Painting Calm: A Mindful Easter Retreat in Watercolours

At the Easter weekend, our studio became a tranquil creative haven as we hosted our first Painting Calm workshop of the year. While the world outside buzzed with holiday energy, inside we embraced the quiet joy of watercolours—a perfect way to balance the festive season with moments of peaceful creation.

An Untutored Easter Escape

Held on the Sunday of the long Easter weekend, this self-guided watercolour session offered a different kind of holiday activity—one of slowing down and reconnecting with creativity. As your facilitator, I provided gentle support and demonstrations when needed, but the true magic came from each artist's personal exploration of the medium.

Our Easter-themed still life featured:

• Delicate spring blooms (daffodils and hyacinths)

• Pastel-coloured eggs nestled in textured nests

• Sunlit citrus slices and flowing fabrics

• Fresh greenery symbolising renewal

 Why Watercolours for Easter Mindfulness?

The medium's natural qualities mirrored our seasonal themes:

• The rebirth of colours as they bloomed on wet paper

• The patience required between layers, like waiting for Easter's arrival

• The lightness of translucent washes, echoing spring's delicate energy

 

What's Next for Seasonal Painting Calm?

This Easter edition has inspired ideas for future holiday workshops:

·      Summer solstice watercolours with golden light effects

·      Autumn equinox in rich, earthy tones

·      Winter light studies during the festive season

Life Drawing in Gold: A Klimt-Inspired Evening of Figure and Flow

There’s a particular kind of magic that happens when life drawing meets the decadent world of Gustav Klimt. Our recent session was no exception—the studio was glowing, not only with golden hues and candlelight, but with the kind of creative energy that only comes from a room full of people deeply engaged in the act of looking and making.

We began the evening with a short introduction to Klimt’s work—his reverence for the human form, his lavish use of gold leaf, and that sensual quality that runs just beneath the surface of his figures. I encouraged everyone to look beyond anatomy and consider the emotional architecture of the pose—how a hand rests, how a spine curves, how gesture carries mood.

Our model held a series of standing and reclining poses, each inspired by the flowing lines and graceful asymmetry so characteristic of Klimt. One particularly striking pose involved a gentle twist through the torso, the spine creating a soft, natural arc that echoed the decorative spirals so often seen in his work. Artists were invited to observe not just the form, but the movement beneath the surface—the subtle shifts in weight, the story told through posture.

To add a touch of Klimt’s signature style, we introduced metallic elements into the drawings. Charcoal and graphite were paired with gold leaf, gilding pens, and fragments of textured paper. The contrast between rough marks and shimmering detail created a rich interplay between the expressive and the ornate.

The studio was filled with that lovely, focused quiet—the kind you get when people are truly immersed. Occasional sips of wine, the gentle scratch of pencil on paper, and soft conversation added to the atmosphere. It was a joy to watch each artist interpret the model in their own way—some drawings were delicate and minimal, others bold and embellished.

This session reminded me just how timeless the figure is. Whether stripped back to pure gesture or adorned with gold, the human body remains one of the most powerful vehicles for visual storytelling.

I’m already dreaming up our next theme—perhaps something in the spirit of Egon Schiele or a chiaroscuro session in homage to Rembrandt. Until then, thank you to everyone who came and brought such warmth, curiosity, and creative spark.

Life Drawing Session Inspired by Macbeth: Where Art Meets Drama

Art and literature have always shared a deep connection, each inspiring the other to new heights of creativity. In our latest life drawing class, we decided to blend these two worlds by drawing inspiration from one of Shakespeare’s most iconic tragedies: Macbeth. The result? A captivating session that brought the drama, emotion, and intensity of the play to life through the strokes of a pencil.

The Concept: Shakespeare Meets Sketching

Macbeth is a story of ambition, power, betrayal, and madness—a treasure trove of dramatic themes and vivid imagery. Our goal was to channel these elements into a life drawing class that would challenge participants to think beyond the traditional and infuse their artwork with storytelling and emotion.

We recreated scenes and characters from the play, using costumes, props, and dramatic lighting to set the stage. From the brooding figure of Macbeth to the haunting presence of the three witches, our models embodied the essence of Shakespeare’s characters, providing endless inspiration for the artists in the room.

The Session: Drama in Every Stroke

The class began with a brief introduction to Macbeth, highlighting key themes and moments that would guide the drawing exercises. Participants were encouraged to think about how they could convey emotion, tension, and narrative through their sketches.

