Classes and Workshops
Having recently moved to the beautiful North Coast of Cornwall, I am now running small group art courses for all skill levels. I will be teaching from my own light and airy studio, providing step-by-step demonstrations, group and individual instruction on painting and drawing techniques, exploring a wide range of subjects such as; landscape, seascapes and water, still life, flowers and garden, portraiture, figure painting, animal and wildlife, townscapes and perspective, abstract and collage.
I try to design the courses to be as varied as possible and demonstrate essential techniques in; watercolour, acrylic, oil, mixed-media, gouache, pastel, drawing, line and wash, pen and ink and charcoal.
All Courses are fun and informal, aimed at both beginners and improvers with plenty of encouragement throughout.
Come along, learn some new techniques and be creative! There is ample free parking and free tea, coffee and biscuits on tap.
New Courses For Summer 2022
Drawing and painting the Cornish Coast
27th – 29th June 10am-4pm Only 2 places left
20th - 22nd Sept SOLD OUT
Cost £250:00
On this exciting three-day workshop we will sketch and explore different painting approaches to capture the beauty of Cornwall’s coastline. Using various painting and drawing techniques we will experiment with pencil, ink, charcoal, pastel and paint. All levels of experience are welcome. Most materials are supplied on the course, together with 1 evening meal, 3 lunches and all tuition.
Painting the sea in Mixed-media; watercolour, coloured pencil and pastel
Saturday 23rd July 10am – 4pm
Cost £75
One-day mixed-media painting workshop at the converted barn at Newmills. On this exciting one-day workshop I will be encouraging an experimental approach to large wave paintings, capturing the unique light of the Cornish coast and the unpredictable nature of the sea. All materials provided.
Watercolour bees and flowers
13th & 14th August 10am - 3pm; 3rd & 4th September 10am – 3pm
Cost £95
Join me for a fun weekend of painting watercolour bees and flowers. This workshop is aimed at improvers with plenty of demonstrations and encouragement throughout. Each workshop is limited to just 6 students with staged demonstrations and individual tuition to take you through the steps to create your own beautiful artwork. You will need to bring along your own basic materials,
En plein air Drawing and painting workshop
Saturday 20th August 10am-3pm
Cost £65
On this exciting one-day workshop we will make the most of the North Cornish Coast for inspiration. You'll be immersed in nature, inspired by the beauty of your surroundings, the ideal location to explore and experiment with pencil, ink, charcoal, pastel and paint. All levels of experience are welcome. Basic materials will be provided.
*Bookings are being taken now and numbers are limited. Booking early is essential to avoid disappointment.
Phone: 07956 055878 email: micheleilling@aol.com or see contact page.
I will be offering more classes and workshops in the near future. Please stay in touch to keep updated.
One to One Tuition
Prices start at £90 for a 2hr lesson.
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I also offer private one to one sessions at Newmill Farm. One to one tuition is a great way to learn, you get undivided attention and encouragement to work at your own pace in a relaxed atmosphere.
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Previous Courses
Painting Courses and 1 day workshops information and prices:
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Please note I will be running all workshops in line with current Covid guidance
Watercolour painting for beginners. Initial 5 week course:
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A weekly painting course designed to inspire and help you build your confidence in a fun, supportive, friendly atmosphere.
Ideal for the beginner, the course will guide you through some of the key methods and materials used by watercolour painters. I will show you how to draw in a simple way, focus on compositional elements to improve your painting and help you understand principles of colour theory. By the end of the course you will have at least two finished watercolour paintings to be proud of. If wished, I will offer follow up courses to take you to the next level.
Maximum of 6 in a group. £125 per person.
Course begins Monday 1st November - Monday 29th November 2021 10am-12.30pm
Materials needed:You will need to bring along your own basic materials: watercolour paper, brushes and watercolour paints. I will provide a comprehensive list when booking.
