September Painting Holiday - Photos & Update

Port Isaac

Cornwall was really at it's best for our September painting holiday, treating us to an array of both glorious and wild weather  - perfect for capturing our artists imagination in their work made during the course.

Glorious Trebarwith Strand

We were once again delighted to have on board a few familiar faces along with our new artists looking to discover their own personal 'Freedom in Painting' experience -  with Ashley's help of course! The group were a great mix of varying abilities and as well as benefiting from Ashley's group exercises and individual tuition, they were able to learn and engage with each other's work, through group discussion and the sharing of ideas.

As always, everyone excelled themselves and there was was some fantastic work made by the end of the week. Here is an insight in to the week.....

Philippa painting in Port Isaac

Day 1 - The North Coast. Port Isaac was our first point of call. Now famous for the Doc Martin series  - we love it for its multitude of spectacular view points from above and below, its unique fishing harbour and backdrop of dramatic granite cliffs beyond. Ashley began the morning with some quick sketching exercises from different viewpoints to get the group warmed up before the artists were  encouraged to find their own special place to sketch or paint from. He then worked his way round to everyone discussing their sketches and ideas. What luck - we witnessed a seal swimming out to sea and a couple of a rainbows - all in the same morning!

Trebarwith Strand

Lucinda sketching in Trebarwith

It was then on to Trebarwith Strand for a delicious lunch, overlooking the bay at The Port William Inn. Trebarwith never fails to deliver with its wild crashing seas and view of Gull Rock in the distance - it has a special magic all of its own!  Ashley kicked off the afternoon  by taking the group to a spectacular viewpoint for some more drawing challenges and then everyone discovered their own favourite place to work from.

Polperro

Ashley with Janet in Polperro

Day 2 - The South Coast. Charlestown was to be our original morning location but we had discovered the BBC were filming the second series of Poldark, so rather than risk any unwelcome interruptions, (unless of cause you prefer more figurative painting!) we headed off to the fishing village of Polperro - full of  Cornish charm. Here the group enjoyed the contrast to the north coast's landscape and Ashley got them thinking about putting down ideas for paintings, once back in the studio. By midday everyone had worked up a good appetite and the excellent lunch provided by The Blue Peter Inn was a welcome break.

Amazing skies in Polruan

Lucinda's sketchbook

We then headed down the winding lanes to Polruan -  another favourite spot and the last of our four inspiring destinations. Here Ashley introduced some linear drawing exercises from this amazing panorama and for those who wanted, there was more to sketch and paint, on the way down the hill  and at sea level with the 13th century Blockhouse, harbour and shipyard. Our artists were ready, excited and maybe just a little apprehensive of what Ashley had in store for them in the studio over the next few days!

Polruan

Days 3 - 4 In the Studio.  Our studio base for the next two days was the excellent Village Hall in St Breward, located high on Bodmin Moor and in Ashley's words 'this is when the holiday ends and the hard work, really begins!' The first morning was devoted to group colour exercises- experimentation and having some fun with colour. After a hearty lunch at The Old Inn Pub, (next door) it was then time to begin work on the artists own paintings.

Ashley Demonstrating

Catherine with her painting in progress

Over the two days Ashley showed the group a wide range of tips and techniques and opened up many new possibilities for working with paint. As well as plenty of demonstrations, there was time for Ashley to discover what each artist hoped to achieve in their work and Ashley set out out to help them achieve this. He also introduced the group to a number of artists that have had a major influence on his own work.

There were plenty of surprises and although the artists were sometimes out of their comfort zone they enjoyed being challenged and seeing a totally different outcome. By day two in the studio the paintings were really starting to take shape and some really exciting work was evolving.

Margarita painting

Malcolm's painting in progress

As always the last studio day ended with an invaluable group critique about the work made with everyone learning and contributing from each other.

Janet's painting

Mandy's painting

Roberta's painitng

Joy's painting

  

Philippa's painting

Margarita's painting

Our painting holiday finale wouldn't be the same without our celebration meal at the wonderful 'Asquiths ' restaurant in Lostwithiel, (after a swift pint at The Globe Pub beforehand.) It always seems like a fitting end after all the hard work put in by everyone throughout the week!

