Monday, 7 February 2022

 Hello everyone,


I hope you're all keeping well and looking forward to spring as much as I am!

I've got lots of exciting things to tell you about, so this is going to be a long one...

First up, I'm delighted to be involved with Lewisham London Borough of Culture, We Are Lewisham. 

I'm working with Inspiral London and fellow artist Sarah Sparkes to deliver Love Around The Mulbery Tree, an artist led walk taking place next Monday - Feb. 14th - Valentine's Day - in Deptford in the evening. 

There's going to be singing, moths, mulberry tree lanterns, shadow puppets, historical anecdotes and more! We're meeting outside Little Nan's Bar near Deptford station SE8 4BX, and setting off at 6pm for a walk that'll last approximately 2 hours. But don't worry, we'll be stopping off for refreshments along the way! 

This is the first of a set of three walks. You can also join Frog Morris and Nicole Mollett for a Nautical Twighlight Tour on Feb. 17th, and Mikey Georgeson will be leading The Sleepwalker Guide to Deptford on Feb. 18th. 

All the walks are free, here's more information and links to book:


Sleepwalking the City: rewalking Inspirallondon 2022  Walking together, commonal action & shared on the ground mapping
Sleepwalker's Guide to Deptford 14-18 February
Join us outside Little Nan’s Bar by Deptford Railway Station from 5.30pm, to depart at 6pm on one of our 3 free unique tours: Walks will last approximately 1.5/2 hours including stops along the way. You are welcome to join us for as little or as long as you wish. Please bring warm waterproof clothing suitable for the February weather. Meet Little Nans Bar, by Deptford Station exit, SE8 4BZ
Feb 14th Love Around the Mulberry Tree - Shadow Puppets, lanterns and Love in the Air, led by Joanna McCormick and Sarah Sparkes: a dream-like magical mystery tour, illuminated by twinkling lights, shadow puppets and ethereal musical wonders. Sarah and Jo will whisk you away, down the hidden passage ways and back alleys of Deptford, in search of the mighty Thames. Uncover a magical dream land, peopled by a host of historical characters and events. Sign up Ticket
Feb 17th The Nautical Twilight Tour - you can witness spectres, monsters and all manner of otherworldly scenes appear from the darkness. For this unique perambulation Nicole Mollett and Frog Morris will take their Magic Lanterns out into the streets after dark to project an extraordinary collection of hand-painted imagery onto the walls and building of Deptford. Sign up Ticket
Feb 18th For Sleepwalker's Guide to Deptford you are invited to take part in a trance-forming ritual, animating the temporal substance of Deptford High Street and out beyond. Our sleepwalk begins with an introduction from Professor Tony Sampson author of A Sleep Walkers Guide to Social-media and concludes with exclusive trial encounters with Mount Analogue’s Lucia No. 03 hypnogogic light machine. Sign up Ticket
Supported by Lewisham and InspiralLondon Associate Artists and CIC




I'm also very happy to be involved with Illuminate Rotherhithe, free lantern making workshops in February, and a giant parade in March. More information can be found here:


I've got lots of lovely new courses planned for you, some independent and some for Adult Learning Lewisham, starting after half term.

My independent classes will be up and running again from Feb. 22nd. On Tuesdays you can choose from Exploring Creativity in the morning - 10 weeks from 10am - 1pm, or 5 weeks Life Drawing in the afternoon 4-6pm.

Exploring Creativity is run as a drop in, pay what you can. Attend all 10 weeks or 1 or 2 - as many as you like it's up to you! Just let me know.

It's pay what you can, minimum £5 per session, maximum £25 per session, or anything in between. Payable via sumup, paypal, bank transfer, or cash by arrangement. Or you can support me on Patreon - more about that later!

We'll be exploring lots of interesting and exciting artists, with a little bit of art history in the first hour, followed by a practical session after the tea break. If you don't want to attend the zoom sessions you can opt for the virtual version, where I email you all the information every Sunday, and a link to access a video of the demo each week on a Tuesday afternoon, for £35 all in. 

Here's the timetable:
EXPLORING CREATIVITY Early Spring 2022

Tuesdays 10am – 1pm

February 22nd – April 26th


Week 1 – Feb. 22nd - Comte Henri Marie Raymond de Toulouse Lautrec Monfa – Paris’s colourful and theatrical life


Week 2 March 1st Constable and the weather. Oils, graphite and watercolour


Week 3 – March 8th – Wilhelmina Barnes – Graham – Abstraction at Saint Ives


Week 4 – March 15th – Hope Gangloff – Contemporary figurative colourful pop


Week 5 – March 22nd – Guerilla Girls – Radical feminist artists


Week 6 - March 29th – Helen Saunders and Vorticism


Week 7 – April 5th – George Suerat and Pointilism


Week 8 – April 12th – Marla Varner and quilting


Week 9 – April 19th – Bice Lazzari – exquisite, tranquil abstraction


Week 10 – April 26th – Caspar David Friedrich – Sublime landscapes

Next, my life drawing online is a five week course, run via zoom on Tuesdays 4-6pm. I've got some amazing models and interesting themes lined up!

The cost is £75 full price, £40 concessions. Please get in touch if you'd like to attend: 



In more indie classes there will be three Art and Poetry sessions online on Wednesdays in March. We read and discuss a poem and then I guide you through making a piece of art inspired by the poem. Sessions last an hour and suggested donation is £5 per class:






For Adult Learning Lewisham at the Brockley Rise Centre I'll be running an in person 2 hour life drawing class on Wednesdays, 5-7pm. It's aimed at beginners, but those with experience are also very welcome to attend! Find out more and book here:


Also for ALL I'll be running an online Explore Colour course - Wednesday 12.30 - 2.30pm, and a five week in person drawing course - Thursdays 5-7pm:



Places are also still available for my Super Art Saturday Impressionism course, Saturday Feb. 26th, 10am - 3.30pm:


My work with Wave Cafe over in Muswell Hill continues on Thursdays - I'll be at the United Reform Church on Queen's Avenue N10 from 11am - 3pm. There's inclusive yoga with Claire at 11am, lots of tea and cake on sale and a lovely hearty value lunch at 12.30.

In the art room we're continuing with the community banner during February, and then in March we'll explore printing techniques. Here are some pictures of details from our lovely banner so far:











More information about Wave Cafe can be found here:


And finally, I'm launching a Patreon page! There are lots of different ways you can support my creative endeavors, by signing up to give me £2 per month, or £250! You'll get the choice of access to lots of unique content, artwork to download, art surprises sent to you in the post, access to my independent classes, merchandise including a lovely mug and tote bag, and more! Take a look by going here:


So, that's all folks! Thank you for taking the time to read my newsletter, I hope to see you again soon.

With love and best wishes - Jo