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 critique of your painting by the tutor when you sign up for an online session.)
After Randy’s icy scene, it’s time to go skating with Mike! Join us again on us on Thursday 15 December at 2.30pm (UK time, GMT) *for Mike Willdridge’s paintalong session on ‘joyous figures skating’. *Please note that the time is different from Randy’s session and please check the starting time in your own time zone. That’s Mike’s practice picture above. The scene is the winter ice rink outside Somerset House in London, England..
Register for Mike’s session here
This session is about drawing lots of figures in an enclosed, Winter setting. Mike says: “The similarity with a RS Lowry painting (although this is a somewhat more joyous scene) is, to me anyway, quite obvious. I think that, however well or not the figures are drawn, the joyous atmosphere of the scene is important and any standard of drawing should work”. He adds: “It might be a good idea to look at some of Lowry’s painting … for inspiration”.
Please come prepared for this session with a completed drawing (further figures can easily be added at the early stages of the painting) – draw in pencil or an ink pen. Mike will be using a soft pencil on 300 gsm/140 lb cotton rag (NOT) watercolour paper.
Once you have registered you will be provided with a full list of materials, the source photo, and tips on how to do the drawing.
Mike says: “In this session, amongst other matters, we’ll be looking at how to mix cool and warm colours, how to soften the background buildings and, of course, how to paint, simply lots of happy figures, both static and moving.”
Unlike many online painting tutors, Mike will not expect you to ‘look over his shoulder’ for a long demonstration, and perhaps be allowed to ask the odd question or two. No, you will be painting along at more or less the same time, trying out the watercolour techniques that Mike has shown you, step-by-step. He will demonstrate some basic techniques for only a few minutes before you start painting the same subject at home. Then, after you have had your turn, Mike will move onto the next part of the process. Lois Breckon from The Watermill at Posara will be on hand during the session to feed your questions. The session will last two to three hours.
When you register for the session you will be asked for a donation. Some people ask how much this should be and so we suggest a minimum of £20 GBP. Our Zoom painting demonstrations do take quite a bit of time in preparation and administration and your support is very much appreciated. With your generosity we can plan and run further sessions and, more importantly, provide a regular meeting place for creativity, camaraderie and fun. We hope that you enjoy the international, online painting community that we have created.
Once you have registered you will be provided with two links. The first is the Zoom link for you to join the session
The second link is where you can download the source photo that Mike has chosen for you, his practice painting to show you where you are heading, a sample line sketch and tips on how to prepare it before the session, and a list of materials (including paper, paint and brushes) that he suggests you may need for the session.
After the event, you are invited to add your painting to the gallery. In addition, we will send you a link to a video within 48 hours of the end of the session, that will enable to you revisit Mike’s step-by-step teaching..
When you’ve enjoyed Mike’s online session, why not join him for the real thing, a week-long residential painting holiday at the Watermill itself? There are details and a link to Mike’s course below.
And don’t forget our special Early Bird offer: if you book any one of our 2023 creative courses before the end of this year, there is a £75 (English pounds) discount.
Mike Willdridge
9 – 16 September 2023 – one or two places available
Watercolours and drawing (also gouache and acrylics)
To learn more about Mike and his course at the mill, please visit his 2023 Tutor Profile Page.