Ink and Bleach Abstracted Landscape 

Explore the magic that happens when you paint with ink and bleach! Using traditional Fountain pen ink such as Quink, or Parker, we will paint a very loose abstracted landscape. We will then paint into it using a very small amount of bleach. Once we are happy with our painting, we will refine it using a dipping pen to draw into the work, again using both the ink and the bleach. We will also experiment with some Winsor and Newton Drawing Ink in different colours. Note: we are NOT using acrylic inks for this project. Please bring Fountain pen ink and, or drawing Ink, depending on what you have, however I will have enough inks for the class to use so no need to rush out and buy everything!

You will need a dipping or calligraphy pen. If you have one, please bring it, but I will have plenty for the class to use, including some beautiful glass dipping pens for you to try. You will also need brushes and watercolour paper, or heavy weight cartridge paper, Bring enough for experimentation as well. 

Please be mindful that we will only be using bleach in very small quantities and will ensure the room is extremely well ventilated. It will not be in contact with your skin at any point. All precautions will be taken, but please do not attend this class if you are concerned about working with bleach.

Cornish Stone Monuments - Painting with Graphite and Charcoal plus Watercolours

We will be experimenting with PAINTING techniques using charcoal and graphite powder with water and binder, whilst learning how to create these beautiful textures of stone. We will also be using coloured or tinted Derwent XL graphite or charcoal sticks, which will give us lovely ochres, greens and blues. I can provide these for the class if you don’t have them. We will also be using masking fluid, salt and wax techniques.  For the sky and grass areas, we will be using traditional watercolour.

I will supply enough binder for the class as well as masking fluid, wax, salt and various tinted charcoals. Bring any charcoal and graphite (sticks, pencils, powder) that you have. Please bring some old brushes to use and an old tooth brush. You will need watercolour paper for your project plus some extra for experimentation.  Do NOT use your best watercolour brushes with the graphite and charcoal paint we will be making. I can provide a selection of brushes for the class as necessary. 

Beach Stones - Painting with charcoal and graphite powder

During the first part of the lesson we will be experimenting with techniques using charcoal and graphite powder with water and a fluid binder. I will supply enough binder for the class. If you have coloured or tinted Derwent XL graphite or charcoal sticks, we can use powder from these, which would give us lovely ochres and reds which you often find in beach stones, along with the black, grey, whites. We will also be using various techniques with masking fluid and salt.  I will provide masking fluid and salt as well as binder and various tinted charcoal. Bring any charcoal and graphite (sticks or pencils) that you have. This is sure to be a fun, experimental class! Please bring old brushes to use, and watercolour or heavy cartridge paper. Do NOT use your best watercolour brushes! I can provide a selection of brushes for the class if necessary. 

Pathway to the Beach 

Oil Pastels 

Select (or take) a photo of a pathway to a beach - plenty to choose from around here! - Or you can use one of mine. We will be using Oil Pastels and an impressionistic style to interpret your own version of the photo. We will be looking at composition and using various techniques with oil pastels, blending tools and palette knives, applying, layering and scraping away. You will need a heavy cartridge paper, oil pastels, cotton buds, any silicone blending tools you have, metal palette knives, scrap paper with straight edges, masking tape may be useful too as well as a scrap of cloth and baby wipes for hands.  I want to show you a technique I have been experimenting with for blending using cotton buds and low odour white spirit / oil paint thinners. Something I haven’t shown before.

Development of a Theme - Fish, Birds, Insects, Plants or Trees

Week 3 - See below for full description 

Development of a Theme - Fish, Birds, Insects, Plants or Trees

3 week Project 

You will select an image or subject from one of the above, and will, over the course of 3 weeks, represent this image in three completely different ways, starting with a figurative drawing in Week 1. With guidance, over the next two weeks, you will develop your work anywhere along the sliding scale towards abstract, or you may decide to represent your image subject figuratively but using three different mediums.The idea is to get you thinking more and expanding your artistic outlook.Your three pieces will be the same size, so you will end up with a beautiful triptych which could be mounted or framed together. We will look at different styles and examples from various art movements and artists. I will put forward many suggestions and ideas for you to consider, for example, figurative drawing, Pointillism (coloured dots) in paint, abstract collage. The possibilities are endless and you can be as bold as you like! Here are some examples from students who have done ‘Development of a Theme’ with me previously, when we did Wolf, Fox, Dog, last year. Wonderful results and it really got everyone thinking and pushing their creativity…

Interpretation of a Wave, Painted on a Map

Acrylics, matt medium, paper maps

Using Acrylic Paint and Matt Medium, we will paint a section of a wave onto a section of a map. We will also use some Matt Medium to encapsulate sand onto our work. Your interpretation of a wave could be quite literal and figurative, or you could be more expressive and create a piece which is looser and more abstracted. You will need acrylic paints (or acrylic inks perhaps if you have them?), in suitable colours, and a pencil plus eraser for drawing out. Either bring your own section of map, approx A3 in size, or use one from a selection I will provide during the session. I will bring sand, Matt Medium and some PVA glue, as well as some extra paints for anyone who may need them. You will also need a sheet of Acrylic paper, or a heavyweight cartridge paper.