“The staff, both at Richmond Office and in Resort really cared we had a good time.”
S & J Pratt, Alpe d’Huez, February 2012

Rotating Image Gallery © DavidTurner.info

Watercolour Painting

Led by the friendly and talented Melanie Cooper

Following the success of the last few year's Painting courses, we are pleased announce our weeks for 2012:

Turkey - Monday 18 June

Samos - Thursday 20 September


"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end." Ecclesiastes 3:11 


The inspirational colour and scenery of Richmond resorts provides the perfect setting in which to learn how to paint or to brush up on rusty skills. Seasoned Picassos, too, will enjoy this fun and relaxing course. With five 3-hour sessions over the 7-day week, covering colour and palette basics to composition and application, there is something for everyone.

COURSE CONTENTPainting Samos
This friendly, hands-on course covers:

  • Understanding your palette
  • Colour
  • Composition
  • Sketching basics
  • How to stretch paper
  • Washes
  • Wet-in-wet and other techniques
  • Textures
  • Brushes

Subject matter will vary between still life, landscapes and architecture – or whatever you'd like to paint! So come and enjoy a peaceful and relaxing break, developing your painting skills while aking in the local colour and stunning landscapes. 
While the week is primarily aimed at people wanting to paint with watercolour, other media (acrylics, oils, pastels, pen and wash) are also welcome.

COURSE SCHEDULE
The course generally consists of five three-hour sessions over the week (only one session on a given day so you're free to enjoy your holiday!), including at least one opportunity to paint on location. Times and durations are flexible to work around arrival/departure days and, where possible, any planned excursions for other guests - allowing you to get the most out of your week should you want to. Please note, painters are of course free to go on any coinciding excursions but this will mean missing the day's instruction. The course often includes Saturdays and/or Sunday afternoons - worth noting if you're planning on hiring a car during your holiday. Times and places will be regularly added to the Richmond Information Board in resort.

COURSE COST
The cost is just £35.00 for the week. This can be paid before you go or once you arrive at resort. You may like to budget for coffees/snacks/lunches on any days when the group is away from the hotel. There may also be extra cost for group transport, but this will be kept to a minimum.

ABOUT MEL

MelC
Talented Richmond designer, Mel, is primarily a freelance graphic designer for print and web (www.mellowdesign.co.uk) as well as a tutor in various fields. With a degree in art history and painting practice, she has a passion for all things creative. 

For more information on this and previous Richmond courses see her blog: www.paintingcourses.blogspot.com.

Mel has been a Christian for approximately 20 years and is actively involved in her local church as a member of the worship team, prayer ministry team and core leadership team, running an informal once-a-month pub social 'Hub in the Pub' for people in and out of the church to meet together.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS (important - please read)
Painting materials are not supplied. Painters will need to bring their own equipment and supplies (apart from water!). See below for a list of suggested items to bring. It seems extensive, but hopefully it will help you out! Travel light if possible, but it's entirely up to you!

Paints
I recommend the 'Winsor & Newton - Cotman Water Colour 12 Half Pan Sketchers' Pocket Box' which retails around £10.00 (Amazon.co.uk are selling them new for around £7.00). W.H. Smith also sell them, if not your local art shop. Cotman paints are Student quality and are perfectly adequate for beginners and improvers. Artist's quality are much more expensive. Tube colours are an alternative but may cause problems for starters.

Painting-Paints

This box of paints contains the 12 colours which most artists use. i.e. Lemon yellow, Cadmium yellow, Alizarin Crimson, Cadmium Red, Ultramarine Blue, Cobalt Blue, Sap Green, Viridian Green, Yellow Ochre, Burnt Sienna, Burnt Umber, (and Chinese White). White is rarely used/needed as it 'muddies' the colours. I suggest replacing it with a pan of Payne's Grey (which is worth bringing anyway).

I'd avoid 'children's' or old paints, which are often weak and don't flow/mix well.

Brushes
There are many brushes on the market. Synthetic/prolene brushes are fine. Sable are very expensive and while nice to work with, are unnecessary. Pro Arte brushes are recommended. You can bring whatever you like, but I suggest bringing the following:

A large 'round' brush (e.g. size 20) such as shown below. These brushes are great for washes as well as general painting as they hold a lot of liquid and are less inclined to 'streak' than flat brushes. Good brushes have a 'point' which is also good for more detailed work. I would also bring a size 8 or 10 for general painting:

Painting-RoundBrush
A 'flat' brush (e.g. size 3/4" or 1-1/4") – can also be used for washes as well as for creating textures and can give you a nice 'edge':

Painting-FlatBrush

A long, thin liner or 'rigger' brush (shown as size 000 in round brushes, above) - so named as it's great for thin lines such as 'rigging' on boats and detail:

Painting-RiggerBrush

A 'fan' brush - great for textures such as foliage and grasses:

Painting-FanBrush

Avoid cheap ‘children's' brushes of squirrel hair or ox hair with no 'points'. 

