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.