Artists & Illustrators — June 2017

Paint the Norfolk

coast in oils

CAPTURE THE COAST

“Plein air isn’t about sitting

outside, grimly determined to

paint whatever the weather, but

is an essential part of the

creative process,” says Norfolk

Painting School’s course director

Martin Kinnear. “The central aim

of plein air is to gain inspiration

by seeing and experiencing a

location under various weather

and light conditions.”

A specialist oil painting school,

its location on the North Norfolk

coast makes it a wonderful

venue for outdoor painting, with

residential plein air courses set

over fi ve days using a range of

stimuli, from bustling harbours to

brooding salt marshes. Tuition is

based on the methods of the

masters, and mixes

location work and

time in the studio.

http://www.norfolkpainting

school.com

ART IN

THE OPEN

All levels are welcome

at the 10th annual Art

in the Open festival in

South-East Ireland,

which is renowned for

DELVE INTO

CREATIVITY IN DEVON

“Painting outside can seem a

daunting experience at fi rst,”

says Coombe Farm Studios tutor

Paul Riley. “You are subject to

other people’s curiosity, faced

with potential weather changes

and your own sense of

inadequacy. However, once

nature starts to reveal all her

hidden secrets, you will fi nd

yourself in another world – a

world of wonder and surprise.”

Coombe Farm Studios’

courses make the most of its

location in a designated area of

outstanding natural beauty, from

painting in the Provençal-style

courtyard to the banks of the

River Dart or on Dartmoor

National Park. A year-round plein

air programme includes oils,

acrylics, watercolour and mixed

media for interested beginners

through to professionals.

http://www.coombefarmstudios.com

CORNISH CHARM

“There’s no doubt having the

dramatic West Cornwall coastline

on our doorstep has helped

encourage students to keep

coming back,” says director of

its friendly, relaxed atmosphere.

Tutor Ned Muellers says: “Art in

the Open is one of the greatest

plein air events I have been in –

and, at 75, I have been in many.

There are places to paint, great

people to paint with, and a lot of

fun eating and drinking in all the

great restaurants and pubs.”

The week-long festival attracts

some of the world’s best outdoor

painters and takes place at

various locations around County

Wexford, South-East Ireland.

Expect demonstrations and

workshops led by international

artists, culminating in an

exhibition of participants’ work.

Art in the Open runs from

30 July to 7 August 2017.

http://www.artintheopen.org

Newlyn School of Art, Henry

Garfi t. Set in the heart of the

artistic colony of Newlyn, the

school has grown to provide a

huge number of outdoor

landscape painting courses. New

outdoor courses for 2017

include a fi ve-day Turner

watercolour and oil course with

Hannah Woodman, Paul Lewin

and Gareth Edwards, as well as a

four-day Cornish landscapes oil

course with Maggie O’Brien.

http://www.newlynartschool.co.uk

GIVE IT A GO

IN YORKSHIRE

In the late 19th and early 20th

centuries British Impressionists

fl ocked to Staithes, and the

North Sea light, towering cliffs

and moody seas continue to

attract artists. If you, too, want to

capture the light, Staithes Art

School offers residential painting

weekends. David Curtis, who is

running the watercolours and oils

weekend in September, urges all

painters to give plein air a go.

“Your visual response might be

challenging, but all the better for

that vibrant creative experience.”

http://www.staithesgallery.co.uk/

staithes-art-school

LONDON

•Plein air isn’t only about the countryside,

so let the capital lure you with Pintar Rapido

(www.pintarrapido.com), a competition and

festival on 29 and 30 July celebrating art and

the cityscape. For teaching, try the Essential

School of Painting (www.theessentialschool

ofpainting.com), which offers outdoor

courses in the big city.

WALES

•If Norfolk’s the wrong side of the country, or

you just prefer to paint mountains, try Norfolk

Painting School’s (www.norfolkpainting

school.com) new outpost on Anglesey in

North Wales, where it offers plein air courses

during which you can tackle the beautiful

views towards the stunning Snowdonia

National Park.

FURTHER AFIELD

•For those who want a taste of adventure –

or some sun – with their painting challenges,

Painting Holidays (www.paintingholidays.com.

au) offers trips to Japan, Vietnam and

Cambodia, while Costa and Clark (www.

artinthealgarve.com) will whisk you off to the

Algarve and Dalvaro (www.dalvaro.co.uk) has

courses all around Spain.

TAKE OUTDOOR PAINTING CLASSES WHEREVER YOU ARE

Discover Devon’s

dramatic landscape

Tackle the craggy

charms of West Cornwall

Visit Art in the Open

in South-East Ireland

Explore the North

Sea light in Staithes

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