Whether you would like to draw and paint detailed botanical illustrations or whether you would prefer to create more stylised compositions, the versatility of ink and wash techniques will allow you to work in your chosen style. You will be able to experiment with pens of various types and sizes, as well as try various watercolour techniques. The resulting work can be kept as colour studies, be used as references for more elaborate paintings or be finished works combining the strength of an ink line with the colourful looseness of wet-on-wet watercolour washes. This technique is also very useful if you like to work in the field.

During the course, you will develop your skills in wet-in-wet watercolour techniques, learn about composition, botanical drawing, tone and shadows, planning a painting, colours and colour mixing. You will also learn how to combine the accuracy of a pen line with the looseness of wet-in-wet washes, and how to paint colour sketches for future reference.

You will start working on cartridge paper, drawing and painting ink and wash studies. As the course progresses, you will have the choice between continuing to work on studies or moving on to work on heavy watercolour paper, producing finished ink and watercolour pieces. You will work on your paintings, supported by demonstrations of techniques and advice about materials from your tutor. You will also have individual advice and feedback throughout the course.

By the end of the course, you will:

• Understand the different characteristics of working studies and finished pieces
• Gain theoretical knowledge, as well as practice
• Be able to apply the skills learned to produce better paintings
• Improve the identification of colours and be able to reproduce them
• Gain a stronger understanding of paints and colour-mixing
• Produce several finished colour sketches

Included

Subjects to paint from the gardens

What students need to bring

• Cotton cloth for dabbing brushes and any materials you may have from the list below:
• Pens of various widths (pens with nibs and a bottle of ink and/or felt tips) – waterproof and lightfast
• Cartridge paper or sketchbook
• Tracing paper and, if you have any, transfer paper
• Watercolour paints (anything you have, as your tutor will talk about colour during the course, but please no cadmiums as they are opaque and toxic)
• Watercolour brushes, preferably synthetics, in a range of sizes from 0 – 8
• Watercolour paper of at least 300gsm, in Hot Pressed finish. 450 gsm or 640 gsm is even better, and will be available to buy by the quarter sheet on the course.
• Palette(s)
• Rubber, putty rubber and pencils (your usual drawing materials)

Available to buy

Available from shop:

• A good variety of art materials, including pens of various widths, pens with nibs, bottles of ink, waterproof felt tip pens, cartridge paper, sketchbooks, tracing paper, watercolour paints, watercolour brushes - preferably synthetics, in a range of sizes from 0 – 8, palettes, rubber, putty rubbers and pencils

Available from tutor:

• Tracedown transfer paper, heavy watercolour paper, some paints and some pens

Additional information

Please wear appropriate clothing/aprons for the workshop or studio, this includes stout covered footwear (no sandals or open toes).

Arrival day
Residential students can arrive from 4pm, non-residential students to arrive by 6.45pm for registration
6.45pm: Welcome, followed by dinner (included)
8 - 9pm: First teaching session, attendance is essential

Daily timetable
Course teaching 9.15am - 5pm (lunch included)
Dinner: from 6.30pm (included for residential students)
Evening working: students may have access to workshops until 9pm, but only with permission from the tutor and provided any health and safety guidelines are observed

Departure day
Course teaching: 9.15am - 3pm (lunch included)
Residential students will need to check out of rooms by 10am

Please note, the tutor may make slight variations to the daily timetable as required

Terms & Conditions