There is a fascinating story in our latest Watermill newsletter (just out: you can read by clicking here) about how women helped the war effort in two world wars by knitting socks and other items of clothing for their men far fom home. It was a vital role, not only for the comfort it provided, but also as a genuine life saver. Our story, courtesy of an article in The Guardian newspaper is about Continue Reading
Patriotic knitting and rude advice from Hemingway — all in the Watermill’s vibrant December newsletter
As well as urging you to be an Early Bird and book now to save money on one of next year’s creative courses, we also have stories on: Seasonal subjects for our next online interactive painting sessionsEvocative watercolour of the marble workers of CarraraNon-Participating Partners have fun too!The Watermill riverside: another inspiring painting locationCapture happy memories from the joyous Continue Reading
Have you ever seen your artistic doppelgänger?
The Germans have a word for it: doppelgänger, expressing the concept that everyone, somewhere in the world, has someone who looks just like them. My favourite online art magazine DailyArt.com had a fun article this week on doppelgängers and art: famous people who look just like painted portraits of other people. That’s Maggie Smith above, with her lookalike Lady in blue by Paul Cézanne. And Continue Reading
After Randy’s Arctic ice, come skating with us in the heart of London as you paint along live online with Mike
It pays to be an Earl Bird. See below. As usual, great fun was had by all who participated in Randy Hale’s interactive online session, and painted the chilly thrills of crumbling Arctic ice. And, as usual, I’ve made a little montage, entirely at random, of half-a-dozen of the pictures sent in by our participants to their exclusive online Gallery. (You get to post in the Gallery and have a Continue Reading
As the holiday rush gathers pace, contemplate a calm creative week at the Watermill
It pays to be an Early Bird (see below). It’s going to be a hectic few weeks as around the world we gather to celebrate our winter festivals (or in the southern hemisphere, I suppose, summer festivals with, for example, Christmas pudding on an Australian beach). Wherever you’re celebrating, it’s time to take a few monents off to book your holiday on one of the Watermill’s renowned creative Continue Reading
Come and hear the story of Belinda’s picture
It pays to be an Early Bird (see below). The wall plaque in the charming watercolour above by Watermill painting tutor Belinda Biggs gazed pensively at her every day on the terrace of a house where she once stayed. Belinda says: “I painted her then added some local wildlife and flowers to make the finished painting. I ended up writing a story about it, which I am continuing to illustrate at Continue Reading
Make the Watermill Italian language course one of the highlights of YOUR life
It pays to be an Early Bird – see below We have just had a lovely comment on Trip Advisor about our Italian Language course at the Watermill, for which many thanks. ‘Chammik’ says: “ I went on an Italian Language week. My bedroom was spotless and so comfortable. The water in the shower was always hot. The food was delicious. We were taken to one or two other venues for meals and to a gourmet Continue Reading
It’s raining men today, courtesy of René Magritte
We always try to give you something a little different in our weekend Watermill blogs, usually a quirky piece of art history. And what could be quirkier than René Magritte’s surreal pictures? The online magazine DailyArt often supplies inspiration and has done so again today with its intriguing photo-article on 15 of René’s curious productions, like the raining men above. The author of Continue Reading
Book now for Georgia’s new knitting week at the Watermill
Bookings are coming in from the international knitting community for the extra week of Knitting and la Bella Vita we have opened up for the delightful Georgia Farrell after her initial week sold out. The new week runs from Saturday 29 April to Saturday 6 May 2023 and if you want to have your knitting inspired by Georgia and enjoy the convivial company of fellow passionate knitters now is the Continue Reading
More than 200 people are enjoying the warm anticipation of a 2023 Watermill creative course.
Yes, as I write, more than 200 people (207 to be precise) have already booked their place on one of the Watermill’s 2023 creative courses, in painting, creative writing, knitting or Italian language, and are enjoying the warm contemplation of a convivial creative week here next year. Thank you very much for the bookings, both to those have been before, some of them several times, and those coming Continue Reading