Catherine Beale

On of my art society workshops this month took a closer look at line and wash – perfect partners of permanent ink line and rushing wet-in-wet watercolour.

My chosen subject was a secret waterway near an ancient working watermill in the Lake District. (A scene I photographed many years ago but could not forget.) The cool green of the waterway beneath was made deeper by the shadow of the ancient bridge and huge glacial boulders pressed in at its edges. It was the deep water that attracted me to the image, contrasting with the jagged outline of the eroded arched stonework above.

Looking closer at my resulting painting you can see that it is made up of a series of semi-abstract passages hung together by connecting lines:

I am always fascinated how the human brain can make sense of these areas. Each of us delve into memories personal to us and recognise elements from our pasts, interpreting them by using a shortlist of ‘most likely scenarios’ from things we have seen before. No wonder reactions to paintings can vary so widely – part of what draws me to painting and exhibiting my work.

Join me ‘en plein air’ semi-abstract sketching in line and wash amongst garden borders and trees in May’s Wylye valley Art Trail and beside Bath’s canal in August. Click here for more details on my in-person workshops page.

I am delighted to publish my new dates including two plein air workshops and two brand new subjects, patterned landscapes and golden solstice.

Plein air painting:
5 May I will return to the Wylye Valley and painting on the lawn of the garden at my venue during the 2023 Wylye Valley Art Trail.

26 August I will be repeating my popular workshop from last summer and exploring the hidden gems along Bath’s quiet waterway the stretch of Kennet and Avon Canal.

New subjects:
4 June Patterned landscapes looks at exciting compositions and explores how repeating forms can add power to a painting.
21st June We’ll be celebrating the Summer Solstice at the Packhorse Pub near my studio. We will look at a favourite subject of mine – a golden glowing meadow motif – and use techniques from my new book by Search Press ‘Capturing light’.

I look forward to seeing you later in the year!

NOW SOLD OUT

NOW SOLD OUT. Join me on the coast in Turkey for a painting holiday to the ruins and waters around Kalkan. Your accommodation lies next to the harbour in Kalkan old town, with rooms overlooking your pool. Nearby painting subjects are numerous – from Roman pillars reflected in pools, to bougainvillea clad white-washed buildings, to boats in the harbour and ancient stairways rising out of the sea. We will guide you around our favourite cafes and amphitheatres in which we can sit and paint the view. Airport transfers and transport to the sights are included – even a sailing trip – and there’s a chance to try your hand at decorating Turkish pottery! I will be summing up our artistic techniques and recapping at in-Villa talks.

On Sunday 12 March (10-3:30): I am holding a Line and wash: Holiday sketchbooks workshop here in Bath to help you prepare for this year’s travels.
Email me to hear if we return in 2024.

I hope to see some of you soon!
Catherine

It’s the time of year when I dream about walking in the sun somewhere on the coast …so on 1st February you can do just that as part of my Loose watercolour figures workshop. Using your own holiday images or my photos of Lyme Regis, try creating loose figures in the wet-in-wet method I enjoy.
See the above flier for lots of other lovely watercolour subjects for Spring 2023.
Click here to book.

Dear fellow painters,

A very happy new year. Change is in the air and I am excited to share lots of new arty events that can help get you in the mood to paint:

New Zoom Classes:
If you are feeling a little rusty and looking for some quiet painting practice at home, why not sign up for a no pressure online Zoom class?
Wednesday 18 January (2-4) Cyclamen celebration: based around a beautiful potted Cyclamen, this session will look at the cheering subject of sunlight filtering through petals – an opportunity to practice layering as well as those brushwork skills. Choose to paint from Catherine’s source image or your own plant at home.
Friday 24 February (2-4) Winter sunbeams: we will jump onto Zoom again and look at an image straight out of my new book. I will be letting you into the secret of how to suggest beams breaking through an atmospheric woodland scene.
Book here: https://catherinebeale.com/online-watercolour-workshops-with-zoom/

Painting holiday to Kalkan Turkey
11-16 May 2023 – join me on the coast in Turkey for a painting holiday to the ruins and waters around Kalkan. Accommodation for this fantastic trip lies next to the harbour in Kalkan old town. Nearby painting subjects are numerous – from Roman pillars reflected in pools, to bougainvillea clad white-washed buildings, to boats in the harbour and ancient stairways rising out of the sea. We will guide you around our favourite cafes and amphitheatres in which we can sit and paint the view. Airport transfers and transport to the sights are included and there’s even a chance to try your hand at decorating Turkish pottery. I will be summing up on artistic techniques and recapping our days at in-Villa talks.
On Sunday 12 March (10-3:30): I am holding a Line and wash: Holiday sketchbooks workshop here in Bath to help you prepare for this year’s travels.
Email me for questions or to sign up.

I hope to see some of you soon!
Catherine

Join Catherine on Zoom on a choice of two afternoons and be transported in two engrossing paint-along projects.

On Wednesday 18th January create a delicate study of a potted Cyclamen – so cheering to see during the shorter winter days. Choose to paint from Catherine’s source image or your own plant at home. Watercolour is perfect for capturing the transparency of petals viewed by the light of a window.

On Wednesday 24th February Catherine will let you into the secret of how to suggest sun beams breaking across an atmospheric woodland scene with an image which features in her new book ‘Capturing light’ which is out in May.

Click to book now and receive a source photo, materials list and Zoom link to join in!