Experimental Shoreline

Acrylic / Oil / Abstract / Landscape - Materials included

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

Register Interest

Course details

Capture the ever changing space where the land meets the sea, where water washes over dark rocks and the tide draws in and out using both acrylics and oils. 

How do you capture the essence of the coast; the energy, tension and mystery of two elements meeting? This course teaches you to build free, abstract landscape paintings with sweeping marks and shadowy layers that echo the movement of water over land.

Artist tutor Amy Albright divulges her unique tips and techniques for creating layers of interest. Using both water and oil-based media, these work to build the ethereal sense of the coastline.

Spend time making notes and sketches by the water, absorbed in the constant motion of tumbling waves, fizzing tides and rivers trickling back to the sea. These studies will bring richness and power to your paintings later.

The course introduces you to abstraction in a unique way, using it to evoke both serene calm and intense energy. Look more closely at colour mixing. Learn to build up layers, working wet on wet, adding luminosity and revealing and adding to subsequent layers of paint.

Amy shows you how to create harmony between deeper layers inspired by jagged rocks and glassy glazes that diffuse light on the surface. Oil glazing was particularly favoured by Dutch masters, who used the technique to bring a milky translucence to the skin of portraiture subjects. Amy demonstrates how to use glazing to create the liquid skin of sea lapping the shore.

Full of discovery and revelation, this course presents unique processes and perspective. Capture the entrancing energy of the shoreline with truly inspiring teaching in a spectacular setting.

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 weather.

Day 1

After introducing you to the course, we will take our sketchbooks outside to observe the shore and coastlines. Amy will guide you with some drawing techniques to help loosen up your mark-making.

Back in the studio we will begin creating interesting base layers using expressive painterly techniques, incorporating inks and acrylics with unconventional mark making tools.

Day 2

Spend time looking more closely at colour mixing, particularly using combinations appropriate to our subject – the shoreline. Look at tone, temperature and subtle colour mixing using water based paints.

Later we will then work with oil paints to add glazes, learning to create thin layers of paint to build luminosity and depth. We’ll combine all that we’ve learned and work on a variety of surfaces to start creating multiple pieces.

What will I learn?

  1. Learn to create exciting experimental paintings that build layers of interest.
  2. An opportunity to build your confidence using oils, loosen up and widen your painting repertoire.
  3. Tips on loosening up when drawing the coast, including new techniques to make drawing fun and expressive.
  4. Learn how to use abstraction when working with landscape to create a painting full of depth and intrigue.
  5. Technical knowledge of colour mixing to evoke subtle changes in tone and temperature.

Who would this course suit?

If you’re wondering if this course is for you, have a look at Amy’s own work – either on her tutor page or her own website. If you’d like to gain technical insight into combining materials to create intriguing effects, as well as how to have more control in your colour mixing, this course is a wonderful place to learn. It is a fun opportunity for painters interested in the coastline to engage with it in a free and experimental way.

Experimental Shoreline

Acrylic / Oil / Abstract / Landscape – Materials included

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

Register Interest

Taught by

Amy
Albright

View Amy’s Work

My approach to teaching is to share all, to demonstrate my unique way of painting in layers and share my love for paint and it’s never ending possibilities. It’s all about the process, experimenting and those happy accidental discoveries. St Ives School of Painting is very special, with stunning inspiration on the doorstep and an aura of creativity in the studios that is contagious.

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 end at 4pm. 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 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.

What our students say

Course was full of exciting new techniques – taught in a relaxed way with plenty of ,materials to work with and on.

Caroline

 

Amy is a very effective tutor who gave us students great tips on tools to work with. 

Linda

I learnt lots of new techniques whilst having the freedom to experiment in my own style.

Jennie E

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.

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 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].

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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