Ref: SWE39975
Whether a beginner or more experienced artist, this course will be an excellent way to learn or develop personal practise as individual guidance and tuition will be given as well as group demonstrations.
Whilst much of the focus will be on traditional watercolour application and techniques like exploring a limited palette, drawing will be an important element to undertake. The drawing will be broken down into manageable bite sized pieces exploring the idea of moving from the simple to the complex. This will help to understand some interesting elements such as aerial perspective and creating the illusion of three-dimensions and careful botanical observation. Demonstrations will be given throughout, together with useful tips and advice.
The course will begin with a morning of close observational drawing and ideas for composition in preparation for painting. The afternoon session will focus on watercolour painting, following a step-by-step process and exploring techniques to describe the ephemeral beauty of blossom. Day two will continue with painting - developing colour mixing and matching together with simple colour theory and application.
By the end of the course you may, or may not have, completed a painting but you will leave with a greater understanding of what it takes to develop a painting of a branch of blossom that looks as if it could be plucked from the page. You will be provided with course notes as well as worksheet notes undertaken to develop techniques which will be invaluable either to complete your painting in your own time and / or to provide reference for future work.
Useful but not essential A magnifying glass Dividers
Available from shop: A good variety of art and craft materials
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
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.
Mariella Baldwin studied botanical illustration at the English Gardening School, London and received an MA in Visual Arts from Sussex University. Her paintings are held in collections both in the UK and USA. She is a painting member of Chelsea Physic Garden Florilegium Society. Her book 'Botanical Painting' was published in 2011.
Residential option available. Find out accommodation costs and how to book here.
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