ve designed the course so that the student can succeed, whether it be an automaton, toy or kinetic sculpture you want to make, through a process of simple intuitive stages. The course will involve an initial discussion with you through the Craft Courses messaging, where you can describe your idea. Before you sign up, feel free to contact me via the "message the tutor" button on this page to discuss when your idea, when you’d like to start, which time and day and any other questions or concerns prior to making your booking. There is the opportunity to learn about different types of mechanisms; cams, pin gears, pulleys and linkages and skills, such as silver soldering, metal-work and how to make components, to save you money. Learning about motors, relays, electronics and Arduino coding is also available. I stock a vast amount of materials and components which are are included in the course up to the value of £20.00. A little bit about my working background - I have conducted workshops for over twenty five years in schools of all ages and am a qualified secondary level teacher. For five years, I was associate lecturer at UAL Wimbledon College of Art in puppetry, animatronics and automata - some of the work can be seen here. I also run Meta Props, where I offer a consultant and technical service to artists, fashion designers, even magicians! I am co-founder of Arts Republic, making environmental kinetic sculpture. You don’t have to bring an idea as I can offer a variety of projects for all levels of experience and skill - you could make a classic hand-cranked or motorised automaton, or you could do one of my projects, for example 'To breathe life into an inanimate object with a hidden mechanism'. In this project you would choose any small everyday object, such as a book, and make it open - as if by magic. In this project the means of producing the movement is up to you - it is wide ranging from the low-tech of motors and cams as in automata, to the high-tech of Arduinos and servos, as used in animatronics. I also have all kinds of projects that will suit your ability, from beginner to the advanced student. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or would like to discuss a project you have in mind. Often the course can be paused to suit the students schedule if we've reached a stage where there is a lot to do by the next session. I look forward to hearing from you.

What's included in the price?

Six x two hours classes to fit your schedule. You will have full use of a well equipped workshop, including a band-saw, lathe, milling machine and scroll saw. In between the sessions you will receive support on sourcing materials and components. Also, I can send you info about classic and contemporary kinetic artists and automata makers that you can draw inspiration from. Mechanical art has always been a passion in my life, and I have accumulated a huge knowledge and am acquainted with many of the makers in both fields. On signing up you will also receive a data sheet about my unique ‘Sketch Model’ methodology, reading material and where you can see automata and kinetic art in action - perhaps near you, maybe including some of my own.

What you will need

For this online course you will need access to a drill, preferably a pillar bench-press type, a range of hand tools; pliers, hammer, punch, vice, hack-saw, jig-saw, fret saw. Card, MDF, birch ply, various woods, brass rods, silver or bright steel rods.

Cancellation policy

Easy - Cancellation and a full refund can be obtained up to 2 weeks before the course starts

Maker

Tom Wilkinson

with Craft Courses since 2019

Message the tutor

Since graduating in 1977 in Film Graphic Design at Kingston Polytechnic he has worked in visual effects, automata and large public artworks. He has shown internationally with Kinetica Museum, including the Contemporary Art Society and Ars Electronica. He is also co founder of Arts Republic, an arts collective specialising in environmental art for schools and museums. Fours years an Associate Lecturer at UAL Wimbledon School of Art in Technical Arts and UCL Bartlett