On this course, the emphasis is on exploring approaches to the depiction of light in the townscape. You will be working in the streets and parks of Midhurst and possibly Chichester. Learn how to capture the movement and colour of the town, the structure of the buildings and the changing light in small, on the spot, oil paintings. There will also be time to work up outdoor paintings back in the studio. You will explore techniques that enable a sense of the form, light, structure and movement to be conveyed in a short time.

On the first evening, you need to bring black and white oil paints, brushes, rags, a palette and a small cheap surface to the studio for the first session. It is important that you have used oils before and are familiar with the medium, and that you have some knowledge of observational drawing techniques.

Each student is treated as an individual and there will be plenty of one-to-one tuition, as well as group critiques. Your tutor will also sometimes be painting with the group. There will be opportunity for you to develop your paintings further during supervised and unsupervised evening sessions when you will paint in the grounds of West Dean, or in the studio developing outdoor work further.

Included

The college will provide you with some MDF boards, gesso and studio safe solvent.

What students need to bring

• Cotton rags

• bring black and white oils, brushes, rags, A Palette and A Small cheap surface to the first evening session.

• bring surfaces coloured lightly with raw or burnt umber. (to do this, paint A thin coat of the oil colour on A surface. thin with A solvent, not liquin or oil. Then wipe smooth with A cloth. do this at least three days Before the course begins. you are welcome to experiment with any other colour and also use white surfaces as well.)

• oil paints: the following list is A guide only, if you already have similar colours to these which you prefer to use, Then bring them. colours in brackets are cheaper alternatives, often equally good: Titanium white, Winsor yellow, yellow Ochre or raw Sienna, burnt Sienna, Alizarin Crimson, Cadmium red (or Cadmium red hue), French Ultramarine, Prussian blue/Phthalo blue, Ivory Black. (acrylic gesso primer will be available in the studio, so that you can prime paper, card, board or canvas during the course) you can purchase MDF cut to any size during the course.

• other equipment: Palette, studio safe solvent such as Zest-it, A4 Sketchbook, hog Hair brushes in A range of sizes, charcoal, black conte crayon, graphite pencils

Available to buy

Available from shop: A good variety of art materials including oil paints, studio safe solvent, A4 sketchbooks, hog hair brushes and a variety of drawing materials, gesso, paper, canvases and canvas boards.

Additional information

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

Portable chair and easel are available to use at the College.

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