Ref: S3D36623
Capturing the immediacy of the world is the essence of this course. With sketchbooks in hand, youll be taking short walks in the South Downs, keeping your eyes peeled and your minds open to every imaginable source of inspiration: strong landscape compositions, striding walkers, fleeting wildlife, village scenes, dramatic cloudscapes and the ever-absorbing abstract patterns of the earths rich textures.
This is about learning to see as an artist. Wherever your interests lie (colour, texture, line, tone), whatever your medium (painting, printmaking, textiles, photography, ceramics), whatever your approach (representational, abstract, interpretive, expressionistic, stylistic), you will always find a rich source of inspiration in the world around you if you have an open, receptive and enquiring mind. This course is largely about trying out your responses to outdoor scenes, but does include some time to develop these back in the studio. It aims to provide inspiration if you are a beginner, intermediate or advanced student, in the form of springboards for your future, rather than finished, completed work.
You will gain confidence in the art of lively, expressive responses, extend your drawing and painting skills, learn to work on the move with a compact, portable kit to suit your style while revitalising your senses in the autumn light and special beauty of Britains newest National Park. Some optional, unsupervised evening projects may be suggested. Your tutor will bring a number of books for inspiration, as well as some original work of her own to share.
By the end of the course, you will know how to distil and frame your subject, lead the eye around your focal point and combine the organic, geometric and abstract into a convincing whole, using your sketchbook as a creative tool to form a personal and invaluable visual encyclopaedia to develop your ideas further.
Included in the course fee are some materials shared amongst the group. Your tutor will also bring a variety of sketching tools and materials to discuss and try out.
Available from shop: A good variety of art materials, including sketchbooks, paper, drawing materials, painting materials and watercolour paints, etc.
Your tutor likes to have a chat with students on the telephone prior to the course. This gives her the opportunity to find out about any special interests or focus areas you have, to tell you a bit more about the course and to answer any questions you may have. Your email and phone number will be passed on to her. If you would prefer the tutor not to contact you, please let the Bookings office know.
Please wear appropriate clothing/aprons for the workshop or studio. This includes stout covered footwear, i.e. no open-toes or sandals.
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
Teaching at West Dean since 2005, Maxine works across drawing, painting, printmaking, bookmaking and mixed media. Exhibits widely, runs a 3-floor gallery of her work in Gloucestershire, included in public and private collections around the world. Trained in London at Camberwell and the Slade. An elected member of the Royal West of England Academy.
Residential option available. Find out accommodation costs and how to book here.
Take the next step in your creative practice, with foundation level to Masters in Fine Art study.
Depending on your experience, start with an Online Foundation Certificate in Art and Design (one year, part-time), a Foundation Diploma in Art and Design made up of 10 short courses taken over two years (part-time) or advance your learning with our BA (Hons) Art and Contemporary Craft: Materials, Making, and Place (six years part-time). All will help you develop core skills, find direction in your practice and build an impressive portfolio in preparation for artist opportunities or higher-level study. See all degree and diploma courses.
