Experienced tutor and Arborealist Fiona McIntyre ARE will guide you in a comprehensive course learning the art of drawing nature’s objects up close and personal, looking at still-life techniques and methods from a range of artists including Elizabeth Blackadder and Henri Matisse.

During this 12 week course you will be learning some foundational drawing/painting techniques that help you to measure, compose and colour mix with a variety of materials such as pencil, charcoal, coloured chalks, inks, watercolour and natural pigments from the artist’s studio. You will be focusing on small exquisite items collected from nature such as shells, seed pods, stones, leaves, flowers, mushrooms, fungi and students will be encouraged to bring in some of their favourite objects.

Weeks 1 & 2

You will begin with an introduction to the subject of still life and compositional devices and structures. The first exercise will be rapid intuitive drawing followed by drawing techniques to assist you in making accurate drawings and looking at perspective and ellipses. This will be followed by tonal values and how to apply this to create a sense of volume heightening shadow with the use of lighting effects.

Week 3

You will use coloured chalks to draw with and learn how to mix hues and tones to expand their range. Chalks can be layered and worked in a variety of ways to create texture and tonality. You will look at several artists and how they have used this medium effectively in their own work.

Week 4

Fiona will demonstration of the preparation of watercolour paint from earth pigments. Students will be able to mull their own paint and learn the process. The paints made can then be used in later sessions.

Weeks 5 & 6

You will learn colour mixing of standard water based paint working with a 6 colour palette of just three primaries to make warm and cool hues. Students will find that they can mix a great variety of hues. This exercise will lead to colour studies to develop a nuanced approach to observing colour. You will look more closely at water based techniques and how to work with natural and manufactured watercolours effectively. This includes which brushes to use, types of paper, and methods such as dry/wet, wet-in-wet, light to dark, splatter, colour bleeds/blooming, textural brushwork, layering, scumbling, lifting, salt, sponge, masking tape.

Weeks 7 & 8 

There will be an introduction to coloured inks including natural inks made by the tutor. Ink is a fantastic medium which can be used to draw and/or paint very effectively. You will be looking at a variety of techniques, including drawing with sticks, backs of brushes, hardened brushes, combs, sponges and a variety of items to make textural effects.

You will also be introduced to torn paper collage techniques which can be combined with ink drawings. Students will be encouraged to bring in photocopies of found textures and from their own drawings to tar up and work with.

Week 9 onwards

You will be encouraged to be more intuitive and experimental with mixed media. The first session will include rapid drawing exercises and then students can develop larger more finished drawings from a still-life of their choice, to be evolved over several sessions. 

MEET YOUR TUTOR

Fiona McIntyre was born in Kenya and brought up in Ireland and England. She is an experienced artist, tutor and speaker focusing on art/ecology/landscape and trees. As a tutor she believes passionately in the importance of drawing and understanding principles of colour and intuitive expression.

After graduating from Edinburgh College of Art with a BA Hons in Drawing and Painting she moved to Sweden for seven years to learn the language and practice at studios in Malmo, and studied printmaking at Grafiskskolan Forum under the influential Surrealist artist Bertil Lundberg. Her education culminated in an MA at Winchester School of Art studios in Barcelona.

Tutor: Fiona McIntyre
Date & Time: Thursdays, 1:30pm - 4:30pm
Venue: Brush Studio, New Brewery Arts
PRICE: £340.00 (£0.00 VAT)

12-weeks

First Class: Thursday 1st May
No Class: Thursday 29th May
Last Class: Thursday 24th July

Please note that this workshop is for those aged 18 and over.

You are welcome to bring a lidded bottle of water with you but we kindly ask that you do not bring food into the studio.

Refreshments are available at our on-site café Blend until 4pm.

For more information:
Visit our FAQ page

Who is this course for?

All levels of ability are welcome as we will cover the basics and then become more experimental.

What you will need:

• You will be supplied with brushes but if you wish to bring your own then please supply size 6, 8 and 10

• Please bring an apron or wear clothes you are happy to paint in.

• You may go outside for your class, please wear appropriate footwear and bring a chair. You will be informed ahead of the class if you will be outside.

Please take all work home by the end of your course.