Cadgwith Cottage and Boats, on my Cornish holiday – en plein air.

Where’s Wally?

MY APOLOGIES THAT NOT ALL IMAGES MAY DISPLAY CORRECTLY IN THIS BLOG, DUE TO CARRYING OVER THE POST FROM MY PREVIOUS WEBSITE. 

NORMAL SERVICE WILL BE RESUMED WITH MY NEW, UPCOMING POST (VERY SOON!).

A pretty eventful and exciting month has passed again, and I have a few things I’d like to let you know about.  

Firstly, I am really delighted to be running a course next year at the renowned Dedham Hall on the Essex/Suffolk border.
A very picturesque area of England, with delectable village, landscape and coastal scenery close by.  Dedham Hall itself provides an exceptionally comfortable base. The course runs from April 4th – 11th, and will feature as much plein air painting as possible.  You can book now.  Full details can be found here:
http://www.dedhamhall.co.uk/  

Also confirmed for 2020 I will be returning again to the wonderful North Norfolk coast from June 21st – 26th, at Big Sky Art:

https://www.bigskyartcourses.com/

It is a privilege to be able to teach at both of these places, each being very highly recommended for their special hospitality, ambience and inspiring painting locations.

These are the only two residential courses next year that I will be teaching (of more than two-day duration).

If you’d like to join me, please book early to be sure of a place, and don’t hesitate to contact me first if you have any questions at all.  I will look forward to meeting you.

Next year I’m taking a slightly different tack on a few things, such as entering more open painting competitions, which I’ve not focussed on as much as my tuition up to now.  I will still be very busy though with one and two day workshops, demonstrations at art groups/societies, writing articles and so on.

Church Cove, Lizard, Cornwall. Plein air painting, filmed as part of future Video On Demand.

Lizard old lifeboat station, filmed as demo. Not as blue as it looks here!

New Website
Coming soon, my website is getting a major overhaul. This has become not only desirable but necessary, and I hope you’ll like the new design and improved functionality.  Please let me know what you think, when it happens. More on that next time.

Workshops 2019 update

My ‘Big Skies’ day workshop at Windrush Gallery in October is now full.

There are still a couple of spaces available on my ‘Coastal Scenes’ day workshop at The Sandpiper Studio on the Wirral.
Please join me if you live up that way.  As always, feel free to  contact me for details, or see the information on the Welcome/Tuition tab here on my website.  To book please visit:
http://www.thesandpiperstudio.co.uk/  or telephone Julie on 07788 412480.

There are currently a few spaces left on my East Devon Art Academy 2 day workshop on 10th & 11th of October.  Bookings and information here:
http://www.eastdevonart.co.uk/contact/
(or telephone Cathy on 01395 516284).

Finally, my Big Sky Art course in Norfolk this September is close to full.  There are perhaps two spaces still left. To book please visit: https://www.bigskyartcourses.com/contact (or tel 07785 439727)

Exhibitions

I’m honoured to have been invited to take part in an exhibition of the Pure Watercolour Society, taking place this November at Windrush House in the Cotswolds (former home of watercolour legend James Fletcher-Watson).  This will feature works by some very big names in the watercolour world and I’m sure will be a very inspiring exhibition. There is also a ‘meet the artists’ opening day.  
I’ll post more details a bit closer to the time, but you can already read about the exhibition here:
http://www.windrushartcourses.co.uk/events.asp

I also have a painting in the Patchings/The Artist Magazine open exhibition again this year, which coincides with Patchings Art Festival, beginning July 11th.  Details here:
https://www.patchingsartcentre.co.uk/patchings-festival/

Tricky conditions in gusty winds at Lizard, Cornwall – on holiday!

Photo review of my recent Scotland and Exmoor painting holidays

We had a really good time on both these courses, lots of laughs and pretty lucky with the weather.  The Exmoor course was brilliantly organised by Alpha Painting Holidays (www.alphapaintingholidays.com) and Simonsbath House Hotel (https://www.simonsbathhouse.co.uk/).  The Scotland course was on the beautiful little isle of Cumbrae, based literally yards from the sea at the Field Studies Council’s Millport centre (www.field-studies-council.org/centres/scotland/millport.aspx).  
I love the FSC, their whole ethos and their brilliantly located centres.  It was great to work with them to bring about a really successful course featuring the awesome nature and landscape of Scotland’s coastal scenery.
Thank you as always to all the students of watercolour who joined me on these courses, for making it a real pleasure. I do hope to see you again.
(I often forget to take photos, so thank you to Norma Winnert and Anna McCann for your kind donations, below.)

SCOTLAND:-

Plein air demo painting, ink & wash, Millport Harbour, isle of Cumbrae.

Another plein air demo, Millport, isle of Cumbrae, Scotland

FSC Millport – our excellent base, just yards from the craggy coast and sea.

EXMOOR:-

The Exiles – my plein air friends

I’ve had fewer chances to join up with Steve Hall, Tim Wilmot and the gang I’m fortunate to be a part of this year, but one day last month we took on Bristol Harbourside in some very strong wind.  Easels were falling (but not my trusty ‘Jakar lightweight adjustable watercolour easel’ – not quite anyway) and it was certainly tricky to paint. The first one here features the Thekla boat/club and St Mary Redcliffe church on the horizon.  To be honest it doesn’t bare much resemblence to the vision I had for it. After lunch I found a more sheltered spot behind a hut to paint those dilapidated buildings, with the same church in the background again. Not the most special of paintings, but always these are enjoyable social days spent among likeminded painters with an intent to enjoy.

Bristol floating harbour; the Thekla and St Mary Redcliffe – in strong wind!

Board at very low angle to keep the easel standing!

Steve’s easel is taped to the railing…

Tim chooses a more sensible spot

Dilapidated buildings, Bristol harbourside, en plein air.

New Youtube video

I’ve put up a new video on youtube, here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qpz-MCegtrQ

The video shows an entire plein air painting of a landscape scene in about 35 minutes, and explains a bit about my usual process for plein air.  It is experimental, with some quite difficult to watch footage. I shot a lot of it on an ‘action camera’ attached to my chest.  Hopefully it might still be of interest, although if you watch it you may find sea-sickness pills to be helpful!  I may not leave it up for long.

All the best until next time.

Jem

A very recent art group 45 min demo painting. Composition based on a scene photographed while on my Scotland course.