Escape the busy week and spend a Saturday painting slowly. Inspired by the French Impressionist Claude Monet and the gardens of Giverny, this one-day workshop combines painting, music and calm in a relaxed, friendly setting. It is designed for beginners and improvers, and no drawing skills are needed. Monet’s soft, loose style is very forgiving, which makes it ideal for anyone who wants to enjoy painting without pressure.

In the morning, you will hear a short story about Monet and learn his simple colour method, using broken brushstrokes and layers of colour to capture light. You will then paint a dreamy water lily scene with brushes and a palette knife, while gentle French classical music such as Debussy, Satie and Ravel plays in the background. After a lunch break, the afternoon begins with a fun, intuitive warm-up where you paint colours and shapes in response to music. You will then create a second painting, your own “inner garden”, using your own colours and mood.

Your tutor guides you with short demonstrations and plenty of friendly support throughout the day. The workshop ends with a small exhibition of everyone’s paintings and a relaxed closing circle. You will leave with two finished paintings, new skills and a refreshed mind.

Learning Outcomes:

• Understand the Impressionist style and the work of Claude Monet
• Mix colours and use broken brushstrokes to capture light
• Use brushes and a palette knife to build layers of paint
• Respond to music and mood with colour and shape
• Create two finished acrylic paintings
• Gain confidence to paint in a loose, relaxed style

What to Bring:

• An apron or old clothes that can get paint on them
• Your lunch, a snack and a water bottle
• A photo of a garden or place you love (optional)
• All painting materials are provided

Art Supplies Discount:

As a bonus for learning Art with SGSCC, all enrolled students are entitled to a generous 10% discount off the purchase of art supplies when they shop in-store at Eckersley’s Art & Craft, Taren Point!
View Eckersley's Website for product ideas.

About the Tutor:

Valerie Dixon is a French artist and art tutor who has taught community art classes for around ten years. Warm, fun and adaptable, she loves encouraging her students to try new things. Her classes are relaxed, creative and full of laughs, and she helps every student, from first-timers to experienced painters, find their own style.

Other Information:

• To ensure resources are ready for you at the start of your course, we ask you ideally enrol at least one week before the course commences.
• All courses need a minimum number of students to run ("we try our hardest to get those") . If your course does not have enough students it will be cancelled before the commencement and you will be informed.* All courses need a minimum number of students to run ("we try our hardest to get those") . If your course does not have enough students it will be cancelled before the commencement and you will be informed.