Course details
Join practising artist, Victoria Gillow, in this playful exploration of building history and narratives into paintings, through the use of coloured grounds and under painting.
The ‘well grounded’ webinar aims to enable artists to playfully identify and work with ideas around a painter’s choice of ground and how this can then inform how an artist starts to layer and build a painting, as well as how it can influence the way a painting is created and subsequently read/viewed, interacted with and enjoyed.
Every layer of colour, texture and mark adds to the history and narrative in a painting. Coloured grounds and under painting can be literal with a colour taken from the place observed or remembered. The choice of ground can also be an emotional one, informed by a true and deep connection with place – so it can work on two levels. We will look at different ways we can play with these ideas.
Taking inspiration from artists such as John Constable, Peter Lanyon and March Rothko, amongst others, Victoria will guide you on how to find balance, patterns and rhythms of colour and on how colours works with or against each other.
Working from your chosen images or from direct observation, Victoria will be showing you how to create paintings from the ground up. Learn about building grounds with colour and the possibilities of impasto, textured, and collaged grounds. Take the time to consider the way you apply the paint and how to create the energy in a brush stroke. You will be encouraged to ‘find your own voice’ through mark making and layers, paint and texture; to create a series of artwork.
The workshop promises to be playful and fun, with layers informing the reading of the paintings and artworks we produce. Everyone will have their own connection with a place, perhaps an immediate emotive response or maybe layers of memory and reflection.
Who is this course for?
This course would suit artists with experience and beginners a like. There will be something for everyone with the emphasis on accessing creativity a well as freeing up and enabling reverie in process based practice.
An interest in landscape/seascape painting would be useful.
What will I learn?
- How to bring new life and energy to a painting
- Explore how a painting can work from the ground up
- How layers work in paintings
- How a narrative and feeling can be built layer by layer
- Basic colour mixing
- Build confidence in using acrylic paints and mediums
How does an online session work?
We record the sessions so you can watch on demand, as often as you like, for up to 60 days after purchase. This way you can pause a scene, rewind and finish your painting. You can watch on a PC, laptop or tablet and if you have chromecast or miracast you could even cast to your SmartTV from your phone.
You will be invited to join our Facebook Alumni group so you can share your discoveries with fellow students from around the world. You can also share your work live with others on social media using the #schoolofpainting and tagging us @stives painting.
Taught by
What to Bring
A list of materials will be available to see in your account upon booking the course. You will need access to the internet and ideally a PC, laptop or a tablet with audio.
You can revisit as often as you like for up to 60 days after the start of the course via the same links as the live events.
What our students say
It was great to learn how to start a painting, from standing at your favourite spot and starting sketching. There were so many tips to guide the painter. I particularly loved how Victoria teaches to build the layers of colours and make it exciting, explaining how to use mediums and other tips to create texture etc. Victoria is a great and generous teacher and I would love to attend her course in person one day.
What a great tutor! Victoria’s passion for her environment and her work was contagious, everything she did in the webinar – and she did a lot – was done with such enthusiasm; and even when she was talking us through quite basic things like colour mixing and sketching, she was so enthusiastic and empowering that it all felt really fresh and exciting. As Victoria shared her process the webinar just flowed so naturally and spontaneously, and it was so skillful that she could talk directly, answer questions, and while doing so produce really lovely work.
An action packed lesson, I learnt so much, itching to get outside and get painting!
A really enjoyable experience. Victoria Gillow is an outstanding and inspiring teacher.
FAQs
Online Art Courses
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 [email protected]. 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
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 need time to arrange accommodation, we can hold a provisional booking for 24 hours. 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.
You might also like...
Figure on a Rock - Inspired by Dame Laura Knight (rec)
Gary Long
Join artist Gary Long for an inspiring two-part webinar, where you’ll explore techniques for drawing and painting the human figure within a landscape. The sessions will feature scenic footage evoking the landscapes depicted by Dame Laura Knight in the early 1900s.
Joan Eardley- The Calligraphy of People + Place
Jill Eisele
Explore the calligraphic mark making of Joan Eardley and learn how as artists today we can find inspiration for our own painting.
Postcards from St Ives - Christopher Wood
Alice Mumford
Join artist Alice Mumford as she explores Christopher Wood's quest for a lyrical way of describing the world through line and rhythm.
Painting Flowers in Oils
Gary Long
Learn how to capture in oils, bold spring blooms, to create a beautiful expressive still life, rich in colour and texture.
Figure - Shape, Colour + Texture
Gary Long
Join us for this two hour recording of a figure class inspired by the Bay Area Movement artist David Park. Broadcast from our studio in St Ives with a clothed model.
Calendrical Art - An Introduction
Kate Southworth
A chance to find out more about our year long 'Calendrical Art' course, creating in tune with the seasons. This is a taster session so you can decide if you would like to join the full year long course.
Postcards from St Ives - Whistler at the Coast
Andrew Barrowman
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?