This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Course details
This is a test course – please do not book
Test course – please do not book
Gallery
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.
What will I learn?
1. Loosen your approach to capturing the landscape around you.
2. Work more intuitively – trust the process!
3. Learn to create abstract paintings inspired by your direct environment.
4. How to find ways into painting when you have a creative block.
How does an online session work?
We record the sessions so you can watch on demand, as often as you like, for up to 60 days after purchase. This way you can pause a scene, rewind and finish your painting.
You will be invited to join our Facebook Alumni group so you can share your discoveries with fellow students from around the world. You can also share your work live with others on social media using the #schoolofpainting and tagging us @stives painting
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 to Bring
A list of materials will be available to see in your account at least four weeks in advance of the live class. If there are any pre-course tasks to complete before the session they can be found here too.
You will need access to the internet and ideally a PC, laptop or a tablet with audio. Phones are not really suitable to watch a webinar on, unless you can cast to your Smart TV, as the presenter will be hard to see when they share their screen with you .
Timings and Breaks
Live broadcast, 4:30pm, Thursday 23rd February (1.5 hours)
During the session please pose questions to the artist using the chat function.
You can revisit as often as you like for up to 60 days after the start of the course via the same links as the live events.
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.
You might also like...
Sunday Kids Art Club - Discovering Colour
Sun 23 Mar 2025 - 2 hour(s)
Victoria Gillow
In our studio overlooking the sea, get inspired playing with colour with artist Victoria Gillow.
Seabed, Cove + Coast
Kitty Hillier
Enjoy creating dynamic reliefs inspired by the landscape around you in this four-part online course.
Framing the Landscape (Recording)
Maxine Hart
Enjoy creating dynamic landscape paintings from photographs in this new three-part series with artist Maxine Hart.
Abstraction - A Closer Look
Liz Hough
Over 3 sessions, Liz takes you through common questions asked on her previous courses: finding your own, unique content; form versus line; and scaling up.
Calendrical Art - An Introduction
Kate Southworth
A chance to find out more about our year long 'Calendrical Art' course, creating in tune with the seasons. This is a taster session so you can decide if you would like to join the full year long course.
Seascape Impressions in Watercolour
Mon 7 - Thu 10 Jul 2025 - 4 days
David Webb
Explore unique techniques of watercolour and how it can be used to portray the atmosphere of sea, sky and coast in an impressionistic style.
The Realistic Portrait
Mon 27 - Thu 30 Jan 2025 - 4 days
Emily Roberts
How do you paint realistic portraits with great accuracy and detail? One way is to use the classical sight size technique, a technique used by famous artists such as Singer Sargent and Velazquez, aligning the model to the canvas and transferring the image across.