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Course details
Join artist Kate Southworth for this Ithell Colquhoun-inspired recording. See how living and working in the sacred sites and magical landscapes of west Cornwall shaped Colquhoun’s diverse practice.
Follow in artist Ithell Colquhoun’s footsteps and learn how her interests in magic, folklore, the occult and the unconscious inspired the symbolism and narratives of her paintings. Taking inspiration from Colquhoun’s detailed and intuitive paintings, artist Kate Southworth demonstrates how to translate Colquhoun’s techniques and approaches in your own painting.
This new series of online classes, ‘Postcards from …’ will use the places in and around St Ives that inspired an international roster of artists including Wilhelmina Barns-Graham, Ben Nicholson, Christopher Wood, Alfred Wallis, Bryan Wynter and Patrick Heron.
Focusing in particular on sites which captured these artists’ imagination, Postcards from… will take you on a creative journey to the famous spots around St Ives including its harbour, Porthmeor Beach and its cobbled, winding streets, lined with stone fishermen’s houses. Using films of these familiar landscapes, led by one of our experienced tutors, this series will transport you to these inspiring St Ives locations, wherever you are in the world.
Colquhoun moved to Cornwall in the late 1940s. Here, she combined her interests in automatism and the esoteric with an engagement with the magical landscapes and stone circles around Cornwall. Known as a haven for British artists in the 20th Century, Cornwall remained Colquhoun’s home and inspiration. Although often identified as a Surrealist, Colquhoun largely followed her own path and was interested in a variety of movements, styles and ideas.
On this webinar, Kate takes you through her own engagement with Colquhoun’s work and life. Looking at her painting, Dance of the Nine Opals (1942), learn about the painting’s history and different readings. Then, inspired by Colquhoun’s own approach to image-making, Kate shows you various techniques including parsemarge – using charcoal powder sprinkled on the surface of water and dragging paper beneath the surface to make experimental marks – and decalcomania.
See how using Colquhoun’s unique and experimental approaches to capturing the landscape of Cornwall can be adopted wherever you are in the world. Liberating your approach, work in a variety of mediums and come away with a series of Colquhoun-inspired ideas and techniques you can integrate into your own painting practice.
What will I learn?
- Learn to work more freely and intuitively.
- Enjoy playing with form, shape and colour.
- Learn new ways of capturing the landscape around you, wherever you are in the world!
Who would this course suit?
Beginners and those with more experience are both welcome to join. If you are looking to learn new ways to expand your drawing and painting practice, or just inspiration by looking to other artists, this course is for you.
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 will also be invited to join our Facebook Alumni group so you can share your discoveries with our community of fellow students from around the world.
You will need access to the internet and ideally a Smart TV, PC or laptop or a tablet with audio. Phones are not suitable unless cast to a smart TV.
Taught by
What our students say
I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed this rich and insightful webinar. Kate was a fantastically engaging presenter. I loved her talk on Ithell Colquhoun and how she really brought to life her connection with the spirit world and energies contained in the landscape. The demonstrations were wonderful – and so clearly developed and easy to follow. I have had so much fun playing with these techniques in the studio.
Ideas are already sparking and I’m looking forward to incorporating some lunar consciousness in my work.
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.