A resource for artists....... ......skills for students....... revelations for beginners.

Abbotsbury village - click here to see an enlargement
The studio has a welcoming atmosphere and offers challenges in painting and drawing. Whether for a refresher or an introduction to painting, colour and drawing, a holiday, a serious quest for self revelation and freedom of expression, simply to exchange ideas, or perhaps most importantly to develop essential skills.

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.

Abbotsbury Studio - click here to see an enlargement
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.

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.

A workshop in Abbotsbury Studio - click here to see an enlargement
John Meaker offers analytical and observational disciplines as well as technical skills, appropriate to each individual's vision and ways of making marks. Knowledge of colour, experiment, mixing and colour combinations are high up the list of priorities.

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.

A workshop in Abbotsbury Studio - click here to see an enlargement
Artists/students are invited to work in the medium of their choice, whether a familiar medium or a new medium.

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.

"The task of all art is to destroy the static equilibrium by establishing a dynamic one."  Piet Mondrian

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

 
All Studio Courses run from 10am to 4.30pm, unless specified otherwise. The courses will be "two day weekends" - Friday & Saturday. Please bring your own lunch, or sample Abbotsbury's variety of cafes or purveyors of local provisions. If two days is not long enough you could attend the Wednesday and/or Thursday workshops before the chosen Friday & Saturday. We can advise on local accommodation with a variety of prices. There are all sorts of B&Bs in wide price range within easy walking distance of the studio.
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 4JL

tel: 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 Courses are Two day weekends, Friday & Saturday. The cost for the two days is £40.

Each day starts at 10am and ends at 4.30pm. Bring your own lunch.

 

Life and Portrait Paintings

December 19th-20th Two days

£40

A workshop image in Abbotsbury Studio - click here to see an enlargement

 

"In Painting we make Light with Colour"

January 23rd-24th two days 10 am - 4.30 pm

£40

The Gate by Hans Hofmann 74 x 48 inches - click here to see an enlargement 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 workshop image in Abbotsbury Studio - click here to see an enlargement 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 4JL

tel: 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 Courses are Two day weekends, Friday & Saturday.

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

X Bridport Arts Centre

South Street Bridport Dorset, DT 6 3 NR

tel: 01308 424204

email:

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.

Timetable, lengths of poses, models list; adjustments still possible. - click here to see an enlargement

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 4JL

tel: 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.

Monday July 13 - Saturday July 18. £120 for the whole six day week or choose your days @ £20 a day. Bring your own lunch.

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 4JL

tel: 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 Courses are Two day weekends, Friday & Saturday.

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

 
All Weekly Workshop Classes run from 10am to 4.30pm, unless specified otherwise, but you can come for just the morning, or just the afternoon - the morning session runs from 10am - 1pm and the afternoon session from 1.45pm - 4.30pm. Bring your own lunch. Scroll further down the page for Summer Term Wednesdays and Thursdays.

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 4JL

tel: 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.

A workshop image in Abbotsbury Studio - click here to see an enlargement

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

A workshop image in Abbotsbury Studio - click here to see an enlargement

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

A workshop image in Abbotsbury Studio - click here to see an enlargement

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

A workshop image in Abbotsbury Studio - click here to see an enlargement

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

X Bridport Arts Centre

South Street Bridport Dorset, DT 6 3 NR

tel: 01308 424204

email:

A workshop image in Abbotsbury Studio - click here to see an enlargement

Every Thursday evening. Drop in and pay on the day. No need to book, however phone enquiries are welcome.

The tutor

The tutor - click here to see an enlargement

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