Christina's painting

Detail of  Lucinda's painting in progress

Lunch at The Old Inn, St Breward

A BIG thank-you to all our artists who signed up - we really hope you found Ashley's tuition and guidance beneficial and also another BIG thank-you to all our contributors, who help to make our painting holidays such a success, as we couldn't do it without you!

Kathleen's Diptych

Muriel's painting

Juliet's painting

Carolyn's painting in progress

Catherine's painting in progress

If you would like to join us on one of our Freedom in Painting holidays in Cornwall next year, the dates are :

9th - 14th May & 19th - 24th September 2016

To find out more about Ashley's art practice, painting holidays and courses see our website here . 


If you would like us to keep you updated, join our mailing list and we can let you know as soon as new details are released along with any special offers available.

Just Released - Our Painting Holidays in Cornwall, 2014

 

12 - 17 May & 22 - 27 September

We are delighted to announce the release of our painting holidays in Cornwall for May and September in 2014.

The concept remains the same, a unique opportunity to work with Ashley spending 2 days on location in Cornwall's stunning coastal landscape on both the north and south coast (on each holiday), followed by 2 full days developing the paintings and ideas further in a studio set in a sleepy village high on Bodmin Moor. We have a new location for you this year on our May holiday with the introduction of Polperro on the south coast.

 Prices start from £395 and include:


 

• 5 nights accommodation
• 4 full days tuition
• 1 to 1 tuition
• Group critiques
• All lunches
• Ferry trip to Polruan (Sep Hol)
• Celebratory evening meal

 

The holidays/courses are extremely flexible with lots of accommodation options depending on your budget. You can hire your own cottage, get together with a group of friends or make new friends sharing a cottage. There is also an option to go on the course and source your own accommodation, if you prefer. Non participants are also welcome.

Heather Rachel's Painting & Photo Sep 2013
 

There is also a place on our September Cornwall painting holiday to be won!! We have teamed up with the new art magazine Discover Art and the art materials specialist Great Art and all you have to do to be in with a chance of winning is to paint a postcard in any media of your choice. Pick up your copy of the Discover Art magazine from WH Smiths high street stores or see here  for more details.

To Book or for More Information:

Contact denise@ashleyhanson.co.uk or call 01208 77656

See also here for more detailed information

 

Limited to 16 places, book early to guarantee your place.

 

www.ashleyhanson.co.uk
 

 

Comments from our Previous Holidays

It was beyond my expectations and extremely helpful. You both worked so hard and the workshop was brilliant. Thank-you so much for giving us such a creative and inspirational time!
Petra Rohr-Rouendaal September 2013

The workshop was a highly purposeful environment and precious time was used appropriately. The demonstrations were thought provoking and stimulating. St Breward is pleasant, rural and the studio has the air of a retreat - perfect for painting and the artistic soul. Overall the course delivered something special and I think different and more 'out there' than the norm. Ashley is an inspirational tutor. Thank-you!
Alison Garner April 2013
 
Thank-you so much, both of you. Ashley is a very good tutor and such an enthusiast that it is completely contagious. I am buzzing with pictures to paint in my head, like I never had before...it is almost a waste of time to sleep! You were both so generous with your time and care...very memorable and can’t wait to come down to Cornwall again!
Jane Crane September 2012

 

 I didn’t know what to expect—but I have been delighted that it lived up to its title ‘Freedom in Painting’ - suggesting that the painting comes first, it dictates the subject matter. Its been very useful for ideas for future work. Ashley’s a very passionate, selfless teacher. He tries to get into the mindset of each student and find out what they want to achieve. He really gives of himself. Excellent.

Kate Newington April 2011

Thanks to everyone for allowing me to use their comments and special thanks to Heather Rachel for the use of selected photographs.

