Contemporary Approaches to Landscape Painting
8, 9 & 10 October | 10:00 – 16:00
Join us for an immersive three-day course set within the captivating landscape of Leonardslee Gardens.
Designed for those with some prior art experience, this course offers the chance to explore a range of creative approaches to landscape art. Through practical sessions and gentle guidance, you’ll be encouraged to experiment with new ideas and techniques, opening pathways to a more expressive, personal, or abstract visual style.
Surrounded by the natural beauty and tranquillity of Leonardslee, this is a unique opportunity to enrich your artistic practice in a truly inspiring setting.
The course will include sketching and taking photographs ‘en plein air’, followed by instruction, practical demonstration, and exploration in The Studio. Students will be introduced to the work of relevant modern and contemporary artists, including the tutor’s own sketchbooks. There will be the opportunity to utilise photographic sources in different ways, to make sketchbook studies in different media, to explore alternative compositions, and to develop a series of individual interpretations in response to the surroundings culminating in a final painting in acrylic on canvas.
Your Tutor for the workshop is Colleen Conti, a successful landscape artist with 38 years’ experience in Art Education and leadership, extensive knowledge of Art History and skill in a wide range of materials, processes, and techniques
Please see below what you will need to bring & how the three days will be structured.
£180 per person all three days | 10% off for Members | £4.80 for three days of parking when pre-booked online when purchasing your workshop ticket | Free parking for members
A break for lunch will be taken each date with afternoon tea which includes scones with cream and jam, a sandwich, a slice of cake and a tea or coffee per person. Please email info@leonardsleegardens.co.uk if you have any allergies or dietary requirements.
Materials participants must bring
A4 sketchbook of good quality cartridge paper (140 gsm recommended)
An artist’s viewfinder, drawing pencils, charcoal, putty rubber, fineline pen, a variety of colour media: chalk/oil pastels, pencil crayons (ideally water soluble), watercolour/ goache paint, Pritt stick. Drawing ink, collage materials, pva glue, canvas, acrylic paint, and easels will be provided and are included in the price.
Please note that you will need to bring something to sit on for sketching outdoors.
Workshop Schedule
Day 1
Welcome and introduction followed by an illustrated talk with reference to the Tutor’s sketchbooks. Discussion of process and briefing prior to beginning to work on location in the grounds of Leonardslee, taking photographs, and making a series of quick sketches using a viewfinder to focus on composition. Drawing in different media and exploring alternative approaches from a choice of suggestions.
Day 2
Presentation and discussion of a selection of C20th and contemporary artists approaches to landscape, to provide inspiration for students’ own work. Working in the studio, continuing work in sketchbooks from photographs taken on the previous day. This will be an opportunity for students to explore and experiment with different media and methods to extend and develop their own personal imagery and interpretations, with individual guidance and feedback.
Day 3
Introduction to using acrylic. Studio-based work using acrylic on canvas with reference to the studies and photographs from days 1 and 2 to produce a finished painting in a palette and style of individual choice, with guidance and assistance from the Tutor as required.