Explore the bright garden spaces of Pierre Bonnard’s paintings to inspire and ignite your work on this vibrant, immersive course.

Have you always wanted to be brave and bold with your art and learn to increase your confidence as an artist working with colour? Have you yearned to paint outdoors on a large scale? Take a journey with your tutor on this big painting course in the glorious gardens at West Dean where nature is allowed to flourish. Experience a creative journey into the world of landscape and domestic painting.

You will be looking at the artist Pierre Bonnard and his work depicting nature and domestic scenes. Learn how to capture the warm diffused light of Bonnard’s tabletop settings and see how he captured the poetry of everyday life as it played out in the wild spacious gardens.

Learn to understand your own colour palette and use bright vibrant hues in acylic paint.

Bonnard’s paintings extended beyond his garden; he created decorative panels that had a profound effect on his approach to colour. He has been described as ‘a profoundly original colourist, he was also a poet of fugitive bliss and thwarted intimacy’.

By the end of the course, you will have produced two large-scale canvases and a series of large preparatory works on paper inspired by Bonnard and West Dean Gardens. Be prepared to be challenged and to step-out of your comfort zone.

Immersive Art School Week This course is part of our ‘Immersive Art School’ group of short courses for summer 2025, led by talented artist-tutors: Tim Johnson (basketry) Jane Fox and Jane Sampson (printmaking) James Hunting (textiles) Tabatha Andrews (experimental drawing, listening and sculpture) Louise Rainbow (drawing and painting) Richard Sweeney (paper sculpture) Ben Brierley (ceramics)

There will be tutor talks on the Tuesday evening from 5:15 to 6.15pm in The Old Library as part of the course. Studio visits are encouraged to share work and experiences (out of core teaching hours).

Included

On this course the College will supply most of the materials, including a 100cm x 100cm canvas (which should fit in your car, but please check), 80cm x 80cm canvas and some thick cartridge paper (300gsm) and masking tape per student, plus some household paint in various colours and blackboard paint to share amongst the group. Flowers and foliage from the gardens will also be provided.

What students need to bring

• Sketchbooks
• 4 jam jars
• Basic tool kit including - pencils, charcoal, 4-inch-wide wallpaper brush, range of 6 decorator’s brushes, assorted wide flat brushes, assorted round paintbrushes
• A palette
• Acrylic paints (250ml size paint pots minimum) in the following colours: Red, Yellow, Blue, Black, Paynes Grey, White, Burnt Sienna Coloured chalk pastels or crayons (optional)

Available to buy

Available from shop: A good variety of art materials, including acrylic paints in 250ml pots (and 500ml), brushes, palettes, sketchbooks and paper and drawing materials including coloured pastels and crayons, etc.

Additional information

Please wear appropriate clothing/aprons for the workshop or studio, this includes stout covered footwear (no sandals or open toes).

Arrival day
Residential students can arrive from 4pm, non-residential students to arrive by 6.45pm for registration
6.45pm: Welcome, followed by dinner (included)
8 - 9pm: First teaching session, attendance is essential

Daily timetable
Course teaching 9.15am - 5pm (lunch included)
Dinner: from 6.30pm (included for residential students)
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
Course teaching: 9.15am - 3pm (lunch included)
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

Terms & Conditions