Painting Holidays in Capileira Andalucia Spain_your tutor for painting holidays

As an ex- Head of Art at a mainstream Grammar school in the South West of England, I have twenty years of experience and a solid foundation of knowledge and experience of the processes by which different individuals learn. I have found that students needs vary according to their temperament, background, aptitude, experience, mood, and a host of other variables, and that to teach successfully I must tailor my methods to the individual student's requirements.

Some people require the stimulus of a rigorous challenge, others just need gentle support and encouragement. Occasionally students feel stuck and need new ideas and fresh in-put to regenerate their enthusiasm and creativity.
Drawing and painting is an essentially solitary activity, even when a group of painters go off adventuring together, but the companionship and exchange that occurs during excursions is always mutually enriching. We are all constantly engaged in the process of discovery and development as artists, and happily this is for me a potentially endless adventure!

For a closer look, click on the image

My educational philosophy is that a positive and encouraging approach to my student's development is essential. My function is to help students formulate their own aims and objectives, whilst at the same time offering conceptual skills and practical techniques which will move them towards achieving their goals. It is also very important for me that the whole experience should be enjoyable and lots of fun! Whilst being keen to help people learn, I am very aware that this is after all a holiday, and for some a precious chance to unwind and relax. You are free to set your own limits as to how much effort you want to make.

	My aim in offering art courses is to ensure that the confidence and enthusiasm of my students, from the complete beginner through to the more experienced client, develops to the extent that they will want to return to this beautiful region for further careful tuition. I measure my success by how much I am able to inspire people to discover their potential and achieve more, and also by how much they have enjoyed their stay.



	COURSE CONTENT Whether you have worked steadily for years to develop your drawing and painting skills, or have not picked up a brush since leaving school, I believe I can provide new insights and tips on techniques that will enable you to make progress as an artist. In order to ensure that course content can be tailored to individual needs, we ask you, upon receipt of a firm booking, to complete and return to us a short questionnaire. This covers your assessment of your drawing and painting skills, your preferred medium, your particular artistic interests and objectives, and information about your experience to date. We also ask you to send or bring with you a sample of your work so that I can evaluate your needs. As your tutor I see this preparation as a vital diagnostic tool in providing a successful painting holiday experience.

Topics that could be covered might include:

DRAWING:	Perhaps the most important core skill! Ways and means to develop and improve your abilities.
COMPOSITION:	Balance and focus of interest, how to use a viewfinder effectively, variety and contrast.
COLOUR:	Transparent and opaque pigments, their uses and applications, aerial perspective, chromatic greys, tonal values and their analysis, and of course colour mixing.
PAINT HANDLING:	Working wet-in-wet, dry brush techniques, layering and scumbling, underpainting and glazing, using masking devices and other special effects.
MATERIALS:	The characteristics of pigments, brushes, painting supports, choice of equipment, sketchbooks, presentation of your work.

For a closer look, click on the image

For a closer look, click on the image

Tuition is offered on these and other topics in a fairly structured way, and tailored to meet individual aims and objectives, as I believe the developing artist learns faster and with greater confidence given the right guidance. You will however be free to explore, experiment, and to find your own way, with my support, if you so prefer.
Groups will be small, a maximum of six to eight students, allowing plenty of scope for one-to-one attention. Advice on the choice of materials and equipment will be provided on receipt of a firm booking, but it is not necessary to go to a lot of expense. A few well chosen items will serve you better than a lot of unnecessary baggage. Details of reputable mail order companies supplying good art materials and offering value for money will also be provided.

We will work directly from observation on location around the village and it’s environs, the day being split into two sessions of about three hours each, with time for a siesta or a long lazy lunch in between.

There will be one free day for you to explore the area, visit the Alhambra (www.alhambradegranada.org), go shopping in Granada, or just to practise your newly acquired skills on your own.

Evaluation is an important part of learning to assess your own work, and this will be offered regularly throughout the course, and in a written report at the end if required. As a practitioner myself, I know how invaluable this element is. I also know how important it is that this process must be both constructive and enjoyable.



			For a closer look on any of the above, click on the image

You can now watch Maggy's on-line video on some painting tips by pressing on the video button opposite


	Arte Andalucia Painting Holidays, Capileira, Nr Granada, Spain. Tel: +34 958 763464 - From the UK (national call rates): 0870 30 60 376 Email: info@arteandalucia.com