Camellias in the Window, Portscatho

Winifred Nicholson + the Window (archive)

Oil / Landscape / Still Life

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

Register Interest

Course details

This is a unique opportunity to take part in an international online art course with renowned artist Alice Mumford. Capture in oils your own view of the world through your chosen window.

Alice Mumford Warm Midsummer Morning , Polgrean, 1 meter x 1 meter, oil on canvas, 2018-19

In June of this year Alice was due to deliver a course to an artist group on Whidbey Island on the West Coast of America. The St Ives School of Painting has helped Alice to design this bespoke online alternative for four of these artists. Four other places are open to students elsewhere in the world to take part at this introductory rate. She has chosen one of her favourite themes for the course combining the approaches of artist Winifred Nicholson with looking through windows. This will be a fascinating opportunity to learn alongside students from around the world. When we are all spending so much time indoors the view from our window can be a source of comfort and connection to the world. Yours might be a busy urban view or a quiet rural landscape. As students will be joining us from around the world from different time zones we imagine there will also be different times of day captured as well.

The four days will combine live learning via Zoom with Alice and your group with self study time. There will be exercises set by Alice to ensure this time is structured and fruitful. The Zoom session will be recorded and you will have access to these for 6 months after the course. A private Facebook group will be a space for all eight students to connect with each other and share progress during the course.

You will need to gather together 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. You will receive a comprehensive handbook on setting up ready for the course covering equipment and materials.

Day to day plan

This is a 4 day course and will work best for those that can commit 4 whole days. With a daily live and interactive session with Alice lasting two and a half hours you will then go off to work on your own piece with guidance and direction to follow. If you are based in the UK the self study time will be the following day and the live sessions at the end of the day. All timings are BST (London time).

Day 1

5pm – 7.30pm Alice will connect with the group on Zoom to discuss how Winifred Nicholson uses the colour scale. We then set up a palette together. There will be a live demonstration in the session. You will then have a series of exercises to do in your own time before the next zoom session taken from Winifred Nicholson colour scale.

Day 2

Carry on painting for at least 4 hours working on the exercises from Day 1.

5pm – 7.30pm You will have now spent several hours going through the exercises from the day before and we will regroup on Zoom to see how you have got on. Using the palette from day 1 in this session we approach painting the window and view in different ways on small boards. Continue this exploration until the next session.

Day 3

Carry on painting for at least 4 hours working on the exercises from Day 2 on your small boards .

5pm – 7.30pm Today we take what we have learnt so far and move into a larger scale. Alice will start with a live demonstration.

Day 4

Work on your larger scale painting for at least 4 hours.

5pm – 7.30pm There will be a group session today where Alice will give one to one feedback. She will help you work out what you need to do to resolve and finish your painting.

Day 5

Post your work on your closed Facebook group so you can share with your fellow students.

What will I learn?

Looking through windows has been a subject loved by painters since the Golden age of Dutch painting. There are different approaches to the challenge of this often painted theme. It breaks down into foreground, middle ground and distance. Understanding how this can work in paint is the key.

You will benefit from the wonderful insights of Winifred Nicholson starting with her colour scales. These help us attune to our inner library of colour. By learning how to liberate colour by not worrying about form, discover an approach that could be a game changer for your painting.

Who would this course suit?

This course is suitable for the adventurous who are also interested in the roots of paintings.

Winifred Nicholson and the Window (archive)

Oil / Landscape / Still Life

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

Register Interest

Taught by

Alice
Mumford

View Alice’s Work

“The school of painting is an oasis; a place to share ideas, enthusiasm and adventures into painting. Teaching has helped me to translate my thoughts and reflections about art into practical courses. In doing this I have learnt so much and shared in that adventure. It’s an opportunity to pass on the wonderful sense of being part of a bigger ‘family’ of painters.”

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.

Timings and Breaks

Each live session lasts two and a half hours 5pm – 7.30pm (London time). If you are based in the UK you will then have the following day before the next Zoom session to work on your exercises.

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.

FAQs

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.

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.

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.

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