Turner was a frequent guest at Petworth, returning year after year, enjoying the beauty of its landscape and taking the time to observe, consider and record the great country estate. Two of the great works created by Turner of Petworth Park can easily be compared to the real thing with just a glance through the windows of the Carved Room out into the park. As part of the course, you will view the new Turner exhibition with a tour by the curator. You will spend the first full day at Petworth, observing, considering and recording its landscape and Turners paintings for yourself. Our studio there will be our base for demonstrations of techniques for using charcoal and photography to record your observations to bring back to the studio at West Dean. Well cover the types of charcoal, erasers, drawing cloths and papers you'll be using.
Across the course of three days, you will gradually build your confidence with the materials and move towards working independently, developing your skills in using charcoal to represent landscape from photographs and from life. Your tutor will show you her original drawings and sketchbooks to illustrate the techniques demonstrated and speak of her studio practice, and how she incorporates the influence of other artists work into her own.
By the end of the course, you can expect to have developed an understanding of, and confidence with, charcoal to represent landscape in evocative and experimental ways. You will have produced a series of quick studies and more resolved drawings of differing sizes and gained an understanding of how to work up a finished piece.
On the first evening, there will be demonstrations of the materials and an explanation of the relationship of Turner to Petworth House. Friday will be spent at Petworth House (you will be transported from West Dean to Petworth in the mini-bus), Saturday and Sunday will be in the studio at West Dean college. You will be taking photographs at Petworth with your smart phone or tablet. These will be used as source material during your course. You will need to send these images via WhatsApp to the tutor who will then print them for you. Please practice sending images this way, before the course.
Included
On this course, the College will supply most of the materials, including: compressed charcoal, natural charcoal, drawing cloth, plastic eraser, non-toxic fixative, fixative, masking tape and some paper.
What students need to bring
- Smart-phone or tablet
- Cutlery knife, not sharp
- Large soft bristle brush, make-up brush or shaving brush works well
- Apron or similar
- Outdoor clothes and appropriate shoes
Available to buy
Available from shop:
A good variety of drawing materials and papers to experiment with, sketchbooks (A6 and A5 Seawhites Echo preferred by your tutor, though not essential to the course), Natural Wildwood charcoal in field maple and wild clematis, subject to availability. Please be aware that in the event of an extreme weather forecast, such as high winds, there may be changes to the course content as necessary.
The College will provide transport for the visit to Petworth House.
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
