Ref: SSS39909
This adventurous watercolour course enables you to capture natures summer colours with practical steps from observational drawing through to delicate collage and playful watercolour. Learn to think differently via new pathways of creating a painting.
Working in the studio, your tutor will guide you through a series of drawing and painting exercises. You will be sketching directly from floral still life alongside inspiration from the work of contemporary artists. You will also learn how to incorporate collaged tissue to create transparency and subtle texture.
You will be encouraged to explore form, colour and line on the paper surface and allow first ideas to be shaped intuitively. Both architectural and softer plant shapes will enable you to experiment with your painting, allowing your compositions to emerge through a playful strategy.
Practical wash and brush skills will be demonstrated throughout the course with plenty of methodologies introduced as the course progresses. There will be one-to-one support throughout. You will be looking at the versatility of colour and how it can be harnessed to suit your visualisation. Sharing and changing ideas will be encouraged within the group as you move towards a truly personal rendering of your weeks experiences.
By the end of the course, you will have generated a lot of ideas for further development. You will have explored watercolours technical and explorative capabilities and discovered new approaches to the aesthetics of composition.
This course will broaden your knowledge whilst offering you plenty of practical tips to open up new pathways for self-expression. You will learn to evaluate the painting experience more confidently and objectively.
All working methods will be demonstrated by the tutor and repeated as required. The course structure is outlined below which your tutor may change as appropriate.
Course welcome and outline of the week ahead:
Summer School Highlights
The Summer School week is an immersive learning experience with more time to develop your creativity and embrace opportunities for creative development beyond your chosen course. A detailed timetable for your Summer School week will be given to you on arrival. This will include:
All lunches and evening meals are provided for residential and non-residential students during summer school due to planned activities/events in the early evenings.
Materials included in the course fee: On this course, the tutor will supply some experimental materials to share Bockingford 300gam watercolour paper, Fabriano 300gam watercolour paper, cartridge paper and tissues paper will be provided by the college.
Please bring any other/similar materials you wish to use and any photos/sketches that you find inspirational.
Available from shop: A good variety of watercolour paints (tubes and pans), drawing materials, sketchbooks, a good range of papers, brushes, palettes, fixative spray and Schmincke masking fluid. Your tutor will advise you on all materials at the beginning of the course and will bring some for you to try out.
Please wear appropriate clothing/aprons for the workshop or studio, this includes stout covered footwear (no sandals or open toes).
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
All lunches and evening meals are provided for residential and non-residential students during Summer School due to planned activities/events in the early evenings.
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.
Several evening events are planned throughout the week, a detailed timetable for your Summer School will be given to you on arrival.
Christine Forbes is a Sussex artist and graduate of Northbrook College, Worthing. Her background is in design, acting, fashion and catering. She has been teaching for over 20 years (both adults and children) and includes: The National association of Gifted Children and HMP Ford. She continues to work for private, club and corporate clients. Christine exhibits regularly and is a member of the Sussex Watercolour Society. She runs her own gift card business.
Residential option available. Find out accommodation costs and how to book here.
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