Course details
Develop a free and energetic approach to painting with watercolour. Learn to create contemporary, striking pieces, launching you on a whole new adventure in watercolour painting.
Experiment with different scales and techniques such as wax resist, wet on wet and reservoir painting, to loosen up your way of working, both en plein air and in our studio. Surprise yourself with just how free and dynamic watercolour can be – it is the perfect medium for capturing the beauty and drama of the Cornish landscape. An ideal course for anyone who has taken our studio or online beginner’s watercolour course, who would like some fun experimenting with the medium, along with expert tuition.
It is a relaxed, practical way to get to know the medium better, with plenty of tips and demos along the way. You’ll also get a feel for Hilary’s own approach and dive into the exciting methods used by diverse artists from Turner to more contemporary artists working today. Combine technique with intuition, working with various formats, in multiples, and on different backgrounds. This course reveals a way of using watercolour that might surprise you; harnessing the fluid, intuitive and experimental side of the medium.
Day to day plan
This is a rough indication of what to expect over the course. However sometimes the structure of the days may alter depending on the nature of the group and the weather.
Day 1
In the studio, you’ll explore playful techniques such as resists, salt, cling film, and gouache lift-off, while en plein air sessions will take you to Porthmeor to practise monochrome painting and develop your observational skills on location.
Day 2
There will be plenty of opportunity to paint en plein air before heading back to the studio to mix sea-inspired colours, explore complementary colour palettes, and try out a range of experimental techniques.
Day 3
The morning will be spent painting en plein air, followed by time in the studio to crop, enlarge, and, if you choose, work on a larger scale. You’ll also have the chance to finish off any pieces and take time to review work as a group.
What will I learn?
- Develop a freer, more expressive approach to watercolour painting
- Gain confidence working en plein air and in the studio
- How to mix sea and sky-inspired colours, greys, harmonies and complementary palettes
- Explore a variety of techniques, including using water-soluble coloured pencils, washes, wax resist, creating pattern and texture
- Experiment with scale, different formats and cropping
- Leave with new ideas, refreshed skills, and greater creative confidence in watercolour
Who will this course suit?
This course is perfect for anyone with some basic experience of watercolour—whether you’ve taken one of our beginner’s classes or have an understanding of basic washes and the colour wheel —and are ready to explore the medium in a more expressive, playful way. It’s ideal for those looking to build confidence, experiment with new techniques, and enjoy the freedom of painting both outdoors and in the studio, all with expert guidance and a relaxed, supportive atmosphere.
Ahead of your watercolour course with us if you would like to brush up your skills, you are entitled to 25% off our online ‘Getting Started with Watercolour Painting’ course here‘. You will be given a code after purchasing our studio watercolour course. NB – The online course uses a different palette to our studio course.
Our studio ‘Beginner’s Watercolour’ courses can be found here.
Taught by
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.
FAQs
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