Painting Landscapes in Watercolour

Capturing St Ives

Water-based / Landscape - Materials included

We haven’t scheduled this course yet. Please email us to register your interest for future availability.

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Course details

Use the simple yet powerful technique of line and wash to study St Ives’ buildings, cottages and cobbled streets and bring them to life in the studio.

St Ives town

Capture the unforgettable essence of St Ives harbour and town, its buildings, cottages and cobbled streets that have changed little over the centuries.

Join artist Hilary Jean Gibson on this three-day course exploring the picturesque town of St Ives. Let Hilary show you more familiar sites of the town alongside hidden gems. Learn about St Ives’s fascinating history as a hub for artists and visit some of the famous locations where artists lived and worked.

Over the three-days, you will learn how to use the deceptively simple approach of line and wash to capture these locations in situ. You will create annotated studies to return to the studio to develop into larger pieces using pen, ink and wash.

This course is ideal if you want to learn to realistically capture buildings and streets from simple and straightforward techniques. Using minimal materials, you will build confidence in capturing a sense of place wherever you go!

pen and ink wash in a sketchbook, house with foliage by Hilary Jean-Gibson

Day to day plan

Day 1

After an introduction to the course, we’ll explore mark making techniques in pen and pencil. Then, we’ll go out to the harbour and capture some of St Ives’ most iconic views, considering composition and perspective. Back in the studio, Hilary will demonstrate using ink washes in both monochrome and a limited palette, including some colour theory and mixing. We’ll then go back outside and put these techniques into practice.

Day 2

Today we’ll focus on line, to capture some of St Ives’ architecture. We’ll work on simplifying and paring back images to get at the essence of place.

Day 3

We’ll work into colour beginnings, enjoying the freedom of ink. We’ll then look back at work from the three days and select stronger pieces to develop using your preferred media and scale.

Who would the course suit?

Suitable for any level of experience as tuition will be provided. Ideal for anyone with an interest in the buildings and history of St Ives.

There will be some walking involved around the town, when we are outdoor sketching, which will probably involve some hills/slopes. We will be working outside most days for a few hours so come prepared with warm and waterproof clothing.

Capturing St Ives

Water-based / Landscape – Materials included

We haven’t scheduled this course yet. Please email us to register your interest for future availability.

Register Interest

Taught by

In 1995 I became a tutor at the St Ives School of Painting. Offering inspiration through my passion for drawing, water-based media and art history, I strive to liberate a creative vision by teaching skills and techniques through direct observation and en plein air.

What to Bring

Our studios are fully equipped and we provide you with all the materials you need for your course. However, if you have a favourite set of brushes or any specialist materials that you would prefer to use, please bring them with you.

Our studios are fully equipped and we provide you with all the materials you need for your course. However, if you have a favourite set of brushes or any specialist materials that you would prefer to use, please bring them with you.

Timings and Breaks

The first day starts at 10am and finishes at 4.30pm, please aim to arrive ten to fifteen minutes before the start time.

All course days after that start at 9.30am and finish at 4pm and there will be an hour for lunch. There are plenty of nearby places to eat and we will serve tea and coffee at break times during the day.

The first day starts at 10am and finishes at 4.30pm, please aim to arrive ten to fifteen minutes before the start time.

All course days after that start at 9.30am and end at 4pm. There are plenty of nearby places to eat and we will serve tea and coffee at break times during the day.

What our students say

I enjoyed the drawing and painting activities indoors and outside very much I learnt a lot and already started to practice at home. Inspiring teacher. Lovely people on the course. 

Michele 

I really enjoyed the drawing and painting activities indoors and outside. I learnt a lot and have already started to practice at home. Inspiring teacher, and lovely people on the course.

Great tuition, pitched at the right level, friendly encouraging tutor, comfortable light studio with great ambiance. What more can I say!

FAQs

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