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Course details
Discover a vibrant world of colour in the back streets, gardens and harbour of St Ives. This course will ignite and motivate your passion for finding colour and help you gain confidence to use new colour stories in your own art practice.
In any visual display, colour is arguably the first element we experience, and yet, as artists, we often leave it till last when we plan a work of art. But what happens if we put it first?
Join us on this inspiring journey to expand your skills and appreciation for the vibrant world of colour. Working directly from observation, we will work outside in the gardens, on the harbour and beaches, and in the back streets of St Ives, looking for colour, expressing and harnessing it however we can, in water based paint, mixed-media and even collage. Camilla will encourage you to put aside the science of colour theory for the duration of the course and to listen to one’s own instinctive response to colour by ‘simply looking’.
In the studio, we will experiment with those colour-findings and combinations to develop more abstracted interpretations, following the direction that feels most appropriate, with colour always being the leading consideration. Have fun with exercises that encourage both chance and choice, see how you respond to different colour juxtapositions using collage and paint, and choose your own outcomes for further exploration. You might create a series of small collages or paintings, or choose to work on larger mixed media pieces.
Throughout the course, draw inspiration from the rich and vibrant colour palettes of artists such as Paul Klee, Georgia O’Keeffe and Barbara Rae amongst others, and focus on nurturing play to discover and develop your own response to colour.
Who is this course for?
Beginners and experienced artists are welcome. This course is suitable for anyone interested in exploring colour, its effects on other colours and the relationships between colours, from an intuitive perspective, rather than academic/theoretical one.
There will be some walking and exploring outside (weather permitting), but not very far, or very steep, within close range of the School of Painting.
What will I learn?
1. Loosen your approach to colour and find new ways of incorporating it into your own practice, regardless of your skill level
2. Gain increased confidence in using colour and responding intuitively to the world around you through colour
3. Develop a deeper interest and awareness of your personal response to colour
4. Stimulate and inspire your journey to record your own unique colour stories through different mediums such as paint and mixed media
5. Explore and learn from how other artists use colour in their work.
Taught by
What to Bring
Our studios are fully equipped and we provide you with all the materials you need for your course. However, if you have a favourite set of brushes or any specialist materials that you would prefer to use, please bring them with you.
Timings and Breaks
The first day starts at 10am and finishes at 4.30pm, please aim to arrive ten to fifteen minutes before the start time.
All course days after that start at 9.30am and finish at 4pm and there will be an hour for lunch. There are plenty of nearby places to eat and we will serve tea and coffee at break times during the day.
FAQs
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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