Archives for September 2020

Tim Wilmot‘s watercolours are a delight and we are looking forward to welcoming again to the Watermill for another stimulating painting course this autumn.

We are looking forward to meeting up again with Tim for his course in watercolours, which will run from Saturday 2 October to Saturday, 9 October 2021.

I have made one of those fun, 30-second Facebook slideshows with these and other of Tim’s evocative watercolours, which you can see by clicking here.

Tim Wilmot is an artist from Bristol in the UK, specialising in watercolours, exploiting the medium with tone and light. Tim says: “I seem to have an affinity with painting landscapes, although I have dabbled with portraits and still life in the past, but always come back to landscapes. I prefer a loose or impressionistic style when I paint my watercolour landscapes, and I hope you like their informality.” His vibrant picture above is of The Watermill and river.

As well as an exciting artist, Tim is also an inspiring teacher and on his course, suitable for all levels, he’ll help you to improve your drawing skills, loosen up your style, learn how to incorporate figures in a landscape as well as nurturing you own artistic ambitions.

Here’s a comment from a student on Tim’s course here last year: “Everything was perfect, your welcome, the luxurious accommodation, and the delicious food, Tim’s tuition was first-class and it was lovely to be able to sit and paint all day.”

Everything is included in the cost of your holiday at the watermill: tuition, accommodation, pre-dinner aperitifs, all meals and wines (including outings to charming local restaurants) and all local transportation (including transfers to Pisa airport and an excursion by train to Lucca or the Cinque Terre).

You get to Pisa, Italy, we do the rest!

And you will be Cool and Green: all our rooms are air-conditioned, powered by photovoltaic panels which make us self-sufficient in electricity.

Tim Wilmot 

Saturday 2 October to Saturday 9 October 2021 

Watercolours

To learn more about Tim and his week at the Watermill, please click here.

Come and join us and make 2021 a year to remember.

We have lost count of the number of painting courses we have run with our friend Charles Sluga, but it must be five or so now, and we have fond memories of his passionate teaching and entertaining company. So we are looking forward to meeting up again for Charles’s course in watercolours (and acrylics and oils), which will run from Saturday 25 September to Saturday, 2 October 2021.

Charles Sluga is a highly respected and sought-after watercolour artist in Australia, who has gained a reputation for his versatility in both his technique and choice of subject matter.

Charles is also skilled in acrylics and oils and is happy to teach in those media, too. He not only teaches technique, but also how to think and see as an artist. His friendliness, sense of humour and willingness to impart his knowledge makes his classes relaxed, informal and inspiring.

A comment from a previous student: “As well as being a talented artist, Charles is an extremely capable teacher:” Another said: “The most relaxing holiday I have had for a long time: lovely accommodation, exceptional food.”

I have just made one of those fun, 30-second Facebook slideshows with more of Charles’ outstanding paintings. You can see it by clicking here.

Everything is included in the cost of your holiday at the watermill: tuition, accommodation, pre-dinner aperitifs, all meals and wines (including outings to charming local restaurants) and all local transportation (including transfers to Pisa airport and an excursion by train to Lucca or the Cinque Terre).

You get to Pisa, Italy, we do the rest! And you will be Cool and Green: all our rooms are air-conditioned, powered by photovoltaic panels which make us self-sufficient in electricity.

Charles Sluga 

Saturday 25 September to Saturday 2 October 2021 

Watercolour and drawing (also gouache and acrylics)

To learn more about Charles and his week at the Watermill, please click here.

Come and join us and make 2021 a year to remember.

Brienne M Brown, from Pennsylvania in the USA, is passionate about watercolour and plein air painting. She says: “I find beauty in everyday life. Each painting reminds me of where I was, the experiences I had, the sounds, smells, and the people I met … and I enjoy sharing how I see the world.”  Brienne adds: “Painting in Italy is just a dream come true.” 

We are delighted to welcome her for her first course at the Watermill, in watercolours, which will run from Saturday 18 September to Saturday, 25 September 2021.

Using strong value sketches, bold washes, and quick energetic strokes, Brienne will show you how to bring excitement into your paintings. No watercolour skill is necessary, but some drawing experience is recommended.

A comment from a previous student: “Brienne goes through each step guiding you through the process clearly while demonstrating her techniques and approach. I would highly recommend her workshop to ANYONE, be it a beginner or an advanced painter.”

I love this quotation Brienne sent us:

I made a fun, 30-second Facebook slideshow of some more of Brienne’s lovely paintings, which you can see by clicking here.

Everything is included in the cost of your holiday at the watermill: tuition, accommodation, pre-dinner aperitifs, all meals and wines (including outings to charming local restaurants) and all local transportation (including transfers to Pisa airport and an excursion by train to Lucca or the Cinque Terre).

You get to Pisa, Italy, we do the rest!