Merry Christmas from Ashley & Denise

We would like to take this opportunity to say a BIG thank-you to everyone who has come along to our workshops, painting holidays and exhibitions and to those of you who have followed Ashley's Art, either via the Blog, Facebook or Twitter over the past year. We would also like to say a big thank-you to all of our partners and supporters who play an important part in helping to make our Painting Holidays and Workshops such a great success!

'City of Glass 8' - The Red Notebook

We wish you and your families all a very Merry Christmas and a creative, inspirational year ahead. With very best wishes

Ashley & Denise

Chance to Win a Place on Our Sept 2014 Painting Holiday

We are very excited to bring you news that in collaboration with the new magazine, Discover Art and the art materials specialist Great Art there is an opportunity for you to win a place on our September 2014 painting holiday, along with lots of other fantastic art prizes. To enter you will need to design and create a single postcard using a media and technique of your choice. For full details of the competition pick up a copy of the magazine at your WH Smith's High Street branch or most local newsagents.

Here is a bit more information about the painting holiday prize to whet your appetite!

 

Taking inspiration from 4 stunning locations on the north and south coast, (Port Isaac, Trebarwith Strand, Charlestown and Polruan) Ashley will encourage you to create your own personal vision of the landscape.  You will spend 2 days on location followed by 2 full days in the studio under Ashley’s expert guidance.

 
Ashley will demonstrate and share many of his tips and techniques and artists will explore colour, composition, mark-making and abstraction. Included are 5 night’s accommodation, 4 full day’s tuition, all lunches and a 3 course celebratory evening meal.

Your artist tutor Ashley has a wide experience of teaching including Visiting Lecturer at Canterbury Christchurch University and has shown his work both nationally and internationally. More details can be found on Pages 48/49 about the competition. Ashley is also one of the featured artists on pages 96-98 of the magazine.

Painting holiday dates for 2014 dates are :

12th  -17th  May & 22nd - 27th  September

We are currently working on the full details for our 2014 painting holidays, watch this space for their release date. For more information about Ashley and our painting holidays visit www.ashleyhanson.co.uk

Just Released - Our Painting Holidays for 2013

 Following 2 highly successful holidays in 2012, we are delighted to announce our Painting Holidays/Courses for 2013.

15 - 20 April & 23 - 28 Sep 2013

 

The concept remains the same, a unique opportunity to work with Ashley spending 2 days  on location in Cornwall’s stunning coastal landscape followed by 2 full days developing the painting’s and ideas further in a studio set in a sleepy village high on Bodmin Moor.

 

 

 Prices start from £360 and include:

• 5 nights accommodation
• 4 full days tuition
• 1 to 1 tuition
• Group critiques
• All lunches
• Ferry trip to Polruan
• Celebratory evening meal

 

'The Artist 'magazine February 2013 edition, features 'In Conversation with Artist Ashley Hanson',  see link for editorial  http://www.painters-online.co.uk/Features/In-Conversation-with-Artist-Ashley-Hanson/_ft344_mg13

  

 ‘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.’

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

 

 

New for 2013

 

• More cottages - giving lots of accommodation options depending on your budget. Hire your own cottage, get together with a group of friends or make new friends sharing a cottage.

• Option to go on the course and source your own accommodation if you prefer.

• Non particpants welcome.

To Book or for More Information:

Contact denise@ashleyhanson.co.uk or call 01208 77656

See also www.ashleyhanson.co.uk for detailed information

 

Limited to 16 places, book early to guarantee your place.

 

 

Comments from our Previous Holidays

Thank-you so much, both of you. Ashley is a very good tutor and such an enthusiast that it is completely contagious. I am buzzing with picture to paint in my head, like I never had before...it is almost a waste of time to sleep! You were both so generous with your time and care...very memorable and can’t wait to come down to Cornwall again!

Jane Crane September 2012

 

Thanks to this experience I have been jettisoned into a new confidence about myself and my work and I know I shall be doing more painting in the future. My abstract has been hung in our living room by my husband, who wouldn’t hang anything up in our room if he didn’t like it.....so it must be good!

