Do you want to explore watercolour painting, but never took the opportunty? Or do you want to develop a specific study in watercolours? Why not devote a short time to trying out or further investigation this technique. During this workshop your teacher introduces the technical aspects of the materials used. How do you use the paint? Which techniques can you explore? Which papers can you choose? Which colours do you use? 

In addition to the technical explanation you get various assignments. You often work from the classical approach, studying a still-life for example. The panoramic views over the Westerdok, the boats and architecture, the skies and the reflections on the water though also make this spot a very special place to paint in watercolours.

In this short crash course, you learn various drawing and painting techniques. The classes are a selection from the curriculum from our basic year. Within this workshop you get tips and tricks to get you started easily and quickly. You study methods of how to measure and compare, you learn the basics of colour mixing with acrylic paint, you learn how to make interesting compositions, you sketch still-lives and you study perspective etc. 

The series of eight different evening classes is offered on two consecutive weeks on weekday evenings. You can also enrol for just 1 week of 4 evenings.

This workshop focuses on the theme of tiles and pattern in ceramics and graphics. 

You work with a variety of mosaic patterns, different tessellation methods, pattern structures and ceramic technologies. This includes traditional Middle Eastern ceramic tiles with their typically geometric design, traditional European and particularly Dutch and Portuguese tiles and the more contemporary approach to tiles with reliefs and printed decoration. 

You will have the opportunity to work with simple plain tiles, moulds, prototypes, glazes and printing (using a self-made transfer print).

You get to design your own tessellation with patterns. You get to make one or two small panels of tiles that can, for example, be hung in your kitchen or in the garden. Ceramic is a very durable material and does not change with time, even when exposed to severe weather.

botanical imprints

In this workshop you make collages with the help of botanical elements which you then cast into plaster.

The inspiration comes from the old tradition of nature printing – the technique of using the surface of a natural object to make a print. Early botanists used nature printing to record the plants they collected and to share information about new discoveries in faraway places.

During this workshop you will make plaster casts of plants and flowers that record all their texture, pattern, and delicacy. The composition can be as simple as a single stem or as complex as a field of wildflowers, leaves or grasses. 

The plaster tiles can then be painted with watercolour paint. The plaster results are still fragile but can be used as a piece of art in the house. You will also work with clay and ceramic glazes. After the initial bisque firing, the clay tiles can be glazed with colour. After the glazing they will be fired again,  ending up as hard as stone, so you can use them in your own kitchen or bathroom.

By the end of the workshop you will take home simple tiles and clay panels which preserve the plants temporary beauty, long after they have faded and died.

Through unencumbered yet intense observation, you experience how to paint the landscape; the water with boats or perhaps the very building itself. You will be guided in finding your personal view of reality. This may not be immediately obvious. What is the impact of the light on the water, how do you translate a structure in paint or how do you deal with composition or the great variety of layers and directions in the landscape? Which colour of green do you see and which do you use to depict the foreground or what is in the distance?

You discover new ways to explore and paint the landscape. There is room for personal choice with regard to materials and topics. A choice of examples by various (modern) artists is on hand to inspire and broaden your horizons.

In the event of bad weather there are  alternative indoor possibilities, including Paul’s own studio.

In the event of bad weather we cancel the workshop.

Lunch: included in the price

Address: Oude Haagseweg 51, 1066 DC Amsterdam

OV: also can be reached by bus. See: http://nieuwenmeer.nl/nieuw-en-meer/getting-here-2/

Parking: there is free parking at the Nieuw en Meer

Politics, art, children’s books, cookery books, advertisements; everywhere you look you encounter illustrations. But all those emojis and icons with facial expressions (think of the icons on your phone or on the internet) start out as illustrations. This workshop looks at the many, different aspects of making illustrations. 

An illustration usually serves another purpose other than just being an individual piece of art. Often an illustration is associated with written text. The illustration aims to strengthen the content of the text or serves to put the text into perspective. An illustration can be a drawing, but also a collage or a manipulated photo. 

In this workshop, you explore different subjects in different ways. For instance, how do you illustrate the complexity of the news of everyday life in a picture that also makes you think or laugh? How do you combine text and image? How do you depict your idea as effectively as possible? An illustration can soften a heavy message, lighten up a boring story and clarify a complex problem.

With various drawing and painting materials, collage or optionally your laptop, you will explore ways and resources to generate ideas and maybe even surprise yourself. 

Your work process is supported with actual examples from the past and current day. Ultimately, you work on an actual assignment. Under personal guidance you will learn to shape your own ideas. This could be an artwork based on a story you have thought up, drawings/paintings for a recipe book or, for example, a series of cartoons or caricatures.

You start with making a very small thumbnail image. From here, you let your work ‘ grow ‘ to a larger-than-life size. You respond to what is already drew. With new steps you enlarge your work. You can add or remove paper, connect elements of your drawing with something new, erase, or paint/draw over it, and add new footage.

The process of drawing, intuitive acting and making choices while working on a work of art are important aspects in these lessons. It is also exciting to develop your view from small to big and to relate to the work on a new way. Like in nature everything grows, proliferates, disappears and grows back, you will also proceed, until a surprising end result.

During this workshop you learn all you need to know about how to build up a good oil painting. You will go through the basics of what oil paint is and the rules you need to follow. You will then practise these rules by painting a still-life. You work with a Zorn Palette: this is a palette of limited colours: Cadmium Red Light, Yellow Ochre, Ivory Black and Titanium White.

At the end of the workshop you will have learned: – how oil-paint works, how to make an ‘imprimatura’, how to work with a limited Zorn colour palette and how to create an alla prima (wet-on-wet) painting using subjects from life.

You will be guided by classically trained instructor Lydia Szubert, who will give you personal guidance and attention required to see you progress.

Materials:

oil paint: yellow ochre, ivory black, vermilion and titanium white

turpentine 

linseed oil

Palettes

small medium and large of synthetic brushes and big hair brushes

During this workshop, you will go over the characteristics of moving water (sea) and still water (lakes, and canals). Water is all about finding the correct tones and shapes, not just about blues.

You will learn to find the big forms of tones and shapes first, and then building up to the details, which will create a more convincing water scene.

In the morning you will follow the steps to create a mini sea painting, and learn the base rules of painting the sea. Then in the afternoon you will create a mini lake painting and learn the rules to paint a lake convincingly.

You will be working with acrylic.

In this short crash course, you learn various drawing and painting techniques. The classes are a selection from the curriculum from our basic year. Within this workshop you get tips and tricks to get you started easily and quickly. You study methods of how to measure and compare, you learn the basics of colour mixing with acrylic paint, you learn how to make interesting compositions, you sketch still-lives and you study perspective etc. 

The series of eight different evening classes is offered on two consecutive weeks on weekday evenings. You can also enrol for just 1 week of 4 evenings.

During this workshop, you will go over the characteristics of the sky. You will learn about how atmospheric light changes and what techniques you need to paint a convincing sky.

You study types of clouds and skies and learn how to paint them. In the morning, you will create a bright blue sky scene with clouds, and in the afternoon, you will paint a soft evening sky with soft transparent clouds. In this course you work with acrylic paint.  The class is suitable for beginners.

Materials for both workshops:

Water bottle spray, Acrylic painting paper,

Painting palette

Colours:

Titanium white

vermillion (nathol red middle)

primary yellow

Primary magenta

Primary cyan

yellow ochre

burnt umber

ultramarine

Indigo blue/ purssian blue

On request we provide these materials for an additional price.