Course details
Demystify painting and build your studio toolkit. Join artist Hilary Jean Gibson in our studio where she will share with you how to free up your watercolour working with a single colour. Ideal for capturing landscape.
This is a practical one hour demo to help demystify watercolour and motivate you by building your confidence. In this session Hilary works in just a single colour so you can focus on a range of tools to start to build your mark making vocabulary. Create lively and interesting effects. See how sprinkling salt on wet paint recreates the sparkle of light on water, or lift off techniques mimic the texture of rock. Learn how contemporary artists work in this immediate and dynamic way especially when trying to capture a landscape at speed.
There will be an opportunity for students to pose questions to Hilary during the demonstrations. You can watch the session live or later. We record it so we can let you revisit the session to refresh your memory for up to two weeks after.
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.
What will I learn?
Learn tips to make your watercolour more free and energetic
How to use tone to create a sense of distance
How to use simple techniques to create interesting effects
Approaches ideal for taking outside and working quickly in the landscape
Would this session suit me?
Absolutely if you are looking for some top tips to improve your watercolour painting. Ideal if you want to find out how to use watercolour in an expressive and free way so you can enjoy the medium more. The techniques work really well for developing exciting sketchbook work.
How Does an online session work?
Once you have booked, we will send you a link the day before so you can join the session live. Al l you need to do is follow the link ten minutes before the start time. You can watch this on a Smart TV, PC, smartphone or tablet and even cast to your TV 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 two weeks after. You will also be invited to join our Facebook Alumni group so you can share your discoveries with fellow students from around the world.
Taught by
What to Bring
If you would like to join in with the live session you will need:
3 sheets of A4 watercolour paper ideally cold pressed and a board to tape it to. You can tape this into a grid using masking tape.
For paint you just need black watercolour and a range of tools – a selection of brushes including a flat and a round brush, a toothbrush, palette, clingfilm, salt, a small white birthday candle, sponge (small natural one or a dishwasher sponge cut into small bits), kitchen towel, and plenty of water at least 4 pots.
You will need access to the internet and ideally a PC, SmartTV, laptop or a tablet with audio. Phones are not really suitable to watch a webinar on as the presenter will be hard to see when they share their screen with you. But we will be sending you a recording of the session so you can revisit it as many times as you like for another two weeks.
Timings and Breaks
We will start at 10.30am and work for 1 hour. We will pause for questions at different points during the session you can pose any questions to the artist using the chat function.
FAQs
Online Broadcast
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
Do I need a webcam/any equipment?
For our webinar sessions which are broadcast on the internet and 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.
All the art materials and equipment needed to participate in the course will be listed in full on the online learning platform, for live webinars this will be a minimum of two weeks before the session starts.
I have registered for the webinar but I can't find my joining link
You can access all the resources and joining link for your webinar via our online learning platform. You will need to have set up an account on our online learning platform in advance. You can do this during the checkout process when purchasing your webinar. If you are having trouble accessing your online account, please contact [email protected]. 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, how can I watch?
Currently all our online sessions are recorded and you can access the recording on our online learning platform until it expires. Usually 60 days for a webinar, 90 – 180 days for multipart webinars or online courses.
Studio 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
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 Long Stay Car Park, both a 5 minute walk away. In the peak summer months it may be easier to park at Trenwith 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.
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