SPRING/SUMMER COURSES 2015

Venue – Old Schoolhouse Kinnegad Co. Westmeath

Date                                                  Medium – Oils/Acrylics                    2 Day Course

April Sat 11& Sun 12                       Painting a stormy sea                       € 120.00

A sense of movement and drama in this windswept panoramic coastal scene is created by the
sky and sea.
Cloud formations sweeping in from the Atlantic play a secondary role to the crashing waves and dramatic varied palette of colours of the ocean, which range from the deepest blue violets through turquoise and ultramarine to the palest silver greys.

This very exciting subject requires an unusual shaped canvas.

Our second demonstration explores the dramatic light effects when the sun breaks through the clouds and seems to amplify the colour and atmosphere of a beach subject.

This course will have instruction on:-
 Understanding and capturing movement in a coastal subject.
 Amplifying colour and light effects to enhance the mood of a painting.
 Understanding and painting waves, rocks and skies.
 Aerial and linear perspective for marine subjects.

Canvas/Board sizes 12in x 24in and 10in x 24in
Additional materials
Oil colours – any Violet & Cerulean blue

 

Date                                                Medium – Watercolour                  2 Day Course

April Sat 25 & Sun 26                   Colours of the sea                                 €120.00

Colour and colour interactions is the theme of this course

Emerald greens and muted blue-purple greys contrast with soft pinkish reds through this Connemara beach scene. The mood of this painting is soft, teeming with subtle colour and atmosphere.

The atmosphere is captured by using delicate glazes of Aureolin, Rose madder & French ultramarine.
This is pure watercolour where the white of the paper shines through creating jewel like colours in this calm elusive beach subject.

The second demonstration will further explore the use of glazes to capture the wonderful light effect and rainbows of colour on a beach near Cleggan.

This course will have instruction on:-
 Applying washes evenly and how to avoid the pitfalls.
 Building up subtle colours by overlapping selective glazes.
 Working into damp areas of colour to develop subtle details.
 Lifting back soft lights while areas are still damp.
 Implying rather than painting detail.

Watercolour paper – 300lbs Arches Not Pressed (if possible) OR
300 lbs Saunders Waterford Series Not Pressed **
also some sheets of cheap 140lbs watercolour paper
**Not Pressed is also referred to as Cold Pressed. The surface is somewhat textured and suitable for most subjects.

Additional watercolour materials
Rose madder genuine, brown madder, Aureolin & French ultramarine

Date                                                                 Medium                                        2 Day Course

May Sat 16 & Sun 17                                      Oils/Acrylics                                 €120.00

Title: Capturing light on flowers

Late summer sunshine flows through this subject catching and illuminating a group
of white Amaryllis Lilies in an old glasshouse. The composition is dramatic and
compelling with strong diagonal and vertical shapes. It is the flow of light that
really transforms this subject. The whites become full of subtle mother of pearl
like colours, ranging from the palest yellow whites tinged with ochre and
sienna to delicate blue and purple greys.

This subject is a joy to paint. To get the most from it we will begin the course by working on a tonal study to help develop an understanding of painting light. For this introductory study we will focus in on a section of the subject, exploring light and darks also warm and cool relationships.
The oil painting will focus on capturing light and amplifying subtle colour present in the white flowers in this lovely old glasshouse.

The course will cover:-
 Basic drawing techniques including simplifying shapes, gauging proportion and placement. Tips to help see the potential in everyday subjects.
 Identify the tone and temperature of each part of the subject, to create a sense of light – with reference to 9 step tonal scale.
 How to identify and paint the correct tone of each colour.
 How to create a pattern of light.
 See and paint subtle colours in white both in shadow and sunlit areas.
 Identify and paint a range of edges in this subject.

Extra materials:-
Acrylics – white, French ultramarine, burnt sienna, cadmium lemon, yellow ochre and crimson red.
Additional oil colours – cadmium lemon. (Indian red would be helpful but it is not necessary) plus your normal oil painting materials.

Canvas/Board size – 16in x 20in
1 sheet watercolour paper 140lbs not pressed.

 

Date                                              Medium – Oils/Acrylics                               2 Day Course

June Sat 13 & Sun 14                  A view through the trees                            €120.00

The light and shade on a foreground stand of silver birch combines with a view of a rugged West of Ireland late summer landscape, to visually describe the mood in this painting.

The colours are dominantly warm muted ochre/greens, siennas and purple blues.

The light patterns on the tree trunks creates both visual interest and allows the artist to explore ways of conveying the interesting textures and forms of the trees.
The light gently filters through the canopy of foliage, creating a shadowed foreground as the eye is guided through the vast landscape behind.

Our second demonstration further explores light on the bark of silver birch as they are viewed in late autumn sunshine against an open bog landscape.

This course will have instruction on:-
 The basics of painting and drawing trees.
 How to use light and shade to give form and make the tree more realistic.
 Ways to simplify trees yet convey a realistic interpretation.
 Understand trees and their shapes.
 The importance of trees for the landscape painter.
 How to convey the textures of the bark and foliage.

Canvas/Board sizes 16in x 20in and 12in x 16in
Additional materials

Oil colours – Brown madder & (Indian red – optional)

 

Date                                                             Medium                            2 Day Course

June Sat 27 & Sun 28                                  Watercolour                      €120.00

Title: Jewel like flowers in fluid loose backgrounds

Many otherwise successful flower paintings are lost because of a poorly painted, unsuitable or overworked background.

