Painting Your Perspective

Acrylic / Mixed Media - Materials included

25 - 27 Sep - 3 days - £445

Course tutors for selected date

Course details

Are you ready to develop a stronger sense of personal style and meaning in your art? Discover how to unleash your imagination, let go, and confidently create work that expresses your unique perspective.

Explore creative expression in our acrylic painting classes. — Ilker Cinarel

Working with a sketchbook, you will spend time exploring St Ives, gathering visual source material that will inform your work throughout the course. This process encourages a deeper engagement with your surroundings, helping you move beyond distraction and self-critique to identify the subjects, shapes and atmospheres that genuinely resonate with you. Your attention may be drawn to the intricate textures of sand and stone, the expansive Cornish landscape, or the presence of figures moving through the coastal environment.

As your sketchbook develops, patterns of interest and recurring themes will begin to emerge, offering insight into your personal way of seeing the world. Through this process, you will build creative confidence, develop greater self-awareness as an artist, and begin to recognise the foundations of your own distinct visual voice.

Back in the studio, artist and tutor Ilker Cinarel will guide you through the process of developing ideas from your sketchbook. Alongside exploring key principles of painting such as form, structure and composition, Ilker will share his approach to working with acrylics and guide you through a series of creative exercises designed to develop your ideas. A playful collage process will encourage unexpected connections between your sketches, helping you move beyond direct observation and discover new directions for your work. Drawing on these discoveries, you will develop a body of paintings that reflect your individual perspective, building confidence in your creative decisions and strengthening your visual voice.

What will I learn?

How to recognise and develop personal themes, interests and influences within your creative practice.
Use collage and other processes to generate, refine and expand ideas for painting.
Learn skills to enable you to tell the story that is unique to you.
Apply an understanding of composition, form and structure to create more considered and effective paintings.
Gain confidence in using acrylic paints.
An understanding of ways to layer observational landscape with more personal symbolism.

Who would this course suit?

Whether you are looking to refresh your practice, overcome creative blocks, develop greater confidence in your artistic decisions, or discover a stronger sense of direction within your work, this course offers a supportive environment in which to experiment, reflect and grow. Some previous experience of drawing or painting may be helpful, but curiosity, openness and a willingness to explore are far more important.

Painting Your Perspective

Acrylic / Mixed Media – Materials included

Course tutors

Book Selected Date

Taught by

Ilker
Cinarel

View Ilker’s Work

I love sharing my knowledge and life experiences with others. My unique approach is to try to create individual, authentic voices in the curriculum within a conceptual and non conceptual framework. It’s great to be part of an historical, internationally renowned school.

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 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.