Course details
Over the course of nine classes, explore this intuitive way of making work in tune with the dynamic patterns, energies and qualities of the calendar year.
Join artist Kate Southworth for this online pre-recorded course designed to sensitise your approach to creative work in line with the seasonal changes. During each yearly cycle we witness a pattern of fading, composting, lying fallow, germination, gestation, birthing, blossoming, fruiting and harvesting. Becoming tuned with these natural processes enables us to recognise similar patterns within our own work and with the creative process itself.
In this series, spanning the entire calendar year, we explore the symbolic significance of the four cross-quarter days celebrated by the ancient Celts, as well as the two solstices and two equinoxes. We will work with a range of creative techniques and processes that resonate with the specific qualities of each of these eight major transition points.
Explore artists whose work addresses seasonal change, rituals and intuitive processes including Bracha Ettinger, Hilma af Klint, Shirazeh Houshiary, Emma Kunz, Ithell Colquhoun, Agnes Martin, Leonora Carrington, Georgiana Houghton. Look at the calendar customs and rituals pertinent to the time of the year, and explore a range of creative processes and techniques that activate the imagination.
The first session introduces you to the concepts and the following sessions correspond to a different time of the calendar.
Watch each session on the corresponding date and give yourself time in between to absorb and review your learning, develop your practice and stay in tune with the seasons. You have access for a full year and can join at any time. You will be invited to join a private Facebook group so you can discuss and share your work with fellow students.
In addition to the pre-recorded lessons, there will be a live Q & A session with the artist Kate Southworth on the 15th October, where you can get the answers in real time to any burning questions that you may have.
Breakdown of Sessions
Watch each session on the corresponding date and give yourself time in between to absorb and review your learning, develop your practice and stay in tune with the seasons. These are pre-recorded to work through at your own pace. NOTE: There will be a live Q&A sessions with Kate, at 4pm on 15th October .
31 Oct: Firing the Darkness (Samhain)
21 Dec: Stillness (Winter Solstice)
1 Feb: Birthing New Dreams (Imbolg)
21 Mar: Life Surges (Spring Equinox)
1 May: Meadow Dancing (Bealtaine)
20 Jun: Watering the Brightness (Summer Solstice)
1 Aug: Growing and Slowing (Lughnasadh)
22 Sep: Life Surges (Autumn Equinox)
Who is this course for?
This course is suitable for both absolute beginners and those with more experience looking to build confidence in new ways of working. Aimed to help you step out of your comfort zone and loosen your approach to painting.
What will I learn?
1. Learn to work more freely and intuitively.
2. See how seasonal changes, processes and rituals can inform your creative work.
3. Learn how other artists have worked with the calendar in their painting.
4. Work towards finding your own ‘voice’ or visual vocabulary over an extended period of time.
5. See how to work in tune with the dynamic patterns, energies and qualities of the calendar year.
Taught by
What to Bring
We will send you a list of materials and instructions upon booking the course.
You will need access to the internet and ideally a PC, laptop or a tablet with audio. Phones are not really suitable to watch a webinar on, unless you can cast to your Smart TV.
You will have a full year to enjoy the sessions, review and make work in response to the calendar.
What our students say
It became a most life changing part of my life’s journey
I really enjoyed it and found it personally interesting as well as learning new ways to approach my creativity.
Great tutor – approachable, knowledgeable and extremely calming to be around at the end of a busy work day!
I’ve booked another online course.
FAQs
Art Courses
Do you have to be experienced to come to the School?
No prior experience is required to join most of our art courses. The School of Painting is a friendly and welcoming environment for all ages and abilities, including complete beginners.
Our drop-in life drawing classes and short workshops are perfect if you’re trying painting for the first time. Many of our longer courses are also suitable for beginners, as our tutors are experienced in supporting mixed ability groups. If a course requires previous experience, this will be clearly stated on the course page.
Online Art Courses
Do I need a webcam/any equipment?
