Freedom in Painting in Porthleven with Ashley Hanson

Sat 21- Fri 27 May & Sun 2- Sat 8 October 2016

Bruce Campbell  on April 2015 'Freedom in Painting in Porthleven' Course

5 Day Course in & Additional Exhibition Day £375

This course is a unique opportunity to work in a small group with acclaimed colourist and landscape artist Ashley Hanson, a member of the Newlyn Society of Artists. The studio for the week is in the Old Lifeboat House, in Porthleven, Cornwall, dramatically positioned on the edge of the harbour facing the open sea. Ashley has a very special connection with Porthleven; the paintings of Peter Lanyon (in particular 'Porthleven ' made in 1951) have had a major influence on his work  and this unspoilt fishing town with it's double harbour and iconic clock tower continues to inspire his paintings.

Porthleven 23 - Ashley Hanson

"Image, structure, movement, all the ingredients are here to make paintings. This workshop is an opportunity for artists to explore and respond to it's richness, rawness and complexity. It's a special place for me, - so far there are 24 in the series and each time I revisit there is an abundance of ideas for more."

During the workshop Ashley will inspire and encourage participating artists to produce their own personal interpretation of Porthleven, adding to its rich tradition.

The Old Lifeboat House - Our Studio

Working inside the studio

On the afternoon before the course starts artists have the opportunity to set up their studio space and meet the rest of the group. This is followed by four and a half intense working days in the studio and around the harbour. The group will then help transform the studio into an exhibition space on the afternoon of the fifth day, ready for the Private View later on that evening. The exhibition will continue through to the following day giving the artists an opportunity to show and sell their work.

Course Information

Antonia Glynne- Jones working outside 

Group drawing exercises with Ashley by the harbour

The first morning is spent getting to know Porthleven.  Everyone will be encouraged to make studies  around the harbour, collecting information and ideas for paintings back in the studio. There will be plenty more opportunities for further studies in and around Porthleven during the week.

Jane Crane's drawing and study

On the course there will be a mixture of group exercises, demonstrations and discussions to help artists engage with their paintings and take it somewhere new. Colour , mark-making, space and composition are all areas that will be explored and there will be plenty of opportunity for one to one tuition and mentoring with Ashley.

Ashley mentoring Mitzi Delnevo

Ashley's Painting -  'Porthleven 20'

Ashley will also be working on his own Porthleven painting and using this as a teaching tool to demonstrate techniques and ideas.Our previous groups have found this  an invaluable way to build on their existing knowledge and pick up further tips. At the end of the week the group will get the chance to discuss all the work made in a group critique.

The course is designed for painters who wish to enhance their creativity and look towards abstraction and beyond the representational. Ashley looks forward to sharing his wide knowledge and passion for colour, landscape and oil/acrylic painting with the group.

Erica Shipley's Painting

Bruce Campbell's Painting

Diane Bedser's Painting

Mitzi Delnevo's Painting

Jo Rollnick's Painting

Your Tutor

Ashley has over 30 years experience as a professional artist and this combined with his teaching as a Visiting Lecturer at Canterbury Christchurch University and the National Academy of Art Bergen, Norway ensures the teaching you will receive throughout the course will be of the highest level. In addition he has run many popular and successful workshops of his own around the UK.

Ashley's paintings has been shown nationally and internationally. His work has been selected for the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, the Discerning Eye and the National Open Art Competition. Last year he was short listed for the Connect2Colour Art Prize at Lacey Contemporary Gallery in London and he has been a recipient of a Boise Travel Scholarship from the Slade School of Art and is a former prizewinner of the Hunting Art Prizes.

Accommodation

Porthleven is well equipped with a variety of accommodation options, excellent restaurants and pubs within easy walking distance of the studio.

Above Beach Cottages have a good selection of cottages and can arrange a Sunday to Sunday let on certain properties. Porthleven Holiday Cottages offer a 10% discount, if you advise them you are booking the course. They also have some excellent B& B accommodation in The Artist Loft and once again a 10% discount is available to participants on the course. See also http://www.porthleven-online.com for alternative B& B's and accommodation available.

To Book

Email denise@ashleyhanson.co.uk or call 01208 77656. As their are only 7 places available on each course, early booking is recommended. To secure your place a £70 deposit is required at the time of booking and the balance is due 8 weeks prior to the start of the course.

You can view a write up of some of our previous Porthleven courses here:
October 2015   April 2015
October 2014   April 2014  April 2013

For a further insight into Ashley's art see www.ashleyhanson.co.uk and the blog http://ashleyhansonart.blogspot.co.uk

Ashley with Jane McClement

Our Freedom in Painting courses continue to challenge artists of all levels of all abilities, with many artists returning year after year. Participants often finding they continue to benefit from the tuition and experience long after the course.

Quoted from February 2013 edition of 'The Artist' magazine by editor Dr Sally Bulgin

"Ashley's concern as an artist and teacher, is to unleash the emotional response to the subject matter that enables the painter to take risks, discover a 'personal colour palette that excites' and to provide the fresh vision of Britain's natural beauty that places him within the long tradition set by the masters of the landscape genre."

Testimonials

My third year in  Porthleven and I build on my experiences and art practice. Ashley and Denise give 110% each time - I don't know of other courses where the tutor is as committed as Ashley. His ability to communicate his knowledge and ideas is a great skill.
Jane McClement - October 2015

Ashley has the talent of seeing possibility in everyone's paintings and leaving people empowered.
Bruce Campbell - April 2015

Ashley is a very fine and energetic tutor - plenty of ideas. He sees things in our work that even we don't see! I have been much encouraged and inspired!
Joy Viegas - October 2014

Enjoyed the company and Porthleven which I came to adore. Ashley was the perfect host, artist and tutor! 
Alison Garner - October 2013