On this course we will explore some very enjoyable techniques including, pouring watercolour directly on to the paper to develop simple effective backgrounds. Building up layers of colour in this way creates fresh effects since the underneath washes are not disturbed. As each wash dries some definition is added using controlled brush strokes to imply details.

In our first subject pink water lilies, we will discover very interesting ways to convey the effect of water using this combination of techniques.

A group of Arum Lilies, in bright sunshine is our second demonstration. Using similar techniques the glowing whites of the flowers are contrasted with a fluid colourful background, which implies the presence of other flowers and avoid monotonous greens.

Watercolour paper – 300lbs Arches Not Pressed (if possible) OR
300 lbs Saunders Waterford Series Not Pressed **
also some sheets of cheap 140lbs watercolour paper
**Not Pressed is also referred to as Cold Pressed. The surface is somewhat textured and suitable for most subjects.

Additional watercolour materials
Brush – No. 6 round synthetic, extra paper and masking fluid

Note about environmentally friendly solvents for use in the Studio

To help maintain a pleasant working environment in the studio when painting in oils,
I would ask that everyone attending our oil painting courses use only environmentally friendly solvents. “Zest it” is available from Evans Art Supplies, Tel 01 8726855.
www.kmevans.com which can be used both for mixing with paints and cleaning brushes.

It is important to bring a basic set of acrylics (3 Primary – Red, Blue, Yellow also White & Burnt Sienna, 1 Flat Brush No. 6 or 8) as well as your standard oil painting materials on all the courses. See painting courses page of our website for the full list.

For many of the courses you will need to have at least two palette knives – one medium size and one small knife. These should have a very flexible blade.

Courses are only suitable for people who have some previous experience.

A booking deposit of 50.00euro is required to secure your place on any course.

Maximum No. 10 people. Time 10.00 a.m. – 5.00 p.m. Free parking.

The price includes Tuition and use of the Studio with Tea & Coffee

Contact: Ita Flood Tel: 044 9357417. Mobile 086 2002969
Email: [email protected]

This is a joint programme between the artist and the Arts Office of LWETB
Sponsored by Midland Arts at LWETB

 

WATERCOLOUR MATERIALS

Any of the following brands – Winsor & Newton- Schmincke – Sennelier or Maimeri

Blues                                       Winsor Blue green shade

French Ultramarine

Greens                                   Viridian

Olive Green (Optional)

Yellows                                   Indian Yellow (Optional)

Cadmium Yellow

Aureolin or Cadmium Lemon

Raw Sienna or (Yellow Ochre)

Cadmium Orange (Optional)

Browns                                   Raw Umber

Burnt Sienna

Reds                                       Cadmium Red or Vermilion

Alizarin Crimson or Rose Madder Genuine or

Rose Madder Lake (Sennelier)

Magenta

Light Red or Indian red (Optional)

Brushes

1 large flat brush for washes 1”,½” flat brush also¼” flat brush

2” Sky Brush is also very useful (optional)

I also use a 1” Filbert (optional)

Round Brushes

14, 10, 8, 4, 2 (No. 20 optional)

Acrylic brushes are generally not suitable for watercolour painting I normally use either sable brushes or sable synthetic mix but good quality synthetic brushes can be used.

Masking Fluid

A large white plate or ceramic palette

Selection of pencils 6B, 4B, 2B.

Sketch pad  12” x 16”

Plywood Drawing Board

Kitchen Roll

3 Jam Jar

I strongly recommend buying Artist quality watercolour paper

300 lbs. Arches Not Pressed** or Rough or

300 lbs. Saunders Waterford Series Not Pressed** or Rough.

140 lbs. Artist quality watercolour paper can be satisfactory if it is stretched before attending the course, for this you will need gummed backed tape.

It would also be helpful to have some sheets of student quality 140lbs watercolour paper

**Not Pressed is also referred to as Cold Pressed.  The surface is somewhat textured and suitable for most subjects.

LIST OF MATERIALS FOR OIL PAINTING

For beginners we have marked the essential colours with an asterisk  *. 

Although it is not essential  I recommend artists quality in all the materials.

* Titanium white 120ml tube

* Cadmium yellow

* Cadmium lemon

Cadmium Orange (Optional)

* Yellow Ochre

Naples Yellow

Raw Sienna

* French Ultramarine

* Prussian Blue  (Cerulean Blue)

* Cadmium Red

* Alizarin crimson

Magenta

Light Red

Alizarin Violet (or Cobalt Violet)

*Viridian

Raw Umber

*Brunt Sienna

* Burnt umber

Brushes Filbert -  Artists quality Hog  (Brand – da Vinci Maestro 2)

Filbert  2, 4, 6, 8

Round 2, 4, 6, (8 optional)

2 Palette Knives (Small & Medium – with flexible blade)

Selection of canvases or  canvas boards

“Zest it”  Solvent**  + 3 Jam Jars

Refined Linseed Oil

Large wooden palette + dipper

Sketching material charcoal  +  sketchpad

Cloths for cleaning brushes

** Note about environmentally friendly solvents for use in the Studio

To help maintain a pleasant working environment in the studio when painting in oils,

I would ask that everyone  attending our oil painting courses use only  environmentally friendly solvents.

“Zest it” is available from Evans Art Supplies,

5/6 Meeting House Lane, St. Mary’s Abbey, just off Capel Street, Dublin .

Tel 01 8726855. www.kmevans.com  which can be used both for mixing with paints and cleaning brushes.

Please enquire for details when booking.

It is important to bring a basic set of acrylics (3 Primary – Red, Blue, Yellow also White & Burnt Sienna, 1 Flat Brush No. 6 or 8)  as well as your standard oil painting materials on all the courses.