Our Village Art School classes with Mike McDonald concentrate on landscape watercolour painting and sketching. Local moorland and seascape painting is our focus. The class is a mixed one of absolute beginners through to more confident painters. No previous artistic experience or skill is required.
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.
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.
When and Where
2-4pm on Thursdays at the Longdown 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 is 5 weeks only.
Full details of class term dates are available on the Village Art website.
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.
Contact
For further information please contact Mike McDonald on 01626 891245 or visit mikemcdonald.co.uk.
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!