James Whistler and Walter Sickert painted together in St Ives in 1884. What can we take from their energetic studies to help you with your own landscape painting in oils?

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. 

Contemporary Cornish artist Andrew Barrowman will take us on a journey back in time to explore the work created by the artist James McNeill Whistler. The surprisingly paired down, impressionistic paintings produced during his time exploring the coast will be the starting point for this session. Work from a recording of the coast filmed in a similar location to one enjoyed by Whistler over 130 years ago and still very much the same.

You will be working from the same film as Andrew so you will see both Andrew at work and the video on screen

We will explore the way Whistler laid out his palette and the particular oil colours he used to create his soft muted seascapes. Pre-mixing colours was an important part of his practice so we will spend some time (before painting on canvas / board) to enjoy this process. Learn how to approach painting quickly to capture changing light. We will look at how he applied thin oil paint, reserving the thickest paint for the areas he wanted to draw attention to.

We will also briefly look at Sickert and Menpes, who were mentored by Whistler during the St Ives stay, and explore how they were influenced by him during their careers. Andrew will go on to show how his own painting process has taken inspiration form Whistler to help you consider how you too can adapt ideas from other artists and make them your own.

What will I learn?

1. How to paint in alla prima (first time/wet in wet) with oils using thin paint and soft muted colours
2. Learn how to arrange a colour palette inspired by Whistler
3. Explore how a practicing artist today can use approaches from historical artists and make them their own.

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.