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Course details
Join us for this experimental recording and explore using gestural, energetic marks to create movement and fluidity in your paintings.
See how Cornish-based artist Maxine Hart abstracts the landscape using colour shape and line, interpreting her dramatic surroundings through dynamic mark-making and expressive compositions.
Before you start, Maxine asks if you could look at your surroundings afresh by taking photographs or making quick sketches of the landscape around you. These will be the basis for your work during the session; building these up through experimental processes, combining drawing and painting and embracing happy accidents. Working across a number of pieces simultaneously, learn how to capture your chosen landscape through embracing the qualities of paint and balancing your composition through colour and tone.
Looking at the work of various artists including Joan Eardley, Cornelia Foss and Richard Diebenkorn, Maxine will explain how these artists took inspiration from their own surroundings. Learn how to transform the feeling for a landscape or place into an expressive composition.
Maxine will guide you, from our historic studios in St Ives, but you can join us wherever you are in the world. This is ideal if you are looking for a way-in to capturing the landscape in a more abstract way. It will help you to loosen your approach and to find your own visual vocabulary. By encouraging experimentation and working across a number of works simultaneously, Maxine encourages a less ‘precious’ approach to image making.
Who is this course for?
This course is suitable for both absolute beginners and those with more experience, looking to build confidence in new ways of working. Aimed to help you step out of your comfort zone and loosen your approach to drawing and painting. Maxine will be working in acrylic paints, but you could also work in gouache if you would prefer to.
In advance of the class, you will be asked to do some walking, taking photographs and sketches of your chosen environment – be that your local park or a far-off holiday destination!
What will I learn?
1. Build confidence looking at the landscape and building your own visual language.
2. Enjoy the qualities and properties of acrylic paint which can be used in sketches and finished pieces of artwork.
3. How to transform drawings into abstract compositions.
4. How to find your own colour palette.
5. How to loosen your approach to painting.
How does an online session work?
Once you have booked you will be able to watch on demand immediately.
You can pause, rewind and watch again as often as you like until the session expires 60 days after purchase
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.
Taught by
What our students say
Thank you for a wonderful webinar with Maxine Hart. It was terrific and I am completely fired up and inspired… I particularly liked the tonal sketching and mark making exercises which makes for a great warm-up. I look forward to having the video for the next month.
Thank you for making learning from inspirational artists accessible for everyone, not depending where they are located or what their budget is!
FAQs
Online Art Courses – All
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 [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
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
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 Long Stay Car Park, both a 5 minute walk away. In the peak summer months it may be easier to park at Trenwith 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.
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