Mike Willdridge returns to a Mediterranean beach for the next of his interactive online sessions with the Watermill, on 21 March. His subject is two women lying under the shade of a giant beach umbrella and his theme is choosing what to leave out for a picture that is better composed and more interesting. That’s […]
Making a feminist point in paint, more than 450 years ago.
Here’s an interesting picture. It’s a self-portrait by the remarkable 16th century painter Sofonisba Anguissola. She certainly painted all the picture, including herself, but it is of a man (her teacher Bernardino Campi), painting her. And in this highly unusual picture, painted in 1559, she was making a feminist point. For Sofonisba was a woman […]
From cold March winds to warm summer sunshine for the last of the Watermill’s current season of online sessions.
The 50 or painters who took part in Randy Hale’s interactive online painting yesterday were no doubt glad that they were painting in the warmth of their own homes, because the subject was a chilly scene featuring a roaring March wind and swirling snow. After the session, as usual, some of the participants sent their […]
The Florence Magnolia welcomes spring and other stories. The Watermill March newsletter is just out…
…with lots more stories, including two heartwarming tales from Hollywood, why there are a billion fewer plastic bottles in the ocean, what Shakespeare knew about knitting, the perils of pronunciation, and of course, all the latest news on Watermill creative courses. Read All About It, by clicking here,
The vine verandah: the convivial heart of a Watermill creative course
Randy Hale has just sent us this wonderful watercolour of the mill seen from the walled garden, with the vine verandah and its green umbrellas in the foreground. He calls the painting Contemplating Aperitivi, and I think it celebrates one of the distinctive features of a Watermill creative course. For it is here, as the […]
Places suddenly available for Louisa’s celebrated knitting course
Oh dear! We have just had not one, but four, cancellations for Louisa Harding’s celebrated Knitting and La Bella Vita week at the Watermill this May. Due to family illness, four friends who were coming together can no longer make it. It’s the way of the world, of course, and we are sorry for our […]
Food is another creative passion for the Italians and the Watermill
When the cacio e pepe arrived in a local trattoria, my friend Max tasted it and asked the waitress: “Is there cream in this?” When the waitress said that there was, Max said: “Take it away, please!” And they did, with little or no demur. Max, like many Italians, is passionate about food. He’s also […]
Enjoy the cold March wind and the warmth of Randy’s online tuition
Yes, you’ll be glad of the warmth of your own home for Randy Hale‘s next interactive, online session with the Watermill, which features a roaring March wind and swirling snow that chills you to the bone. The cold of his subject will also be relieved by thewarmth of Randy’s teaching. Here’s his practice painting: Painting along […]
We’ve helped to prevent a billion plastic bottles from polluting our oceans. Thank you
Yes, the tremendous news this week is that one of the ‘watery’ charities that the Watermill supports, Ocean Bottle, has just reached a major milestone in its fight against ocean-bound plastic pollution. We are proud to have made our own (very small) contribution, aided by all the guests on our creative courses. Ocean bottle announced: […]
Let the March wind blow cold as you paint along warmly with Randy
Yes, as Lois says in the video above, you will be glad of the warmth of your own home for Randy Hale‘s next interactive, online session with the Watermill, which features a roaring March wind and swirling snow that chills you to the bone. Here’s Randy’s practice painting: Painting along in comfort, you will be […]