A Frosty Morning Watercolour Class & World Cancer Day

Today was World Cancer Day, we all wore our Unity Bands and marked the day through painting and friendship.

A small group but yet many all too aware of the impact of cancer.

Claire spoke about the therapeutic effects of painting, and in particular her theme today was about being in the moment, and when you are painting try and be 'in' the painting, use your senses to help you with the creative process.

A few years ago Claire won first prize in a national competition (run by the SAA, Society for All Artists) for her teaching, the theme was 'Art Therapy'.

Claire believes that we are all born with a creative side, which can benefit anyone going through a difficult time, ie bereavement, illness, stress and has found the therapeutic effects of painting have helped many of her students all over the country.

For those that have been to Treetops before, Claire certainly creates a calm and fun environment, aided by the small groups and quiet Treetops setting.

Claire's work area was set up to show us lots of techniques today, with masking fluid, spray bottles and salt!

Then it was time to paint!

The paintings were great, very frosty, wintery and atmospheric.

Our next class is a loose and free Flowers Watercolour class on Thursday 26 February.

There are a few spaces left if you would like to join us.

Latest News from Treetops

We had some lovely snow this morning, enough to look pretty but not to cause chaos.

I am busy setting up for tomorrow's Watercolour Class, aptly titled Frosty Mornings!

On Friday, Sarah Whitaker joins us for Making the Most of Your Aga, which will be a really fun and interesting class.  Lots of new Aga owners and our regular Aga friends are coming.

Coming up we have a few Watercolour Classes with spaces:

Fresh Flowers - Still Life

Thursday 26 February

Rugged Scotland - A Landscape

Tuesday 3 March

Seascapes - Acrylics, Inks, Tissues

Thursday 12 March

The art days run from 9.30am to approximately 3pm and include all of your materials and lunch, it's a real treat of a day.  Small groups with a fun and attentive tutor called Claire.   Suitable for any levels of artist, so even if you haven't painted for a while, come and give it a go.  It costs £70 for a class and you will take home a finished painting.

Poppies Watercolour

A lovely day painting bright and beautiful Poppies.

Most of the group came to the class having received the day as a Christmas Present.

We had 4 new artists, 3 of whom hadn't painted with watercolour before.

I was very impressed with one artist having matching nails for the day!

Today's delicious lunch was Pomegranate Chicken, Crushed Potatoes and a Warm Cauliflower Salad, followed by Roasted Rhubarb and Lemon Pots.

After lunch, Claire continued to demonstrate in her step by step style.

Below are today's fantastic paintings: 

Back next week with Frosty Mornings!

Beginners Watercolour January 2015

A great day yesterday, 6 Beginners/Refreshers in for an inspiring and enjoyable day.

These classes are perfect if you haven't painted for a long time, or if you want to get back to basics and start again at the very beginning.

Claire talks about different paints, brushes and papers, and there is plenty of time in the morning to play with paint and water, mix colours and experiment.

This painting just required some gentle drawing before Claire showed everyone how to mix and then paint their first wash onto the paper.

Claire teaches in a step by step style at a kind steady pace, which is very important, as there is alot of information and technique to take in. 

This is a great painting to do, it covers a variety of techniques, from perspective through to shadows, that Beginners can then use in future watercolours.

At the end of the class, Claire presents the paintings in beautiful mounts, so we can see all the hard work that has gone on throughout the day.

Below is a photo of our artists hard at work!

Rockies Poppies!

A really bright and beautiful start to term!

Big and loose and colourful. 

Today's group were from Rock Choir in Wokingham, they have painted a few times with us now.

It was a really fun day, lots of laughter with the occasional burst of song!

We used one of Claire's new paints, POPPY from her new range, and it was beautifully vibrant and perfect for the day.

To see what other classes are happening this term, click here

And if you fancy a sing, have a look at joining Rock Choir, they are all over the country and you can have a free session to see what you think (no auditions!)

Rock Choir

Happy New Year - Latest News

(West Wittering - January 2015)

Happy New Year Everyone

I hope you've all had a lovely Christmas and are ready to embrace 2015.

Bookings are well underway for our Art Classes, have a look at the list below and see if there are any that take your fancy:

Wednesday 21 January - Beginners Watercolour

Friday 30 January - Poppies

Wednesday 4 February - A Frosty Morning

Thursday 26 February - Fresh Flowers - Still Life

Tuesday 3 March - Rugged Scotland - Landscape

Wednesday 11 March - Pen, Ink and Wash

Thursday 12 March - Seascapes with Acrylic Inks, Tissue Paper and Acrylics Paints

Tuesday 28 April - How to Simplify a Complicated Picture - A Market Scene

Wednesday 29 April - Reflections in the Sand

Tuesday 12 May - Bluebells

Wednesday 20 May - Cornwall's Sunsets

Tuesday 9 June - Mixed Media

All classes run from 9:30am - approx 3pm and cost £70

This includes all of your materials, a 2 course home cooked lunch with a glass of wine.

We have an AGA class on Friday 6 February

"Making the Most of Your Aga"

with Sarah Whitaker

9.45am - 1.30pm

£65

includes a tasting lunch of all the food cooked, a glass of wine and a copy of all the recipes to take home with you.

Festive Flowers Class 2014

Our term finished on a Christmas high, with a lovely day of Festive Flowers.

Susanna had lots of ideas to help with decorating and theming the home this Christmas.

There were some great ideas involving gold leaf, jam jars, glitters and glue.

Using some lovely red flowers, berries and foliage, Susanna showed everyone how to make a simple hand tied bouquet, which would make a lovely gift at Christmas.

Susanna then demonstrated in great Blue Peter style how to put together a stunning Christmas Wreath.  We were shown how to wire fruits, walnuts and cinnamon.

After coffee and time spent looking at Susanna's selection of books, magazines and cuttings for more inspiration, everyone had time to make their own Christmas Wreath.

I love how they are all so different.  Yet they are all full of gorgeous colour and festive bits!

After lunch, Susanna taught everyone how to make small corsages from left over bits of foliage, berries and flowers, with floristry wire and tape (and festive ribbon!)

This kept everyone quiet for a while!

Susanna will be back in the Spring for more Flower Classes.