A few days ago, I made a blog featuring a painting of an olive tree by Watermill tutor Mike Willdridge. This prompted Mike to write: “Olive trees, with their dark, gnarled and twisted trunks, are a favourite subject of mine – here’s a double page spread from a sketchbook using ink and watercolour.†There it is above, not just a simple representation, but a sketch that captures the ‘essence’ of olive trees: ancient, hardy, silent witnesses of the march of time…
Mike carries a sketchbook with him wherever he goes, and he will encourage you to do the same on his week-long courses at the Watermill this September. He tells me: “I’ve always valued my sketchbook drawings as a visual diary. Reminding me, not only to the subject before me, but also to the ‘atmosphere’ surrounding it.â€
Mike has been a highly popular tutor at the Watermill, visiting us many times: here are just a few more of the sketches he has made over the years:
Of course, you will not just the sketching, but making some exciting watercolour (and gouache) paintings en plein air in the wonderful scenery that surrounds the Watermill. Here are a few of Mike’s:
Previous guests have described Mike’s weeks as wonderful, stimulating, perfect, delightful, to name but a few. We would love you to join him this year and add your own superlatives.
Mike will be with us from 3 September to 10 September AND 17 September to 24 September for two more painting weeks. He works in a wide range of media and is an enthusiastic and energetic tutor, encouraging his students to be bold and to take chances. His classes are always light-hearted and fun, with the ‘teaching’ tailored to individual needs. He will concentrate on watercolours but is also happy to help with gouache and acrylics too.
.Mike Willdridge 1 – fully booked, waiting list open
3 – 10 September 2022
Watercolours and drawing (also gouache and acrylics, with a special emphasis on drawing on location.)
To learn more about Mike and his courses at the mill, please visit his 2022 Profile Page.
Mike Willdridge 2 – a few places available
17 – 24 September 2022
Watercolours and drawing (also gouache and acrylics, with a special emphasis on drawing on location.)
To learn more about Mike and his courses at the mill, please visit his 2022 Profile Page.
Why not come and join us and enjoy a spectacular setting, warm hospitality, delicious food, the convivial company of like-minded people – and, of course, inspiring tuition from Mike. (But we will leave it to you to make the superlatives!)
And don’t forget you will be Cool and Green at the Watermill: all our bedrooms and public rooms, including the studio, are air-conditioned, powered by our hidden array of photovoltaic cells which make us self-sufficient in electricity.