Freeing the Brush: Floral Forms

Drawing / Ink / Water-based - Materials included

Book Selected Date

Course details

Taking inspiration from the colour, form and character of flowers, explore how they can become a springboard for vibrant, adventurous painting.

Working with watercolour, ink and drawing, you’ll move between careful observation and a freer, more expressive response — experimenting with colour, fluid marks, playful composition and the energy of the subject rather than feeling tied to botanical accuracy.

Louise Rainbow, is a practising artist and experienced tutor with a particular interest in colour, observation and experimentation. Her teaching focuses on helping students build confidence, take creative risks and develop their own artistic voice. The emphasis throughout this new course is on developing your own response — learning to really look at your subject, then giving yourself permission to exaggerate, simplify, loosen up and make the work your own.

Each day will combine short talks and demonstrations with plenty of time for practical exploration and individual tuition. Begin with loose observational drawing, painted sketches and playful exercises designed to help you get the most from your materials, before developing these ideas into larger and more adventurous pieces. As the course progresses, you’ll have the opportunity to bring together the techniques and ideas you have explored to create vibrant floral or plant paintings that balance careful observation with expressive mark-making and a strong sense of your own personality.

Through demonstrations, practical exercises and individual guidance, you’ll explore essential watercolour and ink techniques including wet-on-wet painting, washes, dry brush, colour mixing, luminous shadows and expressive line. Experiment with creating atmospheric backgrounds, dynamic compositions and working across several pieces at once, helping you to build confidence, maintain momentum and discover new possibilities within your materials.

Along the way, we’ll look at the work of artists including Georgia O’Keeffe, Shirley Trevena, Angie Lewin and Charles Rennie Mackintosh, as well as other artists working across painting, drawing and mixed media. We’ll consider the different ways they have explored flowers, plants, colour and form, using these varied approaches to spark fresh ideas and encourage new ways of working. Regular reviews and group discussions will help you reflect on how your work is developing and consider how these approaches might be carried forward into your wider practice.

What will I learn?

  • Develop a freer, more expressive approach to drawing and painting from observation.
  • Build confidence using watercolour and ink through washes, wet-on-wet, dry brush and expressive mark-making.
  • Explore colour, light, form and composition in more adventurous and imaginative ways.
  • Learn to move beyond literal representation and develop more resolved floral or plant paintings with greater freedom, expression and individuality.
  • Discover ways to carry these approaches into your wider practice and apply them to other subject matter in the future.

Who would this course suit?

This course is suitable for anyone who would like to loosen up their approach to drawing and painting, experiment more freely with watercolour and ink, and develop greater confidence in their own visual response. It will appeal both to those drawn to flowers and plants as subject matter and to artists looking for expressive techniques they can carry into a wider range of future work.

Freeing the Brush: Floral Forms

Drawing / Ink / Water-based – Materials included

Book Selected Date

Taught by

Louise
Rainbow

View Louise’s Work

Teaching is one of the most rewarding aspects of my creative life. I enjoy helping people discover possibilities in their own work that they may not yet see themselves. Seeing students gain confidence, become more experimental and develop an authentic artistic voice is enormously satisfying.

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 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.

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.

Art Courses in St Ives

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.

Do you offer art classes for children and teenagers?

Yes. Our Young Artists Programme includes art workshops for children and teenagers, with sessions designed for different age groups. During the summer, we also run creative workshops for children aged 7-13.

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.

Do you offer beginner painting courses?

Yes. Our programme includes beginner-friendly painting courses covering materials such as oils, acrylics and watercolours. These courses introduce you to essential tools and techniques while giving you plenty of time to practise and explore your own ideas.

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.

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 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


In Person Courses

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.

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.

You might also like...