Kieran Stiles - Weekly classes & tutorials

Weekly life drawing classes A regular, daytime opportunity to learn how to make observation drawings, prints and paintings from the figure in a wide range of traditional and experimental media. Feel free to work individually or try new techniques with practical demonstrations. Overlooking the river and the inspiring setting of Folly Bridge, work in a friendly atmosphere with classical music and real coffee.

Turner watercolour seascapes This workshop links with the forthcoming painting weekend in Port Isaac, Cornwall (22nd May 2010, details to follow). In these structured workshops, learn how to carefully superimpose detailed layers of watercolour. Bring in a favourite photo of a seascape as a subject. (you will need to bring medium thickness A3 watercolour paper)

Van Gogh still life impasto oil painting This workshop is associated with the forthcoming Van Gogh exhibition at the Royal Academy (www.royalacademy.org.uk/exhibitions/vangogh/exhibition/). In a still life reconstruction of Van Gogh’s Chair painting, learn how to use a limited palate of wet on wet oil colour to create thick ‘impasto’ brush marks.

Watercolour still life Looking at the still life studies of Cezanne, learn step by step how to combine colours harmoniously, using multi-layered washes of watercolour. (You will need to bring A3 watercolour paper)

Giacommetti landscapes Over two weeks, learn exciting and expressive alternatives to traditional use of pencil and gouache, looking at the severely attenuated and continuously reworked symbolic drawings of the Swiss surrealist sculptor Giacometti. Bring a favourite photo of a landscape as a subject. Initially working in monochrome, then in the second week full colour. (You will need to bring A3 cartridge paper)

Figure painting with brush attached to long stick Matisse said ‘Drawing is like making an expressive gesture with the advantage of permanence.’ Working large and using a brush placed at the end of a long stick,, learn how to freely apply expressive marks that are made up of contour only. (All materials provided)

Paul Klee patterns in nature, ink wash & transfer printing Learn the mono-printing technique of ‘transfer printing’ used extensively in Paul Klee’s paintings. Working with designs based on patterns found in nature. Bring in examples of patterns in nature to work from as a subject. I can also provide images. (You will need to bring A3 watercolour paper)

Toulouse-Lautrec figure drawing & gouache Lautrec excelled at capturing people in their working environment. His depictions are highly linear and give great emphasis to contour and colour. The work is often described as ‘drawings in coloured paint’. From direct observation learn how to apply gouache in long, thin brushstrokes leaving much of the ochre board showing through. (All materials provided)

Henry Moore watercolour resist & ink-pen figure class A chance to extend the experience of the current exhibition at the Tate Britain by experimenting with the watercolour, resist & ink drawing techniques characteristic of Moore’s studies. We will also view several Henry Moore originals temporarily on loan to ‘Kieran Stiles Art Studios’ for the day from a private collection. (Bring A3 watercolour paper)

Kurt Jackson oil & collage on board This workshop will take place at Kieran’s home studio in Charlbury, with Sunday lunch at the nearby Bull Inn. Learn about methods of abstraction, and how to create expressive textural layers of oil on collage using palate knives, rags & scrapers and other unconventional ways of manipulating paint. Bring a favourite photo of a seascape as a subject. (All materials provided)