NEAC Scholarship Q&A Michael Weller NEAC
/ New English Art Club
The New English Art Club encourages early career artists to submit to their free NEAC Artist Scholarships, with a winning prize of £5,000.
The scholarships are aimed to support those who face financial barriers in pursuing the arts in a professional capacity, and will benefit those who have not historically had many opportunities to engage with the NEAC. Successful applicants will receive a scholarship prize of up to £5,000 and will be able to attend classes, courses and workshops run by the NEAC and develop mentoring relationships with their membership.
To apply you will need to describe how the scholarship will benefit you and to share examples of your work. The deadline to apply is Friday 28 April - find full details here.
Michael Weller, a previous winner of the NEAC Scholarship who is now a member of the NEAC, spoke to us about what the opportunity meant for him, which we hope will encourage you to apply!
Q&A with Michael Weller
Michael Weller in his studio
What made you decide to apply for the NEAC scholarship, and why in particular were you interested in the NEAC society?
A painter I knew from a life drawing class told me to apply to the NEAC because they would like my work. That year, I got a painting in the NEAC exhibition at Mall Galleries. I went to London to see the show and saw their events and classes. One of the members of the NEAC I met there told me to apply to the drawing scholarship. It was encouraging and stayed with me.
How did you feel when you found out you had been awarded the NEAC scholarship?
I felt like I'd arrived. I told everyone.
Are you able to talk about anything you learnt from one of the classes, courses or workshops run by the NEAC that you attended throughout your scholarship?
I was at a class with Paul Newland where we were painting a life model in a room at the Royal Academy. He suggested starting the painting from the outside edges which had a big impact on me! I remember thinking I was interested in working more like that; where the figure was seen as just another block of colour in the picture, no more important than the other coloured shapes. This allowed me to move around a painting more from shape to shape, not being stuck in a corner of a painting. I say to students now, “don’t get stuck in the lemon!”
Lemons on the Easel
Did any members of the NEAC particularly inspire you during your scholarship?
We were encouraged to visit the NEAC artists' studios. I particularly remember looking through David Parfitt's sketchbooks, which were filled with drawings of himself, his parents, an old girlfriend.
At the time I lived in Winchester and seemed to me that there weren’t a lot of people drawing from life, using sketchbooks, drawing themselves and the people and landscapes around them. Seeing David’s sketchbooks made me want to do more drawing. Good drawings do that.
What are the benefits of now being a member of the NEAC and how much do you think the scholarship played a part in your career progression?
Being a member of the NEAC allows me to have interesting conversations with serious painters. I also have the opportunity to take part in their exhibitions beyond the annual exhibition at Mall Galleries, such as the Victoria Art Gallery in Bath. The scholarship helped because it challenged me to take my work more seriously.
Are there any projects you are working on or planning at the moment that you would like to tell us about?
I'm planning to do more classes with the NEAC. I would like to do a Saturday class by Weymouth beach in early July. I'm moving there this week! This would be seaside impressions and colour studies done on card and board.
What advice would you give to an emerging artist and how has the scholarship helped you overcome any barriers?
My advice would be to draw from life every day - one's own voice develops naturally over time. During the scholarship Tom Coates taught me to make the lines longer - let them go right to the edge. Tom showed me his sketchbooks which were really something. It felt as though the lines crackled!
Untitled Strada Easel painting
What would you say to encourage someone to apply for the scholarship?
I would absolutely encourage emerging artists to apply, as being seen by real painters - with some sympathy - helps to bring about a shift in one's own work.
We hope you enjoyed learning more about Michael Weller and his work, and if you are an emerging artist yourself, you feel inspired to apply for the NEAC scholarship. Follow the link below for full details: