Course details
Explore the stunning St Ives landscape and develop your artistic skills in a supportive environment, whilst exploring mixed media paintings.
This immersive course is designed to guide you through the process of creating preparatory drawings, which will serve as a foundation for your expressive landscape paintings, crafted in the studio. Throughout the course, Steven will introduce you to a rich array of artistic materials and techniques, as well as showcase the works of influential landscape painters.
Delve into the concept of “composition” and explore the key elements that contribute to creating a successful image, discussing principles such as balance, focal points, and the use of negative space to enhance your visuals. Engage in sketching activities and making observations of your surroundings near the studio. This hands-on experience will allow you to connect with your environment and practice applying compositional techniques in real-time, using a blend of materials.
Using your observational sketches, experiment with mixing different media, such as pencil, charcoal, ink, paint, and collage, to create your own compositions and ultimately art work to take home with you. Explore tones, textures and colours and discover which media can be combined and which ones cannot, along with techniques to facilitate this process. This exploration will challenge your preconceived notions of what is “right” in art and encourage you to adopt a creative and experimental mindset. It will not only help you “loosen up your painting” but also “loosen up your thinking.”
Steven will teach you techniques to help you capture something of the feeling of a landscape or place in an expressive composition. He will also look at how other artists, such as Andrew Wyeth, Peter Doig and Jock McFadyen have taken inspiration from their own surroundings to portray a sense of place. Try your hand at different mark making, flexing your creative muscles to help you to produce a variety of mixed media outcomes. This course will teach fundamental skills that will help to build your artistic confidence.
What will I learn?
- Learn practical tips on navigating the creative process, from working in a sketchbook to working on a support such as primed board
- Build confidence in utilising techniques and developing ideas for creative projects for your art practice
- Look at the world around you in a new way and allow yourself to be inspired and see things differently.
- Learn to recognise that there’s no such thing as bad work and to feel confident about making.
- Grant yourself permission to fully embrace the opportunity to try something new, free from judgment or self-criticism.
- A chance to experiment with various materials under guidance, allowing for unexpected discoveries.
Who would this course suit?
This course would suit artists at any stage in their creative journey; whether you have an established practice or are just starting out. Ideal if you are looking for ways to increase skills, experience.
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.
Timings and Breaks
The workshop will run from 10:00am until 16:30pm. Please arrive 10-15 minutes before the start time so you can check in at reception and get settled in. We will serve tea and coffee at break times during the morning and afternoon.
FAQs
Art Courses
Do you have to be experienced to come to the School?
No prior experience is required to join most of our art courses. The School of Painting is a friendly and welcoming environment for all ages and abilities, including complete beginners.
Our drop-in life drawing classes and short workshops are perfect if you’re trying painting for the first time. Many of our longer courses are also suitable for beginners, as our tutors are experienced in supporting mixed ability groups. If a course requires previous experience, this will be clearly stated on the course page.
Studio Courses
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]
Can you help me choose the right course?
Yes, our friendly and knowledgeable team are always happy to help you choose the best course for your needs, whether you’re a beginner or looking to develop specific skills.
Please call us on 01736 797180 to discuss your options.
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?
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.
Short workshops start at 10am in the Summer and 9.30am/ 1.30pm during September festival
Booking a Course
How do I reserve a place on a course?
You can book your place online or by calling us on 01736 797180.
If you need time to arrange accommodation, we can hold a provisional booking for 24 hours. To secure your place, a £100 deposit is required, with the remaining balance due 12 weeks before the course start date.
About St Ives
Where can I park near the School?
The nearest long-stay car parks are:
Island Car Park
Barnoon Long Stay Car Park
Both are approximately a 5-minute walk from the School.
During the busy summer months, you may find it easier to park at Trenwith Car Park near the leisure centre and walk into town. A shuttle bus often runs back up the hill from near Tate St Ives.
How do I get to the School of Painting in St Ives?
By train:
The nearest mainline station is St Erth, which is approximately a 15-minute taxi journey away. From there, you can also take the St Ives Bay Line, which runs every 30 minutes. The School is a 10-minute walk from St Ives station.
By car:
Take the M5 to Exeter, then follow the A30 into Cornwall. After passing Hayle, exit at the St Erth roundabout towards St Ives. Continue through Lelant and Carbis Bay into St Ives..
Where can I stay in St Ives?
St Ives offers a wide range of accommodation, including hotels, guest houses, and self-catering options. You can explore options on our website, or contact us directly on 01736 797180 if you’d like personalised recommendations.
You might also like...
Abstract Harbour - St Ives
Wed 22 Jul - 3 hour(s)
Camilla Dixon
Explore the St Ives harbour through a more playful, abstract lens in this half-day workshop designed to loosen your approach and encourage experimentation.
Looking For Colour (rec)
Camilla Dixon
Discover a whole new world of colour through fun and experimental exercises along with exploring the art of ‘simply looking’. This class recording will stimulate and inspire your quest for colour.
Porthmeor Programme (Online)
Fri 22 Jan 2027 - 8 weekends (over 10 months)
Kate Southworth + Greg Humphries
A ten month online intensive course, with 1-1 tutorials and small group creative sessions to develop you as an artist.
Artist Retreat Weekend - Autumn
Fri 27 - Sun 29 Nov - 3 days
Liz Hough + Ilker Cinarel
Remember and revive your reasons for making art and reboot your practice. As part of a small group, benefit from directed exercises, peer feedback and 1-1 mentoring from two professional artists.
Abstraction 1 - Developing
Liz Hough
Over 4 recordings, explore Liz's processes of painting, collage and print. Emerge confident in experimentation with a cohesive collection of new works and ideas.
Experimental Landscapes (Recording)
Natalie Day
Join us for this experimental, abstract webinar inspired by the Cornish landscape with new tutor, Natalie Day.
Telling Your Stories
Fri 25 - Sun 27 Sep - 3 days
Ilker Cinarel
Are you ready for deeper story telling and meaning in your art? Do you struggle to get your ideas out of your head and onto canvas? Discover how to unleash your imagination, let go, and confidently make work that tells your unique story.