Where Sea Meets Land (online)

Oil / Landscape

We haven’t scheduled this course yet. Please email us to register your interest for future availability.

Course details

How to convey that fleeting moment when a wave crashes on the shore, its drama, energy and movement? Learn the secrets to capturing this dramatic encounter between sea and the land in oils.

We record these live sessions so you can watch again on demand for 1 month after the course. Students will have the opportunity to ask the tutor questions during these live sessions as well as have access to a group forum on a secured course platform. This private online space is a chance for you and your group to connect with each other and share progress during the course.

You will need to gather your own materials for the course and have access to the internet. We will have staff on hand to assist with your connecting on Zoom with a dedicated tech session. You will receive a comprehensive handbook on setting up ready for the course covering equipment and materials.

Using an expressive approach in oils capture the dramatic encounter between the sea and the land. Wherever you are in the world transport yourself to the dramatic coastline around St Ives. Working from a video capturing a dramatic Cornish day on the coast, students and Gary will observe and sketch, learning how to work with gouache to make annotations on colour and weather. Develop these into lively and dramatic oil paintings. You will gain confidence in using tools, techniques and a limited palette to capture drama and movement. Use these skills to respond to whatever landscape inspires you, not just the coast.

Learn how to work with gouache to make annotations on colour and weather. Develop these visual notes and sketches into lively and dramatic oil paintings. You will gain confidence in using a limited palette and work with a palette knife to capture drama and movement.

Teaching will be through both pre-recorded video demonstrations that transport you to our studio here in St Ives as well as 4 live sessions with a small group. Gary works on his own piece during these so students can observe the process of development.

As well as benefiting from live demos you will have the added bonus of time in between sessions to practice what you have learnt and gain feedback from your group and Gary. The group is kept small at just 15 students and you will be able to interact will your fellow students at the live zoom sessions as well as on our image sharing platform.

Day to day plan

This is a 2 week course and will work best for those that can commit time in between the live sessions. There is a combination of live, interactive sessions with Gary lasting two and a half hours as well as pre recorded videos to watch.
Upload images of your artwork to our proprietary course platform over the two weeks, so your class and tutor will be able to view, like and provide feedback.

Tech session

Live Zoom session Thursday 18th February 3pm – 4pm GMT

Technical induction with our digital administrator to ensure everyone is comfortable and ready for the first session.

Week 1 – Preparing the ground

In this first week you will work through in your own time a series of tasks to get ready for painting in the second week. Choose a local landscape of your own if you are able to draw outside or work from the recording we send you. There is one live session and pre-recorded instructional videos for this first week. Upload your studies onto our image sharing platform to share your progress with fellow students and Gary.

Monday 22 February– Observing closely

Live Zoom session 10.00am – 12.30pm GMT

Gary will meet you and your group and give you an overview of the course. In this first live session he will talk you through your first week and key tasks; the process of making an annotated drawing, a tonal study and working in gouache. Work from a video recording of a dramatic coastal scene. In the afternoon experiment with the drawing and tonal work. After the live session enjoy further instructional videos covering the key tasks for the day. Use this time to explore your local landscape if you can.

Tuesday 23 February – Moving into colour

Self study with instructional videos

In the morning you can move on to your third task. Access the video on how to move into colour using gouache. Spend the day experimenting with colour at home.

Wednesday 24 February – Experimenting

Self study

In your own time revisit the videos and work through this whole process again. Observe a landscape closely and create annotated notes, move into painting with charcoal and finally create a study in gouache. If you can, try out the process using your own local landscape. The more you experiment the more this will become second nature. Armed with lots of studies you will be ready to move into oils the following week.

Week 2 – Moving Into Oils

In this second week of study we move into painting with oils. Teaching is through three live interactive sessions. Upload your studies onto our image sharing platform to share your progress and get feedback from your fellow students and Gary.

