New Outdoor Painting & Sketching Classes (En Plein Air) Summer 2023

 

Original Oil (plein air) Painting by Lee Papworth 2023

Upcoming Classes/En Plein Air Sessions

'Drawing & Sketching at St. Blasius Church & Pond' Shanklin, 30th June, 10 to 12.30, £25 cash

'Drawing & Sketching at Shanklin Chine' 7th July,                   10 to 12.30, £30 cash (plus entry fee)

Original Oil (plein air) Painting by Lee Papworth 2022

Look forward to seeing you on the en plein air sessions at the close of the academic year.

If you would like to join any class please use the blog form below.  One to one classes are also available throughout the summer.  New courses will start in September - follow this blog to find out more information in the next few months.

Happy Painting!

Lee 🎨

Original Oil Painting by Janet 2022

The beautiful painting above was produced by Janet in her private classes with me. Private 121 classes are available all through summer, so if you wish to attend please use the contact form below.

Before the end of the academic year there will be various one off sessions including outdoor drawing and sketching and painting outdoors in the glorious sunshine - see below for details.

Bembridge Village Hall

1wk ‘Painting Workshop’ 

(To complete unfinished paintings or start a new one)

Bembridge Village Hall, Thursday 16^th June, 10 to 12.30pm, £25.

 

Northwood Village Hall

2wk ‘Painting Workshop’ 

(To complete unfinished paintings or start a new one)

Northwood Village Hall, Friday 17^th & 24^th June, 10 to 12.30pm, £50.

 

En Plein Air Sessions (outdoor sessions)

·  Drawing & Sketching at ‘Ventnor Harbour & Beach’ 

    Friday 10^th June, 10 to 12.30pm, £25.

·  Drawing & Painting at ‘Appuldurcombe House’ 

    Friday 1^st July, 10 to 3pm, £35.

I am really excited about these upcoming courses and hope to see you there!

Happy Painting!!

Lee 🎨

 

Dappled Light Paintings - June 2021

Original Oil Painting by Maria 2021

Having recently been allowed to teach again in community halls and village halls I taught two Dappled Light courses that were very well received and attended.  

Firstly, we studied and discussed many great paintings on the subject from the Impressionist movement.  Secondly, I went through with both groups my own thoughts and gave out handouts on the subject - having discussed my notes and their thoughts everyone began their paintings - many our finished and some are in the process of being finished.  

Not all the artworks are shown here, but the ones that are I think you will agree are all excellent work!

Original Oil Painting by Gisela 2021

Original Pastel Painting by Mandy 2021

Original Acrylic Painting Unfinished by Diana 2021

Original Oil Painting by Jo 2021

Original Oil Painting by Peter 2021

Original Oil Painting by Kate 2021

Original Oil Painting by Sue 2021

Original Watercolour Painting by George 2021

Original Oil Painting Unfinished by Jean 2021

Original Oil Painting by Laraine 2021

Original Oil Painting by Lee Papworth 2021

I had not painted at all during the last eight months. This was because I felt uninspired by world events. I mentioned this to one of my students and during the course she challenged me to paint one of my Dappled Light paintings.  Above is the finished painting which took roughly eleven hours.  Thank you Kate for giving me the push I needed!

Please look out for the dates of upcoming courses.  One to one classes are also available. There are still spaces on the next en plein air sessions during July.  To book please use the contact form on this blog or email tapapworth1@btinternet.com

Happy Painting!

Lee 🎨

My Latest En Plein Air Painting and Upcoming Classes

'The Pioneer Cafe' original oil painting by Lee Papworth 2019

I thought I would take this opportunity to show you my latest en plein air painting (en plein air is painting painted outdoors) which was done on Dunroamin Beach in Lake.  First of all I worked on sketches of the cafe and surrounding area.  Next I took photos for reference and worked out where I was going to stand when painting the scene.  The painting took two and a half hours in situ with a little bit of tidying up in the studio.  I wanted to keep the painting very simple with a simple colours and shapes rather than cluttering the composition with too much detail.  I think it captures the ambience of this friendly old cafe on the beachfront.  

At the moment I am working on a self portrait which is in the very early stages of planning and I will hopefully start it by the end of summer.  