And you will be Cool and Green: all our rooms are air-conditioned, powered by photovoltaic panels which make us self-sufficient in electricity.

Brienne Brown 

Saturday 18 September to Saturday 25 September 2021 

Watercolours

 To learn more about Brienne and her week at the Watermill, please click here.

Come and join us and make 2021 a year to remember.

We are delighted to welcome our first Indian painter, Milind Mulick, to the team of internationally renowned Watermill painting tutors.

Milind is a watercolour artist from Pune in India who was gained a remarkable reputation in his own country and, increasingly, worldwide, for his atmospheric watercolours. His course, which he calls Colourful Watercolours, will run from Saturday 11 September to Saturday 18 September 2021.

Milind has been painting in watercolours for more than 30 years, his artistic journey beginning in childhood following his father, also a painter. As well as being influenced by the great British watercolourists like Edward Wesson and Edward Siego, Milind has absorbed the styles of Indian artists too. He has won many awards and written a dozen books on watercolour painting.

Milind has also been teaching for many years. He says: “Teaching gives me great pleasure: I love meeting new people and helping them realise their artistic potential.” A previous student says: “Milind pours his heart and soul into his paintings and believes in spreading his knowledge.”

I have made one of those fun, 30-second Facebook slideshows with more of Milind’s colourful watercolours, which you can see by clicking here.

Everything is included in the cost of your holiday at the watermill: tuition, accommodation, pre-dinner aperitifs, all meals and wines (including outings to charming local restaurants) and all local transportation (including transfers to Pisa airport and an excursion by train to Lucca or the Cinque Terre).

You get to Pisa, Italy, we do the rest!

And you will be Cool and Green: all our rooms are air-conditioned, powered by photovoltaic panels which make us self-sufficient in electricity.

Milind Mulick 

Saturday 11 September to Saturday 18 September 2021 

‘Colourful Watercolours’  

To learn more about Milind and his week at the Watermill please click here

Come and join us and make 2021 a year to remember.

As well as being inspirational and fun, Mike Willdridge’s free, interactive, online painting sessions are creating a sense of international community in these difficult times.

A sunlit Italian seaside café, in the village of Vernazza in the Cinque Terre, was the latest subject, and as well as inspiring people to pick up their paintbrushes, the session engendered a great sense of camaraderie. I have selected just a few of the comments from participants’ latest emails to Lois:

Full of admiration for your get-up-and-go attitude in these horrid times.

In these times, the art sessions have helped enormously making me feel part of a group and an international one at that!  

Since we’re in the middle of a severe lockdown, the painting sessions with Mike have been a wonderful distraction with loads to learn.

Thank you and Mike yet again for your morale boosting lessons.  My husband took a look at my painting and said, “Perhaps we should go back to the Watermill“, so who knows, I hope so.

Mind you, it’s not all plain sailing:

Hello Lois, many thanks once again for hosting another of Mike’s watercolour classes, all very enjoyable if challenging! I’ve just realised I haven’t given the girl sitting at the table any legs!! Never mind, I’m obviously losing it…”

Many of the participants in these sessions send us their efforts at the end of the day. As usual, here is a montage of a few of them, chosen entirely at random. Thanks to all who sent in their pictures; apologies to those whose works were omitted. We simply don’t have space for them all.

You can see larger versions of some of the paintings in one of those 30-second Facebook slideshows, by clicking here.

We have organised more of these inspiring sessions, each of which can now take up to 500 people. They are designed to help you brush up your painting skills, and they are completely free, though many of our guests have generously sent us donations, for which many thanks. If you would like to donate (it is purely voluntary), Lois will tell you how to do so when you sign up for one or more of the sessions. (Details below.)

The next session will run on Thursday 15 October and, as usual, will be at 2.30 in the afternoon, British time. The next topic is ‘painting skies’. Here is a reference photograph:

The following weeks’ subjects are ‘flowers’ and an ‘autumnal scene with couple walking a dog’. The dates are 29 October and 12 November. You can register for all three, or one at a time.

When you register with Lois, she will send you more images, and a drawing of the scene, to inspire you.

Please register by using the Watermill contact form, which you can find by clicking here. Mark the topic as ‘Mike’s free interactive sessions.

Unlike many online painting programmes, Mike’s will not expect you to ‘look over his shoulder’ for a long demonstration, and perhaps be allowed to ask the odd question or two. No, you will be painting along at more or less the same time, trying out the watercolour techniques that Mike has shown you, step-by-step. He will demonstrate some basic techniques for only a few minutes before you start painting the same subject at home. Then, after you have had your turn, Mike will move onto the next part of the process. Lois will be on hand to feed your questions. The session will last a couple of hours.

Before each session Mike supplies a photograph and a drawing of what is going to be painted, and a list of equipment and colours for your palette. We will send these beforehand to all the participants in the session. After the session we will send you a link that will enable to you revisit Mike’s step-by-step teaching.

