Cost: Please contact Flatford Mill field Studies Centre
We are
very pleased to be tutoring these two courses at the Flatford Mill Field Studies Centre.
Flatford Mill is on the River Stour close
to the Suffolk-Essex border. The Centre buildings, particularly the Mill and Willy Lott's House, are instantly recognisable since
they feature in many paintings by John Constable. The teaching room provides excellent facilities and the surrounding area provides
an enormous amount of opportunity for finding suitable subject matter!
Our aim for the course is to inspire students to explore
the potential of both watercolour and themselves to the full. We love this incredibly versatile medium, finding it exciting,
challenging and surprising, and love to pass our enthusiasm for it on to our students.
We have chosen a deliberately ambiguous
title for these courses. Beginners may well want to learn how to make watercolour 'work' ; more experienced painters may have realised
that with the correct techniques and skill it is almost possible to get a watercolour to 'paint itself' ~ it can feel as though the
paint is doing all the work! Beyond that, does the medium itself capture your creativity and inspire you to paint?
Through a
series of innovative exercises and demonstrations you will be encouraged to explore the medium in new and exciting ways. Because
we strongly believe that an artist produces their best work when inspired by their subject matter, we will then encourage you to apply
your new found skills to subject matter of your choice. You may choose to explore the wonderful environment in which we are working,
or to bring along reference material you have gathered previously. Within the restrictions imposed by a group environment we are able
to adjust our teaching to individual needs. Everyone is able to work at their own pace. More experienced painters will be encouraged
to try new techniques and to consolidate those they already have. Beginners we hope to inspire with an enthusiasm for a very explorative approach
to watercolour based on gaining techniques and learning how to apply them appropriately.
With this in mind it is very iimportant that
each student brings along some of their previous work for us to judge their starting point at the beginning of the course. Even if
you are new to watercolour it is useful to see any work you may have produced in another medium. If this is the first time you
have painted since leaving school, don't worry ~ we are happy to get you going!
Our teaching methods are such that if you would
like to take advantage of our knowledge and enthusiasm for a whole week it will be perfectly possible for you to stay on for the second
of the two courses without any fear of repetition. There is so much to learn that even then you may not want to go home!
Whatever
you perceive your standard of painting to be, we are confident that we can help you to get more from your watercolour painting. We
have a lot of fun teaching. The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly and it gives us a real buzz when we someone achieve more than
they had thought possible, and to share in their delight. But be warned - we're told our enthusiasm for watercolour is infectious.
You might find it difficult to put your brushes away!
Booking is strictly through Flatford Mill Field Studies Centre.
However, if you would like more information about the course(s) before booking we are happy to take enquiries regarding the course
content and our teaching methods.
Flatford Mill Field Studies Centre
Flatford Mill Field Centre,East Bergholt,Suffolk,CO7 6UL
Tel: 0845 330 7368