Overview of Art Courses in 2008

NICK TIDNAM

Nick is a very versatile artist. He is equally at home in oils, acrylics and watercolours. Nick has taught life drawing, print-making, graphic design and fine art. He enjoys the effect of light, the poetry of a place and the way nothing is quite what it first seems. Nick has published an excellent book, “Oils and Acrylics”, packed with practical information and used as a reference book for foundation courses.

It is planned to spend two of the days during this week walking and sketching. The walks will be on recognized footpaths and will not be strenuous, but will enable students to get away from the roadsides and explore some of the wilder places of this inspiring area. The sketches made on these outings will then be used for making into finished paintings.

If you would like to come on Nick's course but do not wish to walk you will be shown local places of interest to paint or sketch or choose your own. These days will be used by everyone as information gathering days and those not walking will not need to feel left out from Nick's teaching.

Students will be encouraged to work in different media — charcoal, pencil, pen & ink, watercolour, acrylics, even biro and sharpened sticks dipped in ink.

more about Nick Tidnam

BETTINA SCHROEDER

Let it flow—discover your potential in watercolour,
5-day course
Saturday 28^th June — Friday 4^th July 2008

Bettina’s courses are designed for both experienced painters and beginners. The emphasis is on learning how to capture the initial excitement on first spotting a subject, without getting too bogged down in technicalities. Daily demonstrations in or outdoors, are tailored to the particular needs of every student and to help with general painting problems e.g. recession of colour in landscape, colour density of distance and foreground, “negative painting” etc. Above all Bettina’s course aims to enhance the pleasure of painting whilst improving skills.

Bettina is a London based artist and a very experienced art teacher. She runs courses in Scotland, Morocco, Tuscany and Sicily amongst other locations. Bettina works in watercolours, oils and other media. She divides her time between landscape painting in the summer and figure painting in her London studio during the winter. Her work is regularly exhibited throughout Britain and Europe—most recently in Zurich, Berlin and London.

more about Bettina Schroeder

DAVID TRESS

Building Blocks of Landscape Paintings,
5-day course
Saturday 20^th — Friday 26^th September 2008

Building Blocks of Landscape Painting David uses a variety of media including water-based mixed media, oils, charcoal, graphite and acrylics. He works by observing the landscape and absorbing the feelings and emotions that it creates in him. Not only is David a painter to inspire the observer he is atutor who inspires the student. This course will deal with space/perspective, light, tone and colour and with more personal and expressive responses to landscape.

David is recommended as an artist for students to study. His work has recently been exhibited at The National Library of Wales and the Boundary Gallery, London. This course will deal with space/perspective, light, tone and colour and with more personal and expressive responses to landscape.

more about David Tress

FRANCES HATCH

Working on Location using water based media and drawing tools,
5-day course
Saturday 18^th — Friday 24^th October 2008

Frances has long enjoyed the challenge of seeking to communicate, through painted and drawn marks, sensations experienced in the landscape. The varied and very beautiful environment will provide a multitude of visual treats for the group — and a good deal of time will be spent working outside. Frances will suggest ways of observing and recording our experiences bymaking marks in a variety of ways. We will be working economically to obtain lively and immediate images. There will be opportunity to work locally around Loch Kishorn as well as short expeditions in to the surrounding landscape.

more about Frances Hatch