It is worthwhile being an Early Bird. See below
From time to time our Watermill painting tutors send us tips to help you to make your paintings even better. And there is another bonus of this tip by Belinda Biggs: you can eat it! Or rather, you can eat its subject . Belinda says: “These delicious cherries were from an enormous tree in the garden in Umbria. Who can resist the challenge to get a lovely shine on their subject?â€
Belinda will be with us next summer for her first visit to the Watermill (details and a link below). So, what’s the secret of making the painting of these cherries look good enough to eat to eat?
Belinda says: “I placed them on a very white surface in the sun to get the good, reflected light. Using my watercolours I used a combination of permanent rose, quinacridone magenta and Winsor blue. I Iay the colours down separately for depth of colour (rather than mixing) to achieve the finished result.â€
She adds: “A simple composition for everyday objects…….which we later ate for dessert.â€
You will enjoy delicious food at the Watermill during Belinda’s week and I’m sure will be able to muster up some cherries, as well as fresh vegetables from the garden and produce from local suppliers. And, of course, you’ll enjoy a laid-back painting week with irresistible subjects, warm hospitality, a beautiful setting and the company of like-minded people.
As Belinda will be with us for the first time next June, we can’t show you any of her local pictures of course, but here are some exuberant flowers in an alleyway in a village in Umbria. When she was asked why she painted this picturesque alleyway,  Belinda replied: “It was just asking to be painted – that’s all!â€
Just like Belinda, you’ll will find plenty of irresistible subjects (including flower-covered alleyways) in the unspoiled countryside of Lunigiana, which surrounds the mill. For starters, how about an ancient castle, market day in a walled mediaeval town, a tranquil convent and a thousand-year-old hilltop village with stunning views of the  Apuan Alps?
Belinda Biggs has gained international recognition for her prize-winning illustrations of the natural world and her works are treasured in private and public collections worldwide. When she is tutoring painting holidays, however, she says: “I like to encourage my students to create in a more laid-back style, using pen and wash, watercolour graphite pencil or coloured pencil.â€
Belinda will be with us from Saturday 8 July until Saturday 15 July 2023 and she says: “In this picturesque part of Tuscany we will paint and draw everything from everyday objects to the beautiful scenery.†A comment from one of her previous students: “I find Belinda to be an excellent teacher who is very generous in sharing her wealth of expertise. She is always kind, patient and encouraging. I am blessed to spend time with her and continue to be inspired by her incredible works.â€
***Don’t forget you will be Cool and Green at the Watermill: all our public rooms (including the studio) and all our bedrooms are air-conditioned, powered by our hidden array of photovoltaic panels, which make us self-sufficient in electricity.
We have a special Early Bird offer: if you book before 31 December 2022, there is a £75 (English pounds) discount on Belinda’s 2023 course.
Belinda Biggs
8-15 July 2023
Watercolours
To learn more about Belinda and her course at the mill, please visit her 2023 Tutor Profile page.