ABBOTSBURY STUDIO
Painting, colour and drawing Studio Courses and Holiday Courses / Weekly Workshop Groups and Classes ......... in Abbotsbury, at the heart of the beautiful West Dorset coast
A resource for artists....... ......skills for students....... revelations for beginners.
Shared energies of diverse artists and students invigorate both dynamic work and traditional work with a variety of styles. The main aim is that every individual should enjoy studio, tuition and facilities, for each, to develop an independent process of painting and drawing.
Studio courses are mostly 2 day weekends - Friday & Saturday. Some students and artists wanting to extend their stay by two days may choose to start their visit by also attending the classes on Wednesday and Thursday.
Welcoming artists/students or newcomers, of all ages & stages to focus enthusiasm, concentration and energy, to make significant progress or refresh their individual working processes, even on a short course.
The studio has very good facilities (including an easel, 'A1' board, exam table and tall stool - for each person), so you need only bring drawing materials, paints & brushes. J M will be happy to offer suggestions or advice on materials and can usually fill any gaps in people's kit.
The Gallery at Abbotsbury Studio exhibits the work of artists and students.Twentieth century drawing and painting have been carried from figuration through to abstraction without distortion or reduction by such artists as Mondrian, Soutine, Giacometti, Bomberg, Auerbach and de Kooning. They introduce, through imaginative projection, geometry and gesture, the transmutation of forms and figures into a field of flux. Combining detached analysis and emotionally charged gestural energy, true to the flatness of the canvas, while spatial relationships are held in utmost respect. Among other artists, they show us how we can effect negotiations with transitional states and enjoy the interchangeability of physical form with pure energy.
In the realm of ideas we live in a delightful condition of upheaval and revolution, of transition and opportunity. It looks to many as if the rule book has been thrown away and chaos reigns. However the principles and disciplines involved in the dynamics of drawing, the colours and material of painting are like laws of physics - behind the mechanism, working alchemical magic.
Studio Courses
or for our regular Weekly Workshop Classes, click here
Please book, and pay in advance when booking.
(for booking details, see the box in the right column)Painting & Drawing Workshops
Location - Abbotsbury Studio
X Abbotsbury Studio
Rodden Row, Abbotsbury, Dorset, DT3 4JLtel: 01305-871867
email:
web: www.abbotsburystudio.co.uk
Abbotsbury Studio, a former hall, is centrally situated in Abbotsbury village - spacious, with a high ceiling, large windows and good lighting. The village itself is unique and in a glorious and various landscape at the heart of Dorset's 'World Heritage Site' coast.
Each day starts at 10am and ends at 4.30pm. Bring your own lunch.
Life and Portrait Paintings
December 19th-20th Two days
£40
"In Painting we make Light with Colour"
January 23rd-24th two days 10 am - 4.30 pm
£40
This is a two day practical painting course considering ideas of light, tonal balance and colour, warm and cool. The inspiration is Hans Hofmann and his theories of depth creation and the flat picture plane; of malleable volumes using coloured shapes and over-lapping planes.
Choosing the shapes from, and simplifying further an old or modern master composition, we will use it as a starting point to experiment with Abstract painting.
Positive and Negative in Abstract Painting
February 20th-21st two days 10 am - 4.30 pm
£40
A painting course studying de Kooning’s compositions as well as the structured dynamics of David Bomberg and others in order to study and practice for our selves the dynamic interaction of shapes on a flat surface.
Also we will look at and experiment with Hans Hoffman’s theories of colour & volume, “push & pull”.
Modes of Perception, a drawing course.
March 6th-7th two days 10 am - 4.30 pm
£40
Different ways and means of observation & analysis in the practice of drawing lead to different types of picture making. Studying and setting up practical exercises to use the innovations and techniques of Giacometti, Coldstream, Uglow, Bomberg & Auerbach.
Landscape Transformations
April 3rd-4th two days 10 am - 4.30 pm
£40
Crossing the bridge from observation to abstraction in landscape painting.
Painting Figures and Myth
WITH SINCERE APOLOGIES - I have changed the date of this course originally to be held 1st & 2nd May but now changed to 8th & 9th May.
May 8th-9th two days 10 am - 4.30 pm
£40
Dealing with the compositional and technical problems of painting & drawing picture narratives with human figures. Helping individuals construct and/or resolve their own picture ideas and narratives.
