Name of group
Villages Art School landscape watercolour and sketching.
Contact
Mike McDonald: Telephone 01626 891245. Website: mikemcdonald.co.uk. Details of all classes and summer painting days and residential from the website.
When and where
2-4pm on Thursdays at the Village Hall. Classes are in 10 week blocks roughly coinciding with school terms. Classes do not run during school holidays, including half term weeks. The summer term (see below) is 5 weeks only.
2019 classes start on January 10th. The summer term begins May 2ndand the Autumn term on October 3rd.
Content/Description
The class concentrates on landscape watercolour painting and sketching. Local moorland and seascape painting is a focus. Each class begins with a demonstration of technique by Mike. Students are then encouraged to practice the technique themselves whilst Mike circulates offering advice and encouragement . Extra tuition is given to new students. Students can work on their own projects if preferred.
Fees
£70 per ten week course. Over 60’s and unwaged £67. The 5 week summer term costs £48 (over 60’s/unwaged £45). You can try one session as a taster, free, to see if the class is what you want.
Materials/equipment
Students should bring their own materials. A basic starter set would be: a drawing pencil (6B or similar), drawing paper, watercolour paper, water receptacle (jam jar is fine), watercolour paintbrushes (2 or 3 of varying thickness with pointed brush), watercolour paints – a blue (ultramarine), a yellow and a red. Mike will advise on further materials as the course develops. All materials are readily available from art shops, The Range and Trago mills.
Level
The class is a mixed one of absolute beginners through to more confident painters. No previous artistic experience or skill is required.
Comments from participants
Mike is a skilled, encouraging and kind teacher who always seems to know just what you can do to improve your artwork. The classes are relaxed and friendly, with lots of variety of content throughout the year. Mike’s demonstrations make you feel you can achieve something creditable and I like the focus on the type of landscapes we have on our doorstep. The Longdown class is particularly useful because the car parking is so generous!