Susan Emms April 2012

 

I didn’t know what to expect—but I have been delighted that it lived up to its title ‘Freedom in Painting’ - suggesting that the painting comes first, it dictates the subject matter. Its been very useful for ideas for future work. Ashley’s a very passionate, selfless teacher. He tries to get into the mindset of each student and find out what they want to achieve. He really gives of himself. Excellent.

Kate Newington April 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Discerning Eye & The National Open Art Competition

Some great news this week, the first painting in Ashley's New York Trilogy series 'City of Glass 1' has been selected for The National Open Art Competition to be held at the Minerva Theatre,  Chichester 11th - 21st October. The show then moves on to The Princes Foundation Gallery in Hoxton, London 24th October - 1st November.See link for more details. www.thenationalopenartcompetition.com/index.php

 
In addition 'Charlestown 7' has been picked for this year's Discerning Eye Exhibition 15th - 23rd November at The Mall Galleries, London SW1 www.discerningeye.org/index.php

 
Also in November, Ashley will be showing the complete 'New York Trilogy' series  at Canvas & Cream Gallery in Forest Hill, London 7th - 22 November. You may remeber that 'City of Glass 1' was one of Ashley's prizewinning paintings at the gallery in February earlier this year.   http://www.canvasandcream.com/2012/01/ashley-hanson/



Hotel Penzance Exhibition

Ashley has his next solo show 'Colour & Coast',  6th October - 3rd November at the Bay Restaurant and Gallery, Hotel Penzance. There will be a good selection of Cornish paintings including work from his Porthleven, Charlestown and Penzance series.

The gallery is open daily 11am - 4pm. www.hotelpenzance.com/galleries-in-penzance.

September Painting Holiday

We are very much looking forward to meeting our guests-artists new and old on our 'Freedom in Painting in the Cornish Coastal Landscape' Holiday next week and are delighted to say we are now fully booked. Let's hope the weather is kind to us. Regardless of the weather, we do hope you all find the experience worthwhile, inspiring and fun.

Part-Time Art Course with Ashley at Truro College

Ashley will be hosting his 'Colour & Coast' evening class at Truro College from Wednesday 3rd October once again.This is a great opportunity to work with Ashley over a 10 week period and develop your painting knowledge and experience. Using the 'Coast' as our theme, students will explore the principles of colour-mixing, composition and oil/acrylic painting techniques and application. As always, Ashley will be hands on demonstrating and sharing many tips and techniques.  

The course is suitable for all abilities and you are free to work in any meduim, although Ashley's speciality is oils.
For more details contact Truro College on 01872 265800 or see link
www.truro-penwith.ac.uk/pt/colour-coast-painting-with-ashley-hanson-2/

Working together with Adventure Temples

We are delighted to tell you about some exciting developments with our Painting Workshops and Painting Holidays. We are now working closely with Adventure Temples, specialists in sourcing a host of high quality and specialist activities for people holidaying in Cornwall. Rest assured this will not have any affect on us looking after our  local people who attend Ashley's workshops, as they will be helping us to support our local courses. If anything they will help us to extend what we already do, by enabling us to offer a wider range of workshop options for the future with Ashley, offering his wealth of knowledge and experience in painting, as always, at excellent value. For more information and a wider insight into Adventure Temples see  http://www.prweb.com/releases/Adventure_Butler_Service/Inspired_Luxury_Holidays/prweb9654352.htm

Our next workshop 'Colour & Coast,' Sat 28th July & Sat 4th Aug is very much connected to Ashley's own art practice, his love of colour and inspiration from the coastal landscape. Come and join us in a friendly, relaxed and informal setting.

Using the 'Coast' as our theme, students will explore the principles of colour- mixing and how to use colour effectively amd creatively. Other areas covered during the workshop  include composition and oil/acrylic painting application. Ashley will be hands on demonstrating and sharing many tips and techniques. This workshop is suitable for all abilities and Ashley will introduce some new exercises and surprises for those of you who have taken part before.