Watercolour Landscape Painting
June 19th-20th two days 10 am - 4.30 pm
£40
Painting and Drawing Workshops Autumn 2009
Location - Abbotsbury Studio
X Abbotsbury Studio
Rodden Row, Abbotsbury, Dorset, DT3 4JLtel: 01305-871867
email:
web: www.abbotsburystudio.co.uk
Abbotsbury Studio, a former hall, is centrally situated in Abbotsbury village - spacious, with a high ceiling, large windows and good lighting. The village itself is unique and in a glorious and various landscape at the heart of Dorset's 'World Heritage Site' coast.
The cost for the two days is £40.
Each day starts at 10am and ends at 4.30pm. Bring your own lunch.
More information and list of courses will be posted on this website soon. Some of the dates are still in the planning stage and will be confirmed over the next couple of weeks (25. vi. 2009)
Active Art, Daytime Life Classes, in January 2009 at BRIDPORT ARTS CENTRE
Location - Bridport Arts Centre
Two daytime sessions: 10am - 12.30pm + 1.30m - 4pm @ £6 a session. or £4 students, £5 members, (untutored) Life Classes for two weeks Tuesday - Saturday.
First week - January: Tuesday 6th, Wednesday 7th, Thursday 8th, Friday 9th, Saturday 10th. Second week - January: Tuesday 13th, Wednesday 14th, Thursday 15th, Friday 16th, Saturday 17th. Click on the box to the right for timetable, pose lengths and models list.
Abbotsbury Landscape Summer Course 2009
Location - Abbotsbury Studio
X Abbotsbury Studio
Rodden Row, Abbotsbury, Dorset, DT3 4JLtel: 01305-871867
email:
web: www.abbotsburystudio.co.uk
Abbotsbury Studio, a former hall, is centrally situated in Abbotsbury village - spacious, with a high ceiling, large windows and good lighting. The village itself is unique and in a glorious and various landscape at the heart of Dorset's 'World Heritage Site' coast.
There will be an introductory talk with projected illustrations on the first morning. We will work in the landscape as much as we can. If the weather is unkind we can return to the great facilities in the studio.
Autumn 2009 - Painting and Drawing Workshuos
Location - Abbotsbury Studio
X Abbotsbury Studio
Rodden Row, Abbotsbury, Dorset, DT3 4JLtel: 01305-871867
email:
web: www.abbotsburystudio.co.uk
Abbotsbury Studio, a former hall, is centrally situated in Abbotsbury village - spacious, with a high ceiling, large windows and good lighting. The village itself is unique and in a glorious and various landscape at the heart of Dorset's 'World Heritage Site' coast.
The cost for the two days is £40.
Each day starts at 10am and ends at 4.30pm. Bring your own lunch.
More information and list of courses will be posted on this website soon.
Weekly Workshop Classes
or for our Studio Courses, click here
You can pay on the day for any class -
£20 for a full day or £12 for a half day
(Full time & 'A' level students: £12 full day, £7 half day)
Newcomers please phone first, otherwise drop in and pay on the day!
(there are limited numbers however, so booking is advisable - for booking details, see the box in the right column)Summer Term 2009 - Wednesdys & Thursdays
All welcome....Artists, students, beginners
12 weeks - April 22nd to July 9th
Location - Abbotsbury Studio
X Abbotsbury Studio
Rodden Row, Abbotsbury, Dorset, DT3 4JLtel: 01305-871867
email:
web: www.abbotsburystudio.co.uk
Abbotsbury Studio, a former hall, is centrally situated in Abbotsbury village - spacious, with a high ceiling, large windows and good lighting. The village itself is unique and in a glorious and various landscape at the heart of Dorset's 'World Heritage Site' coast.
Pay by the term or pay by the day, on the day. £20 all day £12 half day. Concessions for full time students £12 all day, £7 half day.
Summer Studio 2009 Painting Group
All welcome....Artists, students, beginners.12 Wednesdays
Apr 22nd, Apr 29th, May 6th, May 13th, May 20th, May 27th, Jun 3rd, Jun 10th, Jun 17th, Jun 24th, Jul 1st, Jul 8th
Drop in, and pay on the day. A general painting class for all comers with challenges for artists, students & beginners. Emphasizing each individual's practical work. Personal projects - abstract or figurative. Colour and tonal studies, compositional dynamics, landscape and still life. Interesting objects, fruit and flowers always in the studio.
