Upcoming Workshops

This is an inspiring 2 day course for all abilities to try a portrait for the first time or improve on your existing portrait painting skills. Mark will demonstrate and guide you through his well-structured approach to painting a portrait, breaking it down into easy to follow steps. He will cover everything from his choice of materials and colour palette, and setting up, to colour-mixing, and how tone and colour temperature can be used to describe structure, shape and form.

Gouache is the most versatile of all paint media yet relatively unknown and consequently under-used. Gouache is water-based, being like thick opaque watercolour enabling artists to paint in any style. No previous experience is needed for this workshop which will include using gouache as watercolour initially, then thicker applications for over-painting. Any mistakes can easily be rectified due to the high covering strength of gouache. Following a step-by-step format, Jeremy will demonstrate each stage of painting before you do it yourself. Students will learn to mix the correct colours and deal with any associated problems before moving onto the next stage. There will be plenty of opportunity for questions and answers as Jeremy guides you through the creative process.

This workshop covers many well-known watercolour techniques and some unusual ones which help to create an appealing atmosphere within a painting. Using a limited palette of colours Jeremy will guide you in easy stages step-by-step, demonstrating each process of painting before you do it yourself. We build each stage, including mixing the correct colours, dealing with any associated problems before moving onto the next stage. There will be plenty of opportunity for questions and answers as Jeremy guides you through the creative process.

With his irrepressible energy and imagination, Glyn will demonstrate how to capture the ever-changing English coast with bold colour, expressive mark-making and texture. This workshop will begin with an introduction to Glyn’s unique style of painting, followed by a demonstration of techniques which you will then put into practice. Students will be encouraged to produce their own work using the techniques discussed which include the basics of composition, tone, colour and movement, as well as how to add mixed media elements such as layering collage to create texture and energy.

Through expressive brushstrokes and strong colour, you will learn how to get the best out of the medium of acrylics. Practical demonstrations will provide helpful hints and tips, followed by one to one tuition throughout the day. This workshop is ideal for those who are looking to loosen up their painting style as well as those who are new to acrylics. Photographic reference will be provided on the day but feel free to bring your own personal photos.

This is an informative acrylic painting workshop, for those who are interested in colours and mark-making. Learn how to use large brushes and develop a bold approach to painting. You will paint a variety of subjects with less emphasis on obsessive drawing. Demonstrations and one to one guidance will be provided, and the course is suitable for anyone with an open mind. Photographic reference will be provided on the day but feel free to bring your own photos. There will…

Paint bold, loose watercolours using fabulous colour and expressive brush strokes. Jake will use his expertise to guide you through painting two pictures painting. You will learn mark making techniques such as wet in wet, dry brush.

This workshop, lead by award-winning artist and author Kevin Scully, will show you how produce a painting that is neither wholly realistic, nor completely abstract. Students will discover the enigmatic area of painting where the subject matter is recognisable, but the elements contained within it have been implied rather than defined, leaving the eye to fill in the missing detail.

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.

Jenny Aitken is an award-winning painter known for her sparkling seas and coastal light. As a seasoned tutor her passion for painting is well known, as is her encouraging and informative teaching style. This two-day workshop is suitable for beginners to regular painters who would learn how to construct a painting in order to best tell the visual story - how to begin and methodically work through to a successful conclusion.

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.

Try the free-flowing technique of cascading paint with experienced artist,  Catherine Beale. This is a different approach to wet-in-wet watercolours that involves experimenting with painting on a tilt.

Using pre-wetted watercolour board you will learn how to create an impressionistic landscape reflected in still lake waters, while looking closely at shapes and boundaries within your composition. Your award-winning tutor will also explain the benefits of painting this way, such as brilliant colours and atmospheric mark-making. 

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.

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.

Colin Allbrook is a new Tutor at Truro Arts and we are very excited to welcome such an established painter! This workshop is aimed at those who have some experience with watercolours, although if you are a keen beginner you are more than welcome. Working in watercolour you will aim to create atmospheric paintings using a diverse range of techniques. Colin will begin by using his sketchbooks to produce demonstration piece while sharing useful hints and tips.  Students will learn how practice studies can be used to guide the creative process and achieve a finished painting.

In this workshop students will work on how to look objectively at the face, removing barriers of presumption and foreknowledge. You will draw from a model, starting with simple shapes to build up the form of the face, drawing on the use of construction lines. Hester will show you how to use devices that aid measuring distances and angles, and work to get an accurate structure. Students will then learn about tone, which will add volume and life to the work. This observation-based approach is the best way to get a likeness in your portrait drawing, and can be applied to subjects such as life drawings and still life, improving your drawing in general. The class is suitable for any level of ability, whether you are a complete beginner or just looking to hone your technique and improve certain aspects of your discipline.

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 your choice of his paintings or use his style to paint an image of your own.

This workshop is a guide to making an oil painting in the studio. You will look at how best to gather source material, then how to get started on a final painting. After a brief demonstration, students will begin their own painting. We will look at how one might begin on a ‘blank canvas’, how to build up a work paying attention to tone and colour, how to spot problems along the way and some possible finishing touches. This ‘alla prima’ approach will mean that you hopefully go home with a finished oil painting at the end of the day.

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!