Paper

Painting-Paper
There are different types of watercolour paper but anything with '140 lb (NOT the actual weight of the sheet of paper) is fine (most watercolour pads are of this weight). Bockingford, Saunders, Arches, Whatman and Daler Rowney Langton are options. Buy a pad, then you will have a stiff backing and will not necessarily need to bring a lightweight board (though this is useful for stretching paper). Beginners need to know that while sketching/cartridge paper is fine for drawing in pencil or pen (feel free to bring some), it is unsuitable for watercolour painting as the paper rucks up and doesn't give a good effect.

Board
If possible I recommend you bring – as an 'easel' – a lightweight board, hardboard or a proprietary board from a shop. Size approx 16" by 12" - basically, larger than your paper. This is especially useful for stretching paper.

Gummed brown tape
This is not the same as masking tape (See below). Gummed brown tape is what is used for stretching paper. Rather than bringing the whole reel (which is actually very heavy), I suggest breaking off some long lengths and folding them up to pack.

Painting-BrownTape

Masking tape and, optional, masking fluid

Painting-MaskTapePainting-MaskFluid
Masking tape is primarily useful for taping your paper to the board (if not stretched). This also automatically provides a white border to a finished painting! You can use shapes cut from the tape to 'mask off' areas of painting - such as a building or a sail, to keep that space while which you work on other areas. 

This iswhat masking fluid (optional to bring) is used for (but again, it may be too heavy to be practical for packing as it tends to come in a glass container). You would need a separate (small) brush for this.

EXTRAS

A putty rubber (doesn't leave the streaks and marks some rubbers can).

Painting-Putty

Several sheets of a roll of kitchen paper for blotting, effects and clear-up! You don't have to bring a whole roll and a bunch of flat sheets would pack better. Make sure it is white though as the colour from novelty kitchen roll is inclined to come off when wet.

Painting-KitchenRoll

A plastic water container (these lantern containers are great for packing and can be purchased for about £2 from most art shops!). Alternatively, just cut the top off a plastic water bottle while you're on holiday!

Painting-WaterPots

2b pencil (with sharpener!) - stay away from HB pencils as they have harder leads which can leave marks on your paper.

Two or three small natural sponges (for techniques) - about 60p each from an art shop.

Painting-Sponge

Ebay and Amazon are also great places for any bits and pieces you need.

TESTIMONIALS
Below are a some of testimonials from 2010:

"...I really enjoyed your week - you make a delightfully relaxed and encouraging tutor. The handouts are great - really useful. Your 'demos' were excellent and valuable..."
Moy, Samos, June 2010

"...I just had to tell you that you really started something with me, Mel! Ever since you left Samos, I can’t stop painting flowers at every opportunity. Now I’m home it’s not so easy to find the time, but have attempted the impossible-to-draw orchid in our lounge, plus an easier Stargazer lily. I’m so grateful to you for getting me going – and persevering with me – cos I really love painting flowers! It’s also very restful – and slows me down! - and I really feel that the Lord has opened a door for me. Roger always knows if I’m painting, cos peace and quiet descends! THANK YOU SO MUCH!..." 
Carol, Samos, June 2010

"...The setting/environment and joy of experiencing the creativity was a real delight. The most difficult thing was to tear myself away from the course to visit the island. Thank you for making my holiday so enjoyable..." 
Keith, Samos, June 2010

"...You have a gift for helping even the most nervous beginner gain confidence. The techniques you teach always seemed so complicated before this course but I have enjoyed experimenting, practising and learning and I now feel confident to carry on painting for pleasure whenever I have the opportunity. Your sense of humour is brilliant and you have made me laugh so much. Thanks Mel - it really was a pleasure learning from you and spending time with you..." 
Sally, La Rosière, June 2010

"...A fantastic week which gave a perfect balance of teaching of technique and practicals which was suitable for all levels of ability..." 
Rebecca, La Rosière, June 2010


"Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures." Anon


For further information on any aspect of our Themed Weeks programme, please call our friendly Holiday Consultants on 020 3004 2661 or email us at info@richmond-holidays.com

Richmond World Holidays Ltd, Sunrise House, 133 London Road, Kingston, Surrey, KT2 6NH

Tel: 020 3004 2661 Email: info@richmond-holidays.com

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