In-person course
in Suffolk Maker & location details

A Flatford Sketchbook

Flatford Mill plein air group

Botanical illustration using coloured pencils at Flatford Mill

Description

Join Carole Massey and create your own Flatford sketchbook. Take inspiration from this historic and beautiful setting, Carole will show you how to capture the delightful surroundings in sketches and pen & wash studies. Using a viewfinder (which will be supplied), Carole will demonstrate how to create thumbnail sketches, draw buildings, the river, the landscape and add figures into your scenes – all the skills needed to fill a sketchbook, an essential tool for every artist. We will be using pencil, waterproof or water-soluble pens with watercolours and/or water soluble pencils and working outdoors, weather permitting. The Saturday, after an introduction in the studio to drawing and painting techniques, we will spend the rest of the day sketching around the Mill, or along the river towards Dedham, weather permitting. Should it be too wet or windy to be outside, we will spend time in the studio perfecting sketching techniques from suitable vantage points or working from Carole’s photos. About the tutor: Carole Massey Carole Massey is a popular and supportive tutor who has been teaching at Flatford Mill for over 20 years. She managed her own successful design partnership before returning to her first love of painting, which currently involves tutoring, demonstrations, private commissions, and exhibitions. A recent portrait commission for the Bank of England of Sir Charles Bean, deputy governor now hangs in the bank in perpetuity. She is a regular contributor to The Leisure Painter magazine, has written many teaching Art books, published by Search Press, with international sales exceeding 250,000. Her latest books are “Drawing for the Absolute Beginner” and “The Beginners’ Guide to Drawing Portraits” which will be on sale on the course. She has exhibited and demonstrated at the Mall Galleries, London, and her work is in a number of private collections in the UK and abroad. She lives in Suffolk. What to bring: - A Sketchbook. I prefer to use a hard backed, casebound sketchbook either landscape or portrait format between A4 & A5 size, (300 x 210mm to 210 x 150mm / 12” x 8” to 8” x 6” approx.) containing good quality cartridge paper, durable enough for light watercolour washes. Seawhite of Brighton “Popular Portrait” or “Landscape” black cloth casebound sketchbook 250 x 190mm can be bought at Hobbycraft or online. - 2B or 3B Graphite pencil or a propelling pencil or clutch pencil 0.5 or 0.7 is ideal for sketching and doesn’t need frequent sharpening. - Waterproof pens. Black or brown fibre tipped drawing pens e.g. pilot or faber castell or equivalent, sizes 03 or 05, or 0.8. - Optional: a Pentel Brushpen, black. - Optional : watersoluble Pens, brown or black, e.g. Zig or Tombow, or any pen that is non permanent. - Watercolour paints: a portable set of pans, or tubes squeezed into a folding palette. - Watercolour brushes – round Sizes 5, 8 & 12. - Optional: several wax crayons or oil pastels e.g. White, yellow, red orange, pale green, raw sienna. - Other materials: a kneadable rubber, a pencil sharpener, several bulldog clips or rubber bands to stop the sketchbook pages flapping in the wind. - A lightweight chair or painting stool (these can also be hired from the office on arrival). - Suitable clothing for the weather. About Flatford Mill: We have four buildings that are used for visitor accommodation. Whilst most rooms are either en-suite or have a dedicated bathroom, there are some rooms in The Mill that share showers and toilets at the end of the hall. If this is unsuitable for you please make the office staff aware upon booking or as soon as possible. Please be aware that you are visiting a Field Centre that caters in the main for school parties. The accommodation is basic and dormitory style, but warm and comfortable.

What's included in the price?

- Expert tuition - Free wi-fi - Hot and cold drinks - Picnic lunch - Full board accommodation Full board accommodation and picnic lunch is available for resident bookings only. Refreshments are included for all, but non-resident bookings are advised to bring lunch with you.