Monday 1 March – Selecting image and palette

Live Zoom session 10.00am – 12.30pm GMT

Gary starts the session showing his own approach to working in oils. If you have an easel either desk or standing have this set up ready, otherwise work on the table. Gary will talk you through your materials and set up and how to start to put your drawing down on to the canvas. Learn to select and crop your colour study ready for this stage. Spend time creating your palette alongside Gary. In your afternoon practice your colour mixing so you have your palette ready for the next day.

Tuesday 2 March – Creating energy and movement

Live Zoom session 10.00am – 12.30pm GMT

Starting with a demonstration Gary will show you how to start your painting working with thin washes. Explore a range of mark making styles and tools to create a confident painting with movement and energy. In the afternoon in your own time continue to work on your painting.

Wednesday 3 March – Adjusting and resolving

Live Zoom session 10.00am – 12.30pm GMT

While students continue to work on their piece Gary will spend time with each student to look at the process of adjusting and resolving a painting. Share your piece with the group at the end of the day on the image sharing platform.

What you will get out of this course

An understanding of the properties of oil paint so you can have more control of the paint and get the effect you want.
Confidence in colour mixing so you can develop your own personal palette that you can recreate rather than rely on guesswork.
The skills to develop paintings from drawing studies.
Confidence in using a variety of tools and techniques to get a range of marks and effects. This will help you create paintings that are interesting and striking.

Who would this course suit?

Whether you are a complete beginner in oil paints or would like to build your confidence working with them, this course is a wonderful starting point. If you love painting landscape but feel stuck, this course gives useful tools for loosening up and animating your paintings.

Where Sea Meets Land (online)

Oil / Landscape

We haven’t scheduled this course yet. Please email us to register your interest for future availability.

Taught by

Gary
Long

View Gary’s Work

After many years as an illustrator I taught on the BA Illustration course at Falmouth University. In 2011 I began teaching at St Ives School of Painting. I deliver courses involved with the figure, still life and landscape. My practice as a painter feeds into the teaching, often through demonstrations. The school is wonderful – the history the ethos and most of all the people.

What to Bring

You will receive a comprehensive handbook on setting up ready for the course covering equipment and materials. We will guide you on how best to set up in your own home environment whatever that might be from the kitchen to the studio.

You will be provided with a full materials list and you will need to use oil paint and either low odour white spirit or Zest It, if you are sensitive to solvents.

IT Equipment

You will need a laptop or tablet with audio and camera enabled so you can have a screen near where you are working. A phone is not ideal as you will struggle to see enough. You will also need reasonable broadband connection and speed.

Timings and Breaks

On the Thursday before the course starts there will be technical session with our digital administrator to make sure you are comfortable with the technology and everything is working correctly. Times are in GMT.

Key Dates: Live Zoom Sessions

Pre Course Tech session – Thursday 18 February 3pm – 4pm

Session 1 – Monday 22 Feb 10.00am – 12.30pm

Session 2 – Monday 1 March 10.00am – 12.30pm

Session 3 – Tuesday 2 March 10.00am – 12.30pm

Session 4 – Wednesday 3 March 10.00am – 12.30pm

You will be set self-directed tasks to complete in between live sessions.

These classes will be recorded and available to view a couple of hours after the session ends so you can review and recap before the next morning session.

All recordings will be available for you to watch again on demand as many times as you like for one month after the course ends. This means you can review, pause, rewind and further develop your skills.

What our students say

It was well-structured and inspiring and it worked really well in every way!

Caroline Bruce

Gary has a wonderful manner and makes the whole process of learning so easy. It feels really sad to have completed this course after three months.

FAQs

Online Broadcast

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.

Art Courses

Do you have to be experienced to come to the School?

No prior experience is required to join most of our art courses. The School of Painting is a friendly and welcoming environment for all ages and abilities, including complete beginners.

Our drop-in life drawing classes and short workshops are perfect if you’re trying painting for the first time. Many of our longer courses are also suitable for beginners, as our tutors are experienced in supporting mixed ability groups. If a course requires previous experience, this will be clearly stated on the course page.

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 want to reserve a place whilst you confirm holiday accommodation we will give you a full refund if you change your mind within 24 hours of booking. Just get in touch [email protected].

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.