Join artist Kate Southworth for this Ithell Colquhoun-inspired recording. See how living and working in the sacred sites and magical landscapes of west Cornwall shaped Colquhoun’s diverse practice.

Follow in artist Ithell Colquhoun’s footsteps and learn how her interests in magic, folklore, the occult and the unconscious inspired the symbolism and narratives of her paintings. Taking inspiration from Colquhoun’s detailed and intuitive paintings, artist Kate Southworth demonstrates how to translate Colquhoun’s techniques and approaches in your own painting.

This new series of online classes, ‘Postcards from …’ will use the places in and around St Ives that inspired an international roster of artists including Wilhelmina Barns-Graham, Ben Nicholson, Christopher Wood, Alfred Wallis, Bryan Wynter and Patrick Heron.  

Focusing in particular on sites which captured these artists’ imagination, Postcards from… will take you on a creative journey to the famous spots around St Ives including its harbour, Porthmeor Beach and its cobbled, winding streets, lined with stone fishermen’s houses. Using films of these familiar landscapes, led by one of our experienced tutors, this series will transport you to these inspiring St Ives locations, wherever you are in the world. 

Colquhoun moved to Cornwall in the late 1940s. Here, she combined her interests in automatism and the esoteric with an engagement with the magical landscapes and stone circles around Cornwall. Known as a haven for British artists in the 20th Century, Cornwall remained Colquhoun’s home and inspiration. Although often identified as a Surrealist, Colquhoun largely followed her own path and was interested in a variety of movements, styles and ideas.

On this webinar, Kate takes you through her own engagement with Colquhoun’s work and life. Looking at her painting, Dance of the Nine Opals (1942), learn about the painting’s history and different readings. Then, inspired by Colquhoun’s own approach to image-making, Kate shows you various techniques including parsemarge – using charcoal powder sprinkled on the surface of water and dragging paper beneath the surface to make experimental marks – and decalcomania.

See how using Colquhoun’s unique and experimental approaches to capturing the landscape of Cornwall can be adopted wherever you are in the world. Liberating your approach, work in a variety of mediums and come away with a series of Colquhoun-inspired ideas and techniques you can integrate into your own painting practice.

What will I learn?

1. Learn to work more freely and intuitively.
2. Enjoy playing with form, shape and colour.
3. Learn new ways of capturing the landscape around you, wherever you are in the world!

Who would this course suit?

Beginners and those with more experience are both welcome to join. If you are looking to learn new ways to expand your drawing and painting practice, or just inspiration by looking to other artists, this course is for you.

How does an online session work?

Once you have booked you will be able to watch on demand immediately. 

You can pause, rewind and watch again as often as you like until the session expires 60 days after purchase

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.

You will need access to the internet and ideally a Smart TV, PC or laptop or a tablet with audio. Phones are not suitable unless cast to a smart TV.