September Holiday Photos & More

The group on our recent Painting Holiday was once again a great bunch of diverse people of different ages and experience. We even had some brave enough to return after our first holiday and bring along their friends - thank-you Jane and Tina!

It kicked off with a double rainbow on our journey down to Trebarwith Strand.   Considering it was the same week of the floods in the North of England, we really got off quite lightly, with a variety of sunshine and showers, all adding to the drama and intensity of the landscape.








It was the first time we had included Trebarwith on our itinerary and it proved to be a definite hit with its dramatic coastline and raging seas.

By 12 o'clock we were all ready for a welcome break at The Harbour Tea Garden Cafe in Boscastle for lunch. The food was great and most of us were so full , there was no need to worry about dinner.  Boscastle gave us an alternative landscape with a combination of harbour views and wild sea - if you were brave enough to make the climb!

Then our second day out on location began in Charlestown, a favourite of Ashley's. Once again rainbows followed with plenty of sun, rain and sea to capture in our drawings and field studies. Not only did the Pier House Hotel lay on a great lunch for us all, they also allowed us to dodge the rain and sketch from the restaurant window. After lunch a ferry journey from Fowey took us across to Polruan. A sleepy coastal village with infinite viewpoints from both high up and ground level. Was it possible to capture the magnitude of the panoramic views from the top or concentrate on the peep holes of   roof tops, boats and sea instead?

Once in the studio, Ashley didn't waste any time in stepping up the pace. After a series of colour and mark-making exercises it was time for everyone to transform the inspiration found in the landscape to their paintings, discover something new and find their own 'Freedom in Painting'. Ashley encouraged everyone to find new ways to work, immersing their canvases in colour, discovering, pouring, smearing and dripping the paint on. Then came the precision and linear elements to the paintings. There was some fantatstic work made with lots of interesting compostitions, intense colour and individuality.With all this hard work going on, we did still find time for a bit of fun and frivolity! (Sorry Rosey, I couldn't resist this one!)

By the time Friday evening came  we were all ready to let our hair down and relax over a few drinks and a few laughs - knowing we had deserved it and given it our all. The Crown Inn as always served up a First Class meal and Ashley and I were sad making our goodbye's to the group.

A BIG thank-you to you all for joining us and to everyone for being such a brilliant group and helping to make our Painting Holiday another success. Thank-you too,for all your wonderful comments and generosity. We thoroughly enjoyed your company and it was a delight to show you a little bit of our beloved Cornwall. Hopefully the teaching wasn't too bad either!

Ashley & Denise

We now have dates for next ' Freedom in Painting' holiday/course with Ashley for 2013.

Mon15 April - Sat 20 April
Mon 23 Sep - Sat 28 Sep

If you are interested to find out more or would like to be included in our mailing list for information on courses/holidays, workshops or exhibitions etc contact denise@ashleyhanson.co.uk or call 01208 77656