Friday 4th and Saturday 5th April

10.30am until 4pm both days

Venue: The Memorial Hall, Hook Norton, Oxfordshire, UK

There is this point in the creation of an abstract landscape where we begin to move away from our source material and towards our own internal responses but, when artists talk about intuitive painting, what exactly do they mean?

It’s all very well to be told to use colours and marks instinctively but when we have knowledge of compositional theory, the effects of contrast and difference, and how colours interact with each other, we can use this information to make better ‘intuitive’ decisions and create lively and original paintings that sing and excite. First, we respond to the landscape and to our idea and then we respond to the outcome, using a set of flexible guidelines that lead us towards a spontaneous but thoughtful outcome.

In this workshop I will take you through a process that will help you to let go of your perception of how a painting should be created to make a series of abstract landscapes on paper. Working across a series means that you can work quickly, switching from one to the other when you become too focussed and tight. You become less precious about your work and more curious about which brush does what and how colours and marks work together.

Our aims during this workshop will be to lose the horizon line altogether and explore simplification by using bold brushwork and soft transitions. We will experiment with how much we can abbreviate the landscape whilst retaining a sense of place and of our intention.

Places are limited to ten.

In this workshop you will get:

All materials including paint, heavyweight cartridge paper and board, dry media and access to mark making tools

Detailed handouts on all demos and exercises as well as information on colour theory, the principles of contrast and how we create focus and movement in our work

Demonstrations on how to abstract and interpret a landscape

Exercises that we help you to tap into your inner motivation for painting and observe what you want to express

Instruction and demonstrations on how to mix a limited colour palette

Tea, coffee and cake

Lots of lively discussion and laughter!

About the venue

Hook Norton memorial hall is situated in the village of Hook Norton on Chapel Street. Hook Norton is in North Oxfordshire right on the boundary of the Cotswolds. There is limited on street parking available but further parking can be found on the High Street and on the Sibford Road. Please allow yourself plenty of time to find somewhere to park. The postcode for your sat nav is OX15 5JT

What’s included and what to bring

Materials are included in the fee but you may want to bring your own brushes and a sketchbook for making notes and putting down ideas.

Refreshments including tea, coffee andcakes/biscuits will be available on both days and there are plenty of pubs in the village for lunch or you can bring your own.