Art retreat, become a proper Artist in only two days!

Everything ART in just a weekend. From stretching your own canvas to drawing from music, this is a weekend you do not want to miss out on!
About this Event

Spend the weekend doing something for you. Why not bring along a friend or family member and learn how to be an Artist in just two days.

All abilities welcome, 18yrs plus.

This will be a full on two days of making art and learning how to stretch your very own handmade canvas. There will be a schedule of events throughout each day along with demonstrations of techniques, materials and step by step teaching. After this weekend you will go home with your own art kit worth £50 to continue making art in your own time, three paintings using a range of materials, several drawings from still life and hopefully the inspiration to keep making art.

You will be given an hour lunch break each day to go out explore the area, find inspiration and most importantly get some food to fuel the next part of the day. There is a bar on sight and drinks can be taken into the studio space.

What is included in the cost:

• £50 art kit which is yours to use throughout the weekend and to take home. Including; A3 project folder, A6 watercolour pad, Pentel waterbrush, Faber Castell 2B pencil, Faber Castell coloured pencil, Derwent Inktense pencil, A6 recycled sketchbook, 10x12inch canvas board, 8x10inch slim edged canvas, handmade wooden canvas frame 15x15inch and cotton canvas.

The following materials are provided for the weekend:

• Gesso
• Absorbent Ground
• Daler Rowney acrylic inks
• Golden professional acrylics
• Watercolour
• Charcoal
• Watercolour paper
• Mixed media paper, white and tan
• Easel
• Music, laughter and learning!

Sophie will be your Artist, leading each day step by step through a programme of events. Sophie is an abstract, expressive artist painting from her memories, specific moments and prodominently emotions. Colour plays a large part in the paintings as this is what captures the viewers attention and inspires you to look further and begin to understand the painting. Along side working in an art shop, Sophie runs her own Home Educational group for children ages 4-15years and works for a painting company running classes in sculpture and painting for all kinds of events.

This is the perfect way to develop new skills and work on exhisting interests whilst exploring a range of materials. Sophie has exhibited all over the United Kingdom; London, Glasgow and Liverpool, winning awards and bursaries, Sophie's work is bold, unique and stands out from the crowd. Why not learn from the best this weekend and become an Artist yourself. Everyone is an Artist in some way so why not discover which Artist you are.

An insight into the work Sophie does and some tips and tricks which will be shared throughout your retreat to inspire and give you an insight into how you can achieve certain elements in painting.

Agenda

🕑: 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Welcome, warm up

Info: Time to settle in and find your space. This hour will be spent welcoming everyone and completing a series of drawings from life and musical response.

🕑: 12:00 PM - 01:00 PM
Canvas stretching and priming

Info: This hour will be spent stretching your very own handmade canvas. The wooden frame will be made before hand by Sophie. It is your job to pull the canvas tightly over that frame to get a quality finish before adding a later of gesso on top. A step by step demonstration will take place and guidance throughout to ensure you have a great drum like canvas.

🕑: 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Colour mixing with watercolour and acrylic.

Info: Taking two hours to create swatches of both watercolour and acrylic. Learning how to mix colours thinking about colour theory; primary, secondary and tertiary colours.

🕑: 03:00 PM - 05:00 PM
Still life

Info: Looking at the still life in front of you select a material of your choice to create a sketch which you will then paint with watercolour or acrylic. This drawing can be as detailed or as minimal as you like because the last hour of the day will be to create an abstract still life painting, thinking about shapes and colour.

🕑: 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Second day, abstract, expressive painting.

Info: Take a moment to get your materials ready and organised. Starting the day with a group painting. This painting will be on watercolour paper, one large sheet and thinking about material qualities and their benefits we will begin with timed drawings in response to your surroundings. There will be several timed drawings on the same piece of paper, each exercise you will move one place to your right/left, you will be drawing over another persons work so you can not be precious. Think expressive, be bold and outrageous.

🕑: 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM
Take 30minutes to plan

Info: Take 30minutes to think about what you would like your hand stretched canvas to be painted like. Abstract, still life, a scene from memory, someone in front of you? This painting can be left to you but if there is a background colour in mind this is your time to get that done so it can dry over lunch.

🕑: 12:30 PM - 01:00 PM
Wet on wet technique demonstration before you paint.

Info: This is a quick paced background using inks. A demonstration will be shown at the front before you select your colours and proceed. This can be a messy process but you can achieve blending and exciting movements of colour on the canvas if you leave it to chance.

🕑: 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM
Lunch break

Info: Enjoy your break!

🕑: 02:00 PM - 04:00 PM
Paint, paint, paint!!!

Info: Thinking about the techniques and colour theory you have learnt it is your time to complete the wet on wet painting using acrylic paint. Also, the hand made canvas you planned or began to plan earlier can be painted to your hearts desire. I will be demonstrating a step by step painting starting with a drawing and proceeding with acrylic paint. You can follow my painting or complete your very own unique piece.

🕑: 04:00 PM - 05:00 PM
Last hour of the retreat.

Info: This is your time to complete work, ask Sophie any questions and make sure you have taken everything from the weekend you possible can, if there was something you wanted to cover but didn't get the chance to ask please email Sophie- [email protected].