RESIDENTIAL 5 DAY WATERCOLOUR PAINTING COURSES AT
THE WEST ARMS HOTEL TUTORED BY COLIN RADCLIFFE, An internationally reknowned Landscape Artist (and ex member of Five Penny Piece!)
THE FOUNDATION
All artists paint differently but have a common aim:- to communicate their personal experiences and feelings in their own way which results in ARTISTIC FREEDOM. But pursuing this aim needs a FOUNDATION of essential disciplines and skills which form the basis of painting and provide a framework which in the long term enables the artist to:-
On our courses at the West Arms, it is this essential foundation of basic knowledge which will be explored and which leads to the understanding of more advanced concepts, systems and techniques etc.
MATERIALS
An outline of choices of materials available - the advantage and the pitfalls of some of them. Advice on:-
PAPER - PAINTS - BRUSHES - SKETCHING - MATERIALS - EASELS - DRAWING MATERIALS and all the bits and pieces which can make life easier or more difficult
METHODS & TECHNIQUES
DRAWING:- A demonstration of drawing techniques and systems needed by the artist.
HOW TO: Use sketchbooks, preliminary tonal drawings, grid systems for transferring to the water colour paper.
HOW TO: Develop personal drawing skills.
TONAL PLANNING
The most important and least understood skill required in painting.
HOW TO: Assess tonal difference caused by the tones of local colour and illumination of light.
HOW TO: Use such knowledge to make a suitable base tonal pattern to your painting.
This is knowledge that many leisure artists ignore at their peril.
ARTISTS THINK IN TONE AND PAINT IN COLOUR
COLOUR THEORY & PRACTICAL COLOUR MIXING
Another vital topic which is often misunderstood and very neglected today - and yet you cannot paint without it.
HOW TO: Paint in harmony
HOW TO: Mix the colour you require at any given time
HOW TO: Understand the necessary simple basics of colour mixing and the theory which makes this possible.
HOW TO: Use a palette drill for speedy and accurate mixing. THE BRUSH, WATER & PAINT
HOW TO: Use the brush in different ways to achieve maximum effect. (Wet in wet, dry brush, creating texture etc)
HOW TO: Control the ratio of pigment to water at any stage of the painting. (If there IS a secret to watercolour painting, it is here in the understanding and practise of this vital skill.)
HOW TO: Understand that the right brush for the task in hand makes a vast difference.
All the above, and more, will be dealt with as and when needed by group members - both on a group and individual basis.
There will be lots of help, demonstrations, videos and plenty of time for you to paint - and it doesn’t matter at which stage you are at, you are welcome.
We cannot turn you into an Artist, nobody can but you. But we can show the way and give you the knowledge.
Please bring plenty of reference to paint from (photographs, sketches etc)
So here’s to watercolour - come and join us....
“May the magic flow from your brush and may your waterpot runneth over” Colin
MATERIALS
Please bring your own equipment & 2 examples of your work.
Listed below is Colin’s checklist of materials he uses and therefore recommends:
WINSOR AND NEWTON ARTISTS QUALITY WATERCOLOURS IN TUBES (Pan colours are not so flexible).
Winsor Blue(red shade) Ultramarine blue
Cadmium yellow
Cadmium lemon
Raw Sienna
Light red
Alizarin Crimson
Cadmium Red
PALETTE: eg Liz Deakin plastic palette. This has generous mixing wells and a lid. (AVAILABLE FROM KEN BROMLEY 01204 491472)
A4 size sketchbook, 2B pencil, 6B-8B graphite stick - eg Prismallo/Faber Castel, a putty rubber and a roll of 1” masking tape.
Lightweight board for 1/4imp paper (or bigger), a water pot (plastic painters kettle), a stool or easel for outdoor work and paper either Saunders Waterford or Arches 140lbs NOT and ROUGH.
BRUSHES- I use sable brushes sizes 6, 8, 12 Red Sable or Koiinsky Sable.
I DO NOT RECOMMEND NYLON BRUSHES
FOR ANY QUERIES CONTACT COLIN ON 01691 600652
THE LOCATION
The West Arms, Llanarmon DC Ceiriog Valley Nr Llangollen LL20 7LD
A HOTEL SINCE 1670 AA ****
WTB ****
SET IN THE BEAUTIFUL SECRET CEIRIOG VALLEY OVERLOOKING THE BERWYN HILLS
DAY ATTENDANCE
Available for Arrival on 24th Sept Depart on 28th
£295 for 5 day course including lunch.
OR FULL BOARD
£555 per person full board arriving Sunday 23rd Sept, departing Sat 29th Sept (includes lunch)
FOR MORE INFORMATION
TELEPHONE 01691 600665 FAX 01691 600622
E-MAIL info@thewestarms.co.uk
WEB www.thewestarms.co.uk