Thanks to all the students who attended my courses this year.  I look forward to seeing you all in September when I shall begin new four week courses mid to late September. These will be held at Bembridge Village Hall, Ryde All Saints Church and in Cowes (venue to be confirmed). Keep your eye out for the next blog post for the details of the courses.

Please free to post your summer paintings in the comments below as I would love to see what you have been working on. 

Happy Painting!

Lee Papworth🎨

En Plein Air Paintings 2017

Original watercolour sketch of Shanklin Chine by Lee Papworth 2017

En Plein Air Tastic!

A few weeks ago a group of students and myself visited the Shanklin Chine to do some sketches and watercolour studies.  The course was well attended and very successful.  All students enjoyed the experience of drawing and painting outside.  They enjoyed visiting the Chine (some for the first time).

I personally did some watercolour sketches as well as teaching, helping and guiding the students create their own work.  You can see my sketches below.  For those of you thinking about doing watercolour sketching make sure that no sketch lasts more than ten minutes, if possible try to limit yourself to five to six minutes on each sketch.  This will keep your sketches fresh and not overworked.  Remember these are sketches are not meant to be finished works.  Happy sketching!

   

Original watercolour sketches of Shanklin Chine by Lee Papworth 2017

On sunny days during the spring and summer I often go en plein air painting on the Island.    I take my oil paints, white spirit, brushes and prepared canvas. My first painting was of the War Memorial on Sandown Esplanade with Culver in the distance and the next was of a ramshackled old hut on Lake Beach with the cliffs towering behind.

Unfinished original oil painting of Sandown War Memorial by Lee Papworth 2017

This is me in action!!! (taken by a very helpful holidaymaker)

Unfinished original oil painting of Lake Beach by Lee Papworth 2017

Both of these paintings are unfinished even though I spent just over two hours on both of them.  The main reason is that it is very tiring working in the blazing sunshine or when it rains.  You also use a lot of physical energy and it is mentally tiring because of the quickness of decisions that need to be made plus you are constantly having to converse with the general public who are interested in what you are doing.  

All of these factors add to the enjoyment and excitement of painting outside.  I recommend that everyone paints directly from the source, as observation is king!

In my next blog post I will let you know further details of forthcoming courses in September.  If you wish to know the dates and course details I am delivering please look at the last post.

Happy Painting!

Lee 🎨

Upcoming Private Art Courses - Spring & Summer 2017

View of Shanklin beach from the Chine

I am really looking forward to the upcoming courses over the next few months.  Sunny days and painting go so well together.  If I am not teaching you can be sure to find me outside with my easel, paints and a canvas trying to capture the mood and atmosphere of this beautiful island!  The following is a list of my upcoming classes and I hope to see you there 🎨

4 Week Painting Course ‘Night-Skies & Night Landscapes’ (open medium) 
Friday 5^th May 10.00 to 12.00pm, Northwood W.I Hall, £65.

4 Week Painting Course ‘Impressionist Figures & Portraits’ (open medium) 

Thursday 11th May 10.00 to 12.30pm, Bembridge Village Hall, £70.

A brief course outline - Looking at and discussing famous paintings on the subject - history and origins, Impressionist painting techniques, proportions of the human body and face, mixing various skin tones, scaling-up photograph’s and how to create a more successful portrait.

4 Week Painting Course ‘Painted Gardens’ (open medium) 
Friday 9^th June 12.30 to 3pm, All Saints Church Hall, Ryde, £65.

A brief course outline - Looking at and discussing famous paintings on the subject - history of ‘Painted Gardens’, recap of mixing your own greens, how to create texture, drama and depth. You can choose to paint a stately garden like Mottistone Manor or your own beautiful back garden. You might wish to paint a cottage with a front garden or an exotic botanical garden.

 1 Day (3.5hrs) ‘Painting & Sketching at Shanklin Chine’

Friday 14^th July 10 to 1.30 pm at Shanklin Chine, £40 (entrance fee not included).

 A chance to paint, sketch and take photo’s inside the beautiful and naturally formed Shanklin Chine. As well as the natural beauty too look at there is a small art gallery and museum along with a shop and tea room. The paintings, sketches/drawings and photos produced on the day will be used later to create a painting on a 4 week course due to start in September.

Please message me using the contact form on this blog if you have any questions or give me a call.  I am also available for one to one art classes tailored for the individual artist.

