patrick heron inspired art course using colour composition

Patrick Heron's Garden Forms

Acrylic / Mixed Media / Landscape - Materials included

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

Register Interest

Course details

Find inspiration in Patrick Heron’s early and late garden paintings, with his love of Braque, Matisse and Bonnard. Visit the subtropical Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens and harness colour and form in your own work.

expressive art course in st ives looking at patrick heron visit to Tremenheere sculpture garden

Respond to Patrick Heron’s early and late garden paintings and his love of Braque, Matisse and Bonnard. Field trips include a trip to Tremenheere Sculpture Garden, with practical and structured learning throughout. It will suit all levels of student interested in responding to the natural world and exploring colour, form and abstraction in their painting.

Respond to Patrick Heron’s early and late garden paintings, exploring paintings from his own garden at Eagles’ Nest and his residency in New South Wales. Heron’s love of Braque, Matisse and Bonnard will also inform the course and set you on your own exploration of colour, form and composition inspired by nature.

The course includes a visit to Tremenheere Sculpture garden, a beautiful sheltered valley in west Cornwall, surrounded by woods, streams and dramatic vista, the perfect setting for this 22-acre exotic and sub-tropical garden. Your tutor will lead you though the dramatic gardens, which provide the backdrop to contemplative and inspiring art. International renowned artists such as James Turrell RA and David Nash RA have interacted with the garden to create site-specific permanent works, all harmonising with their garden setting.

Packed with inspirational experiences this course provides practical and structured learning. The course includes all your materials as well as travel to and entrance fee to Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens.

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

Ways into drawing

After a quick introduction to the group and materials at Porthmeor Studios we will catch a taxi to the Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens. Using materials such as pencils and oil bars to draw intuitive responses to the garden in your sketch book. You will learn to respond expressively to the possibilities of line, colour and form. We will be collected from Tremenheere at 3:15pm and return to the studio to discuss the day and our work before finishing at 4:30.

Day 2

Responding to Heron – the language of painting

Meeting in Porthmeor Studio  we will start with a visit to Tate St Ives to make more sketchbook drawings. Back in the studio select from your sketchbook to begin to make an abstract composition. Evoke the garden in arrangements of colour, texture, line, pattern and mark making using a mixed media approach.

Day 3

The developmental process

Working all day in  Porthmeor Studios we will continue to develop your abstract work building on what you learnt so far over the last two days. You will be encouraged to start to resolve work and not give up. Embrace the chance to take risks and reflect.

Day 4

Knowing when to finish

A day to enjoy developing your work further with one to one feedback and a group discussion at the end of the day.

What will I learn?

  1. A developed intuitive response to the environment.
  2. Confidence to work out in the environment.
  3. Ways to develop your sensory experience and sketchbook work into abstraction.
  4. An understanding of Patrick Heron’s process with a focus on his garden paintings.
  5. A better understanding of how to develop a creative process rather than a finished product.

Who would this course suit?

There will be walking on the first day on uneven and steep ground. You will be carrying a sketchbook and art materials with some sitting on the ground. There is a steep hill to get to the garden area. It will suit students interested in responding to the natural world and exploring colour, form and abstraction.

Patrick Heron’s Garden Forms

Acrylic / Mixed Media / Landscape – Materials included

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

Register Interest

Taught by

Camilla
Dixon

View Camilla’s Work

I find tutoring to be a constantly evolving project. It supports my creative work as it requires that I not only understand my processes but can apply them in a way that is useful to other people in their quest for creative flow. Harnessing a fluid and responsive working method, can address all sorts of practical or emotional obstacles that students face. It can be quite literally life-changing.

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

Due to the field trip to Tremenheere on the first day we will meet at Porthmeor Studios at 9.30am. The minibus will return us to the studio in the afternoon and the day will finish at 4pm.  We start at 9.30am and finish at 4pm on the following two days. Occasionally these may be changed if required by the tutor. Tea, coffee and biscuits are provided in the studio and there will be an hour for lunch.

On the first day you can bring a packed lunch but there is also a fantastic cafe on site. We will book a table for the group. On the Tuesday and Wednesday there are plenty of nearby places to eat or you are welcome to bring a packed lunch into the studio.

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 want to reserve a place whilst you confirm holiday accommodation we will give you a full refund if you change your mind within 24 hours of booking. Just get in touch [email protected].

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.

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