Art Holiday to Sermione on Lake Garda.

Drawing and painting on location is always fun, but go to a warm sunny town on a small peninsula jutting into Lake Garda and the pleasure increases beyond measure. Throw in 18 students and you are all set for a great week!

Sara

We stayed in a little hotel in Sermione, just a 20 minute walk from the centre of the old town. Crossing the bridge, with water either side and flanked by a medieval castle, is like stepping into history. Twisty small streets, shaded by tall ochre coloured buildings, with several squares leading to the lake, all full of cafes and restaurants. 

Anne, Pam, Sandra, Carlo

Pam and Julie B

Clive working on his painting

Carlo, Anne and Liz - painting in the dappled shade.

Nicky, Kate, Clive, Ken, Christine and Pam

A boat trip to the next town was a blue-balmy treat. 

Christine

Kate

Anne

Claire, Christine, Sandra, Anne, Julie, Gennie, Nicky, Pam, Aidan, Ken, Ruth, Julie B, Sara, Clive, Liz and Kate 

A quick demo

On the last day we stayed at the hotel, and painted water colour exercises around the pool. Very productive and relaxing at the same time. 

Front, Sara, and on the lounger.... Robert!

Julie B, Carlo, Pam, Christine, and outside, Nicky, Ken, Gennie, Kate, Liz

Student exercise

Verona from above

Gennie, Robert, Ken, Anne, Liz, Pam, Julie B, Kate, Sandra, Kate, Carlo, Sara, Ruth, Aidan, Nicky, Christine, Claire. 

Reflected in the window, Gennie, Julie, Sara

A day trip to Verona led some of us to a gorgeous little art shop/stationers whose window was full of tantalising colour pencils...

Nicky, Christine, Claire, Gennie, Julie, Robert, Ken

The next trip is to Croatia - can't wait!!

Website updates

Hi all

I have spent the last week updating my website... such a time warp, in an all-consuming way! I would be delighted if you took a look, even though I will continue tweaking it for a little while.  I have added extra pages, and included a free demonstration video for all to watch.

 Click this link!

https://www.juliedouglas.co.uk/#/weekly-classes/.

With thanks

yours in art

Julie x

Today it's daffodil day in the new studio!

 

For workshop info please email julie@juliedouglas.co.uk

Next up is figure drawing 6th April, and portrait drawing on 7th April 

Spring & Summer workshops at BARA, in Comber or ZOOM.

I have lots of lovely things going on in the studio all the time, from weekly classes (6 to choose from, mornings, evenings, drawing, watercolour and oils) to weekend one-offs. The atmosphere is very friendly but you will be challenged! All sessions are fully tutored so you understand the aims and how to achieve them. Often the session starts with a slide show before my demonstration, which can sometimes lead to an interesting discussion. Questions are encouraged! 

March:

Saturday 30th Children's drawing and painting class 2.30 - 4.30 pm £35 includes materials

                                                                    April:

Figure Drawing (clothed figure) April 6th 10.30 - 4.30 including long poses and 20 minute poses, in any dry media. Fully tutored £110

Portrait Drawing April 7th 10.30 - 4.30 graphite pencil and charcoal £110

Drawing in the National Gallery, Dublin Sunday 21 April

Figure drawing in progress

                                                                      May 

Cottage garden Flowers - make a beautiful contemporary table design with Fiona Campbell using fresh seasonal flowers. All materials provided plus refreshments. A lovely way to spend the afternoon. 2.30 - around 4.30pm £65

                                                                       July

17th & 18th Wonderful Watercolours! Understand the process and techniques to create lovely paintings from washes to pen using paint alone with graphite pencil and pen. Skies, landscape and still life. £220

20th Figure Drawing (clothed model), including Lon and shorter poses in any dry media. Fully tutored. £110

22- 24th Colour pencil. All things animal! Looking at texture, tonal variations, hair, fur and how to creat believable lovely colour pencil drawings. 10.30 - 4pm. £330

27 Portrait in pencil. 2.30 - 6.20 £100 Intensive, concept-changing workshop which changes your perception and improves your skills. 

Dog portrait, oils, Julie Douglas 

August : 

7th & 8th  Portrait drawing including graphite and colour pencil. 

12th - 14th Portrait in oils - includes colour mixing and how to work with a limited palette. Thes can be extended for an extra day students need more time. £350

Student work in progress

16th - 17th Birds. Drawing and on to colour using ether water colour or colour pencils. £220 

Please note, courses are added regularly so please email if you'd like to be kept updated. Please also get in touch if you'd like to do something which is not listed here OR if you'd like to do something but can't make the date, and I will do my best to accommodate you. 

Finally, if you would like to make a booking for a group - family or friends, a work bonding session or 'Paint and Prosecco' please get in touch. 

julie@juliedouglas.co.uk 

Students at work!

To get in touch - julie@juliedouglas.co.uk

www.juliedouglas.co.uk 

Cats & dogs! Coloured pencil

 

The full set of 14 pets

It was my pleasure to create a set of artworks of lots of the pets from my son and his girlfriend's lives, to use for table settings at their wedding.  As it was a Christmas wedding (23rd December!) I was asked to make sure every pet was wearing a Santa hat, with a bow tie and leaves underneath. 

I used coloured pencil, and worked very small - each animal was around 7cm in height. 

Coincidentally, I had more pet portrait commissions around the same time, and I thoroughly enjoyed working on so many lovely animals! 

Lulu - such a lovely little minx, who adored Minnie the dog

Daisy

Dougie - never without ball

Leroy

Bertie - so bashful

Belle - Bertie's sister

Ronnie Barker

Amber

Minnie 

Molly 

Jack

Alfie

Ruby

Pip

For workshop info, commission details etc please email julie@juliedouglas.co.uk

Oil class - working our way around the fruit bowl! Student work

The projects in my weekly classes usually run for three sessions at a time. This gives enough time to draw, transfer, under-paint and top-coat the artwork. It has the great advantage of limiting students - so they can't overwork something, and are regularly starting the whole process again. Regular, controlled, mindful repetition helps consolidate the learning experience. 

I had some new students join the class recently and they enjoyed their compressed charcoal study of apples, followed by a grisaille in oil, and the following two sessions they worked in colour. 

Above and below - lovely studies by Karolyn. Above is compressed charcoal..

Above -  oil study

Of course, an important part of learning is the composition - lighting and cropping influence the drama and atmosphere of the artwork every time (over and above whatever the subject matter is). 

Peggy's orange

A hoard of oranges, awaiting completion

Julie B's work in progress

Karolyn, work in progress

Diana at work!

Above - Diana and Karolyn, with their first colour oil studies. 

Brigid, work in progress

Upcoming workshops include portrait, figure drawing, pen and watercolour and much more. For info email: julie@juliedouglas.co.uk 

Small classes, lots of attention, refreshments and good fun. Not to mention massive support.