Experimental Landscapes Art Course

Experimental Drawing + Collage

Mixed Media / Landscape

Purchase

Course details

Enjoy creating experimental and abstract compositions inspired by your everyday surroundings in this recording.

St Ives Painting Course Kitty Hillier
Kitty Hillier, Experimental Watercolour and Collage

Join Cornwall based artist Kitty Hillier in taking inspiration from her daily wanderings around the Cornish coastline for this morning webinar. Benefit from Kitty’s contemporary take on landscape and nature. An approach that has been attracting attention both locally and nationally.

The aim of the workshop is to seek inspiration from your everyday environment through a process of close observation, slow drawing and playful mark-making. Using all of your senses, Kitty will show you how to pay attention to the seasonal transitions, forgotten spaces and discarded objects. You will explore how universal shapes connect the natural and manmade environment around us, and how one informs the other.  

Looking at the work of various artists who took inspiration from the Cornish landscape including Eileen Agar, Wilhelmina Barns Graham, Barbara Hepworth and Sandra Blow, Kitty will explain how these artists distilled natural shapes and forms into their creative practice, and how you can use these artists’ works to inspire your own creative journey.

Kitty will then guide you, from our studio in St Ives, through a series of simple, intuitive mark-making exercises. Armed with a handful of sketches, you will then learn to distil your observations into abstract compositions by adding colour and texture to your drawings. Taking linear marks and finding abstract forms through ‘drawing’ with scissors, Kitty will help you to create intuitive and expressive abstract images inspired by the objects and landscape around you.  

This workshop will help you to find your own personal palette and visual vocabulary, encouraging you to experiment and loosen your approach to image making. Prior to watching the online class, you will be asked to collect objects from your immediate environment – be that city or countryside, woodland or coast – the aim of the exercise is to look at natural and manmade forms afresh.

Who is this course for?

This course is suitable for both absolute beginner 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 drawing, painting and collage.  

There is a pre-course task, asking you to do some walking and gathering of materials and found things from your local environment. This will be listed in your account in the online course content.

What will I learn?

1. How to find inspiration from your everyday environment.

2.How to ‘draw’ in collage using scissors.

3. How to transform drawings into abstract compositions.

4. How to find your own colour palette using just three primary colours.

5. How to loosen your approach to mark-making.

How does an online session work?

Once you have booked you will be able to watch on demand immediately. 

You can pause, rewind and watch again as often as you like until the session expires 60 days after purchase

You will need access to the internet and ideally a PC, laptop or a tablet with audio. Phones are not suitable but you can cast to a Smart TV.

Experimental Drawing and Collage

Mixed Media / Landscape

Purchase

Taught by

Kitty
Hillier

View Kitty’s Work

My approach encourages play, experimentation and trust in our gut intuition. It’s always great to hear that after trying some of the quick mark-making and drawing exercises that I teach, people are keen to repeat them at home regularly as a way to relax or reset. 

What our students say

It was delivered in a calming, easy to understand way. Kitty was supportive and encouraging, and pushed us out of comfort zones enough to get the best out of every student.

Sophie

I find Kitty’s approach very freeing. It helps me to loosen up and just have fun with line, shape and color. The session was well organised and well paced.

FAQs

Art Courses

Do I need any previous art experience?

Not always. We offer courses for all levels, including complete beginners, intermediate students and more experienced artists. You can look for the experience level listed on the individual course page to find the most suitable option for you. If you need any guidance on what course might suit you best, contact on our friendly team on 01736 797180 and they will be able to help.

Online Art Courses

How do I log in to my online account?

To log in to your account, please follow these steps:

  1. Go to our website: www.schoolofpainting.co.uk
  2. Click on the ‘Log in’ button (usually found near the top right of the page)
  3. Enter the email address and you used when booking
  4. Click “Log in” to access your account

Once logged in, you’ll be able to view your bookings, outstanding payments, online courses and any relevant account information.

If you’ve forgotten your password, simply click ‘Forgot password?’ on the login page and follow the instructions to reset it.

If you have any trouble accessing your account, please email us and we’ll be happy to help.

Can I learn painting online from home?

Yes. Our online painting courses allow you to learn from professional artists wherever you are. You can pause demonstrations, revisit lessons and work through practical exercises in your own time.

Are online art courses suitable for beginners?

Many of our online art courses are suitable for beginners. Course descriptions explain the recommended level, materials and experience so that you can choose a course that feels manageable and relevant to your interests.

How do online art courses work?

Once you have purchased an online course, you can access it through your account and work through the video tuition and supporting resources at a time that suits you. Access periods vary from 60 – 180 days, just check the individual course page before booking.

For live webinars, once you book a place, we will share a link with you in advance so you can join us at the relevant start time – this is typically via Zoom. A recording of the webinar will be shared with you after the webinar so you can re-watch in your own time.

Do you offer online art courses?

Yes. We have more than 90 online art courses covering painting, drawing, colour, landscape, abstraction, mixed media and other creative subjects. The courses are taught by practising artists and can be followed from home at your own pace.

How do I choose the right art course?

Start by considering how you would like to work. You may want to learn a particular medium, improve a skill such as drawing or colour mixing, explore a subject such as landscape or still life, or develop a more personal approach. Each course page explains the content, materials, level and teaching approach to help you decide. Our friendly, helpful team are always available to help further.

Please call us on 01736 797180 to discuss your options or email [email protected].

Who teaches your art courses?

Our courses are led by practising artists – including Jill Eisele, Alice Mumford, Iona Sanders and Neil Canning – all with extensive knowledge of their chosen subjects and materials. Each tutor brings their own artistic experience, working methods and approach to teaching, giving students the opportunity to experience a wide range of ideas and techniques.

In Person Courses

How large are your art classes?

Our studio courses are taught in small groups of around 10 to 12 people, allowing tutors to provide individual guidance alongside group demonstrations and discussions.

What is included in an art course?

Course fees include professional tuition from a practising artist and use of the School’s studio facilities. Materials and equipment are all included in our in person courses, workshops and life drawing sessions – so you can just turn up and get started. Teas and coffees are also provided throughout the day.

Can I attend an art course on my own?

Absolutely. Many students come to St Ives School of Painting independently. Courses offer a welcoming and sociable environment, with plenty of opportunities to meet other people who share an interest in making and learning.

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?

You don’t need to bring anything with you unless we specify beforehand. All materials, aprons and tools are provided, however some people do like to bring along their favourite set of brushes or sketchbooks.

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


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]

Choosing an Art Course

Do you run life drawing classes in St Ives?

Yes. We hold regular life drawing sessions in St Ives, including Thursday evening and Saturday morning classes. These welcoming, tutored sessions are open to a range of experience levels and provide an opportunity to practise drawing from a life model. Our life drawing sessions are held just a 5 minute walk from our studios at The Island Centre.

Do you offer art courses for adults?

Yes. We run art classes and courses for adults throughout the year, from accessible introductory workshops to more intensive courses for people looking to deepen their creative practice.

What types of painting can I learn?

Our courses cover a wide range of approaches, including oil painting, acrylic painting, watercolour, gouache, landscape painting, still life, portraiture and abstraction. We also offer courses exploring colour, composition, mark-making and creative confidence.

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