Another wonderful course recently, working with a group of eight artists in Port Isaac. As you can see from the gallery above, each artist responded in a highly individualistic way to the landscape and light of Cornwall in the three different locations we worked from: Port Isaac, Bude and Trebarwith Strand.
We met up early on Wednesday in Trebarwith Strand. The weather was glorious for our morning drawing session where we were both recording the dramatic landscape, and looking for ideas for painting. After lunch at the Port William Inn, we headed to Bude, with its distinctive meeting of sea, river and canal. As the tide came in, the yellows were replaced by blues, the sea-pool almost covered, reduced to a fragile line.
After setting up the studio on Thursday morning, we set out for our drawing session around Port Isaac, getting to know our subject. Piers and water, rooftops and flowers, narrow passages and panoramic vistas - all became subjects for our paintings.
The afternoon session began with a talk and demonstration followed by our first group exercise. The next few days were devoted to painting, responding to drawings and memory, both analytically and intuitively. There were further demonstrations and group exercises, with plenty of one-to-one tuition, discussing ideas and options for pushing the paintings forward.
Springtime flowers...
The studio in Port Isaac Village Hall, is only a five minute walk to the harbour, and the artists were encouraged to re-look and re-draw to feed into their paintings. There was a great creative atmosphere and work-ethic in the studio, with the artists taking full advantage of the opportunity to make, talk and think abour art in a concentated period of time in a wonderful setting.
View from the studio...
The weather remained glorious during the week, great for drying the paintings and working outdoors in the garden. Yellows and blues seemed to domonate the work - I wonder why!
In the studio
As always, we finished the course with a group critique, looking at two paintings by each artist, inspired by our three locations. We hope to some of the paintings in our 'Cornwall, Colour & Coast' exhibition in Henley in October!
ARTISTS COMMENTS:
So glad I took a leap and landed in such an inspiring and enabling environment. Thank-you Ashley and Denise, can't wait to return! Barbara Meredith
Ashley was wonderfully generous with his time and gave equal commitment to support all artists individually in their work. Wonderful working in a shared studio to enjoy the enthusiasm and companionship of fellow artists. Marion Owen
For me this has been a specially good course and really helpful. Ashley takes great pains to help you discover and uncover what you are trying to do. Erica Shipley
Very helpful. Lots of teaching, ideas and input from Ashley. Exceptional input and help given. Karen Martin