Painting Shanklin Chine and Other Island Scenes

Liz working on her original acrylic painting

I have just completed a four week open medium course on painting Shanklin Chine and Other Island Scenes.  As discussed with the students, if they were to take on the challenge of painting the Chine they would have to differentiate between the various layers of green foliage (we jokingly called it 'the wall of green').  Each layer of foliage from the foreground to the middle ground to the background would not only have to diminish in texture and size of leaf, but it would also to diminish in colour. 

Therefore we spent some time recapping and going over cool colours and warm colours to make sure that everyone understood that cool colours would be needed for the background i.e. cool yellows mixed with cool blues to make cool greens for the background and warm greens in the foreground so that they come forward.  This was only part of the colour mixing challenge as each student would have to mix up slightly varying greens for each individual plant. 

The results of this very intriguing and inspiring course can be found below and I think you will agree that they are very successful, even though some may be unfinished works.

Original acrylic painting by Liz 2017

Original oil painting by Lolly 2017

Original oil painting by Peter 2017

Original oil painting by Kate 2017

Detail of Kate's oil painting when in progress

Original oil painting by Rosemary 2017

Unfinished oil painting by Andrew 2017

Pam working on her original oil painting

Original Oil Painting by Pam 2017

Original oil painting by Michelle 2017

Original watercolour painting by Tere 2017

Original oil painting by Sandra 2017

Thank you to all the students who have shared their work on the blog and an honourable mention to Laraine who was unable to attend the last lesson.  Without you it would not have been a successful course with your paintings rising to the challenge that I set.

If you would like to join one of my future courses please use the contact form on the blog. My next course is in Bembridge on the 23rd November 2017 'Painting still life with painting knives.' The details can be seen on my previous blog post.

Happy Painting!

Lee🎨

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