Understanding Composition online seminar with Alice Mumford
Drawing / Mixed Media / Still Life
We haven’t scheduled this course yet. Please email us to register your interest for future availability.
Register InterestCourse details
Fire up your creativity with this series of one hour, live online sessions, designed to inspire you to get making and investigating at home. Delivered from Artist Alice Mumford’s Cornish home she will guide you through some of the key concepts around composition that have inspired her own work.
Alice will look at historical paintings to explore how she has learnt from them and show how you can use this knowledge yourself to strengthen your own work. Each one has a different theme so you can enjoy them as a stand alone session or book on for both. There will be an opportunity for students to pose questions to Alice during the session.
She will set you an optional project to work on during the week. This encourages you to make your own discoveries and enjoy doing research based on your fresh insights.
Once you have booked a session, you will receive an invite to register with Zoom. You can put questions to Alice during the session using the question and answer function. We record the session so we can let you revisit the session to refresh your memory for up to two weeks after. You will also be invited to join our brand new Facebook Alumni group so you can share your discoveries with our community of fellow students from around the world.
From Upstairs, Polgrean by Alice Mumford 
The Adoration of the Golden Calf by Nicolas Poussin
Day to day plan
Each session starts with a presentation slide show, sometimes this might be illustrated further with a demo. There will then be time for questions from the audience and then a task set for you to do at home. Webinars start at 4.30pm BST/London time and last for 1 hr.
Thursday July 30th
Poussin and the Triangle
The French Classical painter Poussin makes a world of order, steadiness and clarity. Yet there is also mystery and unease. How does he paint two worlds in one picture? We will delve into his paintings to gain insights that will help us with our own compositions back in the studio.
If you miss session 1 there is an option to buy a recording available to view until 13th August.
Thursday August 6th
Mirrors used in compositions & breaking the ‘Fourth Wall’
Artists often use mirrors in paintings but they can be more than just a clever use of reflection. It can be a device that unsettles and challenges us as viewers. How do artists from Velazqueth, Manet, to contemporary artists like Steve McQueen use this device to engage the viewer and what can we learn from them to help with our own painting.
What will I learn?
Recognise when artists use triangles in compositions to animate a painting.
Understand how a sense of gravity works in a painting and how you can harness this in your own work.
See how mirrors have been used to communicate different ideas in paintings.
Understand how the “triangle” between viewer, painter and subject works and how this creates tension.
Who would this course suit?
Anyone with an interest in art, not just painters. Great for those who would like to get more out of their visits to galleries.
How Does an online session work?
Once you have booked a session, we will send you an invite to the session so you can register with Zoom and join us. It’s a good idea to register straight away and Zoom will then send you a link that you keep safe ready to use to get access to the webinar on the day.
You can put questions to Alice using the question and answer function during the webinar. We plan to record them so you can revisit the session to refresh your memory for up to two weeks after. You will also be invited to join our Facebook Alumni group so you can share your discoveries with fellow students from around the world.
Taught by
What to Bring
You don’t need to bring any materials to the session. Later you can follow the exercises and Alice encourages you to do experiments using whatever you have to hand. i.e., paper and glue, charcoal, paint as well find examples of paintings. You can share this work on the School’s dedicated Facebook Alumni page.
You will need access to the internet and ideally a PC or laptop or a tablet with audio. Phones are not really suitable to watch a webinar on as the presenter will be hard to see when she shares her screen with you. But we will be sending you a recording of the session so you can revisit it. The exercise to do at home we will also email to you afterwards.
Timings and Breaks
As soon as you receive your confirmation from us make sure you follow the link and register with Zoom. Zoom will then send you a second link. Keep this safe. At about 4.15pm follow this link to go to your session’s waiting room. We will play a video with audio of students artwork we have collated so far in response these session. So you can check you are connecting ok. Any issues get in touch via email at [email protected], we will do our best to help.
We will start the session at 4.30pm. We expect each session to last about one hour. If you have any problems receiving your link email from us or from Zoom email us and we can get that sorted before the start time. In the session if you have questions you can use the chat function and we will do our best to advise.
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.
In Person Courses
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.
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].
What art courses do you offer in St Ives?
We offer a varied programme of art courses in St Ives, including painting, drawing, printmaking, mixed media and life drawing. You can choose from one-day workshops, short summer sessions and more immersive three- and four-day studio courses. We also offer longer development courses for those looking to take their practice to the next level.
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?
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.
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
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.
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