When you’ve enjoyed working with Mike online, why not join him for real, on his Watermill course next year?

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Mike Willdridge 

Saturday 4 September to Saturday 11 September 2021 

Watercolours and drawing (also gouache and acrylics)

To learn more about Mike and his week at the Watermill, please click here.

You can learn about all our renowned creative courses, in painting, creative writing, knitting and Italian language, by clicking here. We would love you to join us!

We are looking forward to welcoming back our Australian painting tutor Jude Scott, with whom we had a great couple of weeks a year or so ago. Jude will be back for her week-long course in Watercolours (& acrylics and oils), which will run from Saturday 28 August – Saturday 4 September 2021.

Jude is from Western Australia and has been creating, painting and teaching for many years. She enjoys watercolours for “their immediacy, unpredictability, translucency, dazzling colours and powerful tones” but she also paints in acrylics and oils. She says: I love a new challenge and paint all subjects – faces, florals, boats and landscapes.”

As for teaching, Jude says: “I love sharing what I have learnt over many years of painting and it is always a thrill watching ‘the artist within’ emerge from each individual student.”

One of her previous students says: “Jude was truly amazing, great tempo, strong knowledge base, strong interpersonal skills, just the right mix of doing and listening.” And a comment from a guest on Jude’s previous week at the Watermill: “Very many thanks for such a wonderful week. I trust your gorgeous corner of Tuscany continues to thrive with all the warmth and creativity…such a charming and memorable week.”

I have made one of those fun 30-second Facebook slideshows featuring more of Jude’s paintings, which you can see by clicking here.

Everything is included in the cost of your holiday at the watermill: tuition, accommodation, pre-dinner aperitifs, all meals and wines (including outings to charming local restaurants) and all local transportation (including transfers to Pisa airport and an excursion by train to Lucca or the Cinque Terre).

You get to Pisa, Italy, we do the rest!

And you will be Cool and Green: all our rooms are air-conditioned, powered by photovoltaic panels which make us self-sufficient in electricity.

Jude Scott 

Saturday 28 August to Saturday 4 September 2021 

Watercolours

 To learn more about Jude and her week at the Watermill, please click here.

Come and join us and make 2021 a year to remember.

We are delighted to announce that, in association with the Watermill, the versatile and talented English pastellist Rebecca de Mendonça is making a free, live, online demonstration of the art of using soft pastels.

Her subject is an evening view down the valley of the river Rosaro, looking towards the Watermill at Posara. (That’s Rebecca’s demonstration picture above.) The online session, which will be hosted by Lois Breckon, will be full of inspirational tips and will last about 45 minutes. You’ll have an opportunity to ask questions during the demonstration, and you will receive a materials list and a video of the session, to enable you to have a go yourself in your own time.

Rebecca says: “Come and be inspired to use soft pastels to capture the atmosphere of a September evening near the Watermill. As I demonstrate, I’ll explain how you can use a small selection of pastels to create depth in the landscape, and how to mix subtle blends of colours and tones.

“The session is suitable for both beginners and more experienced students. It doesn’t matter whether you have used pastels before or not.”

Rebecca’s free online session ‘An Evening in Tuscany’ will be online at 2:30pm English time on Thursday 1 October. You will need to register to see Rebecca’s demonstration and to receive the reference picture, a materials list and, afterwards, a video of the session.

Please register by using the Watermill Contact Form, which you can find by clicking here. Please mark the topic as ‘Rebecca’s free online pastel session’.

And when you’ve enjoyed watching Rebecca online, why not join her for real, on her Watermill course next year?

Rebecca’s teaching and painting are the result of a varied career in the arts. Having completed her degree in Theatre Design, she worked on projects ranging from Harrods Food Hall to the Phantom of the Opera and has been commissioned to paint dancers at English National Ballet and actors in West End Shows.

Her atmospheric pastel above is of an archway in the walled village of Verrucola, one of our painting locations, while below is the stunning ‘Sitting on the steps”.

Rebecca will help you to capture the architecture and landscape of the beautiful Watermill painting venues with a combination of materials: soft pastels, pen and ink, Conte crayons and pastel pencils, separately and in combination, to achieve lively sketches and finished pieces.

Rebecca de Mendonça  

Saturday 26 June to Saturday 3 July 2021 

Pastels and mixed media

To learn more about Rebecca and her week at the Watermill, please click here.

Don’t forget: The Watermill is renowned for its inspiring teaching, its beautiful setting, its delicious food and wine, and its warm and welcoming hospitality. We are also Cool and Green! All the bedrooms and public rooms have air conditioning, powered by our hidden array of photovoltaic panels, harnessing the sun’s energy to makes us self-sufficient in electricity generation.