Summer Term Life Painting & Drawing
Drop in, and pay on the day. £20 the day. £12 half day.12 Thursdays
Apr 23rd, Apr 30th, May 7th, May 14th, May 21st, May 28th, Jun 4th, Jun 11th, Jun 18th, Jun 25th, Jul 2nd, Jul 9th
We start the day with short poses for one hour; usually these short poses are for about 10 minutes each, followed by perhaps six 2 minute poses. All these short poses in the first session are more likely to have some twists and stretches. After a coffee break we set up one long pose to last for the rest of the day. Although the long pose is necessarily less demanding on the model we are always careful to make sure it is interesting from all points of view. So considering the model's welfare we still aim for the long pose to have some subtle classical "contra-position" or dynamic offset.
Two day pose Life Classes
April 22 - 23. May 21 - 22. June 25 - 26.12 Fridays
It is not 12 Fridays, but it is: once a month the Thursday all day pose will be carried on through all day Friday.
Thursday Evening Life Classes Summer 2009
at Bridport Arts Centre £8 a session. "A"level & full time students £5.
10 weeks - April 23rd to June 27th
Location - Bridport Arts Centre
Every Thursday evening. Drop in and pay on the day. No need to book, however phone enquiries are welcome.
The tutor
John Meaker
is a prolific artist continuously drawing and working in several different painting mediums with figures, abstract dynamics and landscape.
He has 25 years experience as teacher & mentor facilitating progress and change to the work of students & artists of all ages and stages, from beginners to accomplished artists. "I see the tutor’s role as that of nurturing and developing in each individual an independent process of work capable of evolution and open to ideas. So I use a range of traditional and/or modernist techniques and processes to serve my own insight into the requirements of student or artist. I like to think I am a catalyst for experiment and innovation encouraging the group to try out and discuss new ideas. Accomplished artists will want a dialogue with a trainer rather than a teacher whereas students and beginners will need a teacher for skills and techniques. Each individual has their own vision and their own way of making marks – combine the individual nature with appropriate guidance hence outcomes should be surprising and not be preconceived".
J.M. studied at Goldsmiths College and The Royal Academy Schools and in his own work reconciles their contradictory traditions:
- on one side: awareness of modernity of form, comparative to the history of Art, while enjoying the art of ideas and abstraction, the dynamics of composition and gesture;
- on the other side: drawing skills,observational disciplines, including, proportion, construction and spatial analysis, concern with natural form, colour and especially tone and light, traditional figurative painting, colour traditions, theories and techniques.
Amongst some uniquely sensitive artists including Peter Greenham and Norman Blamey, J. M. was fortunate to have tutors themselves taught by a series of mainly British artists, Sickert, Tonks, Bomberg, Giacometti, Coldstream, Uglow and K. Vaughan, who in their teaching, theory and their own practices of work, represent a range of related modes of perception which develop the living and dynamic strands of late 20th century innovation and expression in drawing and painting.
For more than 25 years J M has tutored residential courses in painting and drawing at Missenden Abbey, Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire; this year he will be there at the residential Summer School for three weeks. www.arca.uk.net/missendenabbey J M is also tutoring courses at West Dean College, near Chichester in West Sussex, Autumn 2008, Spring and Summer School in 2009. www.westdean.org.uk
Workshops at Abbotsbury Studio are at home to a wide variety of forms and styles of painting and drawing, classical & modern, all dynamic.
Click here to see images of students' & artists' work made at Abbotsbury Studio.
Click here to see images of John Meaker's work.
Booking information
To take part in one or more of the courses, please click here to print out the form, fill it in and then send, enclosing a cheque for the total course fee(s) to:
John Meaker
White Hall Farm
Leigh, Sherborne, Dorset, DT9 6JG.
Enquiries welcome.
Once booking has been confirmed, fees cannot be transferred or refunded. It is advisable to insure against losses of fees due to illness or other mishap.
For local accommodation we can advise, or see the Abbotsbury Village website.
Contact details
JM - 01935-872461
mobile - 07816-850107
studio - 01305-871867
email:
Abbotsbury Studio
Rodden Row
Abbotsbury
Dorset
DT3 4JL
tel: 01305-871867 mobile: 07816-850107 email:
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