Course details
Learn how to use watercolour to depict coves, rocks and cliffs with artist David Webb in this live webinar. Learn to look at a scene with an artist’s eye and choose which elements are important and which can be left out.
Be inspired by the iconic landscape around St Ives wherever you might be in the world. Full of atmosphere and texture, the dramatic coastline lends itself perfectly to the medium of watercolour. David will work alongside you using a video recording of our beautiful local landscape. Learn how to compose your picture, using sketches and tonal studies, before beginning your painting.
In the webinar we’ll be aiming to create the three dimensional effect of sun and shadows on rocks, in our painting. We’ll also use the medium to create an impression of water. If the scene is calm or wild, the effect is always exciting to paint.
David will show you how to create vibrant paintings with a limited palette, how to create a painting in three washes of light, medium and dark tones. The webinar will include demonstrations of several techniques including painting wet-on-dry, wet-into-wet and mixing your colours on the paper surface. Learn how to set up a good design for your painting by finding a focal point and explore how to use edges and shapes to create areas of strong contrast. Learn how areas of similar tone can be allowed to blend together to create ‘lost’ edges.
Once you have booked a session, you will receive a link on the morning of the broadcast. All you need to do is follow the link. You will also be invited to join our Facebook Alumni group so you can share your discoveries with our community of fellow students from around the world.
You can watch the session live and paint along with David or watch later. We send you a recording so you can watch again on demand as many times as you like for up to one month after. This way you can pause a scene, rewind and finish your painting.
How does an online session work?
Once you have booked, we will send you a link the day before the session starts so you can join us live. All you need to do is follow the link ten minutes before the start time. You can watch this on a PC, laptop or tablet and if you have chromecast or miracast you could even cast to your SmartTV from your phone.
You can put questions to the tutor using the chat function during the session. The sessions are recorded and you will be able to watch again at your leisure as many times as you want for up to 1 month. You will also be invited to join our Facebook Alumni group so you can share your discoveries with fellow students from around the world.
what will I learn?
The importance of tonal values, and how they can be used to create depth in a painting.
Wet-in-wet and wet-on-dry techniques.
Creating large flowing washes.
Mixing colour on the paper.
Using a limited palette.
Who is this course for?
This webinar will provide an insight into David’s working methods and will be suitable for beginners and improvers alike, as he explains each step along the way. He is a great believer in demonstrating the techniques he has learned over many years and also pointing out some of the common mistakes that can be avoided.
Taught by
What to Bring
If you would like to join in live you will need 2b-4b pencils for sketching, watercolour paints, brushes, mixing palette with 5 or 6 large wells and heavy watercolour paper. For the painting, tape or stretch a sheet of watercolour paper to a board. It’s best to tape all around the edges, rather than just on the corners, as this helps to keep it flat.
If you want to ensure that it stays flat and doesn’t warp, then stretching is best and should be done the night before the webinar.
Suggested colours: Cobalt Blue, Burnt Sienna, Alizarin Crimson, Lemon Yellow, Indian Yellow, Raw Sienna and Sepia or Black for monochrome sketches
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, as the presenter will be hard to see when they share their screen with you .
Timings and Breaks
We will start teaching at 10.30am and work for 2.5 hours with a short break.
We will pause for questions at different points during the session; you can pose questions to the artist using the chat function.
We will be sending you a recording of the session so you can revisit as often as you like for up to a month after broadcast.
What our students say
I loved the session, it was brilliant! Thank you for an inspiring and easy to follow process
Thanks for the session with David Webb. I painted along and really enjoyed the washes.
FAQs
Online
Do I need a webcam/any equipment.
For our webinar sessions which are broadcast on the internet 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.
I have registered for the webinar but I cant find my joining link
The link will be emailed to you at least 30 minutes before the session. Please check your junk mail and if you can’t find the email please contact info@schoolofpainting.co.uk and we will resend it. 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, can you send me the video?
Currently all our online sessions are recorded and the video recording will automatically be sent to all who booked on the session. You will have at least a week from the date of the session to watch it or up to a month for some of our longer courses and webinars.
Our Courses
How can I get help in choosing a course?
Our friendly expert staff are always happy to discuss your needs and our courses in more detail to help you with your decision. Please call us on 01736 797180
How do I get my work home?
Tutors have special techniques for transporting oil paintings and the school has plastic folders available in our shop for £3.50 or do bring a portfolio.
For international students we are happy to arrange transportation of your work back home.
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.
Weekend Courses run 10am – 4pm on the first day but the final day starts at 9.30 and ends at 3.30 with a short lunch break to enable people to get home that evening.
Do you have to be experienced to come to the School?
The School is a very friendly and welcoming place for all ages and experience. Our drop-in life classes and August half-day workshops are ideal for those wanting to have a go for the first time. Most of our longer courses are also fine for novices.
If any of the courses do need a bit of experience we flag this up in the brochure and on the website.
Booking a Course
Can I pay by cheque?
Please get in touch by phone and we can hold your place for a few days whilst you post your cheque (made payable to: St Ives School of Painting) to us at St Ives School of Painting, Porthmeor Studios. St Ives TR26 1NG
How can I reserve a place?
We will hold a provisional reservation for 24 hours if you give us a call whilst you find accommodation. Otherwise please book online or by telephone 01736 797180.
You can reserve a place with a £100 deposit; balance is due 12 weeks before course start date.
About St Ives
Where do I park?
The nearest long stay public car parks are the Island and Barnoon both 5 minute walk away. In the peak summer months it may be easier to park at the big top car park by the leisure centre and walk down into town. If you don’t fancy the walk up the hill at the end of the day there is a shuttle bus which runs from outside the cinema.
How do I get there?
Public Transport: If you are coming from further afield the main train line runs into St Erth which is a 15 min taxi ride away or you can take the St Ives Bay Line which runs approx. every 30 minutes. The School is a 10 minute walk from St Ives station.
Driving: M5 will take you to Exeter where we recommend that you take the A30 across Bodmin Moor and into Cornwall. After passing Hayle, leave the A30 at St Erth roundabout for St Ives. Turn right at the second roundabout. This road will take you through Lelant and Carbis Bay into St Ives.
Where can I stay?
St Ives has a huge selection of hotels, guest houses and self catering accommodation to choose from. Please browse the art holidays St Ives section on our website and give us a call if you would like any help.