Happy Painting!

Lee 🎨

In the Shanklin Chine

My Latest En Plein Air Paintings

Original oil painting - copyright Lee Papworth 2015

These are my latest en plein air paintings.  The first one was painted at Smuggler's Haven near Ventnor in July last year.   It was a sunny day. My wife and I took a picnic along with us and both set up our easels to paint in a secluded spot.  We spent a great afternoon painting and enjoying the atmosphere. A few curious ramblers passed by and struck up conversation.  You often find that people will stop and ask you about your painting, but that's ok and it's a pleasure to talk about art to anyone. 

The next painting was painted on a sunny April morning on the revetment between Sandown and Shanklin. It took about an hour and twenty minutes.  Dog walkers stopped to chat and their dogs sniffed the oil paints with curiosity.  

The last painting was painted on a gloriously hot May morning looking down Lake Slipway towards Shanklin.  I sat on the bench at the top of the slipway with my bottle of water and easel.  It was a blazing sunny day and I wished I had taken a hat (note to all en plein air painters - please remember a hat!) One interested passerby said hello as I sat down to paint and two hours later he said hello again... I realised I had been in the sunshine for over two hours!

I used oils for all three paintings.  I did not make any adjustments to the paintings afterwards as this takes the spontaneity and life away from en plein air artworks.  I used a painting knife for all three paintings.  This saves the difficulty of cleaning brushes outside or carrying them back home.  I love the immediateness of en plein air painting and I am looking forward to painting on the (hopefully) warm summer days ahead!  If you see me out there please stop and say hello.

Original oil painting - copyright Lee Papworth 2015

Detail of original oil painting showing the red ground - copyright Lee Papworth 2015

Original oil painting - copyright Lee Papworth 2016

Detail of original oil painting - copyright Lee Papworth 2016

Original oil painting - copyright Lee Papworth 2016

Detail of original oil painting - copyright Lee Papworth 2016

If you would like to join one of my art classes please use the contact form on this blog.  

My next blog post will give the details of upcoming courses.

Happy Painting!

Best wishes

Lee

Painting Trees and Woodlands Scenes - April 2016

Gouache Painting by Jean 2016

I recently finished teaching a four week course on Painting Trees and Woodland Scenes. This was enjoyed by all that took part.  Students had the freedom to choose their own medium (watercolour, acrylic, oil, gouache etc) which I think made their work even more confident and expressive in it's execution. 

The body of work produced overall was of a very high standard and perhaps the highest that I have seen from recent courses.  The paintings on this blog post are some of the work created by my fabulous students on the course.

Acrylic Painting by Gaye 2016

Oil Painting on Cardboard by Laraine

Oil Painting by Farzeen 2016

Oil Painting by Lolly 2016

Acrylic Painting by Diana 2016

Oil Painting by Liz 2016

Oil Painting by Pam 2016

Thank you to all the above Artists for sharing their work on the blog. A big thank you  to Pauline, Barbara, Stuart, Pam and Sue who also contributed to the success of the the course.  

The next four week course for this particular group will be in September at All Saints Church Ryde.  If you would like to book a place please use the blog contact form below.

Happy Painting!

Best wishes

Lee 

Painting Skyscapes Course - Learning to Capture Light, Skies and Clouds - March 2016

Original painting by Andrew 2016

Over the past six months I have taught this course on two other occasions.  This was the latest group that I taught the course to and just like the others they were very successful with everyone exceeding their own expectations.  This group like the others consisted of beginner and intermediate artists. 

 

Thank you to all the students who made the course a success and sharing their fantastic work on my blog.

Original painting by Gill 2016

Original painting by Gill 2016
 

Original painting by Kate 2016

Original painting by Liz 2016
 

Original painting by Liz 2016
 

Original painting by Michelle 2016
 

Original painting by Peter 2016

Original painting by Rose 2016
 

Original painting by Sandra 2016
 

Original painting by Sandra 2016
 

Original painting by Sandra 2016
 

Original painting by Janet 2016
 

I am so proud of the wonderful work the students created on this course!  If you would like to join my classes or have one-to-one tuition please contact me via the contact form on this blog. You can also follow the blog by email to get regular updates which will include new courses I am organising.
 
Happy Painting!
 
Best wishes
 
Lee