For our webinar sessions which are broadcast on the internet and no webcam or microphone is needed as you just need to be able to see/hear hosts and you can communicate using the chat function. You can watch using a PC, Smart TV or tablet. A phone isn’t ideal as you will struggle to see enough unless you can miracast to a screen or smart TV.
For the longer online courses on Zoom you will need a laptop or tablet with audio and camera enabled so you can have a screen near where you are working. If you have a PC without camera or speakers, you can purchase a plug and play webcam for approx £25 which connects to a usb port. You will also need reasonable broadband connection and speed.
All the art materials and equipment needed to participate in the course will be listed in full on the online learning platform, for live webinars this will be a minimum of two weeks before the session starts.
I have registered for the webinar but I can't find my joining link
You can access all the resources and joining link for your webinar via our online learning platform. You will need to have set up an account on our online learning platform in advance. You can do this during the checkout process when purchasing your webinar. If you are having trouble accessing your online account, please contact [email protected]. You can use a PC or tablet or even cast from your phone to watch on your Smart TV.
I paid for the session but missed it, how can I watch?
Currently all our online sessions are recorded and you can access the recording on our online learning platform until it expires. Usually 60 days for a webinar, 90 – 180 days for multipart webinars or online courses.
Studio Courses
Can I bring my dog?
The studios are busy places with lots of equipment and not suitable for bringing a pet dog. We can accommodate assistance dogs with prior notice so we can make suitable adjustments. If you wish to bring an assistance dog please call 01736 797180 or email [email protected]
Can you help me choose the right course?
Yes, our friendly and knowledgeable team are always happy to help you choose the best course for your needs, whether you’re a beginner or looking to develop specific skills.
Please call us on 01736 797180 to discuss your options.
How do I get my work home?
Tutors have special techniques for transporting oil paintings and for our 3 day courses we will give you a plastic folder with a handle. These are also available to purchase for £3.50 or do bring a portfolio.
Please note: For the course Bigger, Bolder, Braver with Boo Mallinson, we will provide a large A1 size plastic folder for your work but please consider how you will be able to transport the larger canvases home safely before signing up for the course as we will not be able to store large paintings in the studio. On this course you will be painting on a 50cms x 50cms and a 1m x 1m canvas alongside smaller pieces.
For international students we are happy to arrange transportation of your work back home, postal costs will be borne by you.
What do I need to bring?
Absolutely nothing! All materials and aprons are provided although some people do like to bring their own set of brushes.
What do I do for lunch?
Courses allow an hour’s break for lunch and there are numerous places nearby or you are welcome to bring a packed lunch into the studio.
What times do courses run?
Most of our courses start at 10am and end at 4.30pm on the first day. Subsequent days we start at 9.30am ending at 4pm.
Short workshops start at 10am in the Summer and 9.30am/ 1.30pm during September festival
Booking a Course
How do I reserve a place on a course?
You can book your place online or by calling us on 01736 797180.
If you need time to arrange accommodation, we can hold a provisional booking for 24 hours. To secure your place, a £100 deposit is required, with the remaining balance due 12 weeks before the course start date.
About St Ives
Where can I park near the School?
The nearest long-stay car parks are:
Island Car Park
Barnoon Long Stay Car Park
Both are approximately a 5-minute walk from the School.
During the busy summer months, you may find it easier to park at Trenwith Car Park near the leisure centre and walk into town. A shuttle bus often runs back up the hill from near Tate St Ives.
How do I get to the School of Painting in St Ives?
By train:
The nearest mainline station is St Erth, which is approximately a 15-minute taxi journey away. From there, you can also take the St Ives Bay Line, which runs every 30 minutes. The School is a 10-minute walk from St Ives station.
By car:
Take the M5 to Exeter, then follow the A30 into Cornwall. After passing Hayle, exit at the St Erth roundabout towards St Ives. Continue through Lelant and Carbis Bay into St Ives..
Where can I stay in St Ives?
St Ives offers a wide range of accommodation, including hotels, guest houses, and self-catering options. You can explore options on our website, or contact us directly on 01736 797180 if you’d like personalised recommendations.
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