Warm-Up: Capturing Emotion

We started with quick, gestural sketches to capture the raw emotions of the characters. The model posed as Macbeth in moments of doubt, Lady Macbeth in her descent into madness, and the witches in their eerie, otherworldly presence. These short poses helped participants loosen up and focus on expressing mood and movement.

Main Session: Storytelling Through Art

For the longer poses, we recreated iconic scenes from the play, such as Macbeth holding an imaginary dagger, his face twisted with guilt and ambition. Other poses depicted Lady Macbeth, her hands outstretched as if trying to wash away invisible blood, and The witches, cloaked in dark robes, huddled together, exuding mystery and menace.

Participants were challenged to not only capture the physical form but also to convey the story and emotion behind each pose. The room was filled with intense focus as artists experimented with shading, composition, and line work to bring the drama to life on paper.

The Finale: A Gallery of Dark Art

At the end of the session, we held a mini gallery showcase where participants displayed their work. The variety of interpretations was astounding—some sketches were dark and brooding, others fluid and expressive, but all captured the essence of Macbeth in unique ways.

What Made It Special

• Immersive Atmosphere: The use of costumes, props, and dramatic lighting transported participants into the world of Macbeth.

• Emotional Depth: Drawing from such a rich narrative encouraged artists to think beyond technique and focus on storytelling.

• Creative Challenge: The class pushed participants out of their comfort zones, inspiring them to experiment with new styles and approaches.

 Why Combine Life Drawing with Literature?

Blending life drawing with literary inspiration adds a new layer of depth to the artistic process. It encourages participants to think critically about emotion, narrative, and symbolism, transforming a simple drawing session into a multidimensional creative experience.

For those who attended, the Macbeth-inspired life drawing class was more than just an art session—it was a journey into the heart of one of literature’s greatest tragedies, brought to life through the power of art.

Join Us for the Next Chapter

If you missed this session, don’t worry! We’re already planning our next literary-inspired life drawing class. Whether it’s the romance of Pride and Prejudice or the mystery of Sherlock Holmes, there’s always a new story to explore through art.

The Magic of Watercolours: A Beginner’s Guide to Getting Started

Watercolour painting is often described as one of the most magical and versatile mediums in the art world. Its fluidity, transparency, and unpredictability make it both challenging and deeply rewarding. If you’ve ever wanted to try watercolours but didn’t know where to start, this blog is for you.

Why Watercolours?
Watercolours are perfect for capturing the delicate beauty of nature, from flowing rivers to soft, blooming flowers. They are also highly portable, making them ideal for plein air painting or quick sketches on the go.

Watercolour painting thrives on unpredictability. Unlike oils or acrylics, which rely on control and layering, watercolours embrace an element of chance, rewarding artists who allow the pigments and water to flow organically. In a recent session, I encouraged my students to let go of rigid expectations and embrace the fluid nature of the medium, creating luminous, delicate effects.

Embracing the Flow

One of the fundamental joys of watercolour is its ability to flow and blend in unexpected ways. Instead of fighting the medium, I urged my students to work with it—tilting their papers, adding splashes of water, and letting pigments merge naturally. By relinquishing control, they discovered that even so-called mistakes could lead to breathtaking textures and colour variations.

We also explored wet-on-wet techniques, allowing soft edges to form and create atmospheric depth. The key takeaway? Watercolour rewards patience and intuition, encouraging artists to work in harmony with its spontaneous character.

 In my Watercolour for Beginners Course, I covered a range of essential topics to help new artists get started with confidence. Here’s a breakdown of what we explored:

Getting Started: Essential Supplies

• Paints: Start with a basic set of student-grade watercolours. Look for tubes or pans in primary colours (red, blue, yellow) to mix your own shades.

• Brushes: A round brush (size 6 or 8) and a flat brush are great for beginners.

• Paper: Use watercolour paper (140lb/300gsm) to prevent warping. Cold-pressed paper has a nice texture for most techniques.

• Palette: A simple plastic palette with wells for mixing colours will do.

Basic Techniques to Try

• Wet-on-Wet: Apply water to the paper first, then add paint for soft, blended effects.

• Wet-on-Dry: Paint directly onto dry paper for sharper, more controlled lines.

• Layering: Build up colours gradually by letting each layer dry before adding the next.

Watercolour painting is a journey, and every brushstroke brings you closer to mastering this beautiful medium. So, grab your supplies, and let’s get painting!