Working from live plants and photographs, create a winter or Christmas design, then use an ink line and some watercolour paints to give it impact and colour. You can work to create a design that will be used to print your own greeting cards.

The aims of the course are to:

• Improve your composition skills
• Increase your understanding of pattern
• Learn how to ink a drawing
• Increase your confidence in watercolour techniques
• Develop your knowledge and understanding of colours and colour-mixing theory

The tutor will teach you techniques in composition, pattern design, sketching, ink work, tone, wet-in-wet watercolour painting, dry brush painting and colour mixing. She will support you with demonstrations throughout the day, as well as one-to-one advice and support.

During the course, you will become more familiar with the ink drawing and watercolour painting process, gain theoretical knowledge, as well as practice, improve your identification of colours, as well as be able to reproduce them.

The theme will be predominantly botanical but other subjects can be introduced into the design, especially if you are designing a greeting card. Ideas of other subjects: a house, animals, Christmas song illustration, robin or squirrel - please bring your own photographs for inspiration.

You can either paint a card to send as an original or use the design for printing, as the tutor will give some guidelines about designing to print.

At the end of the course, you should be able to take home some notes, sketches and at least one finished design.

Included

Plants

What students need to bring

• Drawing equipment (pencils, sketchbook or cartridge paper, rubber, putty rubber)
• Tracing paper
• TraceDown transfer paper if you have any
• Watercolour paper, smooth/hot pressed, at least 300gsm
• Watercolour brushes in a range of sizes
• Ink pen, lightfast and waterproof, fine nib (you might want to use several sizes)
• Watercolour paints in a range of basic colours or colours you think you will use in your design.
• Masking tape or Washi tape

Available to buy

A good variety of art and craft materials are available from the Garden' Gatehouse Shop.

Additional information

Please wear appropriate clothing/aprons for the workshop or studio. This includes stout covered footwear, i.e. no open-toes or sandals, and safety boots, if specified.

Arrival day - first date of course
Residential students can arrive from 4pm, non-residential students to arrive by 6.45pm for registration  
Student welcome, followed by dinner: 6.45pm (dinner included)
Teaching session: 8pm-9pm (attendance is essential)

Daily timetable
Course teaching: 9.15am-5pm  
Morning session: 9.15am-12.45pm including coffee/tea break  
Lunch break: 12.45pm-2pm (lunch included)  
Afternoon session: 2pm-5pm including coffee/tea break  
Teaching finishes: 5pm    
Evening working: students may have access to workshops until 9pm, but only with permission from the tutor and provided any health and safety guidelines are observed.

Departure day - last date of course
Course teaching: 9.15am-3pm (lunch included)  
Teaching finishes: 3pm  

Residential students will need to check out of rooms by 10am.
Please note, the tutor may make slight variations to the daily timetable as required.

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