Course details
Fire up your creativity with this webinar designed to inspire you to get making and investigating at home. In this session artist Alice Mumford focusses on a key concept of composition, static and movement in painting and the power of repetition.
If you missed this hugely popular webinar last spring or you fancy a refresher, this is your chance to join Alice as she returns to our studio to share with you her fascinating insights into composition. Learn how to control the pace of a painting and the eye of the viewer with practical illustrations of key concepts and see how artists through history used these devices. Alice will set you an optional project to work on in your own time. This encourages you to make your own discoveries and enjoy doing research based on your fresh insights. You can share this with your fellow students on St Ives School of Painting Alumni Facebook group.
You can watch the session live or later. We record it so we can let you revisit the session to refresh your memory for up to one week after.
Once you have booked a session, you will receive a link on the morning of the broadcast. All you need to do is follow the link. 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.
Sandra Blow, Blue and White Collage 
Pieter Bruegel the Elder, “The Hunters in the Snow,” 1565
What will I learn?
- Understand better why composition works in some paintings and not so well in others so you can use this understanding in your own work.
- How to avoid composition clangers
- Grasp better the core areas of composition -spatial tension, focal points, movement
- A better understanding of how composition underpins an art work helping you read paintings with more confidence.
Would this session suit me?
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, we will send you a link an hour before the session starts so you can join us live. All you need to do is follow the link ten minutes before the start time. You can watch this on a PC. laptop or tablet and if you have chromecast or miracast you could even cast to your SmartTV from your phone.
You can put questions to the tutor using the chat function during the session. The sessions are recorded and you will be able to watch again at your leisure as many times as you want for up to 1 week. 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 join in with the live session it can be more relaxing and informative to watch first and practice later. If you would like to do the homework you can do experiments using whatever you have to hand. i.e., paper and glue, charcoal, paint.
You will need access to the internet and ideally a PC, laptop or a tablet with audio. Phones are not really suitable to watch a webinar on, unless you can cast to your Smart TV, as the presenter will be hard to see when they share their screen with you . But we will be sending you a recording of the session so you can revisit it as many times as you like for up to one week after.
Timings and Breaks
At about 4.50 pm please follow the link. We will play a video with audio of students artwork we have collated so far in response these sessions. So you can check you are connecting ok.
Any problems either receiving your link or connecting please contact info@schoolofpainting.co.uk and we will do our best to get that sorted before the start time.
We will start at 5pm and work for 1 hour. We will pause for questions at different points during the session you can pose any questions to the artist using You Tube chat function.
FAQs
Online Broadcast
How can I get help in choosing a course?
Our friendly expert staff are always happy to discuss your needs and our courses in more detail to help you with your decision. Please call us on 01736 797180
Do I need a webcam/any equipment.
For our webinar sessions which are broadcast on the internet and no webcam or microphone is needed as you just need to be able to see/hear hosts and you can communicate using the chat function. You can watch using a PC, Smart TV or tablet. A phone isn’t ideal as you will struggle to see enough unless you can miracast to a screen or smart TV.
For the longer online courses on Zoom you will need a laptop or tablet with audio and camera enabled so you can have a screen near where you are working. If you have a PC without camera or speakers, you can purchase a plug and play webcam for approx £25 which connects to a usb port. You will also need reasonable broadband connection and speed.
All the art materials and equipment needed to participate in the course will be listed in full on the online learning platform, for live webinars this will be a minimum of two weeks before the session starts.
I have registered for the webinar but I can't find my joining link
You can access all the resources and joining link for your webinar via our online learning platform. You will need to have set up an account on our online learning platform in advance. You can do this during the checkout process when purchasing your webinar. If you are having trouble accessing your online account, please contact info@schoolofpainting.co.uk. You can use a PC or tablet or even cast from your phone to watch on your Smart TV.
I paid for the session but missed it, how can I watch?
Currently all our online sessions are recorded and you can access the recording on our online learning platform until it expires. Usually 60 days for a webinar, 90 – 180 days for multipart webinars or online courses.
Studio Courses
How can I get help in choosing a course?
Our friendly expert staff are always happy to discuss your needs and our courses in more detail to help you with your decision. Please call us on 01736 797180
How do I get my work home?
Tutors have special techniques for transporting oil paintings and the school has plastic folders available in our shop for £3.50 or do bring a portfolio.
For international students we are happy to arrange transportation of your work back home.
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.
Weekend Courses run 10am – 4pm on the first day but the final day starts at 9.30 and ends at 3.30 with a short lunch break to enable people to get home that evening.
Do you have to be experienced to come to the School?
The School is a very friendly and welcoming place for all ages and experience. Our drop-in life classes and August half-day workshops are ideal for those wanting to have a go for the first time. Most of our longer courses are also fine for novices.
If any of the courses do need a bit of experience we flag this up in the brochure and on the website.
Booking a Course
Can I pay by cheque?
Please get in touch by phone and we can hold your place for a few days whilst you post your cheque (made payable to: St Ives School of Painting) to us at St Ives School of Painting, Porthmeor Studios. St Ives TR26 1NG
How can I reserve a place?
We will hold a provisional reservation for 24 hours if you give us a call whilst you find accommodation. Otherwise please book online or by telephone 01736 797180.
You can reserve a place with a £100 deposit; balance is due 12 weeks before course start date.
About St Ives
Where do I park?
The nearest long stay public car parks are the Island and Barnoon both 5 minute walk away. In the peak summer months it may be easier to park at the big top car park by the leisure centre and walk down into town. If you don’t fancy the walk up the hill at the end of the day there is a shuttle bus which runs from outside the cinema.
How do I get there?
Public Transport: If you are coming from further afield the main train line runs into St Erth which is a 15 min taxi ride away or you can take the St Ives Bay Line which runs approx. every 30 minutes. The School is a 10 minute walk from St Ives station.
Driving: M5 will take you to Exeter where we recommend that you take the A30 across Bodmin Moor and into Cornwall. After passing Hayle, leave the A30 at St Erth roundabout for St Ives. Turn right at the second roundabout. This road will take you through Lelant and Carbis Bay into St Ives.
Where can I stay?
St Ives has a huge selection of hotels, guest houses and self catering accommodation to choose from. Please browse the art holidays St Ives section on our website and give us a call if you would like any help.
