Our May 2014 Painting Holiday in Cornwall - Photos & Update

Port Quinn in all it's glory

What a fantastic week , helped along by the glorious weather that we ordered for the benefit of all of our artists! We had a group from all over the country including Norfolk, North Lincolnshire and John from Kent, who dared to return again ( having been on one of Ashley's previous courses in Canterbury.)

Rock & the Camel Estuary

Day 1 - was spent on the north coast with a visit to our morning location at Rock and the Camel Estuary. Ashley brought the group together to begin the day sketching. Then everyone was encouraged to find their own special place to continue sketching and painting and Ashley was able to chat and discuss their work on an individual basis throughout the morning. The views were spectacular and we even saw a wonderful scene with a horse and it's rider cantering on the beach alongside their dog.

Painting in Port Quinn

It was then time to head off for a well earned lunch at the Longcross Hotel, near Port Quinn. After lunch on the way to Port Quinn we encountered another intriguing sight of a farmer with his flock of sheep in the middle of the narrow road. You certainly knew you were in the heart of the countryside. Ashley started the group off with a drawing challenge on the beach; we then headed upwards and across the fields to work from the stunning Cornish clifftop panorama. 

Painting in Polperro

Day 2 - We were excited to be visiting our new location for this year on the south coast 'Polperro ' in the morning and it didn't disappoint. Ashley set the group up for some interesting linear exercises, which really got them looking at the subject. Everyone then found their own space to work and captured the feel of this delightful working fishing village. 

Polruan

The Blue Peter Inn provide us with a delicious lunch and we then headed off for Polruan our final destination for the day. Our visit started at St Saviour's Hill , practically a 360 degree panaromic view. T|he difficulty was how do you capture something so vast? We then made our way down the steep hill stopping to sketch along the way absorbing all the viewpoints until we got to the water's edge by the ruins of the old Blockhouse. 

Days 3 & 4 - In Ashley's own words 'this is when the holiday stops and the hard work really begins!' Our studio for the 2 days was a very well equipped Village Hall in St Breward, the highest village in Cornwall located on Bodmin Moor. 

Ashley started the first studio day off with a talk followed by some engaging and gestural colour demonstrations. He then went on to demonstrate various techniques of how to apply paint and create marks in all sorts of ways, using palette knife, brush , hand, pouring paint, scattering paint etc etc. It was then the artists turn and they were given a number of challenges where exciting things began to happen.

After lunch at the Old Inn the artists were encouraged to work from their field studies (the sketches and paintings made on location)  and use the skills they had learnt earlier to develop new paintings, looking at colour, abstraction and compostion at all times. During the 2 days Ashley referred to the work of a number of artists who have worked from the coastal subject and have had a major influence on his own work.

At the end of the last day Ashley led an informal discussion about all the work made with everyone contributing and learning from each other. By the end of the 2 days each artist had produced something very different to the work they had made before and there was some really exciting paintings.  

Jane's painting

John's painting

As before we celebrated all the hard work on Friday evening by a quick visit to The Globe Inn followed by a exquisite meal at Asquiths Restaurant in Lostwithiel, where we thoroughly looked after by Graham, Sally and their staff.

Fe's painting

Thank-you to everyone who came along and to all the contributors of the holiday that helped make it such a success. Ashley and I had a great time sharing with you some of our special places in Cornwall and we hope you found the holiday/course both enjoyable and beneficial.

We do hope to see you again soon.

Denise & Ashley

Elizabeth's painting

If you would like to join us on our  22nd - 27th September painting holiday in Cornwall 2014 there are still places available. For lots more information see www.ashleyhanson.co.uk and if you would like to make an enquiry or booking contact: denise@ashleyhanson.co.uk or call 01208 77656.

Jane's painting

Nikki's painting

Francis' painting