Capturing the immediacy of the world is the essence of this course. With sketchbooks in hand, you’ll be taking short walks in the South Downs, keeping your eyes peeled and your minds open to every imaginable source of inspiration: strong landscape compositions, striding walkers, fleeting wildlife, village scenes, dramatic cloudscapes and the ever-absorbing abstract patterns of the earth’s rich textures.

This is about learning to see as an artist. Wherever your interests lie (colour, texture, line, tone), whatever your medium (painting, printmaking, textiles, photography, ceramics), whatever your approach (representational, abstract, interpretive, expressionistic, stylistic), you will always find a rich source of inspiration in the world around you if you have an open, receptive and enquiring mind. This course is largely about trying out your responses to outdoor scenes, but does include some time to develop these back in the studio. It aims to provide inspiration if you are a beginner, intermediate or advanced student, in the form of springboards for your future, rather than finished, completed work.

You will gain confidence in the art of lively, expressive responses, extend your drawing and painting skills, learn to work on the move with a compact, portable kit to suit your style while revitalising your senses in the autumn light and special beauty of Britain’s newest National Park. Some optional, unsupervised evening projects may be suggested. Your tutor will bring a number of books for inspiration, as well as some original work of her own to share.

By the end of the course, you will know how to distil and frame your subject, lead the eye around your focal point and combine the organic, geometric and abstract into a convincing whole, using your sketchbook as a creative tool to form a personal and invaluable visual encyclopaedia to develop your ideas further.

Arrival Day - this is the first date listed above

Courses start early evening. Residential students to arrive from 4pm, non-residential students to arrive by 6.45pm.

6.45pm: Welcome, followed by dinner (included).

8 - 9pm: First teaching session, attendance is essential.

Daily timetable

Classes 9.15 - 5pm, lunch is included.

From 6.30pm: Dinner (included for residential students).

Evening working - students may have access to workshops until 9pm, but only with their tutor's permission and provided any health and safety guidelines are observed.

Last day

Classes 9.15am - 3pm, lunch is included.

Residential students are to vacate their rooms by 10am please.

(This timetable is for courses of more than one day in length. The tutor may make slight variations)

Included

• Included in the course fee are some materials shared amongst the group. Your tutor will also bring a variety of sketching tools and materials to discuss and try out.

What students need to bring

• A rucksack containing drawing/painting materials of your choice in a waterproof plastic bag
• You are also advised to bring comfortable, waterproof footwear, weatherproof jacket with hood, separate hat with a brim (or visor), sunglasses and an umbrella.
• A camera is useful for later, secondary reference.
• Painting overall for studio work
• A few colour magazines of any kind that you no longer need
• Any of the following items you may have:
• A sketchbook of good quality cartridge paper in any preferred size that is comfortable to carry (spiral-bound with a rigid back is practical)
• If using watercolour paints, please also bring a sketchbook containing watercolour paper
• Lightweight folding chairs are available to borrow if required, and basic studio equipment

Available to buy

• Available from shop:
• A good variety of art materials, including sketchbooks, paper, drawing materials, painting materials and watercolour paints, etc.

Additional information

If you wish to speak to the tutor in advance to discuss any aspect of the course, please let the bookings office know at: [email protected] who will forward your details to the tutor. Please wear appropriate clothing/aprons for the workshop or studio. This includes stout covered footwear, i.e. no open-toes or sandals.