Realism v Abstract Landscape Painting

with Richard Stuttle

As artists we are constantly learning, a day's painting tuition can really help develop your drawing and painting skills. By understanding more about perspective, composition, colour and tone we can progress our abilities. Painting from life and changing styles are a couple of the best ways to develop more advanced oil and watercolour techniques. 

Stepping out of your comfort zone I thought an interesting exercise for this year's painting course would be to split the day into two sections. The overall course will focus on landscape painting but looking at your work from different perspectives, mindsets and paintings styles. 

Start the day with an introduction to landscape art, a little bit about my artistic background, working processes and painting styles.

Asking each artist the following questions; What do you want to achieve today?

Which direction would you like to take your art? 

Realist Landscape
The morning sessions focus is on a more traditional approach to art, looking at each stage of the painting process. Tuition and guidance in what to look for at each stage and certain details you might want to include in your painting.
Quick sketching and finding the right subject
Composition and structure
Underpainting and colour palette
Movement in your art
Working on colour, atmosphere and detail
Show your work, discuss and offer feedback

Abstract Landscape
In the afternoon looking into reinventing your morning's work in an abstract style, Thinking more about meaning, feeling and symbolism than a realistic representation.

Abstracting the abstract from your morning's work and thinking more about feeling, meaning and symbolism.
Highlights from your morning's work
Abstract composition
Colour palette and meaning
Thoughts behind your choices
Movement and energy in your work
Show your work, discuss and offer feedback
This days course covers different aspects of painting, course content will be tailored to the group or individuals needs.

Finishing the Day
A discussion showing off both your paintings side by side asking what each work conveys and where each painting takes the viewer.
What did you achieve today?
Where did you take your art?

Artists Statement
I've always been interested in art and have a great love for the old masters; Rembrandt, Turner and Caravaggio are a few of my favourites. 

Painting a picture requires time and energy, thought and vision. A painting highlights the feeling and atmosphere of a scene, the world is an interpretation of what is seen through the eyes of the individual. This simply makes art purely unique to the artist who had the thought to create it.

Please come to the foyer area of The Spa fifteen minutes before the workshop start time to help the ArtWaves Team direct you where you need to be. 

What you need to bring with you:

Painting equipment
Easels (personal choice)
Canvas or paper
Paints and brushes

Artist Website: www.richardstuttle.com