May 2015 Painting Holiday in Cornwall - Photos & Update

Rock and the Camel Estuary

We were very much looking forward to meeting our May painting holiday group as we had a number of artists returning from previous years (Sigi from Canada and Elizabeth and Antonia from last year's holiday) along with welcoming our new artists who had  all signed up to the  'Freedom in Painting' experience.

A fantastic week followed that inspired the group to produce some amazing results by the end of the holiday. Here is an insight into what we got up to...

Elizabeth sketching at Rock

Day 1 - The North Coast. Rock and the Camel Estuary looked breath taking. The sun shone on us all day and the changing colours of the sea and altering shapes of the sandbanks were quite magical. Ashley brought the group together to begin the day sketching before everyone was encouraged to find their own special place to draw or paint from.  He then chatted and discussed the sketches and studies individually with everyone throughout the morning. Our artists were just warming up!

Rocky beach at Porth Quinn

Hazel sketching at Port Quinn

After breaking for a delicious lunch at the Longcross Hotel, we headed five minutes up the road to Port Quinn our  location for the afternoon. This place is a wonderful contrast to the calm sea of the Camel Estuary and the group enjoyed the diversity of the landscape. Once again Ashley began the afternoon with a drawing challenge on the small rocky beach before taking the group up onto the cliff tops, for some spectacular views to work from.

Polperro Harbour

Antonia painting at Polperro

Day 2 - The South Coast. Polperro our morning location was just waking up when we arrived, so an ideal time to visit this traditional Cornish fishing village and harbour. Ashley began the morning with  a series of sketching exercises from different viewpoints and he then encouraged the group to start looking/thinking about ideas 

for paintings, whilst making their studies. A hearty lunch followed at the Blue Peter Inn and we were then refreshed and ready to move on.

Kate painting at Polruan

Polruan was our final south coast destination and it didn't disappoint. The 360 degree panoramic  views were stunning as always and here Ashley introduced some linear exercises before our artists were encouraged to draw or paint from their own personal viewpoint. For those who wanted, there was more amazing landscape to see and paint/sketch from along the way down to the ancient ruins of the Blockhouse and harbour. The difficult task of processing and editing all the work from the past two days would begin in earnest tomorrow!

Carol's studies in the studio

Day 3- 4  The Village Hall at St Breward , high on Bodmin Moor was our studio for the next two days. The first morning was devoted to group exercises exploring colour and composition with the artists editing and abstracting from their own drawings. After a break for lunch at The Old Inn pub (conveniently located next door) the artists began working on their paintings. Everyone was asked to work on two pieces simultaneously developing their studies and ideas further.

Ashley 'in action' demonstrating techniques 

Over the two days Ashley discussed the work of some of his favourite artists and demonstrated many of his painting tips and techniques, including numerous ways of mark- making and applying paint  . Under his guidance everyone was encouraged and inspired to move out of their comfort zone and   take their painting somewhere new. The finale as always was an indepth group critique which the artists found both enjoyable and invaluable, a wonderful shared experience.

Ashley working with Hazel

In the studio

After the intensity of working over the past few days our artists certainly earned their celebratory dinner on Friday evening and enjoyed a quick pint at The Globe Inn before settling down to a superb three course meal at Asquiths Restaurant in Lostwithiel.

Thanks once again Sally and Graham for looking after us so well.

Antonia Glynne Jones painting

Diane Bedser's painting

Philippa Hutton's painting

Elizabeth Aspinall's painting

Kate Watkins painting

We had a terrific week with you all and the dedication you gave to your paintings really shone through. Thanks for joining us and we really hope you felt the benefit of Ashley's guidance and tuition . We would also like to thank all of our contributors that help to make our painting holidays a success.

We do hope to see you again soon!

Philippa Langton's painting

If you would like to join us on our 21st - 26th September painting holiday in Cornwall 2015, there are still places available. For lots more information see the website here. If you would like to make an enquiry or booking contact Denise or call 01208 77656.

Hazel Crawford's painting

Carol Hayslip's painting

Sigi Johnson's painting

Photos and write up by Denise Hanson

Photos & Update on our September Painting Holiday in Cornwall

Port Isaac- Day 1

We were delighted to be welcoming our artists from all over the UK to our September 'Freedom in Painting Holiday in Cornwall,' including John and his wife Jenny from Kent, (who rebooked after coming on our May holiday earlier this year) and Nicola our prize winner of the Great Art Postcard challenge, from as far a field as Scotland near John O' Groats!