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Examples of paintings you could achieve on this course :
Watercolour painting: improvers course. Initial 5 week course:
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This course is ideal for those who have some experience of watercolour painting and wish to take their skills to the next level. Learn to hone your artistic skills and breathe new life into your paintings.
Maximum of 6 in a group. £125 per person
Monday 1st November - 29th November 2021 1.30pm-4pm
Materials needed: You will need to bring along your own basic materials: watercolour paper, brushes and watercolour paints. I will provide a comprehensive list when booking.
Examples of paintings you could achieve on this course:
Line and watercolour wash. Initial 5 week course:
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In this course you'll learn the effective technique of line and wash. Create eye-catching paintings - from simple florals through to more intricate scenes.
Maximum of 6 in a group. £125 per person
Wednesday 3rd November - Wednesday 1st December 2021 10am-12.30pm
Materials needed:you will need to bring along your own basic materials: watercolour paper, brushes, watercolour paints, permanent ink and and a few ink pens. I will provide a comprehensive list when booking.
Examples of paintings you could achieve on this course:
Expressive pen and ink drawing. Initial 5 week course:
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Learn how to create expressive ink drawings using a range of different tools.
In this course, you'll learn several techniques for using dip pens, brush pens, biros, ball points, natural bamboo, fibre tipped pens and technical pens. We will start with simple line drawings and progress to detailed cross hatching and tonal line and wash.
Maximum of 6 in a group. £125 per person
Wednesday 3rd November - Wednesday 1st December 2021 1.30pm-4pm
Materials needed:You will need to bring along your own basic materials: paper, brushes, black ink and some ink pens. I will provide a comprehensive list when booking.
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Examples of paintings you could achieve on this course:
Watercolour Flower painting 1 day workshops:
These 1 day workshops will build your skills so you can create expressive watercolour flower paintings. Learn the art of mixing, using different brush strokes and wash techniques and create paintings to be proud of.
Materials needed:You will need to bring along your own basic materials: watercolour paper, brushes and watercolour paints. I will provide a comprehensive list when booking.
Dates:
Friday 26th November 9.30am-3.30pm
Friday 10th December 9.30am-3.30pm
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Maximum of 6 participants. £60 per person per workshop
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Tea, coffee and biscuits will be supplied but please bring your own packed lunch
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Examples of paintings you could achieve on this course:
Testimonials
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"I have known Michele Illing for 2 years and have attended one of her weekly 2 hour classes, over that time.
Michele has proven to be fountain of knowledge in the use of all media and she sets a challenging assignment each week, to stretch all of us. Her watercolour challenges are both bold and delicate and show a great command of this medium.
Her teaching style is, to start with a fluid competent demonstration, which instills confidence in us all, which she then follows up with individual tuition throughout the lesson. She will often take a break from the subject to demonstrate a technique, or a 'trick of the trade', from a professional point.
I have been to other classes, but never felt I was being challenged as I am with Michele.
Michele has had a number of exhibitions over the years, where I have seen and admired her work before attending her classes.
I wholeheartedly recommend her as a tutor and professional artist."
Yours sincerely,
Heather Renouf
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"I have been a pupil of Michele's for the past twelve years, initially in an art class for 'beginners watercolour'. As a retired Geography
teacher, I was keen to put colour onto my drawings. I could not have chosen a better tutor. From the beginning, she guided the class through the properties of the medium and allowed us to experiment with challenging topics and effects, supporting as we went along. Always well prepared with several examples of the work in various stages of completion, she would then proceed to take the class through the painting, demonstrating the processes. Later, the class moved on to other mediums and we are gently encouraged to develop our own style and interpretation.
Michele's approach is calm and positive, always there to advise and coax one into finding the way forward, without taking over. Her references often take one out of the 'comfort zone', which is the very reason the students in her classes have been so loyal, challenging, kind and positive in her consideration of the work, she would be an asset to any organisation. Her own skills in art need no explanation, I feel privileged to be a student of hers."
Halina Martin .