We aim to help you think about the process of observation and the ways in which you can transfer your vision into your artwork. We will share our experiences and our methods, our shortcuts and our thought processes.

You can work alongside Claudia or you can watch so that you can re-play the recordings, pausing the recording if you want to as you complete each exercises and demos.

Each session lasts for two hours, with time for questions and interaction. If you are unable to be at the workshop on the day, we will send out the recording the following day or as soon as possible.

We aim to give you the skills and the confidence to work outdoors, being the artist you want to be.

29 October 2024
Sea and Sky – intensive two-hour tutorial 

To open this Masterclass series we enjoy a relaxing session of sea and sky with Claudia Myatt. Known for her marine artwork and for her love of floating on the seas and oceans as far away as Antarctica and as near as the Hebrides, Claudia takes her inspiration from the changing moods and colours of sea and sky.

Calming blues, tumultuous greys and roiling greens come together in Claudia’s depictions of moving water, whether it’s a gently flowing stream or waves crashing and breaking in a storm, or the calm ripples of a seascape at sunset. You will learn how to capture such moments, exploring techniques such as glazing, wet in wet, mixing colours, and using mixed media to add light and texture.

– colours of sea and sky -mixing blues and greys
– painting the weather, from storms to calm sunsets
– moving water, shapes of waves big and small
– using a range of core watercolour techniques

05 November 2024
Sketchbook Secrets – intensive two-hour tutorial

The first blank page of a sketchbook can seem daunting; it feels like we should create a masterpiece in the first instance. Claudia teaches us how we can use our sketchbooks as creative journals and a place to grow ideas.

We explore imaginative ways to experiment on the page, including building on simple doodles, playing with mistakes, and how mixed media can transform a page. There will be a feast of useful tips on how we can produce quick and effective snapshots of things that intrigue us while out and about, and later how we can build upon these sketches to create finished paintings.

Most importantly, you will learn techniques and practices to help you keep that inspiration going so that picking up your sketchbook becomes a good habit – and we could all do with more of those!

– sketchbooks as a tool for creative development
– ‘it’s only paper’ – being bold with your sketchbook
– drawing what you feel as well as what you see
– the sketchbook habit -keeping the inspiration going

12 November 2024
Boats and Harbours – intensive two-hour tutorial 

Prepare to get your sketchbook a little wet and salty, as Claudia transports us to her spiritual home – the harbour – where we will immerse ourselves in all things maritime!
Boats can be a tricky subject but with Claudia’s tips on perspective, shape and proportions, our boats will be floating off the page in no time.

We also look at common paraphernalia of the harbour, from the rusty chains and anchors to mooring lines and small boats on the beach. But it’s not all about boats – we’ll learn how to add figures to our scene, from fisherman at work to children crabbing on the beach.

– practical tips for tricky shapes
– having fun with boat bits
– how to simplify a scene
– ways to add figures effectively

19 November 2024
Negative Painting – intensive two-hour tutorial 

Watercolour is all about working from light to dark – it’s a medium where what you leave out is often more important than what you put in. Negative painting is a way of focussing on the spaces in between, using the transparency of watercolour to create light and depth of shadows.

In this session we’ll look at how to make this shift in perception through tonal studies, simple exercises and finally creating a small painting of light flowers against a dark, dappled background.

– working from light to dark
– getting into the habit of painting empty spaces!
– building depth of form, colour and light

26 November 2024
Working from photos effectively – intensive two-hour tutorial 

Photos are a great friend to the artist, providing information that’s not easy to capture on location. But there are many traps for the unwary, and photos can limit our art instead of enhancing it when not used with care.

In this session we’ll learn how to use photographic reference effectively through editing, cropping, time-limiting and colour management. We’ll learn how to use the photo as a starting point, information giver and composition aid; we’ll also learn when to put it away and use imagination, memory and personal experience instead!

– exploring the potential of reference photos
– traps for the unwary
– using photos as a starting point
– editing and cropping for best results

03 December 2024
Kitchen Still Life – intensive two-hour tutorial 

Inspiration can be found everywhere and sometimes it’s closer that you think! In this intensive tutorial, Claudia focuses on the useful and beautiful objects and arrangements to be found in the home. Perfect for rainy days, this session allows us to study playful compositions and how to have fun with still life.

We also look at how other artists turn a still life on its head by moving towards abstraction and feel inspired to have a go ourselves!

– how to find inspiration close to hand
– playful compositions – having fun with still life
– towards abstraction – drawing inspiration from other artists

10 December 2024
Watercolour Surgery – intensive two-hour tutorial 

Do you have pieces in a critical condition? With a bit of intensive care, Claudia can help breathe life back into paintings that you may have written off. You’ll learn how to evaluate your mistakes without beating yourself up and how use them to learn and adjust your techniques.

There are many ways to rescue ‘failed’ paintings, cover up or correct mistakes in watercolour, and if all else fails, find creative uses for the pieces that didn’t work. Nothing you do is ever wasted!

– how to assess your mistakes without judgement
– using your mistakes as a learning experience
– correcting errors in watercolour
– re-purposing failed paintings

We will send a materials list for each week with your booking confirmation, but if you’d prefer to work on the recordings in your own time then feel free simply to bring a notebook and pencil to the live session. Do get in touch if you need more information or advice about the materials to bring.

Claudia will prepare a summary of each lesson with tips and techniques to try – this will be sent out with the link to the recording.