For any artist Cornwall is inspirational whatever the weather but we were fortunate again to have
fabulous weather, helping to enrich the week's experience for everyone.

Day 1 - The North Coast

Beryl in Port Isaac

 Port Isaac our morning location was spectacular. Ashley took the group to a number of different viewpoints where everyone was encouraged to make quick sketches before finding their own special place to work from. The difficulty was, how to capture the vastness of this wonderful landscape? Quite a challenge for any artist! 




Erica & Antonia in Trebarwith Strand

By the time we reached our afternoon location, Trebarwith Strand, we were building up a good appetite. A hearty lunch at The Port William Inn, (overlooking the bay) followed and everyone couldn't wait to get started for the afternoon drawing  /painting session. Here, Ashley spent time with each artist individually, discussing their composition and helping them to use a different approach to looking and sketching/painting the landscape .

Light, shape, shade and colour were all taking shape on canvases and sketchbooks  - this was just the begining!

The Group in Charlestown

Day 2 - The South Coast 
Charlestown , our first stop and  a very special place for Ashley. The harbour has a dramatic presence and even though on previous visits with our group the heavens have opened, this time the sun shone (except for a fleeting shower) and Charlestown was both striking and tranquil. Ashley started the morning with a brief drawing demonstration followed by some group sketching exercises helping the artists to simplify their drawings, looking at shapes, lines and contours.

Kate in Charlestown

They then went on to sketch /paint individually whilst Ashley checked in with them, giving input  and encouragement. Lunch was at the trusted Pier House Hotel opposite the harbour and then it was time to head for Fowey where we caught the ferry to Polruan, our afternoon destination.






Once again everyone enjoyed the diversity of the location and the panoramic view from the top of Polruan Hill was definitely worth the climb. It was time to make sure everyone was fired up with plenty of studies to take with them into the studio for tomorrow!

Panorama at the top of Polruan Hill

Ashley Demonstrating

Day 3 - 4 In the Studio, situated at the top of Bodmin Moor 
Ashley began the first day with a variety of demonstrations and colour exercises, he then shook things up a bit with the introduction of words to highlight and demonstrate movement, mark-making and finding different ways to put paint down. 

Joy's Painting in Progress

Some exciting paintings started emerging but were they finished yet or where they just opening up the possibilities in painting? 

Erica's Painting in Progress

Nicola our PrizeWinner

Joy, Nicola, Erica & Antonia

The last studio day allowed the artists to focus on their own paintings with Ashley mentoring each person throughout the day. As well as demonstrations , there was time for discussion and listening to discover what each each artist hoped to achieve in their work and Ashley set out to direct and encourage. 

Beryl discussing work with Ashley

By the end of the two days the paintings really started to take shape with some really exciting, colourful work coming through and although the subject matter may have been the same, each artist produced something entirely different, finding their own unique style and pathway.

Joy's Painting

Antonia's Painting

Nicola's Painting

The last day in the studio concluded with an invaluable  critique about the work where the whole group looked constructively at each others paintings and contributed to the discussion.

John's Painting

Erica's Painting

Beryl's Painting

Francine's Painting

Kate's Painting

Thanks to The Old Inn, St Breward for looking after all again for lunch over the two days - it was perfect!

And of cause our week wouldn't be the same without our wonderful Friday evening meal at Asquiths Restaurant, Lostwithiel. (After a swift pint in the 13th century The Globe Inn). Thank-you Graham, Sally and staff, as always the food was top notch and your care and attention to detail, exceptional!

Friday Evening at Asquiths Restaurant

Thanks  to everyone for signing up to 'Freedom in Painting in Cornwall', you were a great group (yet again) and we hope you enjoyed yourself as much as we did and found the course both inspiring and beneficial. We look forward to seeing (and hearing ) about your future work and hope that we might see you again soon!

Denise & Ashley

Nicola won the Great Art postcard challenge with this entry. We hope you agree it was very well deserved. She also writes a blog and if you would like to read about her own experience with us on the painting holiday , you can read about it here.

We also have some exciting news from Kate Dove who was came on the holiday. She has been short listed for the Artist of the Year Award with the Artist & Illustrator magazine. Well done, Kate!




We now have our painting holiday dates for next year:

Mon 11th - Sat 16th May & Mon 21st - Sat 26th September 2015

If you are interested in finding out more or would like to be included on our mailing list for information on courses/holidays or exhibitions, contact denise@ashleyhanson.co.uk or call 01208 77656 .
See also www.ashleyhanson.co.uk for more information about Ashley's art practice, exhibitions & previous holidays etc.  

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