Upcoming Workshops

A set of PEBEO mediums worth £9.95 is included in the price of this workshop. Fiona Burn will show you a range of techniques and ‘tricks of the trade’ using Pebeo’s Fantasy Moon and Prisme special effect paints to obtain incredible effects. This workshop uses solvent-based paints, modelling paste, stencils & foil to create contemporary abstract canvases.

Jonathan will use Derwent coloured pencils to show his process of creating highly detailed drawings that capture the beauty and spirit of wildlife. He will draw fur, eyes, noses, ears, and demonstrate other techniques such as layering, blending, texturing and colour mixing. This is an ideal introduction for those who would like to learn more about the varied skills and techniques associated with Derwent coloured pencils. By the end of the demo you will have picked up some tips and tricks that will aid your own creative practice at home. There will also be an opportunity to ask Jonathan questions about his work, the techniques he uses and ask advice on Derwent pencils.

Use small natural objects to focus in on detail and learn the steps to create a small but perfectly formed piece of botanical art. Laura will explain just how and why botanical illustration has been so important historically in documenting plants, and why it remains such a vibrant art form today. This workshop aims to introduce you to techniques you can use or adapt in your own work and is suitable for beginners, improvers looking to ‘tighten up’ or those wishing to try a new technique.

This workshop will cover composition, colour, brushwork and depth, with special emphasis on movement and atmosphere. Learn how to construct a painting in order to best tell the visual story, how to begin it and methodically work through to a successful conclusion. The day begins with an initial half hour colour demo, using Daler Rowney acrylics. Students will then paint a small tonal study in black and white. It’s a great warm-up to the day! This will focus on brushwork and the variation of tone to achieve a credible sense of water and atmosphere in a painting. The rest of the time will be spent on larger colour painting(s). You will look at the structure and reflective nature of waves, still water and foam, and how to achieve the illusion of moving water and light through paint.

Extend the expressive power of your watercolours by adding ink line to your composition to create an attractively illustrative painting. Your personable tutor Catherine will explain the benefits of this technique, looking closely at shape and considering boundaries within compositions. You will drip loose wet-in-wet colour over an under-drawing and bring it all together with strategies of reviewing your work. *Some experience of watercolour painting Is required for this workshop.

This workshop with talented visiting artist Yana Trevail will cover A Tonal Approach to Painting, a method that uses simple still life and self-portrait exercises to develop a clear understanding of tone, by deconstructing what you see into a basic visual grammar of form and colour, dark and light. Using acrylic or oil, students engage with the technique through monochrome exercises painted from direct observation. It’s a process that accommodates the needs and interests of the individual and can be applied to landscape, still life or portraits, and abstract work, according to the preference of the student. The method is really all about how to see without preconceptions and how to efficiently translate the 3D world onto a 2D surface.

John will demonstrate, in watercolour, how to create realistic paintings of animals and birds. Working from photographs he will describe the techniques required to depict both fur and feather, and to produce a successful animal portrait. Students will produce a head study in pencil, then aim to complete two paintings including a head study of a dog and a bird study. John will provide one-to-one instruction on ho to achieve a realistic result.

In this workshop John will show how to depict a street scene and a harbour scene, using a quick and loose watercolour technique. He will talk a little about linear and aerial perspective and how to create a good composition. Each student will receive some one-to-one tuition during the day and those who paint at a faster speed can practice new brush techniques and exercises. By the end of the workshop you will have created both a street and harbour painting.

Back again due to popular demand, Stephie will show you in this workshop how to paint wildlife in watercolour full of colour with an impressionistic feel, making your works unique. The workshop will focus on the face of the animal and how to portray feelings and emotions in your subject. There will be a mixture of ongoing demonstrating and one-to-one attention that will focus on the face and how to portray feelings and emotion in a subject. You will be encouraged to develop your own style, to learn how to paint with instinct alongside technique, to simplify drawings prior to painting to enable a looser style, to paint with colour that deviates away from the norm. Most of all, you’ll have fun and come away inspired to paint more!

Back again due to popular demand, and this time for a 2 day workshop! Stephie will show you in this workshop how to paint portraits in watercolour that are full of colour with an impressionistic feel, making your works unique. There will be a mixture of ongoing demonstrating and one-to-one attention that will focus on the face and how to portray feelings and emotion in a subject. You will be encouraged to develop your own style, to learn how to paint with instinct alongside technique, to simplify drawings prior to painting to enable a looser style, to paint with colour that deviates away from the norm. Most of all, you’ll have fun and come away inspired to paint more!

We are very pleased to announce our first two day workshop at Truro Arts, giving students the time and opportunity to really develop their ideas and skills. This studio-based workshop will be an introduction to painting with watercolour in a loose, impressionistic and bold style. Subjects covered will include coastal scenery, skies, trees, foliage, and more. You will look at how light, composition and simplification are key in achieving atmosphere and a sense of place. Core techniques of watercolour will be covered, including the use of hard & soft edges, tonal control and variation in brushwork, to create paintings that have energy and impact.

With his irrepressible energy and imagination, Glyn will demonstrate how to capture the warm sun and cool shadow of a sunset as it transforms the Cornish coast. During the day, you will create exploratory studies before working towards a finished artwork that is full of life and personality. Demonstrations and one-to-one tuition throughout will help you use acrylic paints in unusual, creative, and surprising ways to create inviting sunsets that capture the essence of place with confidence. Glyn is a great communicator and very personable in character; his workshops are always hugely popular.

Joe uses a palette knife and incorporates loose flowing strokes of vibrant colour to create his distinctive impasto paintings on canvas. He will commence the workshop with a demonstration where you will get a feel for his technique; you will then be led through the various stages of creating a painting in his style. Joe will encourage you to open up and become comfortable creating your piece using a palette knife and a range of striking, vibrant colours.

Learn how to paint incredible skies with guidance from new tutor and Diana Brooks Award winner, Georgina Potter. This workshop is best suited for those who have previously used oil paints and both amateur and professional painters are very welcome. After careful explanation and hands-on demonstation, students will produce one small fast painting within an hour using Georgie's methods and techniques. After lunch you will have the opportunity to work on several small boards, while receiving one-to-one support to help you develop an individual style.

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND AFTER A SELL-OUT! Learn the basics of calligraphy from professional artist Becky Thorns, who’s playful style is often centred around carefully crafted lettering. You may have seen her work in the form of signage for businesses around town or maybe on the cover of MyCornwall! Becky’s workshop includes all materials and will focus on the technique of brush lettering and during the day, you will learn the fundamental principles, from how to correctly use the pen, to laying out a final piece. Having worked on strokes, letter forms and embellishments you will have the skills to produce a beautiful final piece to take home!

This workshop is a fun, right-brain stimulating exploration of the style and techniques of Vincent van Gogh and is open to all levels of artist from professional to complete beginner. You will look at some reproductions of van Gogh’s works and Sarah will demonstrate some of his techniques before you either create your own version of his painting or use his style to paint an image of your own. You may like to bring a reference photo to work from if you would prefer to create an original painting.