Painting ‘en plein air’, Alan Dedman completes a large study of the Ashton Swing Bridge and River Avon near the Cumberland Basin, Bristol. Littoral territory is (according to legend), a conduit between the present and the Underworld. Echoing our industrial past, scenes like this are redolent with Saturnine melancholy.
Alan led courses at the Architure Centre Bristol, which focused on drawing from the built environment – the surrounding docks and harbourside.
On the River Fowey in Cornwall a party of his students sketched riverine scenery. The weather was fabulous; in March it was fresh and sunny.
In Ithaca, we experience echoes across a much greater timespan. Home to Odysseus, the remains of his palace are there; the really good thing about this Ionian haven is its sunny disposition.
If you want to paint out of doors, Ithaca is a great place for it. Our course is aimed at beginners, intermediates and people who already have some experience (A-level, Foundation and beyond).
If you want to develop your skills, here is an opportunity for wholistic growth in the most hospitable of circumstances.
Painting ‘en plein air’ challenges people to focus. It requires a different kind of stamina compared to studio painting plus a readiness to adapt to circumstances. Monet (very sensibly) carried his gear in a wheelbarrow.
When Josephine was learning to paint the English landscape, we did just that, using a wheelbarrow to access verdant pastures. Gentle and curious, a herd of bullocks surrounded us.
To avert danger I rounded them up (not something they teach at art school) escorting them to another part of the field. Fewer cows on Ithaca – goats perhaps!
At Skinos, students encountered the difficulties and pleasures of using oil paint. Grappling with this complex medium for the first time can be daunting. Managing your creative efforts under such circumstances takes determination and will-power. That’s what oils elicit from those who venture to use them.
The good thing is: at the end of the session, you can swim in a balmy, clear sea. Then dine by the waterside during the evening. If you would like to experience painting ‘en plein air’ on the beautiful Greek island of Ithaca, come and join us in May 2025.
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