A wall full of ideas and workings out in my studio…pastel drawings , photos, finished work and work in progress
Testimonials from workshops in the Summer and Autumn….
Karen is such an encouraging, generous and insightful teacher that it makes the impossible seem possible. Her classes are packed with information, and she gives hands on support and help so that even very stuck moments become unstuck and great passages of learning. I was totally frozen about oil paint and I have come away really excited to get stuck in. She exudes enthusiasm, is brimful of ideas which she shares generously and openly. Her knowledge of techniques and of other artists is outstanding and inspiring too. I have done two two day workshops now, each time leaving enriched, excited and more confident. Highly recommended!
Ginny
I’d never used oil sticks before. What fun and I learnt so much from Karen, who with a tweak here and there helped push us on to results I never dreamed of. I want to come back.
Victoria
Above some of the gorgeous work from the Autumn workshops…looking at hedgerow finds, grasses, dried protea and quince…using oil sticks.
Some Housekeeping!
10.00 am – 3.00 ( arrive around 9.45 for a 10.00 start….gives time to have a coffee and run through the plan for the session )
The dates …….please choose either the Mondays or the Tuesdays
MONDAYS
January 14th 21st 28th
February 11th 25th
March 4th 11th 18th
TUESDAYS
January 15th 22st 29th
February 12th 26th
March 5th 12th 19th
Cost £400
Oil paint is a wonderful medium to work with, the possibilities of colour and texture is infinitely exciting. We are going to explore this medium over the 8 weeks using lots of different techniques such as scumbling, printing, and large and small mark making. Observation will be key to the work we make. I will demonstrate my practice alongside looking at other artists and their methods and will guide you to help you develop your own style.
From my time at Hidcote …small oil sketches
I am really hoping that the weather will allow us short bursts of time outside in the valley to make quick sketches in inks, watercolours and pastels as part of our gathering information which we will need for making work back in the studio. This 8 week course will show you how to enjoy using oil paint using a range of different techniques. You will work on a series of paintings inspired by the landscape (weather permitting) We will build your skills and confidence so you can create rich and expressive oil paintings. You will learn to capture the shapes, colours and essence of the landscape. If the weather is completely against us we will look at still lives set up in the studio with the garden and hill as a backdrop. The aim will be to work on a large painting over the weeks and a series of smaller studies using all the techniques I show you ( I will demonstrate new techniques every week )
This enables you to build up a library of techniques from the exercises and materials you use. I will recap from the previous weeks, and for beginners, the things learned will start to become natural and second nature. For those with more experience, you will be able to develop your paintings in new directions. Every week we will spend some time chatting and analysing what we have covered in each session.
Techniques that we will use….
Brush marks…scratching out….dripping…softening dry areas…. drybrush…large brushwork….brush techniques…palette knife…blending…different impasto techniques….wet into wet…oil mediums…glazing…scumbling…expressive alla prima…textures in paint….printing….collage
Exercises over the 8 weeks (using the techniques listed above)….
Quick small observational drawing and painting in oil and watercolour
Tonal painting and colour mixing
Hue, tint, shade, saturation, value,
Large, fast and free, expressive mark making
Painting on coloured grounds
Working from watercolour sketches
Value exercises
3 colour painting
Organising palettes
Using a view finder
Arranging compositions using collage in pastel and oil pastel
Photographs…this is fine occasionally, however it is very important to use them carefully and not rely on them for all the information; they can offer one form of reference
Planning, scale and composition
I will provide….
Gessoed Boards of various sizes – Basic colour oil paints – charcoal – indian ink – linseed oil- paint thinners – stand oil – large scale drawing paper, drawing materials , some coloured inks, and various synthetic brushes (there will be as much tea, coffee and biscuits as needed to keep energy levels up!)
You will need to bring….
Watercolours and a watercolour sketch book
Oil Paint…..(bright violet, magenta,sap green, cobalt turquoise )
Set of oil pastels (these can be the large or smaller bars)
Arches : Huile Oil Painting Paper – 300gsm NOT
Brushes – hog
At least 1 larger brush (3cm round)
An Apron
Palette – Ideally a large baking tray, similar to the image below, the paints will keep well covered with clingfilm.
A Sandwich …. I provide plenty of coffee and tea through out the day
Work in progress in the studio
View from the studio in late Autumn and Winter Workshop in full flow!