LEARNING FROM THE LANDSCAPE - SIX FUNDAMENTAL SUBJECTS FOR WATERCOLOUR PAINTERS
6 Day Retreat - 1st to 7th February 2025


 

Painting the landscape in winter just seems to be the perfect activity for the watercolour painter; the delicate, transparent quality of the medium and the soft seasonal light combine to create wonderful opportunities for studying the landscape and how to paint it. We will be working outdoors on location, observing, sketching and also working in the studio to design and create compelling paintings.

 

Olly will help you to establish a workflow from initial inspiration through to completed paintings, that you can rely on to produce quality work that is original, authentic and expresses your experience of the landscape. Olly will work with you to help you create paintings of the scenes that inspire you, rather than providing a follow-me approach, while demonstrating skills and techniques through his own work. In this course, we will cover the following subject areas:

 

• Finding Inspiration

• The Importance of Sketching and Landscape Looking

• Scene Analysis and Composition Planning

• Creating Depth in Your Work

• Creative Use of Colour and Tone

• Simplification and Managing Detail

• Developing skilful brushstrokes

• Watercolour Strategy - Wash Sequences and Managing Edges

 

 

The success of the course is not weather-reliant; the content will be woven into a program of painting and sketching, on location and in the studio, at the beautiful Mill at Fine Creek near the James River in Virginia where Olly will continually be available to provide you with one-to-one advice and guidance.  It will be impossible not to be inspired by the stunning landscapes, and combined with the welcoming luxury of our accommodation at The Mill, we couldn’t imagine a more perfect environment for enjoying both craft and company.
 

Prices are from $3,200 per person, to include:-
- 6 nights' stay in your private cottage at The Mill at Fine Creek
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner for the duration of the stay at The Mill (including the restaurant at the family-run Fine Creek Brewery.)
- Group and individual tuition from Oliver

Your travel to the Mill is not included in the price.
Painting equipment is not included in the price, but Oliver will provide a recommended equipment list ahead of the retreat.