Mark-making towards abstraction
This course is designed for beginners, right up to the more experienced painter. A unique 2 day workshop which will challenge you to paint from your heart, exploring how a place feels rather than just from what you see and then translating that into the marks you make.
There will be many demonstrations of different techniques and creative tasks for you to explore fun and exciting possibilities within your work.
On the first day you will learn alternative ways to sketch which will remove some of the control. This aims to challenge you, pushing for freer ways of working and more confident mark making. No mark you make is ever ‘wrong’ and people who feel they are ‘bad drawers’ (like I did once) are very welcome. There are also many people who come on this course who are competent drawers but feel they are restricting themselves and want their sketches to inform more abstract/ semi abstract work.
We often visit Allen Bank National Trust in Grasmere on the first day, which is a wonderful place to sketch with lots of inspiration both inside and outside the building.
On the second day we move to a studio space in Kendal at The Factory where we can further focus on the sketches gathered from day 1. Again this day is structured and will be filled with demonstrations and exercises to develop your skills.
At the end of the two days you will leave with a collection of studies and paintings which maybe finished or may need further work on them. You will understand more about taking risks, breaking rules, deleting, layering paint over paint and how the process of making a painting can be like riding a rollercoaster. It will be exciting and challenging, but most of all, fun.
* DURING COVID TIMES WE ARE CURRENTLY UNABLE TO VISIT ALLEN BANK BUT ARE SPENDING TWO DAYS AT THE STUDIO IN KENDAL WITH ONLY 4 STUDENTS MAXIMUM AND SOCIAL DISTANCING IN OPERATION*
Price - £150
(2 days, 10am - 4pm)
To find out about upcoming dates, please email or visit the contact page to find out how to get in touch.
There is a £50 deposit to reserve your place which is non refundable unless your place can be filled by another student or the course is cancelled for whatever reason (including COVID restrictions).
WHAT PEOPLE SAY
BARBARA
DINAH
EILEEN
I had such a fun, stimulating time on Annie’s painting course and am left amazed at the volume of interesting creative work we achieved during our 2 days together. Annie’s style of teaching is gentle, focussed and encouraging. She led us very naturally from making playful marks in the comfort of our sketch books to energetically experimenting with a mix of media on large sheets of paper—all in response to the visually rich setting of Allen Bank. The course has helped to boost my belief in my creativity and reminded me how satisfying it is to paint expressively with courage and freedom.
Big thanks Annie for these valuable gifts.
Thank you for a fabulous workshop, Annie. I have come home feeling energised and inspired. Your advice and gentle nudging was just what I needed to feel confident to continue independently with a great framework on which to hang future work. I love the mark-making that you lead us through and the unexpected results are always a thrill. I'll be back for more!
I've worked with Annie on many occasions and just find she creates the most wonderfully enjoyable, stress-free atmosphere that somehow allows work to blossom. She gives really supportive, thoughtful feedback tailored to the individual - never a one-size fits all response. Warmly recommended as a tutor.